A BRAND NEW ACADEMY ON A JOURNEY TO OUTSTANDING
HEAD, HEART AND HEROISM
HEAD, HEART AND HEROISM MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPALS
This is a brand new academy on a journey to outstanding, developing and transforming the lives of students to maximise their potential and talent. We are a modern and innovative academy with old-fashioned values, preparing students for the 21st century and all the challenges it brings. Our aim is to shape the lives of our students by providing them with the best possible academic outcomes from outstanding courses and – crucially – the experiences and guidance that will help them become resilient, resourceful, reflective and respectful, emotionally intelligent global citizens.
Dr Chris Tomlinson Executive Principal
Our curriculum is unique and individualised to everyone’s needs and potential. We ensure student and parent voices take ownership of the direction in which they want their education to develop. We also provide students with every opportunity to experience a whole and broad range of events in school. The academy is very student-centred, with all members of our community respectful to each other. All staff receive extensive training to ensure students are given the very best support and guidance and that the aims we are committed to are delivered. In summary, we totally understand our responsibility and are committed to developing the head, heart and heroism of all students so their ambitions are fulfilled.
Dr David Moody Principal
We hope this prospectus gives you a sense of the opportunities we offer and look forward to talking to you and your children at our open events. We are very proud of all our students and staff and really want to serve our local community.
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HISTORY OF SUCCESS A JOURNEY TO OUTSTANDING THE PRINCIPALS OF HARRIS ACADEMY BATTERSEA HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF EXPERIENCE IN TRANSFORMING SCHOOLS WITH PACE AND SUSTAINABILITY.
Dr Tomlinson is a National Leader of Education. With Dr Moody, he played a key leadership role in turning Harris Academy Greenwich into an ‘outstanding’ academy (Ofsted July 2014) within three years of opening. He is an Executive Principal leading across three Harris Academies: Harris Academy Chafford Hundred, Harris Academy Greenwich and Harris Academy Battersea. Dr Tomlinson works at Battersea for 3 days each week and Dr Moody is full time. The transformation of Harris Academy Greenwich took results from 28% to 85% for the proportion of students achieving at least 5 A* to C grades including Maths and English. It became the fastest improved secondary school ever and has topped the national similar schools league table for the last two years. Before that Dr Tomlinson ran the ‘outstanding’ (Ofsted November 2011, with 30 out of 31 categories judged ‘outstanding’) Harris Academy Chafford Hundred, where more than 90% of students regularly achieve five good GCSEs including Maths and English. It has topped the national similar schools league table for three years in a row. Both academies are now highly oversubscribed, with Greenwich and Chafford receiving 5 and 7 applications per place respectively.
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WELCOMING OUR NEW YEAR 7s AND ALL NEW STUDENTS THIS IS AN ACADEMY WHERE YOUR CHILD IS NOT JUST A NUMBER OR A STATISTIC; WE WILL KNOW HIM OR HER AS AN INDIVIDUAL.
Even before our new Year 7s start with us, we work hard to ensure that the transition from primary to secondary is as smooth as possible. The Principals and other senior leaders meet all prospective students and their parents in one-to-one meetings in July where routines and expectations are made clear and questions are answered. We also run a series of transition days and after school clubs for all Year 6 students in July. The first day of the academic year is just for new students where most have completed an exciting, informative and positive summer school. All Year 7s are given a peer mentor to support them in their first year and a dedicated Learning Guide who meets them once a week in groups of five or fewer for half an hour to set targets, discuss academic progress, raise levels of literacy and support them with any emotional or pastoral issues they might have. Throughout the year, academic progress is tracked every six weeks with a report home every term. Three times a year, parents and students meet with their Learning Guide to discuss their academic progress. There are also termly parents’ evenings with subject teachers. We operate a wide range of activities, including mentoring with different themes. These include the Brilliant Club PhD mentoring scheme for our high attainers and the Arrival Programme for our outstanding potential entrepreneurs.
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YOUR CURRICULUM THE CURRICULUM AND TIMING OF THE ACADEMY DAY WAS INTRODUCED IN SEPTEMBER 2014. OUR VISION IS FOR INDIVIDUALISATION, SUCCESS FOR ALL AND CHOICE FOR PARENTS AND STUDENTS EVERY STEP OF THE WAY AS THEY MOVE THROUGH YEARS 7 TO 13.
It is the academy’s responsibility to provide a broad range of experiences so students become multi-talented and develop a repertoire of skills for the modern world. Our curriculum is modern and innovative and only contains the very best of courses: these are the currency of success in the national and global community. In all years, we focus strongly on the core curriculum of mainly English Baccalaureate subjects. These are allocated the majority of lesson time. We also have an options programme to increase the number of subjects pupils can choose and we give more ownership to students and parents by enabling them to select options every year from Year 8 right through to Sixth Form. In every aspect of the curriculum, we look to embed the 4 Rs – respect, resilience, reciprocity and resourcefulness – as well, of course, as making sure all pupils achieve their stretching academic targets. The targets are reviewed termly and an individualised intervention programme is adopted if necessary. Students are divided into sets, which they move between at different stages of their academic career depending on their needs. This means that whether your son or daughter needs to be stretched, is struggling or is somewhere in the middle, we can always work to inspire the best in them. We also ensure class sizes are small and lessons are delivered by outstanding staff trying their best on a daily basis. Our specialisms at the new academy are Performing Arts, Enterprise and Communication (Literacy) which reflect and emphasise our drive for the pupils to adopt outstanding transferable skills for the modern world.
