Personal Development

At Harris Garrard Academy, personal development is at the heart of our vision for excellence and opportunity.

Through our personal development programme - with its clubs and activities, our rewards scheme, school trips, student leadership opportunities and more - we ensure that every pupil experiences the opportunities, enrichment and cultural capital that might otherwise be closed off to them.

Our Personal Development curriculum is built around five key strands: Health; Character & Culture; Citizenship; Aspiration; and Scholarship. Together, these form our HGA Promise. Our approach is rooted in a belief in social mobility, and that education should broaden horizons, remove barriers and empower every young person to shape their own future.

Clubs and activities

Find out more about all our clubs, activities and trips - all designed to make school life as broad and interesting as possible and introduce students to a world of new activities and experiences.

Popular rewards scheme - celebrating success

Our whole-school rewards scheme recognises and celebrates students who consistently demonstrate positive attitudes, effort, and achievement – both in and out of the classroom.

Students can earn points and rewards for showing commitment to their learning, completing excellent homework, maintaining strong attendance and punctuality, demonstrating resilience, and displaying kindness and respect toward others. All members of staff, from teachers and teaching assistants to administrative and support staff, are encouraged to nominate students for recognition.

The rewards scheme is designed to promote our academy values, inspire pride in achievement and reinforce the positive behaviours that make our community a great place to learn and grow. At the end of each term, we hold a rewards assembly to celebrate students who have reached specific milestones.

Student leadership

The student leadership at Harris Garrard Academy is an exciting and dynamic group of students that embodies academic excellence, rigour, resilience, and respect. This is a team of unique individuals that form the student council, who are making a real difference in our school and community, they have developed invaluable leadership skills. Meet our current student leaders. 

Last year, our student leaders organised a series of incredible events that showcased their dedication and creativity:

• Culture Week: A vibrant celebration of the diverse cultures within our school, featuring food tastings, traditional dances, and cultural showcases that brought everyone together in a spirit of unity and learning.
• Kindness Week: A heartwarming initiative where students spread positivity through random acts of kindness, inspiring a wave of goodwill and fostering a supportive school environment.
• Black History Month Slam Poetry: An empowering event where students performed powerful slam poetry, highlighting important historical figures and contemporary issues, and celebrating the richness of Black culture.
• Community Cohesion Projects: Students spend their weekends at a local old people’s home, engaging with residents through activities and conversations - building bridges between generations and making a meaningful impact on the community.
• School Awards Ceremony: A prestigious event where students’ achievements were celebrated in the presence of Madam Mayor Cllr Sue Gower MBE JP. This event was a testament to the meticulous planning and execution skills of our student council and leaders.
• Social responsibility: Our students lead school‑wide initiatives such as fundraising events and food collections for less‑privileged families, helping to build a strong culture of empathy, responsibility and active participation across the school. They have raised thousands of pounds for charity, demonstrating their commitment to shaping the future of our school and community.

Most Able students

Our Most Able pupils are those who will exceed the expectations for their age group, either in all subjects or just one. They make up around 5-10% of the academy population and are identified on entry to the academy using information about Key Stage 2. We use this information to make sure we provide students with the right level of challenge.

Opportunities for our Most Able students include:

• The Harris Experience
• The Brilliant Club – 12 arts and humanities students will be mentored through an assignment by a PhD research student.
• The Challenge Project – 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

School assemblies - succesful, caring citizens

Our regular assemblies are one important way we teach our students about what it means to be successful and caring and, crucially, the various forms success and care take. Topics covered during recent assemblies include, for example:

• Character Traits and Harris Manners
• Safeguarding
• Aspirational Work Ethic
• International Women's Day
• Determined Resilience
• Democracy and Student Leadership.

Our assembly programme is just one of the ways to ensure our pupils leave the school as successful and caring citizens.

Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMSC) Education

At Harris Garrard Academy, we believe education is about developing the whole child – not just academically, but personally and socially too. Our Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMSC) programme helps students to grow into confident, thoughtful and responsible young people, ready to make a positive difference in the world.

Spiritual – We encourage students to explore their beliefs and values, think deeply about the world around them, and express themselves with imagination and creativity.

Moral – Students learn to recognise right and wrong, understand how choices affect others, and develop the confidence to make fair and reasoned decisions.

Social – We help students build strong social skills, work effectively with others, resolve conflicts, and understand their role within a community.

Cultural – Our students are encouraged to appreciate and celebrate diversity, participate in cultural events, and understand the influences that shape our society.

SMSC learning is woven throughout school life. During Current Affairs lessons, students explore topics such as politics, the environment, religion, ethics, charity and local news. These weekly sessions help them develop an understanding of the wider world and their place in it, while strengthening their knowledge of Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education (PSHCE).

Through lively debate and discussion, students reflect on Fundamental British Values and what it means to be an active, respectful citizen in modern Britain.

In addition, Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) offers further opportunities for personal growth, helping students to build healthy relationships, make informed decisions, and care for their wellbeing.

Together, these experiences nurture curiosity, compassion and confidence – helping every student at Harris Garrard Academy to thrive both in school and beyond.