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27/03/24

🌟 Our amazing pupils showcased incredible 'Character (to)day' diving into a variety of topics & activities! 🚀 Year 7s showed immense Courageous Advocacy, delving into Bee habitats and acing the Big School litter pick! 🐝🗑️ pic.twitter.com/zt2ebNR4ea

27/03/24

Ahoy there! ⚓️ The Year 9 crew from HGA set sail today for the Maritime Museum in Greenwich. 🌊 Anchors aweigh for a character-filled adventure on the high seas! ⛵️🌟 pic.twitter.com/yTfUrlmJjh

26/03/24

🏐🎉 Incredible news! Our year 8 netball team has smashed their way to the Harris Cup semi-finals! 🌟👏 Big shoutout to our amazing players, especially the year 7 stars shining bright! 🌟✨ Let's cheer them on as they face ! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/E4mK2T0cAT

20/03/24

🚀 Kicking off Creative Careers 2024! 🎨 Students are diving into a world of possibilities, exploring diverse pathways in the creative industry. 📸#CreativeCareers2024 pic.twitter.com/otVpl4Ua0K

19/03/24

🌟 Thrilled to share moments from the Speak Out Regional Final! 🎤 Megan Farr and May Mbabazi shone brightly, representing Harris Garrard Academy with their powerful voices. A celebration of young talent and the magic of expression. ✨ pic.twitter.com/yI8GICW9uF

15/03/24

Off to the we go, with Year 8 in tow, to witness love's timeless tale in a contemporary glow. Thanks to ’s generous sponsorship, Shakespeare's words will leap and dip. 🎭💔 pic.twitter.com/ezNpvHdema

08/03/24

pic.twitter.com/6A3IurXrFK

07/03/24

📚✨ The halls of HGA have transformed into a literary wonderland as our secondary staff channel their inner bookworms, dressing up as their favorite book characters! From the whimsical to the wicked, can you guess the characters? 📸🎭 pic.twitter.com/y8azMifcNq

06/03/24

The yr5/6 Netball final took place between today.Both teams have done exceptionally well to reach the final & were undefeated in their league so we knew we were in for a close game

05/03/24

The yr5/6 Netball final took place between today.Both teams have done exceptionally well to reach the final & were undefeated in their league so we knew we were in for a close game

01/03/24

Just wrapped up another fantastic week at HGA, proving that even when the skies open up, we find our pot of gold in the learning of our students. 🌈 pic.twitter.com/jKjPQHPkQ2

01/03/24

HGA Sixth Formers' visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau was a powerful reminder of history's darkest chapters. Their solemn reflections will echo in our hearts and history classes. pic.twitter.com/k1CaBME2Ns

29/02/24

Excited to kick off day 1 of the Y12 Biology Residential! 🌿 Stay tuned for updates, insights, and all the fascinating discoveries we'll make together! pic.twitter.com/6nqWUWrZBE

27/02/24

We're looking forward to National Careers Week, 4th-9th March 2024. We will be using the many resources available, such as a virtual careers fair, films, talks and booklets to inspire our students about their future options and pathways. https://t.co/kTXTWlyLix pic.twitter.com/RyYS0u3HQR

20/02/24

🎉 What an inspiring afternoon at our Careers Fair! Students explored a world of opportunities with leading employers, colleges, and universities. Their futures look bright! 🌟 Check out the highlights 📸 pic.twitter.com/D5uRNqGvDW

09/02/24

Congratulations to everyone you have done yourselves, your school and your Borough proud https://t.co/AxU7Tsxvjc

09/02/24

Congratulations to everyone you have done yourselves, your school and your Borough proud https://t.co/AxU7Tsxvjc

09/02/24

We are officially through to the Sports hall finals. We finished inside the top 3 of todays qualifier and now will be one of 12 schools in the grand finals on the 19th March! This is the first time in the 3 years we have achieved this! pic.twitter.com/hw1DbJxEo1

09/02/24

We have officially arrived at for the indoor sports athletics London finals representing to team Let’s go Garrard!! pic.twitter.com/op0BNKu50R

09/02/24

Look what arrived in the post! These adorable handmade worry monsters were ordered from over a year ago. Big thanks to the talented knitters - they will bring comfort to many. Therapeutic tools for little ones. pic.twitter.com/r6GhmtALKl

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Latest News

Posted on May 22nd 2018

A Taste of the City of London for Year 10

Twenty four students from Year 10 spent the day at Canary Wharf and in the City of London this week meeting people who work for leading companies including Barclays, Adidas and Amazon.