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APPLICATION DATES FOR YOUR DIARY THERE ARE 180 YEAR 7 PLACES AVAILABLE. WE WELCOME STUDENTS FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS AND ABILITIES AND SERVE ALL THE SURROUNDING AREAS OF BATTERSEA. WE AIM TO PROVIDE AN OUTSTANDING CHOICE FOR THE LOCAL WANDSWORTH COMMUNITY OF BATTERSEA.
If you are interested in a place, we would strongly encourage you to visit with your son or daughter. Our admissions events are being held on:
OPEN MORNINGS Tuesday 7th October 2014, 9.30am to 11.30am Wednesday 8th October 2014, 9.30am to 11.30am Thursday 9th October 2014, 9.30am to 11.30am
OPEN EVENING Wednesday 8th October 2014, 5.30pm to 7.30pm Families applying should name Harris Academy Battersea on their council’s common application form, which is due in by Friday 31st October 2014. Offers will be made on Saturday 1st March 2015.
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THE FULL ACADEMY DAY OUR ENRICHMENT PROGRAMME TAKES PLACE AT LUNCHTIMES, AND BEFORE AND AFTER ACADEMY HOURS EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK. WE ALSO RUN ACTIVITIES DURING HOLIDAY TIMES AND TAKE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER A RANGE OF EXPERIENCES.
The programme offers both recreational and academic opportunities, including a range of mentoring options working with our local and national community. Everyone is encouraged to find an activity they enjoy. Our students’ confidence and self-esteem improve as a result, often reflected in better academic progress. Each year students enjoy a range of day and residential school trips, from canoeing in the Ardeche to sketching in the Tate Modern. We seek every opportunity to enrich students, develop their interests and open their minds. Together with all Harris secondary academies, we participate in ‘The Harris Experience’. This programme is for our most able students, stretching them and introducing them to topics not covered by the national curriculum. The programme opened with a lecture at Christie’s on Holbein’s The Ambassadors and other topics have included space exploration, logic and historical research. Years 11, 12 and 13 complete an extra lesson between 3.30pm and 4.30pm every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. This is to help prepare them for their examinations. During the academic year there are many opportunities for Key Stage 4 and 5 students to participate in extra sessions for their exams, all delivered by Harris Academy Battersea staff.
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A THRIVING SIXTH FORM THE SIXTH FORM OFFERS EVERYTHING OUR STUDENTS LOVE ABOUT THEIR EDUCATION IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY ARE TREATED AS YOUNG ADULTS. OUR SIXTH FORMERS ARE ROLE MODELS FOR OUR YOUNGER STUDENTS. We offer a wide selection of subject choices including BTECs and A Levels to enable students to pursue a path towards their chosen career, further training or university. We work tirelessly to ensure that every student leaves Harris Academy Battersea with the skills they need to continue their education or go into employment. We try to ensure every pupil who wants to go to university does so and that a fair proportion can go to the very best Russell Group universities. The extra-curricular opportunities provided, alongside excellent and meaningful qualifications, help to build a student’s curriculum vitae. Together, these help to make sure all our students are prepared for the challenges of the 21st century with the resilience, respectfulness and emotional intelligence to succeed.
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HARRIS WESTMINSTER SIXTH FORM In September 2014, the Harris Federation joined forces with Westminster School to open the Harris Westminster Sixth Form. It prioritises academically able students from state schools around London in order to prepare them for study at the most competitive universities at home and abroad. Westminster School has an unrivalled record of getting sixth formers into the best universities worldwide, regularly sending 50% of pupils to Oxford and Cambridge. The only selective school in the Federation, the new sixth form is located just moments away from Westminster School and the two work closely together.
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HARRIS FEDERATION Harris Academy Battersea is part of the Harris Federation, a not-for-profit charity with almost 25 years of experience in running schools. The Federation runs a family of primary and secondary academies in and around London. The Harris Federation has an exceptional track record more widely, with academic progress outpacing the national average by 3 or 4 times each year and more than three quarters of its secondary academies so far judged as ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted – this is unmatched by any other education body. The work of the Federation is made possible through the generous financial support of Lord Harris of Peckham and his family, and is brought to life by a team of excellent teachers and leaders. You can follow the Harris Federation on Twitter: @HarrisFed.
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EACH SUMMER FOR SPORTS DAY, THE HARRIS FEDERATION HIRES OUT THE CRYSTAL PALACE SPORTS STADIUM. WITH WELL OVER 10,000 STUDENTS AND STAFF SPECTATORS IN ATTENDANCE, ACADEMIES COMPETE IN TEAM AND INDIVIDUAL SPORTS.
BUILDING A TRACK RECORD OF EXCELLENCE
Lord Harris of Peckham Chairman
HARRIS ACADEMY BATTERSEA IS ONE OF THE NEWEST SCHOOLS IN THE HARRIS FEDERATION BUT IT IS FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF A FAMILY OF ACADEMIES THAT, ACROSS THE BOARD, ARE SETTING STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE AND FULFILLING HIGH EXPECTATIONS. In Dr Tomlinson and Dr Moody, it has two highly experienced leaders both of whom have track records of transforming secondary schools so that they give students a happy and successful education and become popular with parents. We are delighted with the progress already being made at the academy.
Sir Daniel Moynihan Ed.D, M.A., B.Sc. (Econ) Chief Executive
We hope that you have enjoyed reading this prospectus and that it has given you a flavour of the ethos and environment at Harris Academy Battersea.
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401 Battersea Park Road, London SW11 5AP T: 020 7622 0026 F: 020 7978 2683 Email: info@harrisbattersea.org.uk www.harrisbattersea.org.uk
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