View our posts

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

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

Bromley

Clapham

Croydon

Greenwich

Haringey

Havering

Merton

Newham

Southwark

Stratford

Sutton

Thurrock

Wandsworth

Westminster

Willesden

Open Mornings - For September 2024 Intake

Welcome! We are delighted that you are considering a place at Harris Garrard Academy, and welcome you to our school community.


Open mornings - Reception & Early Years

We have five open mornings for Reception intake in September 2024. All events start at 9.30am. No booking required, just come along.

  • Wednesday 8 November 2023
  • Wednesday 15 November 2023
  • Wednesday 22 November 2023
  • Wednesday 13 December 2023
  • Thursday 18 January 2024

Our open mornings for Early Years Foundation Stage are from 9.30am-12 noon on:

  • Wednesday 8 November 2023
  • Wednesday 15 November 2023
  • Wednesday 22 November 2023
  • Wednesday 13 December 2023
  • Wednesday 10 January 2024

We look forward to meeting you soon! No booking needed.


Helping To Get You Child 'Reception Ready'

Starting school is a big change in a young child's life, and quite an adjustment for parents too! Being well prepared will help to make it a more positive and exciting experience for them, and you too. This guide will offer some useful tips to make it all go smoothly.

Below are some helpful guides and tips to enable you to get 'Reception Ready!'

  • Click HERE to download our Welcome to Reception booklet
  • Click HERE to download the Getting Ready For School Checklist
  • Click HERE to download information about our Teddy Bear's Picnic

Writing and recognising their own name

It would be helpful if your child could write and recognise their own name. Help them practise this before they come to school by showing them what their name looks like, and by helping them write it.

Then, if your child sees their name on a name card, a coat peg or on their belongings they will be able to find their own things.


Getting dressed and undressed independently

Your child will be changing their clothes and shoes during the school day to go outside to play or to do activities such as PE. To help your child feel more confident about getting changed, make sure that their clothes are easy for them to take off and put back on again. Clothes with easy fastenings or big buttons are ideal, as well as skirts with elasticated waists and shoes with Velcro fastenings.

Encourage your child with practice sessions before they start school.


Going to the toilet independently

Teach your child how to use the toilet and to clean themselves afterwards. Explain the importance of flushing to leave the toilet clean for the next child to use.

Turn practising into a game by asking them to 'what comes next?' so they remember to flush each time. Encourage them to wash their hands thoroughly with soap before drying them. 

An adult is always available if they need help at school, and our toilets are very easy for small children to use as they are designed with them in mind.


Being able to sit and concentrate

It is important that children become used to sitting still and concentrating. Practise this with your child at home. Make sessions fun as you encourage them to sit still and listen while you talk about something that interests them.

Ask them easy questions to keep their attention and get them used to focussing on what you are talking about.


Being able to handle books properly and enjoy a story

We use reading and enjoying stories a lot to help the children learn about the world as well as helping them with their reading and writing. Help them get used to handling books and enjoying stories by sharing and reading books with them at home.

Allow them to hold the book and turn the pages sometimes as you read them a story. This will help make them feel 'in charge' of the story, and will be an important step for them towards handling and reading books of their own.


Reception Year

In Reception, we follow the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage issued by the Department for Education (DfE). The curriculum consists of seven areas of learning:

  • Personal, Social and Emotional Development
  • Physical Development
  • Communication and Language
  • Literacy
  • Mathematics
  • Understanding the World
  • Expressive Arts and Design

There are then 17 Early Learning Goals (ELGs) which are part of these areas of learning. If a child achieves these goals by the end of the Reception year then they are said to be working at the expected level.

To support children with working towards these ELGs we use a document called 'Development Matters'. This breaks down each goal into different age bands and is used by staff throughout the year to assess how close children are to reaching the goals.

All of these documents, and many other useful resources, are available from this website: http://www.foundationyears.org.uk/


In the classroom

Early Years learning and development is provided through purposeful play and through adult led structures and routines that build confidence and provide intellectual stimulus and challenge.

Throughout the day, children will have direct teaching sessions for maths, literacy and phonics, either as the whole-class or in small groups. The rest of the time they will be taking part in activities inside and outside the classroom. Some of the activities will have been prepared by the teacher and will focus on specific objectives. They may be led by an adult or modelled initially and then the children can access them independently. The children will also be able to choose activities from any of the other resources available.

Teachers choose which activities to set-up by assessing the children’s levels of understanding across all areas of the curriculum and identifying any ‘gaps’ in their learning. Teaching inputs and activities are then planned to address these gaps and evidence is then gathered to show the children have then achieved this learning.

All the teaching staff will be engaging with the children during the activities and helping to support their learning and development. Children’s learning is assessed by observing what they say and do during these times. These are recorded and are then shared with parents.


Wrap Around Care

Here at Harris Garrard Academy, we provide a Breakfast Club and After School Club for all children from Reception through to Year 6 whose parents require these. The clubs are well organised, stimulating and fun.

Our goal is to provide all children in our care with a happy, safe, caring and stimulating environment before and after school. The Breakfast Club and After School Club is a team effort, sharing responsibilities with families to provide the best care for all children. Any issues are openly or confidentially discussed. Please feel free to contact us to discuss anything, or pass on information.

Before you start using any Wrap Around Care you need to complete an application, details of which can be found HERE.