Harris academies - share positive experience maybe?

[WonderingAR]

Every time a Harris secondary is mentioned here, it's critisized heavily. I've read most of the posts and not asking for more critique.
But does anyone here actually have positive experience?

I'm going to an open morning next week so hopefully the school provides a student to answer all my questions (around 20 atm) but any positive input from mumsnet would be appreciated.

Your kid will be fine if they're perfect, your home life is perfect, your income and health are perfect.

They have fancy buildings.

They try to prescreen applications in breach of the law , which might appeal to some parents.

They also offroll aggressively as above. Which might appeal as well.

@NeverDropYourMooncup I visited another school with similar reputation (Ashcroft) and kids with normal behaviour are actually happy there and protected from bullies and dusruption.
They shrug off detentions because they just happen.
So seeing it in person made me reconsider as my child is not a bully, never caused disruption in a classroom and has a supportive family.

And because of the "strict" reputation parents who are aware of their DC bad behaviour don't apply there.

The ones local to us have a good academic reputation. Lots of people send their children there by choice. The discipline is nothing compared to Michaela school, though it is rigid.

The local ones are all single-sex, which appeals to some parents and puts other parents off.

@Saschka unfortunately all the comps with decent GCSE results on my list and with very mixed intake have strict rules. Probably it's the only way to survive in London with 7-8 form entry.

My DS is at a Harris, now in year 11, and I'm very happy with it on the whole.

They are quite strict but not ridiculously so. The type of parent who thinks their child shouldn't have to follow the rules probably wouldn't like it.

They also have a reputation for being bad for children with SEND, but DS is autistic and is doing well - any issues I've contacted the school about have been listened to and resolved.

It's not perfect but it's much better than the more popular school most of his friends from primary went to.

@Borka when do they have to choose their GCSEs? And unrelated to GCSEs - is it easy to change sets?

@Borka thanks for sharing, I feel SEN is such an umbrella description and regular schools in England can't deal with every issue labeled as such.
In Scotland schools just have to and while considering moving there (DH has an office there as well) I was reading very scary things like students assaulting other students in the classroom without consequences due to their diagnoses. So well behaved kids have to move schools instead.

They chose GCSE subjects at the end of year 9 and start doing them in year 10. I'm not sure how easy it is to change sets.

It would be nice to get more "+" feedback :))

@WonderingAR
Which Harris Academy?

The Orpington one is infamous for a number of failings. The 2019 Ofsted report was very damning https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/23/143427 but they seem to have improved since then.

They also cheated the system by booking native speakers into an English test meant for non-native speakers. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7671311/The-GCSE-language-loophole-Hundreds-British-pupils-took-English-exam-meant-foreign-students.html
Yes, the headline is from the Daily Fail, but at the time it was discussed at length in the area and also on mumsnet, if I remember correctly.

I am not a fan of the academy model because I don't like that they are practically unaccountable to anyone.

I don't quite understand what business the ex-Tory chairman (Lord Ashcroft, think of Ashcroft Academy) or a former carpet salesman (Lord Harris, founder of CarpetRight, who set up the Harris federation) have setting up schools up and down the country.

However, in practice most families' choices will be limited.
It would be silly to generalise that all academies are bad.
Like it would be misleading to generalise about all Harris schools - there will be big differences even if they are part of the same group.

Surely it will depend on the school itself? The ones nearest to us have a very high % of free school meals (so you definitely don’t need a perfect income). There are two very close to us and they have slightly different reputations. Where are you based?

@Alicana my question is more about "HAs here on MN have bad reputation, but it can't be that literally everyone have bad experience". There are some with pretty decent results.
I don't want to discuss particular HA because I already have feedback from parents and they are very happy about it and the discussion will be narrowed down.

There are 55 primary and secondary academies in the Harris Group. I am not sure that a generic discussion about Harris in general, rather than on a specific Harris academy, will be particularly insightful or useful

Two near us. Greenwich has a pretty mixed reputation but quite a few from DS' primary did go there. Falconwood has a really good local reputation. It's smaller than most I think and has a defined catchment but is definitely well regarded. A few of DS' friends went there (DS has gone to a grammar school so these weren't on our list).
Neither have a reputation for being particularly strict but then the local Ark is SO strict that everything else looks reasonable in comparison.

I've worked with a lot of South London Harris schools, primary and second and they really vary. I worked in teacher training and often had trainees in their schools. Some thrived in well run, lovely environments (Bromley school for girls) and some were absolutely shit shows and terrible training environments.

Just too many to say they're all positive or negative.

@DanceTheDevilBackIntoHisHole
The thing is every thread I've been reading on secondary HA on MN always end up with "I don't kniw this particular HA, but in general they are superstrict and shite with their teachers".
I've visited Harris Sutton and it didn't strike me as particularly strict. Teachers and staff seem pretty content either.
Ashcroft looks much more strict, you can't literally hear students changing classes there.

Well Greenwich is definitely not super-strict. We did the open morning there last year and it was boisterous enough!

Falconwood we only did the open evening so classes weren't taking place but I haven't heard any reports locally of it being particularly strict either. None of the 'no talking while moving between classes' kind of stuff. Usual stupid uniform stuff.

Like I said, there's an Ark school near us (Greenwich) which has a crazy-strict reputation. No talking in corridors, sitting upright in class, detentions for absolutely everything etc. Most of the Harris's I worked with I didn't see those rules in place either (Ark Globe, Wandsworth, Orpington, Bromley)

We're in Harrisland and my experience with the primary is that teachers either seem to really really like it or loathe it and leave quickly. If you are an ambitious young teacher you can get promoted quite quickly by moving around and taking on more responsibility. I imagine the secondaries are the same. Overall they've been decent with SEN, not so great on broader curriculum, school clubs and activities. They do have access to a lot of other support through the trust- e.g. we got SLT, they have some consultant teachers etc.

