Gospel Oak School (formerly The Royal Society of Arts (RSA) Academy and Willingsworth High School) is one of the new
academies
An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of secondary or tertiary higher learning (and generally also research or honorary membership). The name traces back to Plato's school of philosop ...
opened in England.
The school's history dates back to September 1958, when Willingsworth Secondary Modern School to serve the
Ocker Hill
Ocker Hill is a residential area of Tipton in the West Midlands of England.
Details
It is situated in the northern part of the town, on the main A461 road between Dudley and Wednesbury. The area was first developed during the first half of t ...
and
Princes End
Princes End is an area of Tipton, West Midlands, England, near the border with Coseley (of which approximately half of the area was part of until 1966), which was heavily developed during the 19th century with the construction of factories. The ...
areas of Tipton, replacing a smaller secondary modern at Ocker Hill and gaining comprehensive status in September 1969, when it became Willingsworth High.
It became the RSA Academy in September 2008 and moved into its current buildings in September 2010, with the old buildings being demolished the following spring. It was one of the seven schools in the RSA Family of Academies, all in the West Midlands, of the
Royal Society of Arts.
In September 2021, the school was renamed Gospel Oak School after the
Royal Society of Arts renounced their association with the school.
Senior staff
The Principal of the Academy is Mrs Helen Tanner.
School building
The school is housed in the same building that originally housed the RSA Academy from September 2010 to its rebranding in September 2021. This building was constructed by
Willmott Dixon
Willmott Dixon is a privately owned contracting, residential development and property support business.
History
The company was founded in 1852, by John Willmott.[Interserve
Interserve is a British construction and support services business based in Reading, Berkshire, which went into administration in 2019 and which is expected to be wound up in 2024. At that time, the group generated revenue of £2.2 billion and h ...]
.
School day
The Academy operates a different school day from other schools, with lessons being 60 minutes long. Therefore there are five lessons per day. The Academy also follows a 5 term year, with 2 week holidays at the end of terms 1-4 and a 6 week summer holiday.
Debatemate
The Academy takes part in the Birmingham area Debatemate.
Debatemate website The aims of the scheme are to mentor pupils in debating and therefore improve their public speaking skills, literacy skills and general knowledge. Gospel Oak School compete in two of the Debatemate competitions; the Urban Debate League and the Debatemate Cup formerly known as the Richard Koch Cup.
Derelict buildings fire
On the evening of 11 October 2010, the disused school buildings of the former Willingsworth High School were set on fire and around fifteen fire engines were sent to deal with the fire. Luckily nobody was hurt in the incident, and the police believed it may have been committed by the same arsonists who started a fire hours later at Wilkinson Primary School in nearby Bilston
Bilston is a market town, ward, and civil parish located in Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England. It is close to the borders of Sandwell and Walsall. The nearest towns are Darlaston, Wednesbury, and Willenhall. Historically in Staffordshi ...
. The building's shell was demolished within the next six months.
References
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Academies in Sandwell
Tipton
Secondary schools in Sandwell
International Baccalaureate schools in England