View our posts

20/12/24

We wish everyone in our community a happy and safe holiday. Should any student need us for any support, they can contact us using our safespace.org.uk email.

20/12/24

Yesterday, we wore Christmas jumpers for charity, the canteen put on Christmas lunch and the steel pans regaled us with tunes at lunch to celebrate the penultimate day of the term. pic.twitter.com/ciWvoAh6Bb

19/12/24

The basketball teams see out the term strong with the U19 and U16 boys and girls teams picking up wins in the school’s competition this week pic.twitter.com/nmIx25Nkzv

19/12/24

It was a delight to have Alex Wheatley come to speak to our year 8s last week. Such an inspiration-it’s always wonderful to have authors who we read come to give us insight into their novels. pic.twitter.com/beVudJM0lL

18/12/24

We had our charity basketball game today. Our U17 basketball team beat London Nautical: 104-56. Over £200 raised! pic.twitter.com/9KBAqvyVPK

18/12/24

Thank you to for letting us use your beautiful venue for our Winter concert this evening. pic.twitter.com/FH7xt2B6hX

18/12/24

We had our wonderful Winter Concert tonight. Well done to all the performers and the Performing Arts Department for all their hard work! pic.twitter.com/cUO0h3gNAP

17/12/24

Year 8 learnt all about healthy eating today through the very exciting, inspirational and interactive . Thank you, chef Ben! pic.twitter.com/lmB3uca0fk

07/12/24

Our students were so happy to be part of this special occasion, thanks to . Thank you for inviting us, we will never forget this magical experience🎄💫 https://t.co/D9qf3lU6AO

07/12/24

on the official Instagram 🤩 📸 🎄! What a wonderful evening! AtChristmas pic.twitter.com/BQPFHo2UjA

06/12/24

The Year 10 girls handball team in action today with wins against East Dulwich Girls and Charter🤾‍♀️ pic.twitter.com/HfgA5KGKSD

06/12/24

with performing for the guests of arriving at Together at Christmas 🎄! We are so proud of our students! Thank you pic.twitter.com/9Lv5f969TN

06/12/24

Our Christmas tree is up and decorated, bringing some Xmas cheer to our reception area. Thank you for the tree! pic.twitter.com/8d0rli7HUe

06/12/24

students ready for their performance welcoming guests for Together at Christmas 🤩! We are so excited!!! An incredible opportunity, all thanks to pic.twitter.com/wo6HcSl1SH

05/12/24

Our annual winter recital is coming soon at St John’s Church on Wed 18th December. We look to seeing everyone there for a mince pie and a warm drink to celebrate our students’ musical talents! pic.twitter.com/ZuPauPWYxU

05/12/24

A hive of activity in robotics and MfL homework clubs this afternoon! pic.twitter.com/QqjUgAjLKr

05/12/24

Year 8s had Safety First sessions today from Metropolitan Police, London Fire Brigade, London Ambulance Service & TalkConsent. The sessions were engaging & elicited interesting questions. Thank you , pic.twitter.com/DqqmLFnmzY

05/12/24

Our annual winter recital is coming soon at St John's Church on Wed 18th December. We look forward to seeing everyone there for a mince pie and a warm drink to celebrate our student's musical talents! pic.twitter.com/Oak1JJP9zY

04/12/24

The U18b boys basketball team get their National schools campaign underway with back to back wins against Dulwich and Platanos this week 🏀 pic.twitter.com/cXIq71Kz0F

04/12/24

Year 12 students completed their first aid training with Zara from , learning how to deal with wounds, CPR, AEDs and lots more! pic.twitter.com/F6Fygj9nQq

Harris Academies
All Academies in our Federation aim to transform the lives of the students they serve by bringing about rapid improvement in examination results, personal development and aspiration.

Central Office

Bexley

Brent

Bromley

Clapham

Croydon

Greenwich

Haringey

Havering

Merton

Newham

Southwark

Stratford

Sutton

Thurrock

Wandsworth

Westminster

Design and Technology

Year 7 Overview for Design and Technology 

Annual Overview:  
During year 7, students are taught a range of disciplines, use specialist equipment, and have access to a range of workshops. In design and technology, students are given the opportunity to attain practical skills and knowledge that allow them to be experimental and gain confidence.  

Each project allows access to various practical learning opportunities, focusing on Health and Safety and understanding materials and processes that will enable innovative outcomes. The subject is well-resourced, with three dedicated workshops, two food kitchens, and an equipped CAD suite. The department works to deliver activities that offer technological challenges with modern equipment alongside some more traditional skills.  

Assessments:  
Throughout the year, students are assessed on a variety of criteria. These include their technical knowledge, practical outcomes, and their ability to apply the skills they've learned to future scenarios. The focus is on developing communication, presentation, problem-solving, and evaluation skills, and the ability and confidence to work independently. Homework is designed to review the topics covered in lessons and support the learning process. At the end of each unit, students are assessed on their retained practical and theoretical knowledge.  

