Our Vision

Students who attend Robert Smyth Academy will benefit from an outstanding education which will enable them to live happy and fulfilling lives. We are committed to becoming a centre of excellence in the East Midlands and as we move to the next stage in this journey to outstanding, we are committed to the following principles:

• We put students at the centre of what we do
• We are a true comprehensive school, inclusive in the fullest sense
• We are committed to providing an environment that is academically special. We will maintain a climate where students learn, and teachers enjoy teaching and developing their practice
• We expect all members of our community to enjoy and to be excited by learning
• We are committed to securing student outcomes that consistently exceed national comparison
• We aim to develop a sense of enquiry in all
• We listen to all stakeholders
• We will ensure that all stakeholders are proud of their relationship with the Academy

We believe in success in its most broad and complex form for all students and we are committed to:

• Empowering students with knowledge
• Enabling students to attain excellent qualifications
• Stimulating students to make excellent progress in all areas
• Encouraging students to develop a sense of social responsibility
• Supporting students to become economically literate
• Inspiring students to find their passion for learning
• Equipping students with the confidence to take their next steps

RSA Values

It is vitally important that all students understand the three core values underlying our expectations of their approach to Academy life. We believe that all students, irrespective of background, require structure to achieve their best. These values apply in every facet of Academy life and are as relevant to a new student in Year 12 as they are to a new student in Year 7. At the core of these values is a belief that discipline equals freedom.

Respect

All students are expected to be immaculately dressed, on time and ready to learn every day. These routines apply like clockwork and allow students to make the most from the curriculum by being in a state of preparation. Every student is expected to demonstrate this mindset so that no time is wasted and they are able to learn and make exceptional progress across the curriculum. The expectation for students to be punctual, organised and well presented is a consistent feature of Academy life and there are no exceptions.

All students are expected to be kind and show compassion toward one another. We embrace traditional values and expect students to say “Please” and “Thank you” as well as to hold doors for one another around the Academy site. We encourage students to express gratitude to their peers and other members of the community and to pick each other up when they face times of difficulty. We explicitly reinforce the importance of kindness and ensure that students know that how they treat others really matters.

Succeed

All students are expected to work hard. We encourage students to take responsibility for their performance and reject excuses or quick fixes. We believe that all students will exceed expectations through a commitment to discipline in their concentration, thought and work. We know that learning is a change to long term memory and that for learning to take place there must be focus, repetition, checking and retrieval. We expect all students to demonstrate a strong work ethic that will enable them to be empowered with significant advantages in knowledge acquisition.

Aspire

All students benefit from a sense of purpose and will be encouraged to identify the ways in which they wish to progress. Staff will strive to understand individual goals and aspirations so they can help students to build confidence and resilience in order to maximise achievement.

British Values

We are proud of our inclusive ethos and our commitment to our stated values of respect, success and aspiration. Our dedication to ensuring that our young people leave the Academy as independent and responsible citizens means that our work supports and fulfils the Academy’s duty to promote British values, as defined by the DfE document ‘Promoting fundamental British values through SMSC in schools’.

Robert Smyth Academy aims to:

• enable students to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence;
• enable students to distinguish right from wrong and to respect the civil and criminal law of England;
• encourage students to accept responsibility for their behaviour, show initiative, and to understand how they can contribute positively to the lives of those living and working in the locality of the school and to society more widely;
• enable students to acquire a broad general knowledge of and respect for public institutions and services in England;
• further tolerance and harmony between different cultural traditions by enabling students to acquire an appreciation of and respect for their own and other cultures;
• encourage respect for other people;
• encourage respect for democracy and support for participation in the democratic processes, including respect for the basis on which the law is made and applied in England.

The Academy addresses these areas through the curriculum. A range of subjects, including history, English and RE, directly teach key aspects of the values agenda. The pastoral work of the Academy is also central to developing students’ awareness of their rights and responsibilities. Whole Academy events, such as a recent mock European election, further add to students’ understanding of democracy and respect for other peoples’ opinions.

Students are encouraged to regard people of all faiths, races and cultures with respect and tolerance. Visitors often note the peaceful and collaborative atmosphere, and the good relationships between pupils and staff; the very essence of fundamental British values.

If you are interested in further details of how the school delivers SMSC education (spiritual, moral, social and cultural), please contact the Academy.