A brand new academy with drive and ambition
Our first year as
a Harris academy This is a landmark year for our school. In September we joined the Harris Federation, one of England’s most successful groups of academies. All of their academies have been rated ‘outstanding’ or ‘good’ by Ofsted. Harris Academy Orpington combines the traditional values of good manners, strong discipline and respect with excellent teaching. Our highly skilled and committed teachers inspire students to work hard and achieve their absolute best. Lessons are interesting and engaging and students are enthusiastic about learning. Your son or daughter’s education and development is important to us. Our focus is to provide a quality learning experience both inside and outside the classroom. We promote excellence, opportunity and a ‘can do’ culture. Regardless of individual ability or background, we believe that by setting high standards, praising effort and with support and guidance, every child can excel. We hope that this prospectus gives you a sense of our drive and ambition. Speaking with our students and staff is the best way of finding out about what we have on offer. So, if you are considering our Academy for your son or daughter, please do come along to one of our open events. Dr Chris Tomlinson, Harris Federation Regional Director Mr Steve Jenning, Acting Principal Mr Gavin Barnett, Vice Principal Mr Gareth Lewis, Vice Principal
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Harris Federation
in numbers 1 st
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There are five applications from parents for every place available.
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Independent experts Watchsted rank the Harris Federation FIRST OF 26 ACADEMY GROUPS for improving Ofsted outcomes.
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Lower ability students are eight times more likely to achieve the demanding English Baccalaureate with Harris than they are nationally. 85% of Harris sixth formers gain university offers, with places secured at Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, King’s, Leeds and Bristol.
All Harris academies are rated ‘GOOD’ or ‘OUTSTANDING’ by Ofsted.
Drive and Ambition Whether your child needs to be stretched, is struggling or is somewhere in the middle, we will support and work with them to meet their individual needs. We want our students to be well-educated and well-rounded individuals, prepared to take the next steps when they leave our Academy. Our specialist team of highly trained staff provide exceptional care, guidance and support, helping students to develop their confidence, work ethic and aspiration. When extra help is needed with a particular topic or skill, our teachers coach in small groups and even one-to-one. Students with special educational needs are catered for with care and expertise. We have high expectations of the way in which students should conduct themselves. There is a strong emphasis on students learning in a calm and respectful environment. Our consistent approach to encouraging good behaviour results in a culture that is always friendly, orderly and purposeful.
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Happy and welcome
from day one With each intake of Year 7s, we make the transition from primary to secondary school smooth so that new students feel welcomed, cared for and settled. Many of our new Year 7 students will have the opportunity to visit the Academy during Years 5 and 6 as part of our extensive primary liaison programme, taking part in literacy, science, design technology and sports events. Together with the cross borough transition day, we also hold parents’ evenings, one-to-one meetings and a summer school, and a senior member of staff will visit your son or daughter at their primary school.
Students are guided through their first few weeks by a team of Personal Tutors and a dedicated Director of Learning (Year 7) and Pastoral Support Manager. Staff keep a very close eye on students, making sure everyone feels happy and welcome. Parents are encouraged to get involved with their child’s education and to visit the Academy on a regular basis, whether for special events or to hear about their son or daughter’s progress. Reports are sent home every half term and there is an opportunity to meet with your son or daughter’s Personal Tutor early in the first term and then with subject teachers later in the year.
A well-rounded
education Our carefully balanced curriculum is personalised and aims to meet the needs of all our students. In Years 7 and 8 we follow the National Curriculum and provide a wide range of subjects with appropriate emphasis on the core subjects – English, mathematics and science. For most subjects, your son or daughter will be taught with other students of a similar ability. The core subjects are organised so that students can be in a different ability group for each core subject in order that we best meet their needs. The majority of students study for the English Baccalaureate.
As they progress through the Academy, students specialise and refine their subject choices, beginning their GCSE courses in Year 9. Our staff offer expert advice to assist this process so that students make informed decisions about their future studies and work. Homework is important and ensures students continue learning beyond the classroom. Daily homework is set to encourage good study habits and to assess their understanding of topics and skills. Establishing studying routines early makes it much easier when the time comes to revise for examinations.
