Headteacher blog 11th January 2018

It’s such a muddy and often dull time of year; we yearn for the warmer weather and springtime. I am still showing around prospective parents for next year’s intake and I keep telling them to imagine the grounds in June!  The children, however, are always bright and breezy: every time I do a tour around the school, they are so keen to chat, ask what we are doing and share their news or work.

This week I have spent too much time in meetings and too often find myself attending the next appointment without having had time to write up and action the previous one.  Schools are expected to contribute positively to ‘system leadership’ and so I spend a lot of time playing a role in the cluster and Family of Schools, Headteacher Forum, Schools Forum and the Leeds Safeguarding Children Board.  This is important work but I much prefer working with pupils and staff, developing curriculum and looking at progress in children’s work.  The senior leadership is looking at progress, pitch and presentation in work at the moment: most of what we see is very encouraging, but a minority of children do need to improve handwriting and the care that they show in their work.