Wednesday, 23 December 2015
New Signage For The Campus
As promised in my last post the new signs are now in place. Those who view this blog will now have a sneak preview of some of the new signs.
Sunday, 20 December 2015
End of Term - Phew!!
It seems like it has been a very long term, but a highly successful one.
BJPS finished the year with a poetry themed writing week. With the support of The Link (PTA) we brought in a poet to offer workshops to every class culminating in a final assembly with every class performing either a poem they had learned or a poem they had written.
You will also have now received a copy of the new BJPS Homework Policy. We are taking a leap of faith moving homework from compulsory to optional. We are also changing the nature of the homework so that it focuses on core skills and less on research. We know that not all will like this approach as we also know that homework will continue to divide the parents as a whole.
On the BJPS website you will see a copy of the latest school newsletter. It would be great if everyone took the chance to read this and share the many things that we can celebrate.
Going into 2016 schools will start to feel the financial pinch. Cash value school funding has been guaranteed but staffing costs continue to rise as pension contributions increase and our support staff are now to be offered the Living Wage as a minimum. Schools across the country are also being encouraged to consider moving to Academy status as this is soon to be expected to be the norm.
Balanced against this are the ever increasing numbers for both schools. LJFS now has 53 pupils, double its July 2015 roll. Admission applications for 2016 suggest that it will have its first full intake in 2016. BJPS now sees cohorts of 40+ becoming the norm and this will have to be reflected further in our structure as we move towards a natural 1.5 form of entry.
LJFS is consulting on its revised admissions policy for 2017 and will be sharing this in a meeting with the Year 5 parents. The only significant change is that we will no longer prioritise all the cluster schools. Instead Brodetsky, Alwoodley and Allerton C of E schools will have priority over other schools. The full draft policy is available on the LJFS website and feedback on it is sought.
Brodetsky also has its admissions policy open for consultation. This should happen every 7 years as a minimum. There are no significant changes to the policy.
2016 also brings changes to how Year 6 and Year 2 are assessed as they move over to assessment without levels. This was already in place for all other year groups. We do not yet know what the SATs will be like but will ensure that all our pupils are well prepared for it.
Finally we have, at last, commissioned new signage for the campus that reflects the very complex usage. These signs should be in place for the start of the next term. I suspect that the chosen colour will be contentious as it reflects none of the colours used by LJFS, BJPS and The Zone. This was a deliberate choice so that no-one of the organisations is seen to dominate the identity of the campus. I will wait for the feedback to see how contentious the colour is.
The most important thing now is for everyone to have a relaxing holiday and then to return in January for another frenetic term of high activity. I look forward to seeing all the pupils and students back in school ready to work hard.
BJPS finished the year with a poetry themed writing week. With the support of The Link (PTA) we brought in a poet to offer workshops to every class culminating in a final assembly with every class performing either a poem they had learned or a poem they had written.
You will also have now received a copy of the new BJPS Homework Policy. We are taking a leap of faith moving homework from compulsory to optional. We are also changing the nature of the homework so that it focuses on core skills and less on research. We know that not all will like this approach as we also know that homework will continue to divide the parents as a whole.
On the BJPS website you will see a copy of the latest school newsletter. It would be great if everyone took the chance to read this and share the many things that we can celebrate.
Going into 2016 schools will start to feel the financial pinch. Cash value school funding has been guaranteed but staffing costs continue to rise as pension contributions increase and our support staff are now to be offered the Living Wage as a minimum. Schools across the country are also being encouraged to consider moving to Academy status as this is soon to be expected to be the norm.
Balanced against this are the ever increasing numbers for both schools. LJFS now has 53 pupils, double its July 2015 roll. Admission applications for 2016 suggest that it will have its first full intake in 2016. BJPS now sees cohorts of 40+ becoming the norm and this will have to be reflected further in our structure as we move towards a natural 1.5 form of entry.
LJFS is consulting on its revised admissions policy for 2017 and will be sharing this in a meeting with the Year 5 parents. The only significant change is that we will no longer prioritise all the cluster schools. Instead Brodetsky, Alwoodley and Allerton C of E schools will have priority over other schools. The full draft policy is available on the LJFS website and feedback on it is sought.
Brodetsky also has its admissions policy open for consultation. This should happen every 7 years as a minimum. There are no significant changes to the policy.
2016 also brings changes to how Year 6 and Year 2 are assessed as they move over to assessment without levels. This was already in place for all other year groups. We do not yet know what the SATs will be like but will ensure that all our pupils are well prepared for it.
