Assessment for Learning!

Assessment for learning is based on the principle that learners will improve most if they understand why and what they are learning.

'Made in Sheffield'

The challenge we all face wherever we live, work or play is to build a learning landscape that nurtures, supports, coaches and creates young people we can all be proud of.

"God gives nothing to those who keep their arms crossed."

West African Proverb

My Extended Family!

I have been thinking about some of the other extraordinary, unique and fabulous individuals who all made a real difference as part of the Education Leeds team over the ten years this fantastic experiment lasted.

Outstanding!

To build a world class learning landscape where we deliver academic and technical excellence, we must develop character alongside functional skills.

New Format!

They say a change is as good as a rest!

Let me know if you like the new format!
Chris

Intelligent Accountability!

"Intelligent accountability preserves and enhances trust, involves participants in the process, encourages deep, worthwhile responses and recognises and attempts to compensate for the severe limitations of our ability to capture educational quality in performance indicators. "

Chelmsford!

Really interesting afternoon in Chelmsford talking to some wonderful young people, some talented headteachers and some committed and passionate governors about the challenges and opportunities we face in the new learning landscape and how we champion the needs of all young people to secure world class outcomes... whatever it takes!

The Peter Jones Enterprise Academy!

I visited the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy at The Sheffield College this afternoon.

'Choosing the wrong drivers for whole system reform'

In his paper on the drivers for whole system reform Michael Fullan says that "In the rush to move forward, leaders, especially from countries that have not been progressing, tend to choose the wrong drivers. Such ineffective drivers fundamentally miss the target."

Hillsborough College!

I visited Hillsborough College this morning.

新年快乐

'Happy Chinese New Year'. 

We welcome the year of the dragon!

Sheffield UTC!

I attended the Steering Group for the Sheffield UTC this morning.

Another day, another train! I am off to Sheffield again today to meet the Cutlers Education Group and attend a meeting of the Sheffield UTC Steering Committee. Should be an interesting day!

"People who value money, power, fame and good looks are less likely to be happy than people who value compassion, cooperation and a willingness to make the world a better place. That astounded me -- but it somehow made sense. People who express their love -- who rejoice in the health and happiness of others -- are more likely to feel loved and happy themselves." Ed Diener

Reading Matters!

I attended the Reading Matters Trustees Meeting this evening.

LEEDS!

I was in Leeds today meeting some great colleagues and renewing important friendships.

Firth Park Community Arts College!

I visited Firth Park Community Arts College yesterday.

Peaks College!

I visited Peaks College in Sheffield yesterday.

"The happiness of a man in this life does not consist in the absence but in the mastery of his passions." Alfred Lord Tennyson

Stocksbridge High School!

I visited Stocksbridge High School this afternoon.

"We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, 

but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have." 

Frederich Koenig

Hilary Benn MP

It was great to hear Hilary Benn MP on the 'Politics Show' at lunchtime saying that Education Leeds had done a very good job in the city. You can watch the interview on BBC iPlayer!

Forge Valley Community School!

I visited Forge Valley Community School this afternoon. Forge Valley opened in September 2011 in a brilliant new 'Building Schools for the Future' building.

Yewlands Technology College!

I visited Yewlands Technology College again this morning. 

Die Meistersingers!

I attended an extraordinary performance of The Royal Opera Die Meistersingers von Nurnberg at Birmingham's Symphony Hall on Wednesday!

Bradfield School

I visited Bradfield School in Sheffield this morning after being stuck on the M1 for nearly two hours after a crash at Junction 37. I was visiting Bradfield School to meet David Conway, Headteacher, and Ian Gilbert, Assistant Headteacher, Learning and Curriculum,  to talk to them about the Cutlers Education Project and to hear about the work they are doing on STe3M; where the e3 means engineering, enterprise and the environment. 

Intelligent Accountability!

"Intelligent accountability preserves and enhances trust, involves participants in the process, encourages deep, worthwhile responses and recognises and attempts to compensate for the severe limitations of our ability to capture educational quality in performance indicators. "

"However hard life may seem, it matters  that you don't give up.' Stephen Hawkins

London Schooling: lessons from the capital!

Everyone should read the CentreForum report 'London Schooling: lessons from the capital' which was flagged up at the North of England Conference in Leeds last week and received some interesting coverage in The Sunday Times yesterday.

Why do we do this?

I saw this wonderful letter in the TES and wanted to share it with you as a reminder of why we do what we do... especially those facing mad Michael!

TITANIUM!

I heard David Guetta's Titanium while I was exercising at the gym. Great song and great words which seem to capture the way I am feeling at the moment with the latest GCSE results hitting the streets, primary schools I love under threat and the CentreForum report on London schools suggesting that we all have a lot to learn.

“What does not destroy me, makes me strong.”
Friedrich Nietzsche

Friedrich Nietzsche coined the phrase “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” back in the 19th century. Actually, his words in 1889’s Twilight Of The Idols were “That which does not kill us makes us stronger.”

COACHING COUNTS!

My wonderful colleague Dirk Gilleard taught me a long time ago that for any organization to succeed it must develop a coaching culture that is constantly, relentlessly and uncompromisingly asking us to stretch and develop to be our brilliant best. 

BE YOUR BRILLIANT BEST!

Whether we like it or not, our colleagues know what we think of them and we all know that children, young people, colleagues and friends live up to, or down to, our expectations of them.

NOTES TO THE HURRYING MAN!

I struggle to understand why everyone is in such a hurry all the time.

"Take pride in how far you have come

and have faith in how far you can go."

Christian Larson

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION!

This year our New Year resolution should be that we will work together to create a new learning landscape for all our  children and young people.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Hope 2012 brings you and those you love peace and happiness, fun and laughter and everything you deserve. Remember that when it comes down to it the only things that really matter are faith, family and friends. With love and best wishes Chris