Lord Harris of Peckham Sponsor
Matthew Osborne Principal
Sir Dan Moynihan Chief Executive of the Harris Federation
THE RACE TO THE FINISHING LINE OF YOUR PRE-UNIVERSITY EDUCATION
The Harris Sixth Form is where adult life begins and where you begin to take the first steps towards a successful career.
Whatever study or career path you want to follow, we have the right choices for you.
We are proud to be one of the largest Sixth Form groups in London. One benefit of our size is that we are able to provide a wealth of opportunities for our students that simply cannot be found elsewhere.
But equally, we are proud despite our growth to have retained an ethos that treats sixth formers as individuals, allowing and encouraging students to grow and succeed.
In addition to your work towards the subjects you take, we want you to have a fun and fully-rounded experience of sixth form education. We offer many clubs, societies and trips and there are social events throughout the academic year. As sixth formers, you will also be role-models to our younger students on campus, helping to mentor and motivate them.
We hope that you are excited by what you learn about us in this prospectus. We very much look forward to meeting you, as do the rest of our team at the Harris Sixth Form.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q1: How do I apply?
Your application route will depend on whether you are applying to one of our 10 ‘Single Centre’ campuses, or one of our other Wider or Further Education sites. Specific course details and entry criteria are available on our website: www.harrissixthform.org.uk
Once you have chosen your courses, you should complete the online application as soon as possible. For our Single Centre campuses, this can be found on the website www.harrissixthform.org.uk/application for our other sites, you will need to apply via their individual websites, linked here: www.harrissixthform.org.uk/212/ sixth-form-welcome
Popular courses tend to become oversubscribed very quickly so a prompt application will help to prevent disappointment. Applications before the Christmas holidays are ideal. Applications after this will be considered, with a waiting list formed if appropriate. www.harrissixthform.org.uk/application
Q2: How close do I need to live to a campus to get a place?
Our campuses are located in many different parts of London. All of these have good transport links so we tend to have a reasonably wide catchment. You should apply if you think that what we offer matches your aspirations for a successful Sixth Form education.
Q3: How should I choose my subjects?
Above all, our advice is that you should specialise in what interests you most and what you excel at.
We are always very happy to talk through your options with you before you make your application – just call or email. We can give you the information you need about what individual subjects are like to study in sixth form, as well as advice on likely university and employer requirements for particular degree courses and career choices.
Whatever choice you make, you can expect first class teaching, small tutorial sizes and our full support as you work towards a successful and fulfilling future.
Q4: What kinds of students are we looking for?
We are looking for young men and women with the aptitude, enthusiasm, intelligence and drive to make the most of their two years in sixth form, to demand the best and to make the most of every opportunity, every day.
Q5: Is financial assistance available?
Yes.
There are travel grants and a full range of other bursaries to support eligible sixth formers.
Q6: Should I apply to Harris Sixth Form or the Harris Westminster Sixth Form?
The Harris Westminster Sixth Form is run by the Harris Federation and Westminster School. Based in central London, it is academically selective with places given to highly able young people.
Students are able to apply for both sixth forms and, if you meet the entry criteria, we would encourage you to do so.
Competition for places at the Harris Westminster Sixth Form is highly intensive. Both sixth forms are tailored to students looking for a place on a top degree course in the UK or abroad.
What do I do if I am more of a practical person?
Have a look at what Harris Professional Skills 6th Form has to offer. Students have the chance to learn a trade and be prepared for the world of work or the next stage
THE HARRIS DIFFERENCE
The Harris Sixth Form involves a step change and a new relationship with teachers: our sixth formers wear suits not uniform and plan for a working day that fits in with a new type of learning.
Your two years here will be filled with opportunities to develop your experience by working with and hearing from leading practitioners in the field you are interested in. Teaching is from professionals hand-picked by Harris who understand that you are a young adult by the time you reach sixth form, and treat you accordingly. This new independence is your reward for Years 7 – 11.
