Parents in Leeds have taken to social media to praise a Leeds headteacher who branded the SATs (Standard Assessment Tests) 'useless'.
Chris Dyson, the headteacher at Parklands Primary School in Leeds, reportedly took to Facebook earlier this week to lambast the year 2 and 6 exams in a bid to reassure stressed students and their parents.
He told students that 'SATs week does not shape your future one little bit' and that they should just 'try your best, smile and look forward to climbing a tree, playing football, singing, dancing, cooking or reading when you get home.'
It is the first time that students will have taken the exams since 2019, having been put on hold for the past two years due to Covid regulations.
The letter in full reads: “Dear Y6 children, whatever happens during SATs week does not shape your future one little bit.
“Just try your best, smile and look forward to climbing a tree, playing football, singing, dancing, cooking or reading when you get home.
“After all the disruption you have had over the past three years, my heart goes out to you sitting these useless exams.
“Sadly the Government say you have to do them so we have no choice.
"We can, as teachers, head teachers, be there for you if you feel anxious - so talking is good.
“Chris Dyson, head teacher, Parklands Primary School, Leeds.”
It appears that a number of parents were in agreement with him too.
Kelly Dawn said: “Fantastic words and unbelievably (& heartbreakingly) true.”
Karen Shackleton added: “They are useless, my daughter got GCSE targets as F due to her SATs - yet this week we attended her Masters degree graduation” - a comment which has attracted 22 likes.
Yvette Williams wrote: “Amazing…couldn’t agree more.. We should celebrate each child’s achievements whatever they are and stop making them feel bad when they don’t make the SATs grades. Let’s raise happy, healthy children.”
Earlier this month Daniel Kebede, the president of a UK teaching union, hit out at the government's decision to reinstate SAT exams this summer, calling it “utterly brutal".
However, the government has said that SATs “provide vital information to parents about their child’s attainment, support the transition to secondary schools and identify where additional support is best target to individuals".
The supernatural thriller 2:22 A Ghost Story arrived at Leeds Grand Theatre as part of its UK tour, bringing Danny Robins’s hit production to a packed audience.
Since its West End debut in 2021, the play has become known less as a straight horror and more as a gripping psychological debate wrapped in a ghost story.
At the centre of the story is one key question: do ghosts actually exist? Set during a dinner party between two couples, the drama unfolds as Jenny becomes increasingly convinced their home is haunted, claiming she hears strange noises every night at exactly 2:22am.
Her husband Sam dismisses her fears as irrational, while friends Lauren and Ben challenge both sides, turning the evening into a lively clash of belief and scepticism. What begins as a conversation gradually becomes something far more tense, as personal fears and buried tensions rise to the surface.
Image: Supplied
Rather than relying on traditional horror, the production focuses on atmosphere and psychological tension. The script builds unease through sharp dialogue, awkward silences and shifting power dynamics between the characters. Instead of delivering constant shocks, it keeps the audience questioning what is real and what might simply be a coincidence or imagination.
That said, the play does use theatrical jump scares effectively. Sudden loud noises, abrupt lighting changes and eerie sound cues interrupt the dialogue at key moments, creating jolts of tension without ever fully tipping into outright horror. These moments are brief but impactful, designed more to unsettle than to terrify.
Image: Supplied
The cast works strongly together to maintain this balance. Shvorne Marks brings emotional intensity to Jenny’s growing fear, while James Bye plays Sam with grounded scepticism that slowly begins to crack. Natalie Casey adds sharp humour and bite as Lauren, and Grant Kilburn provides openness and curiosity as Ben, keeping the debate lively and unpredictable.
The production design is another standout element. The modern, stylish home feels realistic and lived-in, but subtly shifts in tone as the story progresses. Careful lighting and precise sound design ensure the space never feels entirely safe, even in silence, reinforcing the idea that something might be just out of sight.
Image: Supplied
As the final moments unfold, the play returns to its central idea: the waiting. The quiet anticipation of night, the smallest unexplained sounds, and the creeping awareness of time passing.
Ultimately, 2:22 A Ghost Story succeeds because it is not really trying to scare its audience traditionally. Instead, it plays with uncertainty, asking viewers to decide what they believe and how far they trust their own senses. And let’s be honest, you might find yourself thinking what might happen if you were still awake when the clock strikes 2:22.
Running until 16 May at the Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera House - tickets available here.
Leeds Jazz Festival returns to the city this month complete with best lineup yet
Clementine Hall
The 2026 edition of the Leeds Jazz Festival is here, and it's set to be bigger and better than ever before.
If you're a lover of jazz, then you're going to want to keep reading.
Now in its fifth year, Leeds Jazz Festival showcases the best of local, national, and international music through gigs, screenings, DJs, talks and more.
The festival is set to take place across the city from Thursday 21 to Tuesday 26 May 2026, making it the perfect event to enjoy across the bank holiday weekend.
Image: Supplied
Kicking the festival off is Submotion Orchestra, a boundary-pushing musical collective originally formed in Leeds who will be making their return to The Wardrobe for a very special gig.
Over in Chapel Allerton, Jazz Leeds will bring Donovan Haffner to Seven Arts, fresh from his wins for "Jazz Newcomer of the Year" at the UK Parliamentary Jazz Awards and "UK Breakthrough Act" at the 2026 JazzFM Awards.
Leeds Jazz Festival legend DJ Lubi has curated a fantastic night of live Cuban music, alongside a Cuban dance class and a DJ after-party at Howard Assembly Room.
Image: Supplied
Elsewhere at The Domino Club there'll be a whole host of different events taking place, including Three or Four Shades of Mingus, Alligator Gumbo, and two special shows celebrating the 100th birthday of jazz icon Miles Davis.
For more laid-back chill vibes on Bank Holiday Monday, Mercury Music Prize-nominated pianist Kit Downes will play an intimate performance in the stunning acoustics of Mill Hill Chapel. Now that is something not to be missed.
For full details on the lineup as well as information on free activities as well as ticketed gigs, visit the Leeds Jazz Festival website.
Georgina Pellant -
11th May 2022 
