As an internationally renowned charitable institution, the RSA brings to Arrow Vale:
- access to 27000 Fellows who are leaders and experts in the arts, commerce and manufacturing
- amazing resources (financial, historical and technological)
- school to school support from belonging to the family of RSA academies
- fantastic opportunities for our students to enhance their learning and life experiences
- a belief in helping all students to realise their potential
The purpose of RSA Academies is to develop a mutually supportive family of schools focussed on school improvement which use innovative curriculum practice to secure the best possible outcomes for every child. The benchmark for schools is to be ‘outstanding.’
RSA Academies are distinctive in that they :
- Ensure all students are highly successful in examinations and in wider achievement.
- Provide a curriculum approach that is rich in knowledge and which nurtures the skills needed for successful adult life.
- Listen to and provide for the holistic needs of each and every child and provide outstanding student support and care, and high quality parental engagement.
- Understand and engage with their communities and foster a culture where students and staff value citizenship.
- Preserve good behaviour and discipline via inclusive practices among staff and students that breed mutual respect, responsibility and cooperation.
- Foster collegiate learning between schools, both within and outside the RSA family of academies and across phases of education in order to promote school-to-school improvement.
Bringing Expertise and Challenge to Arrow Vale
Arrow Vale now has three RSA Fellows on the governing body. This has brought additional expertise and challenge in holding the school to account and striving for the highest standards:
Eric Griffiths : Former Director of Education and Children Services for Sandwell. Education Consultant specialising in Academies
John Howard : Education consultant who has worked with Learning Skills Council, Education Authorities and local councils.
Funding
As an RSA Academy, significant additional funding is available to the school. This is used to secure further school improvement and better outcomes for students. It is also used to fund curriculum opportunities across the school.
RSA Enrichment Guarantee
During their time at an RSA Academy all students will have with significant funding to support:
- Participate in a visit to a theatre, gallery, museum, cultural attraction or event at least once each school year;
- Participate in high quality arts provision including the opportunity to work directly with arts practitioners and take part in extra-curricular arts projects
- Experience a residential stay which contributes to their personal development
- Be able to develop and demonstrate leadership skills through a range of roles and projects inside and outside the classroom.
- Participate in projects with and for the local community
- Have access to a variety of careers talks, work place and University visits, and work experience;
- Have access to an external mentor (post 16 students)
The Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers, and Commerce (RSA) has the core purpose to develop and promote new ways of thinking about human fulfilment and social progress.
As an RSA Academy, Arrow Vale has had access to a range of opportunities that have enhanced the learning. Examples include:
- RSA Arts Day at the RSA London – Art, Music and Drama workshops for students and parents (Year 9 and 10)
- Leadership Conference at RSA London (6th Form)
- RSA Maths Day at Arrow Vale (Year 11)
- Development of Arts website to showcase student Art work (all years)
- Development of RSA academies website with Arrow Vale students involved in the tender process and content development (Year 10)
- Broadening Horizons – RSA Fellow mentor programme (Year 9)
- University interview training (Year 12)
- Pathway into Politics Day at Warwick University (Year 11)
- Bus Ride Away Project – visits to a range of businesses making links with career pathways (Year 9)
- Royal Shakespeare Company Workshop at Holyhead
- RSC live streaming of ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ (All Years)
- RSA Takeover Day at RSA, London (All Years)
- A Level Media Studies RDI Project (Sixth Form)
- RSA Climate Change Conference (Sixth Form)
- Oxbridge Workshops (Sixth Form)
- Royal Designer Helen Storey Collaborative Project (All Years)
- RSA Cut (All Years)
- Future First
- Blues Music Project (All Years)