An exceptional education for local children
Your child’s education Harris Primary Academy Haling Park opened in September 2014 to meet the demand from local families for high-quality places in South Croydon. We are part of the Harris Federation, a local charity chosen by Croydon Council in a call for providers to run schools to meet the rising demand for places. Our Academy is part of a Federation of Academies and Free Schools with an established track record in London. We are also one of a community of Croydon schools run by the Harris Federation that works closely together.
Our belief is that children thrive when they are consistently happy and safe. We are a twoform entry Academy from Reception – Year 6 and have places for 60 lively young minds in Reception each year. Our intention is to make sure that from the first day of their education, our pupils have a truly happy and rewarding experience. We aim to do this by supporting pupils to develop the qualities of perseverance and independence in order to become confident life-long learners. Our children are taught to respect themselves and others and celebrate diversity. Harris Primary Academy Haling Park is for local children who will have priority for the 60 places offered each year. In partnership with Croydon Council, our Academy has a Travel Plan which encourages families to respect the local residents by not travelling to our Academy by car. There is no available parking for parents in the close vicinity of the Academy.
Kate Magliocco, Executive Principal
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Happy in the classroom Every lesson is creative People say that every Teachers at our Academy will aim to child is different but always deliver lessons that children where this is truest of enjoy and feel motivated by. We believe that all lessons should be all is in their Primary creative, not just arts subjects. years. Our staff will We want our children to learn to support every child to be confident readers, writers and be the best they can be. mathematicians. Our teachers will make sure these areas as well as the rest of the Primary Curriculum are taught in ways that engage the natural sense of curiosity that children have.
The result of this is that our children will become eager, self-assured pupils who understand the joy of learning and are well prepared for academic success.
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High standards in every classroom With each week, term and year being so significant in a young child’s life, consistency is particularly important in their Primary education. Like all Harris Academies, our staff will have outstanding professional development opportunities to make sure that standards are consistently high in every classroom.
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Children treated as individuals We want children to retain their individuality and be treated and looked after in the right way for them. Each child will be taught in the way that suits them best and we will step in quickly if a change is needed. For some children, this might involve one-to-one support if they are finding something difficult and for others it could mean stretching them more to keep them interested. As one of our parents, you would be welcome to discuss your son or daughter with us at any time. We will also send reports home every half term. We are an inclusive Academy and welcome children of all abilities. For children with special needs, one of our first steps will be to work with their parents and other specialists to create a plan for supporting them. Our approach as a whole will be reviewed with children’s classroom teachers, relevant external specialists and parents.
Our Literacy specialism We chose Literacy as our specialism because we believe that learning to read, write and communicate effectively underpins all learning. Reading will be taught through the teaching of traditional phonics and children will be encouraged to read for pleasure and take books home.
An academic head start We believe that all children should have access to specialist teachers and that this should not just be reserved for Secondary School pupils. Therefore, our children have weekly specialist teachers to enrich their learning experience, currently these are French and Music. We are lucky that there are three Harris Secondary Academies here in Croydon, all of which are rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted. This means specialist teachers will often come into our Academy and, as they get older, children can be taken regularly to use facilities such as science laboratories. We will also use the excellent sports facilities at Harris Academy Purley. As well as engaging them in the excitement of the subject at hand, these experiences help prepare children for a successful transition to Secondary School.
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Happy outside the classroom We will always make time for children to think, to play, to discover and wonder. This section of our prospectus describes our approach to helping pupils to become well-rounded, resilient and confident. Hobbies, skills and experiences
Personal and Social Development
Our teachers and other staff will seek to discover and nurture at least one special talent within each child. This will allow your child’s special talents to thrive and shine.
We want our children to learn respect, tolerance and understanding for each other; we know that consideration for others will ensure future academic and social success.
Local rail links will ensure our children experience learning opportunities linked to topics taught through trips and outings to various settings in London and the local area. At times this may include visits from external specialists and taking part in activities at other Harris Academies.
Healthy and tasty meals Our school lunches are cooked on site and provide a variety of healthy and tasty meals which parents are made aware of. Pupils may bring in packed lunches if they prefer, although most prefer to have a hot meal. We encourage children to have a piece of fruit mid-morning.
Traditional standards of behaviour School will be relaxed and comfortable but pupils will know that good behaviour is expected of them. They will be frequently praised and rewarded for trying their best and for being kind, hard-working and well-behaved. Our children will be taught to respect each other and their teachers. There will be a zero tolerance approach to any type of bullying.
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A Federation of Academies and Free Schools Our school is part of the Harris Federation. This is a not-for-profit charity with almost 25 years of experience of education in London. The charity was created by Lord Harris of Peckham. He and his family take an active interest in the achievements and progress of pupils across the Federation.
Admissions We will have 60 places available in Reception each year. If we are oversubscribed, children with a statement of Special Educational Need that names the Academy will be given places first. After this, places would be allocated to: • Looked After and previously Looked After children.
Every Harris school is different, serving its own pupils and community, but all share an ethos that ensures children are happy, enjoy learning and want to go to school. Being part of the Harris Federation means that our teachers and support staff will have access to excellent training and resources from a team of experts in Primary education. All Harris Academies and Free Schools are located in and around London and work very closely together. Teachers get together to share their best ideas and develop successful ways of teaching. Pupils and children come together for events such as the annual Battle of the Brains contest and, each summer, the Harris Federation Sports Day. You can find out more about the Harris Federation and all of our sister Academies and Free Schools at www.harrisfederation.org.uk or by following @HarrisFed on Twitter.
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• Children who the Harris Federation accepts have an exceptional medical or social need for a place at the Academy. • As we get brothers and sisters applying, children who have a sibling at the Academy at the time of admission. • Children who live closest to the Academy according to straight-line distance. Applications for places in Reception should be made using the Croydon Council’s online form. Parents will be required to complete a supplementary form for in-year admissions (this does not include applications for children starting Reception).
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Harris Primary Academy Haling Park, 50-58 Haling Road, Croydon, Surrey CR2 6HS T. 0203 772 4560 Email. info@harrisprimaryhalingpark.org.uk www.harrisprimaryhalingpark.org.uk
@HarrisFed