You are viewing all posts from July, 2010. To return to the front page, click here.
Educational excellence in the Carr Manors....
Wednesday 21st July 2010 2:51 PM
I am passionately committed to education and fighting for our local schools. They are a vital part of our community and two recent events have shown what a valuable contribution and difference they make to everybody's lives.
Firstly, it was my great pleasure to visit Carr Manor High to present it with an award for its Breakfast Club. Teachers formed the club in response to concerns about pupils' tiredness and lack of focus. They were concerned, that especially in deprived areas, breakfast is rarely on offer. So, they seized the initiative and ever since the formation of the award-winning 'Kool Club' in 2003 there have been marked improvements in pupils' attendance and performance.
Secondly, Ofsted delivered its verdict on Carr Manor Primary in Meanwood. It judged it as 'outstanding' in all its judgement criteria; overall effectiveness, capacity for improvement, and outcomes for pupils. This is the product of an environment described as "enormously welcoming, stimulating and yet calm" by inspectors. Pupils told inspectors they simply didn't want to leave.
Both Carr Manor High and Carr Manor Primary are brilliant schools whose staff and pupils deserve the recognition they are getting. Congratulations to them both. They are an example to us all in how schools can achieve excellence by working as a real partnership between the staff, pupils and parents and show why it is essential we continue supporting our schools.
Posted 2:51 PM | 0 Comments | Permalink
Charity Bike Ride....
Monday 12th July 2010 12:05 PM
As some of you may know I spent the last weekend taking part in a charity bike ride raising funds for Diabetes UK. My daughter Ella who took part with me was raising funds for Heart Research UK.
It was a tough but enjoyable experience and of course well worth it in terms of the money we raised. Both our thanks go out to those who have already donated. You can still donate to both of us here and here.
Posted 12:05 PM | 0 Comments | Permalink
Cuts to school buildings program not efficent but ignorant..
Monday 5th July 2010 8:48 PM
One of my proudest achievements as your MP has been my ability to totally transform the schools of Leeds NE. Every single one of the constituency's state secondary schools has been totally transformed. Architect designed buildings, space, light, specialist classrooms and laboratories, computers everywhere and the best staffing levels schools have ever known.
So, you can imagine how dismayed I was today to hear that Michael Gove is axing the 'Building Schools for the Future program. Gove claims this is due to flaws in the project; however, this is simply not the case. Like on so many things this government is out of touch and doesn't understand the difference a good learning environment can make to a childs education.
Today on the BBC's Daily Politics, Philip Hammond the Transport Secretary, said;
"recognising good quality education does not necessarily need sparkling, architect-designed buildings."
Hammond illustrated this very basic ignorance of the material facts of what a good education equates too perfectly in these remarks. How, after all, can a child be expected to learn in a cold, barely heated Portakabin or if they are interrupted by chunks of the ceiling flaking and falling? The obvious answer is that their ability to concentrate and therefore learn is going to be seriously impacted. A good quality education also includes good quality buildings. Labour in power recognised that with the BSF program. It is an awful shame this government cannot recognise that and once again is prepared to attack the future of our most vulnerable in it's ideologically motivated slash and burn approach to cutting the deficit.
Posted 8:48 PM | 0 Comments | Permalink