The Whittington Day 2018 included a ride on the Thames Clipper to Canary Wharf, workshops on CV writing and interview skills at Barclays, and a chance to see behind the scenes at Barclaycard.

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At London's Guildhall our students met young graduates including former Bexley student Jack Lauricourt (pictured below), who now works for Adidas. The graduates spoke about their career paths and answered questions. Students also learned about networking skills from barrister Claire Palmer.

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"The day teaches children our age about working life and the opportunities we have," said David, Year 10. "I could see that people really like their jobs at Barclays. I want to be an architect but if that doesn't work out maybe I'll work at Barclays now! Today has helped me find out in life what I want to do."

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"It's all about taking the children out of their current surroundings and giving them an opportunity to come to Canary Wharf and the City of London to explore opportunities within financial services and all sorts of areas," said Nick Wilkins, Senior Fraud Manager at Barclays, who has been helping to organise the day for 13 years.

"We involve people from lots of different backgrounds in the day. For example they meet people with and without degrees - from our intern programme or our graduate programme. One of the key messages is that big companies like Barclays have opportunities for everyone – whether you’re good at presentations and communication, analysing facts, or IT and technology. A good team is made up of our individuals with very different skills."

The CV and interview skills workshops are particularly useful, he says. "Once students are in a corporate environment sessions like this seem a lot more real. We also stress the importance of doing what you are good at rather than what you feel you should do, because that way your true self will come out."

This year for the first time students went on a tour of Barclays, including visiting the 24th floor where they saw the environment within which people work.

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Rameez, Year 10, said: "It was good to see that people really like their jobs. We met a lot of different people from different backgrounds. I like the cafeteria at Barclays and the views from the 30th floor."

Sharon, Year 10, said: “It is a good experience to come and see what it’s like working in London and meet top people too."

To be selected for the day, students had to apply saying why they wanted to come on the trip, said business studies teacher David Hem. "Around 70% of students applied so to choose the final 24 we did interviews and also looked at their application forms and their classwork too."

The annual Whittington Day, which has been taking place every year since 2002, is made possible with the kind support of the Worshipful Company of Security Professionals, the Whittington Trust, Barclays Bank and others.


Chair of Governors Beverley Johnston (right), pictured with former students Jack Lauricourt (centre) and Vincent Sam, who now work for Adidas and Amazon and are both Freeman of the City of London. "I'm pleased to do this because it's a chance to give something back," says Jack. "It's useful for students to meet younger professionals like us because I think they feel free to ask questions. I can speak about my own journey, since I only left school in 2013."Whittington 2018 (17)


Students pictured with Stephen Anderton, Master of the Worshipful Company of Security Professionals, which sponsors our annual Whittington Day.

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Arriving on the Thames Clipper from Woolwich.

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Getting a visitors pass at Barclays reception.Whittington 2018 (2)


John Whittaker, Barclays Head of Operational Risk and Strategy, talks to students about the importance of doing work you enjoy. "As you start to think about A levels and university, hold on to what you like and are good at. Join those two things together, work to the best of your ability, and you’ll enjoy your education more.”Whittington 2018 (4)


Ellis (right) talks about how she joined Barclays on an apprenticeshop progamme. "I was in your shoes just a few years ago, trying to decide what to do," she told students. Chris (left) joined Barclays after walking down his high street and seeing an advertisement for a cashier at his local branch. He now has a senior job at head office reporting to regulators.

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CV writing workshop, supported by staff from Barclays. How to put together a CV. What to include and not include.Whittington 2018 (6)