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22/11/24

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22/11/24

🌟 Last night’s Sixth Form Open Evening was a huge success!Thank you to everyone who joined us and to our amazing staff and students for showcasing the best of Harris Garrard Academy. 💬📚📸 Check out some highlights! pic.twitter.com/oRrFDNy3N4

20/11/24

Our Athletics team were over the moon when they received the news that they had won the Sports Hall athletics event. Congratulations to the team and the other schools who put on such a high quality display! We look forward to attending the in feb! https://t.co/VoSqccgbTq pic.twitter.com/bkpgei8pOZ

15/11/24

Last night’s epic Culture Week event celebrated the rich diversity of HGA! 🌍✨ Huge thanks to our talented students, amazing staff, and Student Council for making it unforgettable. Together, we raised over £1,100! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/rUOVN53IRP

15/11/24

💬 “I’m so glad I chose Harris Garrard Academy – the teachers go above and beyond to support us with our university applications!”– Year 13 Student 🎓✨

14/11/24

💬 “I’m glad I joined Harris Garrard Academy – the Sixth Form team and teachers are so dedicated! They work hard to help each student reach their personal goals while encouraging us to achieve our very best.”– Year 13 Student 🌟

13/11/24

💬 “This school is truly special – it’s given me lifelong friendships and the academic support I needed whenever I asked.”– Year 13 🌟📅 Don’t miss the Harris Garrard Sixth Form Open Evening on 21st November 2024, from 4:00pm to 6:00pm. We look forward to seeing you there! 👋📚

12/11/24

🎉 Join us for the Harris Garrard Sixth Form Open Evening on 21st November 2024, from 4:00pm to 6:00pm! ✨ We can’t wait to see you there! 👋📚 pic.twitter.com/ulLzK0zeo9

11/11/24

Today, our secondary students gathered for a moving Remembrance Service, honouring those who served with a live performance of the Last Post and drill displays from our dedicated cadets. 🇬🇧🙏 pic.twitter.com/iqvbbmReBF

22/10/24

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22/10/24

🎉 Celebrating in style at our assemblies with powerful performances! 🎤 From moving skits to vibrant musical acts and slam poetry, our students are showcasing the rich history, culture, and achievements of Black communities. 🌍🎶✨ pic.twitter.com/Aa2aCZQmX1

17/10/24

A pleasure to host such an event in order to give as many children in Thamesmead a chance to engage in sport and exercise whilst also have the privilege to represent their schools!

17/10/24

On your marksGet setGoProject Thamesmead cross country is about tostart. This great project sees working with to provide young people in Thamesmead schools the opportunity to represent their school in sport & physical activity pic.twitter.com/x5viNArTip

15/10/24

Our latest primary PE challenge saw our students and staff tackle the chest push.We saw an incredible amount of children attempt to beat their previous personal bests. Congratulations to all that took part and our overall winners! pic.twitter.com/QfO4CWXkQW

13/10/24

Well done to our primary boys football team on winning their first trophy of the season! https://t.co/sSAJF8RM5f

11/10/24

Proud to see Harris Garrard Academy highlighted at the Harris Conference for our exceptional results this year! 🎉👏 A big thank you to our dedicated staff and hardworking students. pic.twitter.com/QVzEML8NjV

10/10/24

SCHOOLS Today we held our autumn boys football competition at CAFC Training Ground with Harris Academy Garrard winning overall 👏Well done to all teams who took part ⚽️#CACTFSD ⚽️🔴⚪️ pic.twitter.com/LJm8i1fCy9

10/10/24

Great evening at HGA’s Meet the Tutor event! 🎉 It was fantastic meeting our Year 7 parents and carers, sharing the culture we’re building here, and offering 1:1 time with form tutors. 💬💡 Excited for the journey ahead! pic.twitter.com/yUsRimWCaZ

03/10/24

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03/10/24

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Harris Academies
All Academies in our Federation aim to transform the lives of the students they serve by bringing about rapid improvement in examination results, personal development and aspiration.