Finally we have, at last, commissioned new signage for the campus that reflects the very complex usage. These signs should be in place for the start of the next term. I suspect that the chosen colour will be contentious as it reflects none of the colours used by LJFS, BJPS and The Zone. This was a deliberate choice so that no-one of the organisations is seen to dominate the identity of the campus. I will wait for the feedback to see how contentious the colour is.
The most important thing now is for everyone to have a relaxing holiday and then to return in January for another frenetic term of high activity. I look forward to seeing all the pupils and students back in school ready to work hard.
Tuesday, 8 December 2015
Channukah at 10 Downing Street
Sometimes the job brings along the unexpected. In this case it was a small envelope with 10 Downing Street printed on the reverse in simple text.
I was off site when the invitation arrived and was notified by email by the school office. I assumed that this was a practical joke being played on me (there is a history of this and a number of staff have threatened revenge).
However it soon became clear that the invitation was genuine.
As a result I travelled up to London (one of the strange rules of grammar is that you travel up to a capital city, even if it is south of you - and having stated this I am sure someone may challenge this view) on Monday morning.
I had assumed those invited would enter through a side door but we were all ushered (after extensive security checks) through the famed door and up the staircase lined with the portraits of every prime minister that has served and left office. Gordon Brown currently stands at the top of the staircase.
All those invited then gathered in two rooms, waiting for the candle lighting to start. This gave a chance for you to mingle which is very difficult when most of the guests were from London and seemed to have come in groups. There were current servicemen/service women as well as veterans. Rabbis, councillors and civic leaders in the group (and one headteacher of course).
I did finally meet up with the only other invitee from Leeds, Simon Jackson, who sits on the JLC and the Leeds Rep Council. He has been the sole Leeds representative in recent years. I was also able to meet the son of one of our Governors, who lives in London. Ivan Green did comment that his son has gained his good looks from his father, I will leave others to judge this statement of fact.
I can heartily recommend London's Kosher Canapés and, despite the fact they come from the other side of the Pennines, The King David Primary School Choir. I am hopeful that the Brodetsky choir might get an invite in the future.
The Prime Minister was unable to join us as he was in Cumbria following the devastating floods. The Home Secretary, Teresa May stood in for him and, with the Chief Rabbi, led the candle lighting. The Chief Rabbi spoke clearly about the need to appreciate what we have and the country we live in. He asked us all to give our thoughts to our servicemen/women who are currently in action in the skies over Syria and Iraq.
I was asked by one of the PM's press officers why there were only three candles. I was able to answer clearly but did tell him he had managed to find probably the only gentile guest in the audience to ask. This did draw a bemused smile.
Finally, as I left the event to get my train back to Leeds, I was able to pause and have my photograph taken in front of that famous door.
Clearly the gentleman taking a selfie had the same idea as me but without someone else to take the photograph.
Let's hope that other representatives of the Leeds Jewish community are invited next year.
I was off site when the invitation arrived and was notified by email by the school office. I assumed that this was a practical joke being played on me (there is a history of this and a number of staff have threatened revenge).
However it soon became clear that the invitation was genuine.
As a result I travelled up to London (one of the strange rules of grammar is that you travel up to a capital city, even if it is south of you - and having stated this I am sure someone may challenge this view) on Monday morning.
I had assumed those invited would enter through a side door but we were all ushered (after extensive security checks) through the famed door and up the staircase lined with the portraits of every prime minister that has served and left office. Gordon Brown currently stands at the top of the staircase.
All those invited then gathered in two rooms, waiting for the candle lighting to start. This gave a chance for you to mingle which is very difficult when most of the guests were from London and seemed to have come in groups. There were current servicemen/service women as well as veterans. Rabbis, councillors and civic leaders in the group (and one headteacher of course).
I did finally meet up with the only other invitee from Leeds, Simon Jackson, who sits on the JLC and the Leeds Rep Council. He has been the sole Leeds representative in recent years. I was also able to meet the son of one of our Governors, who lives in London. Ivan Green did comment that his son has gained his good looks from his father, I will leave others to judge this statement of fact.
I can heartily recommend London's Kosher Canapés and, despite the fact they come from the other side of the Pennines, The King David Primary School Choir. I am hopeful that the Brodetsky choir might get an invite in the future.
The Prime Minister was unable to join us as he was in Cumbria following the devastating floods. The Home Secretary, Teresa May stood in for him and, with the Chief Rabbi, led the candle lighting. The Chief Rabbi spoke clearly about the need to appreciate what we have and the country we live in. He asked us all to give our thoughts to our servicemen/women who are currently in action in the skies over Syria and Iraq.