Having said that, we're putting the local Harris schools quite far down our preference list (there's an LA comp we prefer and should get into) for secondary. The vibe felt off in one, we had weak answers on pastoral support and in one in particular the student guides inadvertently said some alarming stuff. Plus there's the offrolling and 'gaming' of results which I loathe. I want schools to be as proud of the kids who did their best and got a load of 5s as well as those who got 9s, not pushing some fake 'grammar stream' and having byzantine admissions arrangements. I dislike the lack of accountability and governing board.

But it's also horses for courses- some kids will love it and thrive. I don't think they seem as strict as some other schools in London tbh, but there are other issues.

@Dinnerplease I agree with you on the strictness - HSutton looks like a regular school. But I was unimpressed by the tour.
In other busy schools in SW London I visited we had 2 students leading a group of 2-8 visitors so I got to ask all the questions I had.
In HS it was more like 10-15 visitors for 2 students so I had a feeling I'll not get an honest answer about bullying and behaviour issues.

My child just started Year 7 at Michaela. I'm not convinced it is any more strict than other "strict" schools. They make a song and dance about it as the headmistresses is very good at promoting her methods but from what DS old primary school friends describe from their other schools, the discipline is very very similar.

DS is very happy there. There is a lot of praise when deserved as well of course discipline for disruption.

When DD was in KS2 I looked for jobs at a couple of Harris secondary schools and decided I didn't like them for her when it came to applying in year 6. However, I realised that was cos I didn't fit in those specific schools, rather than it being about her and I was actually getting quite a superficial look) she's now at a (different) Harris school in year 8 and loving it. Like any school, it is just down to seeing it as an individual school rather than just part of a chain. DD is well behaved and doesn't have SEN tho so I don't have experience of the discipline system or SEN support.

DD's (single sex) school has a great enrichment program and lots of outdoor space. Teachers are supportive and she likes most of her lessons (the ones she doesn't like are for fairly normal reasons which would happen at any school cos teens aren't going to like everyone!)

My childs experience at Harris... the school keeps you & kids in line in a very disciplined manner. If you are a parent who is on point and likes to make sure your child has a structured upbringing at home as well as school then Harris is perfect to continue that routine for you.
If your child is a little relaxed, fidgets, talker, lazy or disruptive then Harris will put their foot down to raise your childs standards.
They do not allow mobile phones (there is a plus side to that but are allowed smart watches). You will get detentions for untidly dressed, incomplete homework. Disruptive behaviour, shouting out the answer when asked, shouting during classtime in the presence of teachers etc sounds similar to victorian era schools but without the cane.
The impact it has had on my child is more mature, concerned about getting homework completed, Wears uniform well and doesn't get time to go online because of the amount of homework set everyday. will do all the homework but dislikes it. Lack of TV/family or online time. life from Monday to Friday revolves around school, wake-up, school, homework & Bedtime.
I believe we live in a time where we have relaxed our parenting skills and let children to have a say and enjoy life a little. Harris does get on your nerves because it pushes us out of our comfort zone to take our childs education and future seriously by instilling a focused work ethic into kids.
I wanted my child to have a happier childhood than mine so I allowed everything as long as I get respect but I am learning along with my son that structure is to be maintained all day everyday. yeah it makes me feel sad to see him study all the time but now that I see a routine falling into place slowly I try my best to support him buy listening to his day.
Kids when attending Harris need space to study, fewer disruptions, I do uniform check, bag check, homework confirmed, uniform ready on hangers, meals on time, an extra sandwich (their lunch is a small portion), meal ready at home, straight to homework after the meal, 2-3 hours of homework then a snack before bed. This is the life my child lives until the weekend and even then he has to do an hour each day in the evening.
Of the parents I know they are not happy as they dont really get time with their kids.
Over the years many kids have lost their way thanks to media and the relaxed attitude of parents and some children with time on their hands getting into the wrong crowds or too much unsupervised internet but I do wonder if we're doing more damage. I'm willing to test their system and see if it has a positive or negative impact on my child, if I feel its not working for my child then I am not one to sit back and tolerate but I have taken a step back to let teachers have some control in the classroom. It's interesting to see the outcome especially when other local schools are still having issues getting students to behave. Let's see.
If your child is attending Harris do take time to praise, love and listen to them to offload as they are not used to a complete lifestyle overhaul.
However if you feel in anyway that your child is not coping mentally with their firm demands then I would say look around for a school that suits your child as not all kids are built the same and they will need parental support or any school can drive your child down.

Has anyone been invited to the banding test? Is it possible to change he date? They have arranged it for 8.30 and I have another child to drop off at school. Wonder why they haven't done it on a weekend!

It's insanely early isn't it! We've been assigned not the Harris 10 minutes walk away either but one a really awkward journey. Don't they all start at the same time?

Maybe call them up. I'm going to do the same. Parking will be mad aswell I doubt we will get in anyway due to catchment

@Hangingbyathread322 Would you say your child's school is strict but reasonable, or strict but batshit crazy?

I am the kind of parent who will absolutely stand by the school if our child gets a detention for misbehaviour or for missed homework.

But also my blood boils when I hear all the non-sensical, borderline tyrannical rules that some schools seem to insist on, like preventing students from wearing another layer when it's cold, or forcing them to keep their blazers on in a heatwave, or banning bicycles and giving you a detention if you're caught riding to school (there was a thread on this, it's real), or giving a detention for wearing the 99% identical but cheaper Asda skirt instead of the official one, etc etc etc