Friday 17 October 2008

I went on to the Teenage Pregnancy and Parenthood Strategy Launch at the Cardigan Centre...

Alison Hadley, Director of the National Teenage Pregnancy Unit at the DCSF, was talking about the national challenge and how we are working together on this hugely important national and local agenda to relentlessly pursue and reduce teenage conceptions here in Leeds. Rosemary Archer had asked me to talk briefly about the Healthy Schools work and the role schools are playing in this important work. As the token man, I talked about our brilliant provision; the primary schools, secondary schools, PRUs and SILCs and the improving outcomes we have seen this year. Increasingly we are reaching our target and priority groups through some fantastic initiatives:
  • Healthy Schools;
  • PSHE programme;
  • The Power of Me;
  • SEAL;
  • STEPS; and
  • much, much more!

Our collective challenge around this important issue reflects so much of our shared agenda. It is about aspiration, expectation, resilience, self-esteem and efficacy. Our collective response must be about passionate leadership, an inclusive culture, intelligent accountability, local ownership and constant and relentless communication with young people as active and engaged partners who can help us shape, refine and develop our services and support.

Chris

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