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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.

Central Office

Bexley

Brent

Bromley

Clapham

Croydon

Greenwich

Haringey

Havering

Merton

Newham

Southwark

Stratford

Sutton

Thurrock

Wandsworth

Westminster

Most Able Students

Most Able students (formerly known as 'Gifted and Talented') have been defined as those students who have one or more abilities developed to a level significantly ahead of their year group (or with the potential to develop these abilities). 

Talented pupils demonstrate a talent or skill in creative or sporting fields in and/or out of school. In all definitions there is the recognition of the distinction between the term more able and the term talented. Most Able students appear to be more able over a wider range of academic areas while talented students appear to generally excel in one particular creative area.

Most Able pupils are those who will exceed the expectations for their age group, either in all subjects or just one. The Most Able are a diverse group and their range of attainment will be varied; some do well in statutory national curriculum tests or national qualifications. However, being Most Able covers much more than the ability to succeed in tests and examinations.

Most Able students comprise around 5-10% of the academy population. At Harris Garrard Academy we identify the Most Able students in all subjects. 

The Leader for Most Able is Fran Day, Assistant Principal. Further documents and policies relating to our support for ‘most able' students can be downloaded from our Equalities and additional intervention page.


How does the academy identify Most Able students?

Our Most Able students are identified on entry to the academy using information held by primary schools about that student’s learning and achievements in Key Stage 2. We use this information to make sure we provide students with the right level of challenge. Our Most Able students will be identified on entry by:

having a Key Stage 2 fine score in Maths and English of level 5.4 or above

OR

having a Key Stage 2 score in Maths and English of level 5.0 or above if they are a Pupil Premium student

OR

having a CATS test score in the top 10% nationally

OR

showing exceptional attainment in a range of subjects in the first term of Year 7.

Most Able students are identified and placed on the academy’s Most Able register. We give particular attention to disadvantaged Most Able students. We recognise that nationally Most Able students do less well in schools where they are in the minority, Most Able boys do less well than Most Able girls, and Most Able Disadvantaged Students do less well than Most Able non-Disadvantaged students.

The register is reviewed and updated regularly during the academic year, based on hard and soft data. Most Able students are not removed from the list if underperforming, instead additional intervention is agreed for these students. Pupil Premium grant money is allocated for this where students are eligible.

We have developed a culture of high expectations for students and teachers so that the quality of curriculum delivery, teaching and assessment in both foundation and core subjects is high. This begins with identification based on Key Stage 2 data, rigorous target setting and careful tracking and intervention.

In addition to using data provided by primary schools, Most Able students will be identified over time using:

  • Subject identification criteria – reviewed at the start of the year and published to all staff and students
  • Subject area nominations – based on relevant assessment profiles using multiple types of quality assessment including teacher assessment
  • Assessment results – such as standard tests, CATs and examination performance externally and internally
  • Most Able Leader nomination – using data that tracks the performance of students, the Most Able Leader will also examine nominations to make sure the correct students are identified and placed on the register.
  • Parent consultation – we will consider parental nomination and welcome any background, knowledge or evidence of a pupil’s work done at home if appropriate. This information will be cross referenced to performance data and the academy decision is final. 

What are the opportunities and events for Most Able students?

There are many opportunities for Most Able students which can include:

  • The Harris Experience
  • The Brilliant Club – 12 arts and humanities students will be mentored through an assignment by a PhD research student in half term 4.
  • The Challenge Project – KS3 pupils attend masterclasses in key subject areas from across the curriculum. They will hone their knowledge and develop practical skills with the support of subject specialists.
  • Literacy and Numeracy leaders
  • School productions
  • Theatre trips 
  • Drama workshops