All our sixth formers embark on a dedicated two week programme of work experience, university visits, lectures and short courses; and, unlike many other sixth forms,
we employ a team of full-time Careers Consultants to guide and support you as you make decisions about your future.
They will be able to give you specialist support with the preparation of university applications, CVs and the other processes you will need to follow to secure the next stage of your education and training.
We also invest time and resources in developing the skills that will set you apart from others when it comes to applying to university and for jobs. Examples of the opportunities available are workshops to develop your public speaking and consultations with experts in skills such as conveying a confident and professional image.
PARTNERSHIPS WITH TOP UNIVERSITIES, COLLEGES AND
EMPLOYERS
Harris Experience Advanced was launched as a Federation Sixth Form academic enhancement programme in 2013–14. Since then, over 85% of our Harris Experience Advanced students have been successful in their applications to Russell Group universities.
Just some of the opportunities on offer:
Close links with top UK universities include:
• King’s College
• Queen Mary
• Imperial
• University College
• London School of Economics
• St. Andrew’s
• Cambridge
These partnerships enable Harris Sixth Form students to attend lectures, events and bespoke programmes throughout the academic year.
Throughout the year, Harris Sixth Form students who are interested in medical, dentistry or veterinary science careers receive comprehensive advice, support and guidance from the Harris Experience team on how to prepare for the various stages of the application process as well as plenty of opportunities to hear from people in the medical profession and our medical alumni.
The Harris Scholars Advanced is a specialised programme for our Oxbridge candidates, delivered through a programme of events and opportunities designed to enhance their skills and knowledge in order to give them the best chance of success.
Harris Experience Advanced was launched as a Federation Sixth Form academic and application enhancement programme in 2013-14. Since then, we have around 70% annually of our Harris Experience Advanced students advancing to Russell Group and top third universities.
PATHWAY
All Harris Sixth Form students have the opportunity to sign up to the Pathway programme. Through a range of activities students have direct access to national and local employers, including companies such as SKY, KPMG and Allen and Overy. The programme includes mentoring, work placements, bespoke Insight days and contact with current apprentices. Knowledge of the labour market and development of employability skills ensures that students have the edge when applying for apprenticeships, gap year opportunities and internships. This exposure also enables students to better prepare for choosing their apprenticeship or degree route.
CHOOSING A BASE CAMPUS
We have over 30 sites in London, with an astonishing range of facilities between them in every subject we offer. Over 60% of our sites so far inspected by Ofsted have been rated as ‘outstanding’ and none less than ‘good’. All Sixth Formers have a base site. If applying to one of our Single Centre campuses, you can discuss this with us, but most people make a decision based on where they live and the subjects they would like to study. Some Sixth Formers attend two campuses to accommodate their course options.
There is a free-of-charge minibus service between Single Centre campuses to make this straightforward for you. Our sites are totally wireless and the Harris Sixth Form cloud is fully accessible on-site, at home and when you are on the move.
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND SOCIAL EVENTS
Every term, you will be able to choose an enrichment course. These are fully funded and our aim is to provide activities you enjoy and which broaden your interests and experiences.
They range from first aid and archery to art appreciation, learning foreign languages, sign language and cookery.
In addition to your enrichment courses, there are dozens of other extra-curricular activities and events each week. To give you a sense of what is on offer, here are some of the most popular:
• Tennis, table tennis, squash, football, netball, rugby and basketball – played competitively and for fun, with some students achieving coaching qualifications
• Charity events at home and abroad – in recent years our students have built a school in India and taken a refurbished ambulance to a Ugandan village
• Bands, orchestras and choirs
• Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme
• Debating
• Mentoring of younger Harris Academy students and helping to run clubs and events for them
• Annual Celebration of Achievement event, where sixth formers’ effort and work is formally and publicly recognised and prizes are given out to mark outstanding achievement
ROUTES TO SUCCESS
Whatever study or career path you want to follow, we have the right choices for you through our very different – but equally ambitious – routes for your future.
As you progress through sixth form and refine your aims and aspirations, we will support your progression towards the route that suits you best.
