I have had an enjoyable week, with the first three days spent on Y6 residential at wonderful How Stean Gorge in Upper Nidderdale. It was cold and a bit wet but we were accommodated in relative luxury this year in lodges rather than tents. The class that I went with, 6D, were a lovely class with which to spend time: well-behaved, supportive of one-another and kind. They were brave, on the whole, too although having led school residentials for 30 years, I do think children are getting more anxious and less confident physically over the years. (The instructors think this is the case too.) A large majority of children still do all the activities, but a significant minority seem to be very scared and sometimes drop out (and more children than ever before simply don’t come on residential). In the past, it was the odd one; now, it is a handful. I think this is a great shame and a concern.
Year 1 classes also went on trips this week to Rodley Nature Reserve. This is a fantastic resource that is on our doorstep. These are super trips, led by wonderful volunteers, and the children always get a lot out of it.
Later in the week, I was reading papers for the forthcoming Leeds Schools Forum that I chair, and meeting with officers to prepare. I was interested to read that 38 maintained Leeds schools are now in deficit, and primary school balances have declined by 60% in the past two years (albeit having swelled somewhat during COVID). By contrast, secondary school balances are relatively stable. Whatever the outcome of the election, I do think that there are very challenging financial conditions coming, and I expect our school to join those in deficit in the next year or two.