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Academy Admissions

Welcome to the Harris Garrard Academy admissions information page, where you can find out more information about how to apply for a place at our school. Our full admissions policy, with details of our admissions criteria, can be downloaded from the bottom of the page. 


You can find useful information about school admissions in Bexley on the following website https://www.bexley.gov.uk/services/schools-and-education/school-admissions.

The Common Application Form is available at https://www.eadmissions.org.uk/eAdmissions/app.

For primary admissions, please see the primary admissions page of the Bexley website.

If you do not live in Bexley, please contact your home Local Authority to find out how to apply. You can still apply for Bexley schools, but you need to apply on the form supplied by your home Local Authority.


Academy admissions contact details

Telephone: 020 8320 4800

Email: admissions@harrisgarrard.org.uk

Address: Yarnton Way, Thamesmead, Erith, Kent DA18 4DW

Admissions officer: Emma Summers


Reception & Early Years Open Events

We have five open mornings for Reception intake in September 2025. All events start at 9.30am. You’ll be offered a tour of the school, the chance to see classes in action and time with the headteacher – Mr Sheppard. No booking required, just come along.

  • Wednesday 6 November 2024
  • Wednesday 13 November 2024
  • Wednesday 20 November 2024
  • Wednesday 11 December 2024
  • Thursday 9 January 2025

We look forward to meeting you soon! No booking needed. Find out more about our primary school.


Reception and Year 7 admissions

We have 180 places in Year 7 and 90 reception places. We welcome students of all abilities and from all backgrounds. Applications for places will be made in accordance with local authority admission arrangements and will be made on the Common Application Form provided and administered by the local authority. The academy will work to the common admissions timetable agreed by Bexley Council.  Admissions must be made via Bexley Council only and not directly to Harris Garrard Academy (see links at top of the page).

HGA’s official Published Admission Number for entry into Year 7 is 180 students. However all Year 6 students at our primary school must be offered a place.

Year Group

Official PAN (Published Admission Number)

7

180 – this must include our Year 6 students. We reserve 90 spaces for our Year 6s. Any spaces not allocated to our HGA primary students are given to external students.

8

180

9

180

10

180

11

180

12

15 external students in addition to internal

13

15 external students in addition to internal


Admissions test - secondary phase

Where parents/carers name Harris Garrard Academy on the Common Application Form, their child/ward will be invited to sit our admissions test. We will write to all parents/carers with the exact time approximately one week before the testing day. If you have named more than one Harris Academy on the Common Application Form your child/ward will only need to sit the test ONCE and will be notified as to which academy will be contacting you with details of your child's/ward's appointment.


Supplementary information form

If you require a concession in the admission test (for example for SEN or medical needs), you must complete the supplementary information form which can be downloaded from the bottom of the page and return it directly to the academy along with medical or professional evidence and proof of residence by the agreed date (to be confirmed) Please note that completion of a supplementary information form for Harris Garrard Academy does not constitute an application to the academy. You must complete the Local Authority Common Application Form as well.


Admissions booklet

The Admissions Booklet can be downloaded from the bottom of the page. The booklet is to be completed at the induction evening. Dates and times for the evening will be confirmed in the letter sent to parents/carers following the offer of a place at the academy.


Key dates

Year 7 admissions

31st October 2024

Common Application Forms returned to local authority

13th December 2024

Harris Academy Banding Test day

3rd March 2025

Local authority informs parents/carers of allocated school

31st March 2025 (4pm)

Deadline for appeals to be made in writing to the academy

May/June 2025

Appeals heard

1st September 2025

Waiting list closed and replaced by casual admissions waiting lists. Parents/carers will need to re-apply as casual admission, if still waiting.


Primary admissions

15th January 2025

Common Application Forms returned to local authority

16th April 2025

If you apply online, you will receive the outcome by email on the evening of 16 April. Offers to paper applicants will be made by letter, posted on national offer day by first class mail.

2nd May 2025

Last date for accepting and declining offers of places

June 2025

Appeals should be made in writing to the Academy/Appeals to be heard

1st September 2025

Waiting list closed and replaced by casual admissions waiting lists. Parents/carers will need to re-apply as casual admission, if still waiting.

