Harris Academy Girls East Dulwich

[Natam2528]

Does anyone have any thoughts on this school. I've recently moved close to this school and my daughter is due to start Year 7 in September (bad time to move I know). The school was given an 'outstanding' from Ofsted in April and their 2011 GCSE results were 67% *A-C including English and Maths, yet they still have places for coming the Year 7 cohort. In my experience that isn't normally the case, schools with similar statistics are normally oversubscribed with a lengthy waiting list. Could there be another reason why they still have places?

I'm an ex-Londoner, so the school might have changed a lot.

But one obvious reason would be the history of gang related difficulties.

Bump

I live not all that far away and have heard nothing but good in the last few years.

The school does not have 'a history of gang violence'. That report is from 6 years ago, the school was closed because police feared (it didn't happen) a gang related retaliation in the area, folowing some gang killings in the old Kent rd, New Camberwell rd, but not activity by anyone in the school.

afaik the school took over a former school that did not have a great reputation, but Harris have gone to extreme lengths to start afresh, including, I think, making a separation in the early years between students from the old school and the new intakes.
Talk on the East Dulwich Forum generally reveals that parents want a good co-ed, and both Harris Academies (both doing v well, girls and boys) are single sex. There are good faith single sex schools in the area, as well as Sydenham Girls which has had a longstanding good rep.

Ask on the East Dulwich Forum, and go and visit.

The school deserves its outstanding Ofsted, it's not the same school it was a few years ago. There does seem to be alot of movement at the moment on the Secondary school lists, eg with Harris Boys and Forest Hill Boys (people I know have just got places there). Harris Girls will have a mixed sixth form with Harris Boys when then first boys intake (now year 9) reach year 12. Have you been to visit the school?

I think it's just a case of a school improving, but it's reputation not keeping pace with that until they finally get an Ofsted inspected.
Again, I've only heard good things in recent years.

Think being single sex does make it less popular - but I think the combination of the latest Ofsted rating, and if they are working jointly with Harris Boys, and offering a joint 6th Form, will soon change that.
Of course it helps that Harris Boys is also doing very well.

I'm sure the school helps the pupils to make good progress but I just wanted to add that I have heard some real horror stories about Harris Academies from other teachers. I recently met someone at a job interview who was desperate to leave. They sound very exam-focused and intense - in a bad way.

Having said that I am probably being very unfair and have no direct experience of the school. Feel free to ignore me :) But I suspect that the number of good teachers applying for jobs in these schools is going to go down very soon.