Homework: 
Homework can be found on Microsoft teams. Students have one week to complete their homework. Work will be marked, and students are expected to act on feedback given as part of their homework, as well implementing their new understanding on a similar, but more complex task. 

Events and Trips: 
KS3 extra-curricular club for year 7 and 8 to encompass all specialisms, will be offered at certain part of the year. 

Other resources: 

Websites: 
BBC Bitesize 
Books, Articles and other Resources: 
David MaCauley “How Things Work” 
Educational Visits: e.g. museums, galleries, places of interest etc. 
Science Museum, Design Museum, V&A 
Departmental blog, website, twitter etc. 

Year 8 Overview for Design and Technology 

Annual Overview:  
During year 8, students are taught a range of disciplines, use specialist equipment, and have access to a range of workshops. In design and technology, students are given the opportunity to attain practical skills and knowledge that allow them to be experimental and gain confidence.  

Each project allows access to various practical learning opportunities, focusing on Health and Safety and understanding materials and processes that will enable innovative outcomes. The subject is well-resourced, with three dedicated workshops, two food kitchens, and an equipped CAD suite. The department works to deliver activities that offer technological challenges with modern equipment alongside some more traditional skills.  

Assessments:  
Throughout the year, students are assessed on a variety of criteria. These include their technical knowledge, practical outcomes, and their ability to apply the skills they've learned to future scenarios. The focus is on developing communication, presentation, problem-solving, and evaluation skills, and the ability and confidence to work independently. Homework is designed to review the topics covered in lessons and support the learning process. At the end of each unit, students are assessed on their retained practical and theoretical knowledge. 

Homework:  
Homework can be found on Microsoft teams. Students have one week to complete their homework. Work will be marked, and students are expected to act on feedback given as part of their homework, as well implementing their new understanding on a similar, but more complex task. 

Events and Trips: 
KS3 extra-curricular club to encompass all specialisms, will be offered at certain part of the year. 

Other resources: 

Websites: 
BBC Bitesize 
Books, Articles and other Resources: 
David MaCauley “How Things Work” 
Educational Visits: e.g. museums, galleries, places of interest etc. 
Science Museum, Design Museum, V&A 
Website, twitter etc. 

 

Year 9 Overview for Design and Technology 

Students in year 9 will build on their foundational knowledge from years 7&8, they will use their experience of working in the specialist rooms and completion of previous units to inform their design and making decisions. In preparation for the next key stage students are given a project that bridges the gap between lower Key stage 3 and Key stage 4. This involves further developing technical know-how, industrial processes, design and making for others. In Food students will continue a culinary journey, learning how to apply nutrition and health principles to prepare a variety of predominantly savoury dishes. This will ensure a healthy and diverse diet for themselves and others. 

Assessments: 
Throughout the year, students are assessed on a variety of criteria. These include their technical knowledge, practical outcomes, and ability to apply the skills they've learned to future scenarios. The focus is on developing communication, presentation, problem-solving, and evaluation skills, and the ability and confidence to work independently. Homework is designed to review the topics covered in lessons and support the learning process. Students are assessed on their retained practical and theoretical knowledge at the end of each unit.  

Homework: 
Homework can be found on Microsoft Teams. Students have one week to complete it. The work will be marked, and students are expected to act on feedback given as part of their homework and implement their new understanding of a similar but more complex task. 

Other resources: 

Websites: 
http://www.technologystudent.com 
https://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/ 
Educational Visits: e.g. museums, galleries, places of interest etc. 
Science Museum, Design Museum, V&A 

 
  

Year 10 & 11 Design and Technology AQA GCSE 

Course Title: Exam Board: AQA 
Qualification: GCSE 
Course Codes: 8552 

GCSE Design and Technology will prepare students to participate confidently and successfully in an increasingly technological world. Students will gain awareness and learn from wider influences on Design and Technology including historical, social, cultural, environmental and economic factors. This course provides students with a comprehensive understanding of materials, and technical processes that are built on their knowledge from Key Stage 3. This is then used to support their design and making skills allowing them more opportunities to be innovative in their outcomes.   

Students will get the chance to work creatively when designing, making and applying technical and practical expertise. The course also gives students the space to use, and apply knowledge from other disciplines, including mathematics, science, art and design, computing and the humanities. 
 
Students will study core technical, designing and making principles, including a broad range of design processes, materials techniques and equipment. They will also study specialist technical principles for a range of materials in greater depth. Course features include: 

  • Acquire knowledge and skills to work with timber, plastics and metals 

  • Lots of problem-solving opportunities, from improving existing designs to fixing design problems in different contexts 

  • Students acquire graphics skills to present their ideas in a professional manner 

  • Students learn to interview users and match their needs to designs 

  • In their final project students develop their own product by manufacturing a series of prototypes and testing them 

How it is assessed 

  • Written exam: 1 hour and 45 minutes (50% of the qualification) 

  • Non-examined assessment: 50% of the qualification 

Books, Articles and other Resources: 
Educational Visits: e.g. museums, galleries, places of interest etc. 
Design Museum, V&A, Science Museum 
Departmental blog, website, twitter etc. 

