Academy Admissions
Welcome from the Executive Principal
Harris Academy South Norwood is a very popular 11-19 academy; we deliver a broad and challenging curriculum to all our students in a calm and well-ordered environment. We have high expectations of all members of the school community. This is reflected in our consistently high student performance at GCSE, progression to post-16 study at our sixth form, and then on to some of the best universities in the country.
Alex Williamson
Executive Principal
Harris Academy South Norwood is an outstanding school. Our curriculum includes opportunities for our many able students to study economics and Separate Sciences at GCSE. We have year groups of just 180 enabling tailored pastoral support for each child and we emphasise traditional values of behaving well and looking smart. Ofsted in 2019 described the Academy as a “calm and productive place to learn.” We pride ourselves at Harris South Norwood on the quality of our extra-curricular provision with over 50 sports, music, arts and academic clubs, many students stay after school to play chess or to sing in the thriving Harris in Harmony choir. Harris South Norwood also has full-time basketball and football coaches through its partnership with Greenhouse and Kinetic; Kinetic has signed over 25 young people to professional football teams.
Some of our particularly able students take part in the federation’s Harris Experience programme to help them on their way to top universities; as part of this provision, they have visited places such as the Royal Opera House and Christie’s Auction House. Incoming students can apply to join one of our scholarship programmes in STEM (Science, technology, engineering and mathematics), sports or the liberal arts. These are worth up to £1000 per annum. Our classrooms in practical subjects have state-of-the-art equipment with laser cutters and 3D printers in DT, trampolines and a climbing wall in PE. We have teachers who are subject experts and help students achieve great things; last year at the Clocktower campus we had students in the sixth form achieve 3A*s and students in year 11 achieve straight 9s.
Joining Harris South Norwood means embarking on a seven-year journey with the opportunity to study a wide range of A-levels in the sixth form, with high-quality vocational subjects also offered. From 2022 we even offer the new health and science T-level, which includes a 45-day work placement. The campus now has an all-new sixth-form study centre with over 60 hi-spec computers and university-style library seating. It is not surprising over 400 young people choose to join our sixth form. We have an incredible record of over 80% of our students consistently going to universities, including last year LSE, Cambridge, UCL and Durham. If you would like to arrange a visit, please contact Miss Hall, halls@harrissouthnorwood.org.uk, who will make arrangements for you.
Rob Hitch
Principal
Academy Admissions Contact Details
Telephone: 020 8405 5138
Email: admissionsh@harrissouthnorwood.org.uk
Address: Harris Academy South Norwood, Cumberlow Avenue, South Norwood, SE25 6AE
More useful information can be found Here
Harris Academy South Norwood Virtual Open Evening
Year 7 Applications
We have 180 places in Year 7 in September 2024. We welcome students of all abilities and from all backgrounds. Applications for places will be made in accordance with local authority admission arrangements and will be made on the Common Application Form provided and administered by the local authority. The academy will work according to the common admissions timetable agreed upon by the Croydon Council for September 2023. Admissions must be made via Croydon Council only and not directly to Harris Academy South Norwood (see links at bottom of the page).
Admissions test - secondary phase
Where parents/carers name Harris Academy South Norwood on the Common Application Form, their child/ward will be invited to sit our admissions test. We will write to all parents/carers with the exact time approximately one week before the testing day. If you have named more than one Harris Academy on the Common Application Form your child/ward will only need to sit the test ONCE and will be notified as to which academy will be contacting you with details of your child's/ward's appointment. The testing date is Friday 8 December 2023.
Supplementary information form
If you require a concession in the admission test (for example for SEN or medical needs), you must complete the supplementary information form which can be downloaded from the bottom of the page and return it directly to the academy along with medical or professional evidence and proof of residence by the agreed date (to be confirmed). Please note that completion of a supplementary information form for Harris Academy South Norwood does not constitute an application to the academy. You must complete the Local Authority Common Application Form as well.
