Harris Academy at Peckham

[HRHQoM]

I'm hoping that somebody can give me some honest to goodness feedback on this school. My son was not offered any of his preferred schools, instead he was allocated a place at a school that I had previously not even considered. We visited the school this week, and while it all looks nice and modern with good facilities, I would really appreciate hearing from anyone who has a child at the school, or who knows of of a family with a child at the school. The OfSTED reports between 2009 - 2011 look good. The school appears to be doing well, they have appointed a new headteacher, who has made changes in staffing, and each year the school appears to be improving further. However, inspectors only see a snapshot view of the school, so they wont know what the school is really like on a day to day basis when the pupils are not on 'inspector alert' - or as my mother used to call it, 'company behaviour'!

I just want to know whether the improvements I've heard so much about are real, or whether there are too many underlying issues for me to chance sending my son there. Good or bad, I'd like to hear about peoples experiences with the school, and their opionions.

You can look at the performance on the DfE website. If you strip away the vocational courses only 29% of the students achieved 5 GCSEs. I personally would stay well clear of any school that achieves high maths and English performance but fails to translate this 'progress' into other GCSE subjects areas and/ or A levels.

Sorry to hear you didn't get any of your allocated schools. Very stressful. Presumably you are on all the waiting lists and appealing?

You might find people with children at Harris Peckham on the East Dulwich Forum, www. eastdulwichforum.co.uk , and also other parents in the borough who have not been allocated a school or one from their preferences. Check the section called 'the Family Room'. On Offer day people were saying they had not been made an offer.

In all truth I suspect that the catchment for this school is quite challenging, but maybe as people can't gain access to other schools the mix at Harris Peckham will become more representative. Also just because the average level of achievement is not high does not mean that it is a bad education and an individual motivated child cannot do very well.

OP tried to PM you ,but doesn't seem possible at moment .

I'm afraid my message not positive .

Nothing dreadful ,but not a recommendation .

Sorry .

Have you looked at Deptford Green ?

My Friend's son was allocated Harris Academy @ Peckham a few years ago, (they hadn't applied for it,and at the time she was very unhappy that he was going there). Her son is currently in year 10 and doing really well.

The issue that affects the schools results is that the school is that it has a lower than average SAT result intake into year 7. If your child goes into the school with OK or good results, and is willing to do the work, they will do well, particularly if they go into upper sets.

The school does have great facilities and Ofsted are very happy with it!

Yes I agree with gingeroots, go to the ED forum.

Hi Everyone,
since offer day in March I have up until now found this year to be very stressful, my son did not get any of his three preferred schools, even on appeal, now he will be attending Harris Academy at Peckham which I am so glad he is really looking forward to. After a few weeks I will update on how he has settled in and is getting on.
My advice to parents for this year 6 who will be going through the same has many of us did last year is,

1 Read through all the Ofsted reports of your preferred schools and some that are not really high on your list and keep an open mind

2 Get a calendar from the pound shop and use it specifically for secondary school transfer notes so that you have an at a glance record of open evenings, auditions, interviews, NVR test etc

3 When you attend open evenings do not be afraid to ask questions about any concerns you have, do not forget the prospectus and hand in all applications in time

4 If your child has a talent apply for a bursary or scholarship if the school offers one

5 Finally please believe me all is not lost if you do not get your child into your preferred school, make sure you keep them on the waiting list as there is always a lot of movement on these list

Good luck to all parents and remember the schools need our support because after all we the parents should know our children very well and together we can all work together to make all schools of choice outstanding