 

Transition from primary school

The transition from primary to Key Stage 3 in secondary school is a big step and we do everything we can to make this as smooth as possible. In addition to transition meetings for individual students who may require additional help with the transfer process, we have a clear plan both for parents and students to ensure support at every step. The support we offer includes:

  • Presentations at primary schools prior to your applications
  • Parents’ evening for prospective parents
  • Morning drop-in sessions to see the academy during curriculum time
  • Year 6 taster sessions

Once students have joined Harris Garrard Academy and have started their first year with us, we also:

  • Review information from the primary school for each student to ensure we have a full picture of their prior experience.
  • Have a day just for Year 7 at the start of the autumn term, to enable them to become comfortable in their new environment
  • Have extended break and lunch for Year 7 students in the first week
  • Carry out baseline testing to ensure the correct support is given to every student relative to their learning needs
  • Introduce students early on to hub leaders, including Assistant Principal, Directors and Behaviour for Learning Leaders
  • Offer extra-curricular clubs to support individual students who may be finding the transition process unsettling
  • Offer a Parental Support Evening covering topics such as Literacy, Numeracy, ICT and Welfare

Appeals

Parent(s) wishing to appeal against the academy’s decision should complete an appeal form stating the reason for the appeal based on the published admissions criteria. The appeal form and guidance notes for appeals can be downloaded at the bottom of the page.

Completed forms should be sent to: The Clerk to the Governors, Harris Garrard Academy, Yarnton Way, Thamesmead, Erith, Kent, DA18 4DW. For September 2025 intake the deadline for appeals is 4pm on 31st March 2025 and appeals to be heard in May/June 2025. Appeals for ‘in-year admissions’ will be reviewed throughout the year.

The appeals will be heard in private by an Independent Appeal Panel. Appeals may be made in English or the parents’/carers’ first language. Only one appeal per application is allowed. Appeals are conducted in person, and you may bring a friend.


In-year applications

Please download our in-year application form from the bottom of the page. The academy coordinates in-year admissions for students wishing to join the academy mid-year. Parents/guardians should apply directly to the academy.

On receiving your application form, your child will be invited for an assessment test. This test is used solely for the purpose of assessing their current level of ability in order to be able to best place the vacant position like for like. If there are no vacant positions available, your child will be placed on the waiting list in accordance with the oversubscription criteria found in the admissions policy. Please refer to the notes on the application form before completing.

Please note, giving false or deliberately misleading information on this form and/or supporting information may render the application invalid, or lead to any offer made being withdrawn.

Parents/Carers will have the right of appeal to an Independent Appeal Panel if they are dissatisfied with an admission decision of the academy. The Appeal Panel will be independent of the academy. The arrangements for Appeals will be in line with the Code on School Admission Appeals published by the Department for Education. The determination of the appeal panel will be made in accordance with the Code on School Admission Appeals and is binding on all parties. The academy will prepare guidance for parents/carers about how the appeals process will work and provide parents/carers with a named contact who can answer any enquiries parents/carers may have about the process.


Frequently asked questions

Q.        Will my child be added to your waiting list if he/she is not immediately successful?

A.         Yes, if your application is not immediately successful, your child will be placed on the waiting list in accordance with the oversubscription criteria found in the admissions policy.

Q.        Will I be able to find out where my child is on the waiting list?

A.          We would not be able to give the exact position or number of your child if it is Primary to Secondary Transfer until after the start of the September term. 

Q.        Will I be informed about my child’s test results?

A.         Test results are not given out as it is not a pass or fail test, it is a test to place applicants into the correct ability band.  Applicants are chosen from every ability band, but each selection will be made from the ability band that has become available in the academy.


Sixth Form admissions

Admissions are co-ordinated by the Harris Federation. For further details, including how to apply, visit www.harrissixthform.org.uk. Sixth Form entry requirements will also shortly be downloadable below.

Back to Key Information