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Our clubs and
Activities We believe that academic success should go hand-in-hand with a rich variety of extracurricular activities. We encourage each student to find at least one activity that they enjoy and can excel in.
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We work hard to ensure that a wide range of interests are catered for. Wherever there is demand for a club or activity, we will always try to find a way to make it happen. Students are encouraged to become involved in Academy life and to take part in leadership opportunities, sporting events, fundraising for charity, trips and residential visits. Opportunities to work with students in other year groups are provided through our house structure. All students will belong to a house and contribute to the spirit of the house community. We believe this has a positive impact on the development of young people. As a Harris academy, we are part of Harris Experience. This programme has been designed for the most able students from Year 9 onwards. It exposes them to a range of cultural experiences that takes their learning well beyond the curriculum. Recent examples range from learning the art of auctioneering at Christie’s to a day of lectures at the University of Oxford.
Part of a thriving
sixth form
Our sixth formers are part of the wider Academy community and are proud to act as role models for our younger students.
and girls and the Frank Bruno Boxing Academy. We very much support learning beyond the classroom and our enrichment programme offers students the opportunity to take part in many activities, including D of E, work experience, charity work and involvement with primary schools.
The Sixth Form offers everything our students love about their Harris education in an environment where they are treated as young adults. It involves a step change and a new relationship with teachers. Our sixth formers wear suits not uniforms and follow a working day that fits in with a new type of learning.
The Harris Federation Sixth Form has progression agreements with several good universities in London and the South East and continues to expand this. This means that, if our students make the grades, they are guaranteed an offer of a place at these universities.
This period of our students’ education is filled with opportunities to develop their experiences and to work with leading practitioners in the field they are interested in. We offer a range of Level 3 academic and vocational courses and three unique sporting academies; Charlton Football Academy for boys
The Sixth Form regularly sends students to top Russell Group universities, specialist arts, drama and stage schools and direct into training for careers of their choice.
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Harris Federation The Harris Federation is a not-for-profit charity. Led and run by teachers, we established our first school over 25 years ago. There are now more than 40 happy and highly successful primary and secondary academies in our federation. All of these are in and around London. With each school that has joined us, the expectations we set ourselves have increased. Every Harris academy so far inspected by Ofsted is rated ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’, with three quarters of our inspected secondary academies judged
‘outstanding’. Our primary schools are newer, but almost half are ‘outstanding’, with the rest ‘good’. As well as joint working between the teachers at our academies, there are many shared experiences for our students. These include federation-wide sports days at the National Sports Centre; Harris Experience, a unique programme that readies our most able students for life at top universities; and inter-academy events such as one-to-one reading partnerships between our primary and secondary schools, World Maths Day and Debate Mate. You can follow the Harris Federation on Twitter: @HarrisFed
Lord Harris of Peckham Harris Federation Founder and Chairman When I set up the Harris Federation, a not-for-profit charity, I did so because I wanted London’s children to have a better education than I was able to receive.
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I had no choice but to leave school when I was 15, to go to work to support my family after my father died. Although I am dyslexic, it was never diagnosed when I was a child and I struggled in school to read and write. Fortunately I succeeded in business, but I could so easily have failed to do so.
My family and I give our time and money to education because we believe in the lives of children and want their futures to be happy and successful. The Harris Federation is led and run by world-class teachers who share our vision. We have built our reputation on a family of schools that are setting new standards of excellence and fulfilling high expectations.
Apply for a place There are over 200 places available in Year 7 every September and applications are made through the London Borough of Bromley’s coordinated admissions process. If you are interested in a place, please consider attending one of our open events – these dates are on our website. We look forward to meeting as many of you as possible.
Tintagel Road, Orpington, Kent BR5 4LG T. 01689 819219 F. 01689 600842 Email. info@harrisorpington.org.uk www.harrisorpington.org.uk @HarrisOrpington