RPA Library Volunteers needed

The RPA library is becoming busier and busier - partly driven by its state of the art online literacy quiz scheme that now spans all students in Years 7,8 and 9.  It would be fantastic to have a small number of adult volunteers from the local community to help support this growing initiative, so if you are able to commit 1, 2 or 3 hours per week at a regular time, RPA would be delighted to hear from you.  Full training given, and of course you'd also have the chance to see the academy from the inside and meet many of the students.

RPA HALF TERM NEWS

RPA HALF TERM NEWS
 

1. The newly refurbished and equipped dedicated Year 7 Base opened on schedule for the start of term, and is proving to be a fantastic resource for our 100 new Year 7 children.  It has certainly helped smooth the transition from primary to secondary school, and was also the venue for RPA's 1st Birthday Party last week - held in glorious autumn sunshine

 

2. Our Year 7 and Year 8 cohorts are now significantly more local than those higher up the academy - 60% of the children arriving in September 2010 and 2011 attended primary schools less than 2 miles away from RPA.  Those from further afield include former pupils of Belleville Primary School in Wandsworth, a school of such outstanding quality it was recently named as one of the government's first 100 teaching schools in the country

 

3. The project team, including architects, are now actively engaged in planning the £10m spend.  Any CB members wishing to become involved in the consultation, which will run into Q1 2012,  are invited to contact the headteacher

 

4. There has been a significant increase (more than double) in the number of families visiting the academy for tours since the start of term compared with the same period last year, and our open evening also saw an encouraging growth in attendees

 

5. 71% of all families attending tours and / or the open evening came from primary schools within Richmond Borough and / or located less then 2 miles from RPA - additional evidence that the progression towards being a local academy for local children looks set to continue.   

 

6. Attached ( inlcuded in this mail) article in Richmond Twikenham Times on progress at RPA . 

 

7. Next week we shall also be sharing with you the half term report. Please do revert back to us if you need more details or clarifications or have any questions or concerns about the progress at RPA. We will be happy to share more information with parents and invite all to have a discussion on the blog.   

HAPPY HALF TERM!

First Birthday Party

Don't forget RPA's First Birthday Party this Friday from 3.30 to 5 in the year 7 base. 

CB Meeting - POSTPONED

Dear all, 

Due to the work commitments of several of the core CB members, we are postponing the meeting that should have been tonight. 

As soon as we have a new date we'll let you know, 

Sorry to disappoint, 

best wishes, 

Harriet

Plans for New Secondary - Have your say....

As part of Richmond Councils investment in new local secondary schools it has chosen to give priority to offering a site and funding for a Voluntary Aided Catholic school, which will effectively be closed to a majority of the borough's children. A petition has been launched to ask the council to re-consider this decision.  On reaching 1000 signatures a full council debate will be held.  Should you wish to sign this petition the link below will take you to it. 

 http://tinyurl.com/riscpetition1

JWT Advertising Workshop for Yr 9 & 10

CB Member Bob Boxer organised an amazing opportunity for RPA year 9 & 10 pupils to take part in a workshop organised by the world renowned advertising agency JWT. Below are his comments on the day.

I took a number of my JWT colleagues into RPA last week to run a workshop with 35 year 10 and year 9 pupils.  The session looked at how advertising works,  the type of careers available within the industry, and ways to break into the business.  But, the bulk of the session involved giving the kids a brief – we asked them to develop a product, pack design, TV ad and social media campaign for a chewing gum called ‘Mystery’.  We were with the group for nearly 6 hours, and I have to say I was blown away by the response we were given.  The kids were well behaved, attentive, smart, sharp and highly creative.  They listened intently to the presentations we gave, asked smart and probing questions and brought huge energy to the project work.  Each team made a short presentation in-front of their class mates and my team.  They all did very well and a couple of them included performances that were worthy of an Oscar!!   The winning team presented a very smart product idea that linked seamlessly with their packaging and advertising idea, which, for someone who tries to do that for a living, is never easy to achieve.  Two of the students made a particular impact on us during the day and we have invited them to come into  JWT next term for a period of work experience which they were  both very excited by. All in all a tremendous day, and for me a huge endorsement of the progress that Lesley and her team are making at the school.  I am now encouraging everyone I know locally to get into the school and see it in action, in whatever capacity they can.  Bob Boxer

Amendment to notes - GCSE's

Anne Hahlo, RPA Governor has asked us to send out the following amendment to our notes:

"What Lesley said was that 92% take a minimum of 9 GCSE's.  In fact, around half of these will take a minimum of 10 and this can be up to 14." 

Best wishes, 

Harriet