I was asked by one of the PM's press officers why there were only three candles. I was able to answer clearly but did tell him he had managed to find probably the only gentile guest in the audience to ask. This did draw a bemused smile.
Finally, as I left the event to get my train back to Leeds, I was able to pause and have my photograph taken in front of that famous door.
Clearly the gentleman taking a selfie had the same idea as me but without someone else to take the photograph.
Let's hope that other representatives of the Leeds Jewish community are invited next year.
Monday, 16 November 2015
The Consequences Of Attacks In Paris
In assembly today both schools stopped for a minutes silence, our second act of remembrance in less than a week. Our Union Flag is flying at half mast.
These acts show support and solidarity with the French people but do not say what will happen next.
For LJFS there is the consideration of any changes that we need to make to our planned trip to France, including Paris, in the spring. We know some parents and pupils are concerned about this going ahead in light of what has happened.
For all our pupils and students there is the growing awareness of the difficult times we live in and how close to home the conflict has come.
At 48 years of age I have seen this over the years time and time again. I grew up under the shadow of Irish Republican terrorism. Whilst peace now rests in Northern Ireland the threat still splutters on from time to time.
Those children and families living in Syria and Iraq live under daily threat from attack from any quarter as different factions and the western powers try to either take control or restore peace.
For my father's generation it was the blitz. His stories, as a young child, include remembering sitting in a shelter as bombs rained down on his home town of Coventry.
For the Jews of Europe who, leading up to the war were beaten, forced from their homes, businesses stolen and then many finally ending their lives the camps threat; violence and terror was at a level none can imagine.
Recent attacks have been targeted at the Jewish population but the most recent was targeted at anyone and no-one.
How then, should we respond? That question is one that can only be answered individually.
My response is that I cannot plan for the hate filled actions of the unknown and radicalised few. I can show my defiance in any way I can, as our communities have done over many years.
Can I be certain that I will avoid risk?
No!
I can ensure that precautions are taken, risk considered and no-one is put in the way of known significant risk.
Most of all I can strive to ensure that my sons, pupils and students all appreciate the safety they enjoy in a democratic country. They must also appreciate what others do to create that safety and most of all to appreciate that they have the freedom to have their own opinions, to disagree, to debate and to argue without fear of repercussions.
I leave you to your own thoughts and, if your child is old enough, encourage them to share and discuss their own thoughts.
These acts show support and solidarity with the French people but do not say what will happen next.
For LJFS there is the consideration of any changes that we need to make to our planned trip to France, including Paris, in the spring. We know some parents and pupils are concerned about this going ahead in light of what has happened.
For all our pupils and students there is the growing awareness of the difficult times we live in and how close to home the conflict has come.
At 48 years of age I have seen this over the years time and time again. I grew up under the shadow of Irish Republican terrorism. Whilst peace now rests in Northern Ireland the threat still splutters on from time to time.
Those children and families living in Syria and Iraq live under daily threat from attack from any quarter as different factions and the western powers try to either take control or restore peace.
For my father's generation it was the blitz. His stories, as a young child, include remembering sitting in a shelter as bombs rained down on his home town of Coventry.
For the Jews of Europe who, leading up to the war were beaten, forced from their homes, businesses stolen and then many finally ending their lives the camps threat; violence and terror was at a level none can imagine.
Recent attacks have been targeted at the Jewish population but the most recent was targeted at anyone and no-one.
How then, should we respond? That question is one that can only be answered individually.
My response is that I cannot plan for the hate filled actions of the unknown and radicalised few. I can show my defiance in any way I can, as our communities have done over many years.
Can I be certain that I will avoid risk?
No!
I can ensure that precautions are taken, risk considered and no-one is put in the way of known significant risk.
Most of all I can strive to ensure that my sons, pupils and students all appreciate the safety they enjoy in a democratic country. They must also appreciate what others do to create that safety and most of all to appreciate that they have the freedom to have their own opinions, to disagree, to debate and to argue without fear of repercussions.
I leave you to your own thoughts and, if your child is old enough, encourage them to share and discuss their own thoughts.
Thursday, 12 November 2015
Year 6 In Buckden
If you get a chance try and visit the Year 6 Blog as they spend a wet week at Buckden.
Despite the 'fresh' weather they are having a great time.
https://brodetskyy62015.wordpress.com/author/karengill2013/
Despite the 'fresh' weather they are having a great time.
https://brodetskyy62015.wordpress.com/author/karengill2013/
Wednesday, 11 November 2015
Armistice Day2015 as it was marked on the campus.
Today we were able to fully mark Armistice Day with all the pupils, students, Governors and staff on site (with some parents thrown in for good measure).
