Together: We Can
Together: We Can Welcome to the Harris Academy Orpington prospectus. This is a very exciting time for the Academy and I am very pleased that you have taken an interest in our Academy. Harris Academy Orpington combines the traditional values of good manners, strong discipline and respect with excellent teaching. We aim to inspire and support every student to achieve his or her personal best by fostering a love of learning, a passion for enquiry and a dedication to being the best they can be. We take a collaborative approach to getting the very best out of each other. Our motto is Together: We Can.
Committed, optimistic, resilient Our learning ethos is designed to encourage students to become committed, optimistic, resilient and enterprising. Learning is not just something that happens inside the classroom. With one of the world’s most exciting cities on our doorstep, we do everything we can to ensure that the boys and girls experience the best of what London has to offer, including museums, libraries, architecture and much more. Harris Academy Orpington is a happy school and all members of the Academy community are encouraged to respect each other and talk about problems they may encounter. We have an extensive team of support staff and pastoral workers to ensure that no stone is unturned to make sure that every child enjoys coming to the Academy, thrives and is successful. We hope that this prospectus gives you a sense of our drive and ambition. Speaking with our students and staff is the best way to find out about what we have on offer. If you are considering our Academy for your son or daughter, please do come along to one of our open events or contact us to arrange a visit. Mr David Astin Executive Principal
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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 their 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.
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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.
Happy and welcome
from day one
With each intake of Year 7’s, we make the transition from primary to secondary school smooth so 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 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.
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 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.
Students are guided through their first few weeks by a Faculty Director and Director of Learning. Staff keep a very close eye on students, making sure everyone feels happy and welcome.
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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 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 study 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 extra-curricular activities. We encourage each student to find at least one activity that they enjoy and can excel in. 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 Focus Days. All students contribute to the local community and 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.
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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. The Sixth Form offers everything our students love about their Harris education in an environment where they are treated as young adults. Our sixth formers wear suits not uniforms and follow a working day that fits in with a new type of learning. 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.
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We very much support learning beyond the classroom and our enrichment programme offers students the opportunity to take part in many activities, including Duke of Edinburgh, work experience, charity work and involvement with primary schools. 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. The Sixth Form regularly sends students to top Russell Group universities, specialist arts, drama and stage schools and directly into training for careers of their choice.
The Harris Federation Our academy is run by the Harris Federation, a not-for-profit charity with nearly thirty years’ experience of running happy and successful primary and secondary schools in and around London. The Harris Federation has an exceptional track record with academic progress far greater than the national average. Every Harris academy so far inspected by Ofsted is rated ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ with the majority rated ‘outstanding’. The founder and Chairman of the Harris Federation is Lord Harris of Peckham. His vision of delivering happy and successful education is brought to life by an excellent team of teachers and leaders.
Each year for Sports Day, the Harris Federation hires the Crystal Palace Sports Stadium. With well over 10,000 student and staff spectators in attendance, Academies compete in team and individual sports. The sound of students cheering each other on is so loud that Team GB athlete Louise Jukes who happened to be nearby tweeted: “Can hear hundreds of kids screaming from the stadium at Crystal Palace! What a great noise! Kids loving sports day! Wish I was a kid again!”
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
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From the Chief Executive The Harris Federation is a London charity with nearly thirty years’ experience in education. Our Academies combine the traditional values of good manners, strong discipline and smart uniform with the best of modern teaching and technology.
When I set up the Harris Federation, a notfor-profit charity, I did so because I wanted London’s children to have a better education than I was able to receive.
Harris Academy Orpington has established itself as a highly enterprising and very successful member of our group. Working closely together in and around London, our Academies are able to offer a far broader range of opportunities, far better training and professional development for staff and real success for our students.
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.
What makes this Academy so successful? Students who enjoy learning and look forward to coming to school each day; teachers and support staff who are genuinely ambitious for every student; a senior leadership team that consistently sets standards of excellence.
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.
If your son or daughter wants to come to an Academy with drive and ambition, then I hope you will attend one of its open events to find out more.
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.
Sir Daniel Moynihan Ed.D, M.A., B.Sc. (Econ) Chief Executive of the Harris Federation
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from the sponsor
Apply for a place There are 180 places 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 @haorpington