 

AQA Year 10 Food Preparation and Nutrition Curriculum Overview 

The Year 10 AQA Food Preparation and Nutrition course aims to equip students with essential skills, knowledge, and understanding related to food, nutrition, and the science behind food preparation. It blends practical cooking experience with theoretical learning to promote informed food choices and a healthy lifestyle. 

Core Areas of Study: 

  1. Food, Nutrition, and Health 

  • Understanding the function and sources of nutrients in the diet. 

  • Nutritional needs across life stages, including factors affecting energy and nutritional requirements. 

  • The relationship between diet, nutrition, and health, including dietary guidelines and food-related health conditions. 

  1. Food Science 

  • The scientific principles behind cooking, including the effect of heat and moisture on food properties. 

  • Enzymes, bacteria, and microorganisms in food. 

  • Chemical changes in food during preparation and cooking, such as protein coagulation and carbohydrate gelatinization. 

  1. Food Safety 

  • Hygiene and safety practices in the kitchen. 

  • Safe food storage, handling, and cooking techniques to avoid contamination and foodborne illnesses. 

  • The role of temperature in food safety and methods to preserve food. 

  1. Food Choice 

  • Factors influencing food choices, including cultural, environmental, and social considerations. 

  • The impact of food labeling, advertising, and ethical choices on consumer behavior. 

  • Dietary needs related to allergens, intolerances, and specific diets like veganism or vegetarianism. 

  1. Food Provenance 

  • Understanding where food comes from, including local and global food sources. 

  • The environmental impact of food production, such as sustainability, food miles, and carbon footprint. 

  • Seasonality, organic farming, and Fairtrade practices. 

  1. Cooking and Food Preparation 

  • Development of a wide range of practical cooking skills, including knife skills, using various cooking methods (baking, grilling, steaming, etc.), and food presentation. 

  • Adapting recipes to suit different dietary requirements and preferences. 

  • Experimenting with ingredients to understand how flavor, texture, and appearance are influenced by food preparation techniques. 

Assessment Overview: 

  • Practical Cooking Skills: Students will be assessed on their ability to prepare, cook, and present dishes. They will develop skills in time management, organization, and creativity. 

  • Theoretical Knowledge: End-of-unit tests and classwork focus on understanding food science, nutrition, safety, and food choice. 

Skills Developed: 

  • Critical thinking and problem-solving in food-related contexts. 

  • Practical cooking techniques and precision. 

  • Application of food science to real-life situations. 

  • Understanding of global food issues such as sustainability and ethical sourcing. 

 

Year 11 Overview for AQA Food Preparation and Nutrition 

Course Title: Food Preparation and Nutrition (8585) 
Exam Board: AQA 
Qualification: GCSE AQA Year 11 Food Preparation and Nutrition Overview 

Course Aims: 

  • Equip students with essential food preparation skills. 

  • Foster an understanding of nutrition, food science, and food safety. 

  • Promote creativity and confidence in the kitchen through practical experience. 

Key Topics: 

  1. Food Preparation Skills: 

  • Knife skills, preparation techniques, and cooking methods. 

  • Safe handling of ingredients, including meat, fish, and poultry. 

  • Baking, roasting, grilling, and use of specialist equipment. 

  1. Food Science: 

  • Investigating the functional and chemical properties of food. 

  • Understanding how ingredients combine and react during cooking. 

  • Experimenting with different food processes and preservation methods. 

  1. Nutrition and Health: 

  • Key nutrients and their role in maintaining health. 

  • The impact of diet on long-term health, including obesity and lifestyle diseases. 

  • Understanding dietary needs for different life stages and health conditions. 

  1. Food Safety and Hygiene: 

  • Safe food storage, handling, and cooking to prevent contamination. 

  • Personal hygiene, kitchen safety, and risk assessments. 

  • Understanding food-related illnesses and how to avoid them. 

  1. Food Provenance and Sustainability: 

  • Origins of food and the impact of food choices on the environment. 

  • Seasonal and locally sourced foods, ethical farming practices. 

  • Food security, food waste, and sustainable production. 

  1. Practical Application and Exam Preparation: 

  • Regular practical cooking sessions to apply theoretical knowledge. 

  • Mastering time management and organisation in cooking tasks. 

  • Preparing for the NEA (Non-Exam Assessment) practical exam, focusing on a chosen cuisine or dietary need. 

  • Written exam preparation, covering theory and food science. 

Assessment: 

Non-Exam Assessment (NEA): 

  • Task 1: Food Investigation – exploring the scientific principles behind cooking. 

  • Task 2: Food Preparation – planning, preparing, and cooking a selection of dishes to demonstrate practical skills. 

  • Written Exam: 

  • 1 hour 45 minutes, covering nutrition, food science, and safety. 

Key Outcomes: 

By the end of the course, students will be confident in making informed food choices, understand the relationship between food and health, and be proficient in a wide range of cooking and food preparation techniques. The course also provides a foundation for those considering further study in food science, nutrition, or the hospitality industry.