‘If we are to achieve the potential improvement in standards from personalisation, we need to create an early years and schools system where all institutions are consistently achieving at the level of the best’.
DCSF Children's Plan

One of my colleagues told me earlier today that I had upset some colleagues with my comments about the contribution outside agencies make to what we are doing here in Leeds. Just to be clear it was at the end of a JAR process which had consumed about six months of our lives and what I said needed to be seen in a wider context..."It is unfortunate that OFSTED, the National Strategies, the National College for School Leadership, the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust ...are not yet part of the solution. We are constantly asking ourselves about our effectiveness and how we can refine, develop and do better for our schools. I think that the time has come for us all to stand up and to ask the same questions of these organisations. We need to ask what real value they add to the mix and suggest how we could use the huge resources they consume more powerfully and more effectively!"

I believe that the Six Keys to BRILLIANT are… Performance! Leadership! Teamwork! Attitude! Culture! Ownership & Engagement! We do have some brilliant support from OFSTED, the National Strategies, the National College for School Leadership and the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust but my question is how are we working together to develop real ownership at the grassroots.

Chris