I joined a gym recently and the calorie counter on the machines is simply scary...

It's difficult to believe that:

• 15 minutes lifting weights equals the 100 calories in one small cappuccino;
• 75 minutes of stretching equals the 220 calories in a small mars bar;
• 15 minutes on the stairclimber equals the 129 calories in a can of coke;
• 30 minutes running on the treadmill at 10kmph equals the 400 calories in one blueberry muffin;
• 50 minutes on indoor rower equals the 450 calories in a large slice of cheesecake;
• 19 minutes on elliptical trainer equals the 95 calories in a medium size banana;
• 30 minutes of aerobics equals the 163 calories in a small pack of raisins;
• 10 minutes on the exercise bike equals the 55 calories in a low-fat fruit yoghurt.

Scary stuff really!
Chris

People constantly tell me that exercise is the best way to lose weight and I am increasingly worried about predictions that 50 per cent of our children will be overweight or obese adults by 2030...

Everything I have read recently suggests that exercise as a means of losing weight has been exaggerated and that putting the emphasis on exercise means that we are unlikely to tackle obesity. I know that exercise releases endorphins, reduces depression, and has a major impact on heart disease, some cancers, diabetes, and dementia and it is obvious that we live longer and healthier when we exercise. The truth, I am told, is that other than stopping smoking, there is nothing you can do for yourself that is better than exercise or is there! Isn't it true that we are what we eat!

Please let me know what you think!
Chris

Over the last ten years I hav spent time with so many exceptional people...

It's actually encouraging that the potential to be exceptional exists within everyone of us and personally over thirty five years experience has taught me that there are no exceptions. Being exceptional is not defined by what you have or what you do, rather it depends critically on your attitude and the decisions you make. I know from personal experience that extraordinary achievers are ordinary people, like you and me, who make extraordinary decisions about the events in their lives. Our decisions drive our destiny and shape our future.

It would be easy to explain away other peoples success–- they had a lucky break, they had a better education, they had wealthier parents, they went to a better school, they lived on a better estate. Yet the truth of the matter is that attitude makes the difference between extraordinary achievements and mediocre results. You can achieve anything you believe you can achieve with persistence, determination and hard work. All the exceptional people I know have made clear decisions about themselves, their future and their goals.

While you can’t change your past and the challenges we are all facing may “seem” insurmountable, almost every aspect about your future is yet to be decided. You can choose to write your own future and become exceptional. As we face an uncertain and changing learning landscape the choice is yours.
Chris

I know times are tough but we all need to stay positive...

Make sure that over the next few weeks and months you:

• Manage your diary to create space to think and plan;
• Focus on the things that have gone really well;
• Find allies and friends to give you support and encouragement;
• Give colleagues things to do that will build capacity;
• Stay in touch with the real world of schools and classrooms;
• Look for the little things that make a big difference;
• Collect bits of magic to keep the soul alive!

Whatever you do… do something positive!
Chris

Whatever happens as we move forward into 2011 and the new Children's Services arrangements, it will be a year of new beginnings, new colleagues, new challenges and new opportunities…

Next year is going to be a year where we all need to continue to be different, to be creative, to try new things, to learn new tricks and to continue to make a real difference… whatever it takes! I suppose the most important thing is to embrace change and to celebrate the opportunities it brings. I know that change is hard but it allows us all the chance to reflect, to review and to focus. It allows us the opportunity to spring clean, to ensure that we are doing the right things and to stop doing the things that don't make a difference.

Leeds is a great city and we must continue to develop and support 'Team Leeds'. We all have choices to make about where we work and what we do but we have invested so much and shed so much blood, sweat and tears in building what everyone agrees about; a highly effective and highly efficient education and learning service. Things are going to be tough but we all know what we do when the going gets tough; we roll up our sleeves and get on with the most important thing any society or community or Government or country does... we work even harder to ensure that our children and our young people are happy, healthy, safe and increasingly successful... whatever it takes!
Chris
Chris

Education Leeds is going to wind up as a company at the end of March 2011 after ten extra-ordinary years making a difference here in Leeds...

In Education Leeds we have created a real centre of learning excellence where brilliant, taklented colleagues do amazing things. Simply look at some of the creative, innovative materials and ideas we have developed over the last few years; the Stephen Lawrence Education Standard, Bluewave Swift, the Leeds Inclusion Chartermark, Investors in Pupils and Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month. Simply look at the teams that have established themselves as best in class; the Parent Partnership Service, our Admissions Team, our Deaf and Hearing Impaired Team, our Visually Impaired Team, Our Families and Schools Together Team, our Finance Team, our HR Team, our Governor Support Service, our Healthy Schools Team, Leeds Mentoring and Education Leeds itself. We have won awards for everything from Building Schools for the Future to Customer Service Excellence, from Beacon Awards to Times 100 Best Places to Work in the Public Sector.

What makes Education Leeds such an amazing place?
I have reflected on this for a long time since the Council made it's decision to end the contract with Education Leeds. Especially as the review stated that the new arrangements should build on the achievements of the company. The answers are simple:

• Distributed intelligent leadership;
• An empowering, engaging and creative culture;
• Beautiful systems that reinforce and develop the culture; and
• A belief in people's extra-ordinary potential and talent.

Let me know what you think makes Education Leeds such a great place to work, to learn and to be part of?

Chris