We have a UCAS programme for all sixth formers with plenty of advice and guidance throughout the year as well as access to the Unifrog platform. We also run the Harris Experience Advanced, a bespoke programme for Russell Group and top third applications. There are opportunities for all sixth formers to visit universities, hear from experts and alumni at many events and to receive advice and guidance at their academies and from the federation on their applications.
Our UCAS process, including the Harris Experience Advanced, is designed to be aspirational. 41% of our federation students went on to win places at the UK’s most competitive universities in 2024, including Oxford and Cambridge. 30% of our medical applicants were also successful.
Our sixth formers have gone to Cambridge for Engineering, Imperial as well as St George’s for Medicine, King’s for Pharmacy, Bristol for Maths, Warwick for Law, Durham for Politics and UCL for History.
In addition to our relationships with good universities across London and the UK, we have strong links with the following businesses and organisations, to name but a few: Barclays Bank, Reed Smith LLB, Tuckers Solicitors, AXA, JLL Property, TFL, Civil Service, the Nuffield Foundation, Deloitte and Pret A Manger.
Students who plan on moving in to work or an apprenticeship once finishing sixth form have the opportunity to join the World of Work (WOW) programme which runs across all of our academy sixth form campuses. This dedicated programme of activities aims to inspire and raise awareness of the range of employment opportunities available. Group and one to one sessions help students apply for work and/or apprenticeships and there are many opportunities to meet with and talk to employers, training providers and relevant professional organisations. A dedicated World of Work day in July each year provides year 12 and 13 students time to update their CV, learn about the application process and attend a careers and apprenticeship fair where they can talk directly to employers and apprenticeship providers.
Various students have gone on to apprenticeships. Some of the employers they went on to work for include: Accenture, Alliance Healthcare, Veterinary practice, Barclays Bank, Chelsea Football club, Day Lewis Pharmacies, GCHQ, Hilton Hotels, J P Morgan, Laing O’Rourke, Lloyds Bank, Marks and Spencer, City Hall and Royal Bank of Scotland. The occupational areas they embarked on were wide ranging and including anything from IT and finance to vet nursing and plumbing.
The apprenticeship landscape and application processes are ever changing. Being supported by heads of sixth and professional careers advisers who are up to date with these changes enables students to successfully move on to their chosen career path.
COURSES
Listed below is the variety of courses that are available.
A LEVELS
Art & Design Fine Art
Art & Design Photography
Biology
Business Studies
Chemistry
Classics
Computer Science
Dance
Drama & Theatre Studies
Economics
English Literature
Extended Project Qualification
Film Studies
French
Further Maths
Geography
Government & Politics
History
Mandarin
Maths
LEVEL 3 VOCATIONAL COURSES
Art
Applied Science
Business
Health & Social Care
Information Technology
Media Studies
Performing Arts
Sport
Media Studies
Music
Physical Education
Physics
Product design
Psychology
Religion & Philosophy
Sociology
Spanish
Statistics
OTHER LEVEL
3 COURSES
GCSES
English GCSE*
Maths GCSE*
*Courses at each site vary and are subject to change. Please find the most up to date course listings on the academy websites.
See our website, www.harrissixthform.org.uk for course locations.
Core Maths
APPLICATIONS AND ADVICE
Please fill in the online application form for Single Centre campuses, or the individual application form on your chosen academy’s website for other sites. If you would like advice on course selection, please contact us and we will be happy to help.
Once your application form is received, your suitability for a place will be assessed and your present school contacted. We will ask them about the suitability of the courses you have applied for, your achievements, your attitude to study and your predicted GCSE results.
IMPORTANT DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Deadline for applications:
As popular courses tend to become oversubscribed very quickly, applications before the Christmas holidays are ideal. Applications after this will be considered but you should apply by March at the latest. A waiting list will be formed if appropriate.
Course discussion meetings
Will take place after the Easter Break
Taster sessions
These will take place after the GCSE exams.
Enrolment
Enrolment for most sites is held on GCSE Results Day and the subsequent Friday.
Once we have all the information we require, you will receive a letter advising you of the outcome of your application.
