Harris Academy Purley

Overview

Harris Academy Purley is described as a “diverse and inclusive school” where pupils show respect and maintain positive attitudes towards learning. Leaders hold “high aspirations” for all students, fostering a “calm and orderly” environment where bullying is rare and discrimination is not tolerated. The school provides a broad curriculum and extensive opportunities for personal development, ensuring pupils are well-prepared for future education and employment.

Strengths

• Leaders have designed a “broad and ambitious curriculum” that is well sequenced, allowing pupils to build knowledge “step by step” and reflect their diverse backgrounds.
• Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive specific support to access the same curriculum as their peers and “achieve well”.
• There is a “central focus on reading” through phonics, library lessons, and tutor time, which helps pupils develop vocabulary and access subjects effectively.
• The personal development programme covers health, relationships, and careers, helping pupils make “well-informed course choices” and prepare for university or employment.
• Governors and leaders share a vision for high-quality academic education, with trust leaders supporting staff development and prioritising “staff well-being”.

Areas to improve

• Some teachers do not provide pupils with “sufficient time to apply new learning” and move to the next stage too quickly, leading to gaps in knowledge. Leaders must ensure teachers receive training to secure pupils’ understanding in the long term.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are “effective,” with a strong culture established, increased team capacity, in-school counselling, and regular staff training to identify risks and work with external agencies.