Parents are strongly advised to read carefully the full Academy Admissions Policy 2023-2024 (see at the bottom of the page) and information and advice from the local authority. The main points to remember are:
- You must submit an application form to your Local Education Authority if applying online by 31st October 2023. A place at any secondary school can only be offered if an application has been received.
- Think carefully about the order in which you place your chosen schools on the form. You should enter your most preferred school first on the list. Please remember to enter the full name of Harris Academy South Norwood, There are several different Harris Academies and an entry of simply “Harris Academy” will be ignored.
- If you are successful we will ask you to request your preferred site, While we cannot promise you will get this, we will do our best to accommodate your preferences
- You will be invited to a testing day on 8th December 2023, this is a non-verbal reasoning test and ensures places are offered to all bands of ability.
- Be sure to include at least 3 different schools on your preference form.
On 1st March 2024, the local authority will notify you of the school where your child has been offered a place. If you are happy with the offer, you MUST ACCEPT this place by returning the acceptance form to Admissions at the Academy.
If you are unhappy that you did not receive an offer of a school place at Harris Academy South Norwood, you have the right to lodge an independent appeal with us.
Key dates 2023/24
Year 7 admissions
| 31st October 2023 | Common Application Forms returned to local authority |
| 8th December 2023 | Year 6 testing day |
| 1st March 2024 | National Offer Day Online applicants receive a notification email during the evening. |
| 15th March 2024 | Deadline for acceptance or refusal of school offer. |
| 29th March 2024 | Deadline for appeals to be made. Please Note: no appeals will be considered after this date |
| 1st September 2024 | Waiting list closed and replaced by casual admissions waiting lists. Parents/carers will need to re-apply as casual admission, if still waiting. |
Post 16 Applications
Before applying, you should read our Sixth Form Prospectus.
Sixth Form Entry Requirements
| Course Level | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 4 A Levels | Must have a grade 8 average in GCSEs. |
| 3 A Levels | Seven 9 - 5 grades in full course GCSE subjects. No vocational subjects allowed. |
| 3 A Level / Vocational Level 3 Combination | Combination of five 9 - 4 grades at GCSE or merit or above in Vocational subjects. |
| Vocational Level 3 subjects | Five 9-4 grades at GCSE or equivalent, with at least a Merit or grade 4 in a relevant Vocational qualification or GCSE. |
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| A Levels require a grade 6 in a relevant GCSE subject. ECDL suitable for entry to vocational courses only Extended writing A Level subject students will need a combination of at least grades 4 and 5 in English Language and English Literature |
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General Information
| Course Level | Requirements |
| Maths | Any student wishing to study A Level maths from a GCSE grade 6 will have to pass an algebra test to assess their suitability for the course. |
| English Literature | Students will need a combination of at least grade 5 and 6 in English Language and English Literature. |
| Science Based Subjects | Students must have at least a grade 6/6 for Trilogy Science GCSE (double award). Students taking Separate Science GCSEs must have at least a grade 6 in the relevant Science subject for Biology, Chemistry or Physics A Level studies. For Vocational Science students must have at a grade 5/5 for Trilogy Science (double award) and at least a Merit at Vocational Level 2 |
In-Year Applications
If you are looking for a place in Harris Academy South Norwood because you have recently moved into the area, or your child is at another secondary school and you feel that a change of school would benefit their education and/or general well-being, you are entitled to apply for a school place.
Since September 2013, the law has allowed you to apply directly to Harris Academy South Norwood. Please contact Admissions at the Academy, (contact details above) to request an in-year admission form, or download from (see below) Please note that there is no guarantee that a place will be available, but you have the right of appeal if you are refused a place.
Admission Arrangements 2023-24
The Governing Body of Harris Academy South Norwood met on 08/09/23 to review and consider the responses to the admissions consultation for intake in 2022-23. After careful consideration, the Governing Body has agreed to determine the arrangements. These can be found just below.
