The RSA Blog

The forthright approach of David Blunkett

Blog

09 Dec 2008

Matthew Taylor

A satirical look at the Rose Review

Blog

08 Dec 2008

Matthew Taylor

On the subject of Sir Jim Rose's review, this is disgraceful - but also very funny ...

Cultural theory: responses to Baby P

Blog

08 Dec 2008

Matthew Taylor

On my way to watch West Brom drop two more home points, I read more chapters from Christopher Hood’s 1997 book ‘The Art of the State’. This offers a cultural theory of public management. In one of his early chapters, Hood illustrates cultural theory’s four paradigms of social relations through reference to public management disasters. This got me thinking about the different interpretations of the Baby P tragedy.

The dangers of being labelled 'progressive'

Blog

08 Dec 2008

Matthew Taylor

I look forward to reading the interim report on the primary school curriculum in England by Sir Jim Rose. The BBC, needing as broadcasters always do, to turn the story into an argument, is presenting Sir Jim’s recommendations as a return to progressive education. The Today programme managed to get the head of the Campaign for Real Education to express grave misgivings, even though it was clear he hadn’t actually read the report.

More on Damian Green

Blog

05 Dec 2008

Matthew Taylor

I wanted to get an early night last night but I found I couldn’t sleep. The problem was that having watched David Starkey on This Week, the BBC’s late night politics show, I feared that at any moment jack booted thought police would enter my house and drag me away for the crime of having been vaguely critical of the Government in previous blogs.

More cheerful matters

Blog

05 Dec 2008

Matthew Taylor

Anyway, enough politics -it’s my birthday today so I want to talk about more cheerful matters.

Farewell sweet joke

Blog

04 Dec 2008

Matthew Taylor

Great fun was had by all at Buckingham Palace last night. We were celebrating 100 years since the Society added Royal to its name (if you’re interested there is a chance tomorrow to hear the world’s expert on RSA history, Dr Allan, explaining how the title was first granted). The evening was a wonderful mix of the grand and the informal, and having a dozen or so Fellows from the US joining the 100 plus from the UK added greatly to the mix.

Inspiration at Homeless Link

Blog

03 Dec 2008

Matthew Taylor

I was privileged yesterday to chair a conference launching a new coalition of charities concerned with the provision of services to adults with severe and complex needs. The event was organised by Homeless Link.

Can Labour win in 2010?

Blog

03 Dec 2008

Matthew Taylor

Off to hear the Queen’s Speech in a few minutes. Is it a sign of ageing that I seem to take up opportunities like this? In the past I would have said ‘why do I want to go, if I want to watch all that Black Rod nonsense, I can watch it on telly?’.