Harris Academy Upper Norwood Prospectus

A new Academy with drive and ambition Co-educational from September 2014

Welcome Brand new to Croydon, Harris Academy Upper Norwood is offering Year 7 places to 180 boys and girls who want to come to a school with drive and ambition.

Our Academy has been established by the Harris Federation, a not-for-profit charity which has been running schools and Academies for more than 20 years.

From the Chief Executive Welcome, and thank you for taking the time to read this prospectus. I hope it gives you an insight into the wealth of opportunities offered at Harris Academy Upper Norwood – a brand new Academy for local families.

The Academy is sponsored by the Harris Federation, a not-for-profit charity with over 20 years’ experience in London education.

Some of you will be familiar with our three other Secondary Academies in Croydon – Harris City Academy Crystal Palace, Harris Academy Purley and Harris Academy South Norwood.

All three of these are rated as ‘Outstanding’ schools by Ofsted and they are highly oversubscribed by local parents. We aim to bring the same success to Harris Academy Upper Norwood.

The Academy is rapidly establishing itself as an enterprising and successful member of the Harris Federation. Students are enthusiastic about their learning and look forward to coming to school each day. Staff are ambitious that every student will reach an excellent standard of academic and personal achievement in their time at the Academy and in the future.

I hope you will attend one of our open events to find out more.

Sir Daniel Moynihan Ed.D, M.A., B.Sc. (Econ) Chief Executive of the Harris Federation

Your son or daughter’s education We are delighted to welcome you to another brand new Harris Academy for Croydon families.

Harris Academy Upper Norwood combines the traditional values of smart uniform and good discipline with the best of modern teaching and technology. Our aim is to give every student the knowledge, tools and support to fulfil their academic and social potential.

Chris Everitt, Principal

Carolyn English, Executive Principal

The Academy specialises in Mathematics as well as Enterprise and, through these two new and very relevant specialisms, we will create a vibrant and exciting school that is every bit as successful as the three Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ Harris Academies nearby.

In order to ensure Harris Academy Upper Norwood becomes outstanding in a short space of time, plans are in place for the school to be supported by Harris Academy South Norwood. South Norwood’s Principal, Mr Hainey, and his leadership team are working closely with us and our students are benefitting from first-class additional resources and expert staff.

We hope that this prospectus gives you an overview of our aims and ethos. We are very pleased to be becoming a co-educational Academy from next September and we look forward to meeting you and your son or daughter at our Open Evening.

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A new co-educational Academy Our teachers make a point of getting to know and understand each student.

Whether someone needs to be stretched, is struggling or is somewhere in the middle, we always work to meet their needs.

The Academy has a ‘can-do’, enterprising culture. This means: • Offering a full, broad and balanced curriculum and ensuring students of all academic abilities enjoy learning; • Giving each student the individual care and attention they need to thrive and achieve their personal best; • Treating each other with care and respect and maintaining a safe and orderly environment; • Organising a fun and exciting range of extracurricular activities; • Having high expectations and a new Sixth Form worth staying on for.

Class sizes are kept as small as possible and we place a firm emphasis on good behaviour so that students can learn in a calm and orderly environment. Homework is usually 1–1.5 hours a night for students in Year 7, rising to 2–3 hours for students preparing for their GCSEs.

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Students who need it are given extra tuition, either in small groups or on a one-to-one basis. Just as importantly, we provide challenging courses and master classes in a range of subjects, in particular the core subjects of English, Mathematics and Science, to ensure every child feels stretched to their full potential.

Applying for a placE There are 180 places available in Year 7 for boys and girls.

We are a state-funded independent school and all places are free of charge. We welcome applications to Year 7 from boys and girls of all academic abilities.

If you are interested in a place, you should name the Academy on the Common Application Form for the borough in which you live.

Our full admissions policy is available on our website or via the Academy office.

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Our new Year Sevens: A safe and welcoming community From the moment they arrive here at the beginning of September, we want our Year 7 students to feel welcome, safe and cared for. By feeling settled early on, they can begin to grasp all of the academic, social and extracurricular opportunities we offer.

We work closely with every Year 7 to help them set goals and make sure they settle in well. Class sizes are kept as small as possible. We also have a culture of mutual respect between students and staff and zero tolerance of bullying in any form.

There are four Faculties at the Academy. Our Faculty system is similar to the House system found elsewhere, with every student a member of one Faculty throughout their time here. Students can win points and prizes for their Faculty through competitions that take place throughout the school year, academic and sporting achievement and good attendance and behaviour.

We want parents to feel involved and informed about their child’s progress. This is why we send reports home every six weeks and regularly welcome parents into the Academy to meet with their son or daughter’s teachers.

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Education with drive and ambition Whether a student needs to be stretched, is struggling or is somewhere in the middle, we will always work to inspire the best in them.

We follow a full, broad and balanced curriculum and help every student find something they can excel at.

Students receive a well-rounded education with a strong foundation in literacy and numeracy in Years 7–9.

By the start of Year 10, they are fully prepared to begin studying towards GCSEs and then A Levels. As they progress, we help our students make good decisions about their education and understand what they need to do in order to achieve their social, academic and professional ambitions and aspirations.

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Alongside our curriculum, we have a specialism in Mathematics. Our aim is to make sure students can think mathematically. This skill is essential for everyday life and also for careers in sectors such as finance, retail and the wider world of business.

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A personal best culture Our Academy has a personal best culture in which students are encouraged to always improve on their last performance.

Students are also rewarded for good behaviour and positive achievement and are taught the value of hard work and determination.

Through a rich curriculum, a wide range of extracurricular activities and dedicated, inspiring teaching, we hope that every one of our students finds a supportive and nurturing community at our Academy.

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Preparing students for successful futures Whilst university and careers may seem far away, we know that the foundations for these are laid during your son or daughter’s school years.

University coaching begins at age 14, which is when students begin to choose their GCSE options. This is so they know what sort of subjects they should be studying to gain places at the universities they are aiming for and so that they make the right decisions about their education early on.

We also arrange visits to universities across the country to give students first-hand experience of university life and to encourage their sense of aspiration and ambition. Through the Harris Federation’s links with Oriel College, Oxford and Harris Manchester College, Oxford, there is an Oxbridge mentoring scheme for students aiming to apply there.

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Sixth Form Our Sixth Formers are able to choose from a wide variety of academic and vocational courses.

They can expect excellent tuition, small tutorial sizes and our full support as they work towards successful and fulfilling careers. Sixth Formers wear smart business dress and are role models for our younger students.

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Harris Federation Our Academy is sponsored by the Harris Federation, a charity with over 20 years of experience in running schools. The Federation runs 27 Primary and Secondary Academies across London.

The Harris Federation has an exceptional track record, with academic progress outpacing the national average by three or four times each year. 9 of our 12 Secondary Academies open for longer than a year so far inspected

by Ofsted have been judged as ‘Outstanding’ – this is unmatched by any other education body.

The work of the Federation is made possible through the generous financial support of Lord Harris of Peckham and is brought to life by a team of excellent teachers and leaders.

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Strong governance Our Academy Governing Body is chaired by Phil Saunders.

The Governing Body is independent and is responsible, with the Principal, for setting and monitoring the educational direction of the Academy and the targets to be achieved over time.

It includes representation from the teaching and nonteaching staff, parents and the community. The Chair of Governors can be contacted via the Academy (the address is at the back of this prospectus).

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