Reading Matters!

I met one of the Reading Matters volunteers this morning and he wanted to know if the scheme was making a difference...

The research evidence clearly shows that these one-to-one reading schemes make a huge difference and it's more and more worrying that having supported programmes like Reading Matters we are not continuing to fund these life changing programmes. I understand the thing about making choices about what they spend our resources on but this is not even a starter for ten. The cost of failing to teach a child to read increases incrementally as they move through learning with the latest estimates being that the cost of any remedial programme later on is around ten times more expensive and the ultimate cost of failing to teach anyone to read is scarily huge; just look at the prison ponpulation which is full of them!
Chris

Victoria Primary School

I visited a brilliant school this morning...

Victoria Primary School isn't at the top of any league table but it's magic! Alison Carrick, the headteacher at this great little school, showed me her fantastic new block built to accommodate the increasing population in this bit of Leeds.

Alison has built something simply stunning and walking around the school with Alison you realise what a purposeful learning place it is. The children's behaviour and manners are impressive and very obviouslyAlison and her team are doing something wonderful.
Chris

Every Child a Reader!

It's more and more worrying that having established, through the National Strategies, brilliant programmes that work like 'Every Child a Reader' we are not continuing to fund these life changing programmes...

OK I understand the thing about headteachers making choices about what they spend their resources on but this is not even a starter for ten. The cost of failing to teach a child to read increases incrementally as they move through learning with the latest estimates being that the cost of any remedial programme later on is around ten times more expensive and the ultimate cost of failing to teach anyone to read is scarily huge; just look at the prison population which is full of them!
Chris

Leeds Again!

I am in Leeds again tomorrow visiting two of my favourite schools...

I'll be at Victoria Primary School in the morning and at Hovingham Primary School in the afternoon. These two schools face the challenges most inner city primary schools face - the attendance challenge, the aspiration challenge, the family challenge - but they do a great job and reach the parts other things miss by a mile! The key being relationships, tough love and an uncompromising and unshakeable belief in the children's talents and potential.
Chris

Great Colleagues!

It was great to be able to catch up with some of my colleagues this afternoon...

I met up with my colleague Althea Brown who was my PA for the almost ten years I was chief executive of Education Leeds. We made a brilliant team and together we created something really special; a culture of excellence which was infectious and affected everyone whose lives we touched. We were trying to estimate the number of letters we had sent to colleagues and children over the ten years and the answer was thousands! Althea has always been so positive and supportive and can see real opportunities ahead for Children's Services in Leeds to build on the achievements of Education Leeds.
Chris

Science in Your World

I had a great morning at the Leeds City Museum...

My session went well and it was wonderful to talk to colleagues who attended and share my passion for science and brilliant learning. It was also great to be able to listen to Dr Emm Barnes, Science Outreach Officer from Royal Holloway College, London University, talking about her work engaging families and school audiences with science in museums and galleries. We also had an engaging set of stories from Mike Benson, Head of the Ryedale Folk Museum, who introduced some innovative and creative ways of engaging audiences. Feedback from colleagues who attended the day was great and Sue Davies, Head of Learning and Audience Development for the Leeds Museums and Galleries had clearly done a wonderful job organising such a good event.
Chris

We need to do more!

We know that schools serving our most challenging communities are doing some incredible things but if we want to achieve significantly better outcomes we need to do things differently...

To deliver significantly better outcomes we must create brilliant learning places that provide young people with more time to learn throughout the year. We should make the most of school and out-of-school time by offering safe, structured, and stimulating environments for school-age children from early morning until late... from breakfast at 7.30 through structured programmes of literacy, numeracy and ICT supported by programmes that develop personal and social skills alongside music, arts and sports programmes. We also understand that young people who are healthy, well-fed, and physically fit can learn better and concentrate in class and we must also promote children's health and wellbeing through improved nutrition and fitness. At the same time we must also aim to treat parents as genuine partners and provide them with information and support they need to be the best possible parents they can be, answering questions about child development, as well as helping them deal with issues around homework, behaviour, and self-esteem through programmes like STEPS.


Is there anyone doing this?

Chris

What can we learn from Hong Kong?

Hong Kong finished third in science and maths, and fourth in reading out of 65 education systems in the most recent 2009 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) survey results...

Interestingly though, as reported in this week's TES, they have a more modern and holistic view of what it takes to build on their success. At the heart of their approach is explicit teaching of learning and thinking skills rather than a content-based curriculum. They have also created more curriculum space by moving away from the traditional curriculum model and abolishing exams at 16. It's what Ken Robinson and Dan Pink say we need to do to build the future and give our children and young people the skills they need in the new conceptual age we are entering.
Chris

Carmen!!

I went to see the Opera North production of Carmen on Saturday evening...

It was Carmen meets the Mounties in Ohio and personally I struggled with the setting. At least I stayed the course unlike quite a few people who simply gave up and left before the end. The orchestra were brilliant and played the wonderful music with real passion: it's just a shame about the rest of it!
Chris

Kung Hei Fat Choi

This weekend Chinese communities around the world celebrate the Chinese New Year...

This year is the year of the rabbit and the festivities run from the new moon this week to the full moon in two weeks time. The system of Chinese astrology divides the years into twelve animals and five elements; a sixty year cycle. 

So happy New Year to all my Chinese followers!

Chris

Carmen!

Music plays an important part in my life and I am off to see Carmen at the Leeds Grand Theatre this evening...

Carmen is a wonderful opera full of passion and energy and, although the Opera North production has had mixed reviews, I love the music and I know it will be a great evening.
Chris

Gill Ellis

I went to Nottingham to see my colleague and friend Gill Ellis today...

Gill was one of the team in Leeds and headed up our Teaching and Learning Centre on the old Copperfields site where she was deputy and headteacher before it closed. She went off to Sheffield to spread the magic and is now heading up the Schools and Learning side of Children's Services in Nottingham which is another city full of opportunities and challenges. Her passion and enthusiasm is infectious and she brings an extraordinary energy to Nottingham.

Chris

Monday's Conference!

I am in Leeds again on Monday where I am providing the keynote session at a conference at the Leeds City Museum...

My colleague Sue Davies, Head of Learning and Audience Development within the Museums Service, asked me to do some work for her. Sue wanted me to do a session on learning, science and museums which touches some of the things I really love and has provided me with a real challenge to try to stimulate more interest and connection with science through the wonderful museums in Leeds. Interestingly, I have learnt so much through this project and it has really sparked my imagination and provided me with an opportunity to be creative and learn at the same time. I'll let you know how the session goes!

Chris