CELEBRATE THE MAGIC!

IAs you know I visited one of my favourite schools again on Friday for their latest 'Mathletics Celebration'. Jane Fisher, assistant headteacher, who leads the work on Mathletics put some pictures on her blog over the weekend. 

If you want to visit Hovingham Primary School's blog and find out more about this amazing little primary school you can go to the school website at http://www.hovingham.leeds.sch.uk/ or you can visit Year 2 Palm's site to see the pictures at http://shareit.yhgfl.net/leeds/hovingham/hovingham2.
Chris

"Patience and perseverence have a magical affect 

before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish." 

John Quincy Adams

WE MUST SHARE, NETWORK, LEARN, IMPROVE AND INNOVATE!

Where is the vision? A vision for education, learning and schooling supported by research about what works. Where is the strategic framework? A strategic framework driving the system reform we need to create great schools for every child and great schools to serve every community?

WHAT WE MUST DO!

To support these developments, we must:

• BE REALISTIC; 
• EMPOWER AND TRUST SCHOOLS; 
• GIVE SCHOOLS THE RESOURCES; 
• MONITOR, EVALUATE AND LEARN; 
• EASE UP ON INTERVENTION.

WHAT WORKS!

Research clearly shows that:

• SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT STRATEGIES WORK; 
• PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATION WORKS; 
• COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WORKS. 

KEEP THE FAITH!

I have been thinking about some of the schools I really love in Leeds and the challenges they are facing in this new world of Academies and Free Schools.

"Honesty is the first chapter of the Book of Wisdom."

Thomas Jefferson

WHAT I LEARNED IN LIFE!

I found this on the internet and wanted to share it with you...

"There is nothing in life so difficult that it cannot be overcome. 

This faith can move mountains. It can change people. It can change the world." 

Norman Vincent Peale

Mathletics at Hovingham Primary School!

I visited one of my favourite schools again this afternoon. I was at Hovingham Primary School which serves the Chapeltown and Harehills communities in Leeds for their latest 'Mathletics Celebration'.

"Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires courage. Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and woman to win them." 

Ralph Waldo Emerson

JUST DO IT!

We can all make a real difference and we must always remember that actions speak louder than words. Whether it is care for the elderly, unemployment in young people, concerns about special educational needs and inclusion or the underachievement of looked after children; hard times and tough issues require bold ideas, big ideas, brilliant ideas.

"The value of experience is not in seeing much, 

but seeing it wisely."

Sir William Osler