Admissions

Year 10 and 11 Admissions

Harris Aspire Academy provides students with an environment that is different to a mainstream school.

We excel in supporting students to re-engage with their education in small class sizes and where they receive additional and specialist support.

Places at Harris Aspire Academy are in demand due to the high-quality provision we offer and therefore early engagement from schools is advised.

There will be an admission number of 15 students in Year 10 and 35 students in Year 11. These children will be enrolled on examination programmes and therefore placements are generally for an entire academic year. Referrals should therefore be made in Summer 2 for a September start at the latest. 

Harris Aspire Academy will accordingly provide for the admission of this number of Year 10 and 11 pupils each year if sufficient applications for entry are received. Where fewer than the published admission number for the relevant year group are admitted at any time, Harris Aspire Academy may offer more places in other year groups to those who have applied.

Admissions and Referrals for Years 10 and 11 

Referrals to Harris Aspire Academy must be made by schools, academies, or the Local Authority. To discuss a potential referral and your requirements, please contact the academy directly.

Applications for places in Years 10 and 11 cannot be made directly by parents but should go through their current school/academy or the Local Authority as the commissioning body. Upon receipt of a referral, the academy will undertake a consultation process which will include meetings with the student, parents/carers, current school staff, and any relevant professionals. The student may be required take part in an assessment to help determine whether the placement is suitable.

Where all parties agree that Harris Aspire Academy is an appropriate placement, an individualised curriculum and support plan will be developed. Students and parents/carers will be expected to sign a commitment to the academy's expectations for behaviour, attendance, and engagement with learning.

The final decision regarding admission rests with the Principal/Director of Aspire. The academy reserves the right to refuse a placement where there are safeguarding concerns or other circumstances that indicate that the provision would not be suitable or appropriate for the student.

Arrangements for Admission at other times of the year

Harris Aspire Academy is not part of the LA’s co-ordinated admission arrangements for in-year and other year group admissions. If a commissioner applies for a place outside the normal admissions round for a September entry they should apply directly to the academy. Harris Aspire Academy will consider all such applications and if the year group applied for has a place available, follow the admission procedures set out above for the respective year groups. If more applications are received than there are places available, the place will be allocated to the applicant who has the highest priority, applying the criteria set out above. 

SOAR Programme

Success/Ownership/Achieve/Reintegrate

The S.O.A.R programme may be requested for students in the following circumstances:

• Exclusion after the 5th day of a fixed term suspension
• Health issues
• Safeguarding issues

The S.O.A.R programme will provide the following during the student's stay:

• A safe educational environment for the student
• Daily attendance update for the commissioning body
• Supervision and support with the work set by the commissioning body 
• Therapeutic sessions with a member of the Inclusion team to address the reasons why they are on the programme.
• Student work returned for marking
• A strategy bank and pupil voice will be provided at the end of the placement
• Lunch – this is inclusive of costs

Commissioning Sites must provide and ensure:

• A member of staff accompanies the student on their first day for a brief settling in procedure.
• Work for the student to complete prior to their start date.
• Transport to HAA if required/a barrier to attend.
• Student wears their full school uniform.
• Provide all relevant information, at least 48 hours prior to the student starting, including contact details and any information that allows the student to be safeguarded effectively   

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Academy Admissions/Referrals contact details:

Director of Aspire: Ms J Webster
Phone: 0203 370 9238
Email: j.webster@harrisps6f.org.uk
​Address: Harris Aspire Academy, 11 Oliver Grove, London SE25 6EJ