The British Legion also supported us this year bringing a self evident additional reality to the event.
The response from all our pupils to Armistice Day was amazing. I was really please see all our pupils wearing their poppies with a real sense of pride and importance.
As I walked through the playground at lunchtime the Brodetsky KS1 pupils were all trying to show me their poppies. One pupil showed me the poppy his mother had knitted for him. The time taken to make that poppy was significantly longer than the two minutes we gave today. This in itself was a true act of remembrance.
In the morning every pupil (both from LJFS and BJPS) took part in an assembly themed around Armistice Day and how it would be marked today.
At 10.50am am all the Brodetsky pupils in Cub, Brownie and Beaver uniforms joined all the LJFS sudents, representatives from the BJPS School Council, Cllr Dan Cohen, Rabbi Kleiman and Raina and the Zone team as we gathered beneath the Union Flag.
Mrs Bhogal, dressed in a sari as she marked Diwali, wore a poppy on her shoulder.
I had the privilege of joining representatives of the British Legion as they marched their standards into our memorial area.
At 11am the standards were dipped and everyone on the campus joined together for two minutes of silence and reflection.
Every parent can be proud with how their child conducted themselves, as am I. When you come to school next I hope you may take the time to pause by our wreaths.
Photographs From Today (Courtesy of John Fisher)
The British Legion also supported us this year bringing a self evident additional reality to the event.
The response from all our pupils to Armistice Day was amazing. I was really please see all our pupils wearing their poppies with a real sense of pride and importance.
As I walked through the playground at lunchtime the Brodetsky KS1 pupils were all trying to show me their poppies. One pupil showed me the poppy his mother had knitted for him. The time taken to make that poppy was significantly longer than the two minutes we gave today. This in itself was a true act of remembrance.
In the morning every pupil (both from LJFS and BJPS) took part in an assembly themed around Armistice Day and how it would be marked today.
At 10.50am am all the Brodetsky pupils in Cub, Brownie and Beaver uniforms joined all the LJFS sudents, representatives from the BJPS School Council, Cllr Dan Cohen, Rabbi Kleiman and Raina and the Zone team as we gathered beneath the Union Flag.
Mrs Bhogal, dressed in a sari as she marked Diwali, wore a poppy on her shoulder.
I had the privilege of joining representatives of the British Legion as they marched their standards into our memorial area.
At 11am the standards were dipped and everyone on the campus joined together for two minutes of silence and reflection.
Every parent can be proud with how their child conducted themselves, as am I. When you come to school next I hope you may take the time to pause by our wreaths.
Photographs From Today (Courtesy of John Fisher)
Sunday, 8 November 2015
Remember, Remember The Fifth of November
The Finale
We had a fantastic Firework display again on Thursday 5th. This was a campus fundraising effort and all the partners played a role in ensuring it was a success.
Simon Barnett coordinated the display itself and again supported the cost of the fireworks. The display would not be possible without his support. He was backed up by Bryan Gothelf and Darren Taylor who helped set up the display and light the fireworks. The setting up takes several hours to complete. There is an additional donor who has supported some of the costs. I will add their name once I can confirm they are happy with this.
Raina and her Zone team opened their doors and provided amazing hospitality for the hundreds of people who attended. This takes days of preparation and hours of non-stop service and cleaning at the end. The hotdogs, baked potatoes, soup and cakes were amazing and well appreciated and is a key part of ensuring the event is a success.
The Schools Campus Administrative Team, led by Denise Robinson, with Nigel Barton (Site Manager) ensured that tickets and parking where organised and that logistical support, where needed, was given to all involved. They were also supported by Maccabi who provided stewards to help manage access to the site and parking. Bryan Gothelf played a second role coordinating the Maccabi volunteer gathering.
The Brodetsky Link volunteers staffed the ticket sales on the gates, ran a raffle, sold glow sticks and painted faces. They also designed the tickets and the fliers. As always their quiet work behind the scenes gives the special child focus to every event.
The Scouts Guides, Brownies, Cubs and Beavers organised the bonfire and the 'Make a Guy Stall'. All the 'guys' were added to the fire. We of course meant no offence to Roman Catholic guests. Guy Fawkes ended up on the fire because of an act of treason and not directly because of his faith.
And finally the LJFS Students and Staff (Including those from the Rodillian Academy) held a non-uniform day. They all paid to come to school dressed as 'Guys' and fireworks.
The Campus Administrative Team will collate the income and we will announce the final total as soon as it is known.
I would like to thank everyone who helped organise this event and those who supported it. It continues to be an amazing reflection of our community and the campus as one of its core hubs.
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