RSA Tipton Academy and innovation

The Government's Acadamies initiative has always been controversial, largely because of the nature of some of the sponsors, particularly those with their 'Christian ethos'. What has perhaps been lost in the media coverage has been that their overall aim is to try and create distincitive, innovative schools in more deprived areas that the more aspirational local families choose as oppose to travelling to higher performing schools in more affluent neighbourhoods. That might explain why one of the most quintessentially Blairite policies has not been axed by Gordon Brown, even if innovation in many cases has been restricted to having fancy buildings.

The start of the 2008-09 Academic Year sees a whole new raft opening including the RSA sponsored Academy in Tipton in the West Midlands which sounds like it really is innovative. The 1,100 pupils will experience the RSA's Opening Minds curriculum framework and a totally different structure to the school timetable including (as reported by the Guardian:

• three-hour lessons
• a longer day and school year
• 90 pupils to a class
• scrapped homework, subject areas and streaming
• five terms, interspersed with two-week holidays, and four weeks in summer

The RSA is headed by Tony Blair's former head of policy, Matthew Taylor and it feels a bit like he's taking an opportunity to show what the Acadmey policy could have been offering over the last few years if more local authorities and other innovative sponsors had got their act together. It's a bit of a risk (as much innovation is), but so is not trying to improve the lives of the largely white, poor young people of the 'Lost City' in Tipton.

It will be interesting to see how it gets on and particularly, from Cadence's view, how it deals with the extended school agenda and linking with broader local community initiatives and needs.

We wish them luck.

your comments

barbara hale
Posts: 7

schools
Reply #7 on : Thu April 01, 2010, 07:18:25

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i moved out of borough 3 years ago and had to change schools for the children.
my god i wish i hadn't. the school now is massively over populated with cultural bullies. my son is beaten up at least once a day.
long live tipton academy and long live the kids of tipton. great kids. hard working kids.and i am asking for my lad to get back into RSA. i know he will be safe there. i brought my birth kids up on the lost city....one is a serving police officer and one is in a high ranking job nothing wrong with the 'lost city' and theres nothing wrong with the kids of tipton.

??
Posts: 7

Re: RSA Tipton Academy and innovation
Reply #6 on : Wed January 20, 2010, 10:54:54

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At the end of the day you have no right to say these things about where we live. It may not be the poshest place but we aren't poor. in fact we are far from it so before you starting playing your mouth off about us having low standards try living there yourself and you will see there is nothing wrong with the lost city!!!!
WILLINGSWORTHH

city 4 life
Posts: 7

Re: RSA Tipton Academy and innovation
Reply #5 on : Wed November 18, 2009, 22:50:25

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people who live on the city are not poor there is proberly more money on this estate then anywhere else in tipton. and as a school to be writeing this on your page is very poor standeds DON'T U THINK. I LIVE ON EYA AND I THINK IT'S TE BEST PLACE IT TIPTON

yr 9 crew
Posts: 7

Re: RSA Tipton Academy and innovation
Reply #4 on : Mon September 14, 2009, 11:25:10

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rsa is boring
Willo for ever

****
Posts: 7

Re: RSA Tipton Academy and innovation
Reply #3 on : Mon September 14, 2009, 11:23:07

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rsa is crap
willo for evevr

Tee
Posts: 7

Grrrr
Reply #2 on : Thu June 04, 2009, 13:13:05

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LISTEN HERE I LIVE ONB THE LOST CITY SOO WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE SAYING THESE THINGS ABOUT M,Y ESTATE. DO YOU LIVE ON THERE ? NOOO SOO GET YOUR FACTS RIGHT OK !

matthew taylor
Posts: 7

RSA Academy
Reply #1 on : Thu September 11, 2008, 11:59:15

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Thank you for these kind words. For us the Academy is a means to an end the end being not only a great education for young people in Tipton but also blazing the trail for innovation, particularly in the curriculum. At the RSA we believe we need a transformation of schooling if it is to meet the needs and expectations of both pupils and wider society. The Academy is a chance to move from simply arguing for this to showing how it might happen.

Finally, in case anyone thinks the Academy in Tipton is only happening because the CE of the RSA is a West Brom supporting former New Labour apperatchik, I should point out that the decision to sponsor the Tipton Academy was taken a full year before I was appointed

Last Edit: September 11, 2008, 12:04:57 by karl  

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