Harris Academy Clapham - Prospectus 2023

EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE

Harris Academy Clapham is a place where students are encouraged to be exceptional.

Our students work hard and we fully support them to turn their dreams into reality. Our aim is that they will leave having excelled, ready to make a positive contribution to the world, and filled with the self-belief that ‘everything is possible’.

Our building was purpose-built in 2020 for our students. They are educated with us until Year 11, after which they will be able to apply to Harris Clapham Sixth Form which opened in September 2021. The two academies work very closely together to make sure our students are fully prepared for the next stage in their education.

Our staff are justly proud of the achievements since Harris Academy Clapham opened in 2020. We take our role within the community very seriously and families are key partners in our work.

Our students appreciate the opportunities we create for them. We take great pride in them and the way they relish participating in every aspect of life within the academy.

Deborah Gostling Principal

OUR 2024 COHORT

Students joining in 2024 will be the fifth year group in the academy, taking us to full capacity. Every student is a member of a house, meaning new students are linked with students in older year groups from the day they join us.

It is our absolute priority that every child has the best chances of success. We select teachers who are experts in their subjects and they are highly committed.

We invest heavily in their training to ensure their teaching excellence continues to go from strength to strength. Our staff are skilled in ensuring that the aspirations and needs of each individual child are met.

A WELL-ROUNDED EDUCATION

We want all of our students to enjoy their education and to achieve their true potential. In every subject they are taught a deep level of knowledge and skills to fully prepare them for their future lives.

We achieve the right balance across all national curriculum subjects. In line with our value of ‘having a global view’, students study two languages at key stage 3 (Years 7 to 9). As well as Spanish, students also learn Chinese and are able to take it right up to GCSE.

Our purpose-built facilities also mean we offer excellent teaching and resources for sport, technology and the performing arts. A brand-new library supports our students to read widely and become highly literate young people.

Our personal development curriculum has a deliberate focus on shaping the character of our students. We ensure our students learn how they can make a positive impact in the city and world in which they live.

ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Every child deserves the opportunity to experience exciting new challenges outside the classroom. At Clapham it is a core expectation that every student participates in at least one enrichment activity and most do many more.

Our 2023-24 clubs programme included almost 50 weekly clubs for just three year groups. We invest heavily in sport, including fixtures, and have already reached peaks of excellence in competitions.

Our enrichment programme also includes a wide range of non-sporting clubs including music and performing arts, languages, debating, coding and the arts. Our annual Clapham’s Got Talent completion showcases music excellence across the Academy. This will be bolstered in 2023-24 with a £30,000 grant to further increase our music provision.

Students can also participate in the Police Cadets from the start of Year 7. From Year 9 upwards, all students are given the opportunity to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh Award. An exciting trips programmes gives students a wide range of opportunities beyond the academy site.

Every term students also participate in Innovation Days to experience inspirational and high quality enrichment activities beyond the formal curriculum.

As members of the Harris Federation, our students also benefit from a wide range of additional enrichment activities. This has included the crossFederation Sports Day, academic enrichment and music competitions.

OUR VALUES

Throughout the Clapham academic and personal development curriculum we focus on our key values:

ENDEAVOUR FOR EXCELLENCE

• to work hard and relish challenge

• to never give up

• to learn to take sensible risks

• to always strive for the best for themselves and for each other

INTEGRITY AND HONESTY

• to act with kindness, treating others the way they would like to be treated

SELF-BELIEF WITH A GLOBAL VIEW

• to have the power and agency to achieve their ambitions for themselves and the wider world

THE CLAPHAM HOUSE SYSTEM

In 2023 all students at Clapham voted for the names of our houses. These are based upon inspiring figures from history and public life who students felt most represent our values.

Every student is a member of one of the following houses:

Every week students compete for their house, gathering positive praise points and online learning points (from our Sparx Maths, Bedrock and Seneca learning platforms). Annual competitions, including our Sports Day, also contribute to the house cup.

Student leaders are elected from the houses, to give students the practical experience of representing others and taking responsibility within the activities.

Every year since the academy opened we have been over-subscribed. To apply for one of our 195 places, name Harris Academy Clapham on the Common Application Form provided by your home local authority.

Our full admissions policy and how to apply for in year admissions places can be found on our website.

www.harrisclapham.org.uk

WHAT DO OTHERS SAY ABOUT OUR ACADEMY

“Pupils speak glowingly about the support offered by teachers and leaders.”

Ofsted, February 2023

“Harris Academy Clapham is not only a school where you can prosper in your education, but also a place where you can mould your character.”

Student

“This school is really amazing. We are provided with a lot of opportunities and experiences. We are lucky to be here.”

Student

“My child is so happy to go to school. It makes such a difference to have amazing teachers that care for the students. Thank you for all you do.”

Parent

PART OF THE SUCCESSFUL HARRIS FEDERATION

The Harris Federation is a not-for-profit charity with 54 academies in London and Essex. 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.

The Federation regularly tops academic studies and national league tables measuring progress and performance. Almost all Harris secondary academies are judged ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted.

Harris secondary academies are known for combining traditional standards of manners, discipline and uniform with the best of modern teaching and technology. There are around four applications from parents for every place available.

We send many of our sixth formers to Oxford, Cambridge and other Russell Group universities –winning places on these prestigious courses at a rate of more than twice the national average – as well as top apprenticeships and competitive vocational courses. We are immensely proud of the role that our alumni are now beginning to play in the world and of what we believe our current generation of pupils will go on to achieve.

In addition to running schools, the Harris Federation provides high quality training and professional development for teachers throughout this part of England.

Follow @HarrisFed on Twitter to stay updated.