Anyone familiar with Harris Academy Greenwich please?

[CreatureBump]

Hello, I am interested in hearing from anyone who has a child / had a child at Harris Greenwich. I’d especially like to know which primary schools feed this secondary school; how many children are in a class; is the discipline good? Thanks.

Bumping as interested too!

I am also very interested to hear other thoughts. I have friends’ kids attending St Thomas Moor, Thomas Thalis, Eltham Hill, Crowns Wood, thus have a pretty good idea of what to expect from those schools.
However, feedback on Harris Academy Greenwich is very mixed, and none of it from the first hands, but “someone, who knows someone, who knows someone”. This friends of friends’ feedback is not particularly positive either – too academic (is it a bad thing?), too pushy, not supportive enough towards students, drugs problem is worth than in other nearby schools.
The school is Ofsted rated 1, but again none of my Eltham or Greenwich based friends whose kids were moving to secondary schools have considered Harris Academy Greenwich as a possible choice.

Any thoughts?

Despite lack of feedback on here, we decided to go ahead based on all the positive experiences we had once we were notified of Harris Greenwich being allocated for our child.

From the minute I contacted them to explain we had not seen the school, they have been nothing but professional and highly responsive to our questions, especially in arranging a private tour for us during a busy school day.

Compared to Leigh Academy (who were utterly dismissive from the outset!) they have set the bar very high so far and we’re really pleased. It is early days, of course, but our child has a renewed interest in learning and rushes to school looking forward to the day ahead. Homework has been consistent, not heavy or unmanageable, he is keen to do it and loves that the teachers are so positive in their approach; he feels very encouraged. We’re really happy with these early days - fingers crossed things continue in this vein. It is somewhat mystifying why Harris Greenwich isn’t well known as a destination school, based on our experience so far.

@CreatureBump thank you, this is very helpful. If you don't mind I'll pm you in a few months to see how your son is doing.
xxx

Harris Academy Greenwich, open morning Sep 2023

"+”

• Well-spoken Head, sounds ambitious
• School dedicates time to teachers’ training
• Good curriculum (isn’t it more or less the same in every school though?)
• Nice, spacious buildings
• Small size classes (I have counted 18 -20 kids in math, science, history, geography, DT lessons). Having asked our guides and they confirmed that the subjects' class sizes are around 18 children.
• We haven’t managed to see the library, but at a glance through the window it looked good
• Ethnically diverse - I haven't noticed a particular culture dominance.

“-“

• No dedicated science lab – experiment kits are taking from science staff room to the classroom and then returned
• No inter school sports competitions, music performance, internship schemes, external speakers were mentioned.
• Seems like there are only limited school trips are offered through school years
• After School clubs were mentioned, but only mentioned
• No Houses

My impression – a good school, very academically focused. However, feels somewhat dull.

Why is no Houses an issue out of interest? I’m never sure what the attraction of Houses is, they always seem such a boarding school approach.

My friends son is there. He is in Yr 8. Brilliant school and he is thriving. He does football and swimming outside of school. Good set of friends.

I was impressed at the open morning yesterday and DS loved it. Liked it a lot more than Harris Falconwood. Unfortunately depending on the banding we're likely to be a bit far away to get in. Also looking at Crown Woods plus DS did Bexley 11+ so might look at those if he passes.

Great to hear some first hand experience so thanks.