Achieve • Enrich • Prepare
Discover Harris Academy Wickford Harris Academy Wickford is a strong, caring and ambitious community built on three core values. These values are: • Enabling every student to achieve their very best; • Providing enriching opportunities that extend learning beyond the classroom; • Preparing young people with the life skills they need to succeed in the wider world. We set high expectations for all members of our community and encourage our students to take pride in their learning, behaviour and personal development. Visitors consistently remark on the calm, purposeful and welcoming atmosphere that defines daily life at our academy and we are proud to offer an environment where students feel safe, supported and valued.
As a part of the Harris Federation, our journey of improvement continues through a sustained focus on high-quality teaching, a purposeful curriculum and meaningful enrichment. Our dedicated staff choose to work here because they want to make a difference, and we remain deeply committed to the success and wellbeing of every student. We warmly invite you to visit Harris Academy Wickford and experience our community first-hand.
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Achieve, Enrich, Prepare At our academy, we believe every young person has the power to achieve extraordinary things, both during their time with us and beyond. We are committed to ensuring that no student is left behind by providing a high quality, inspiring learning environment where all learners are supported to thrive. Our broad and balanced curriculum is designed to spark curiosity, broaden horizons and challenge students of all abilities to reach their full potential. We are dedicated to removing barriers to learning so every student can flourish. Our SEND department works closely with teaching staff to identify needs early and provide tailored support and high quality teaching strategies. A strong culture of professional development ensures staff continually enhance their practice, making a lasting difference to students’ outcomes.
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Enrichment plays a vital role in academy life. Students are encouraged to explore their interests through trips, visits, leadership roles and programmes such as Duke of Edinburgh, Student Voice, Jack Petchey and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Ambassadors. These experiences help develop confidence, resilience and essential life skills. Strong pastoral care underpins everything we do. Dedicated year teams and Heads of House foster positive relationships and a culture of pride, respect and high expectations. We prepare students carefully for their next steps, with a strong Year 6 transition, comprehensive careers guidance from Year 7 onwards, and dedicated support into post 16 education. Together, these experiences ensure our students leave us as confident, capable and well rounded young people.
Supporting Transition to Secondary School We recognise that moving to secondary school is one of the most significant transitions a child and their parent or carer will experience. For this reason, we place great importance on ensuring the move from primary to secondary education is smooth, positive and enjoyable for both students and their families. Students joining Year 7 benefit from our extensive primary liaison programme which begins in Year 5. Through a range of carefully planned visits and activities, students are introduced to academy life in a supportive and welcoming way. These experiences help build familiarity, excitement and confidence, ensuring pupils arrive ready to learn and settle quickly.
Our collaborative local approach across Wickford ensures transitions are not only smoother, but fairer – particularly for those students who need additional support. This commitment helps every child feel welcomed, valued and prepared as they begin the next stage of their education.
Our transition programme includes subject‑based activities and can also involve bespoke arrangements to support individual students, ensuring that specific needs are identified and addressed well in advance of their start with us in September.
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A Curriculum Designed for Success We want every student to enjoy their education and achieve their full potential. To support this, we offer a broad, ambitious and inclusive curriculum that is carefully designed to meet individual needs and broaden students’ experiences beyond the classroom. Strong emphasis is placed on core subjects, including English, mathematics, the sciences, humanities and languages. Alongside this, all students benefit from high‑quality teaching in a wide range of subjects such as physical education, creative technologies and the performing arts. At Key Stage 3, our curriculum remains broad and balanced, ensuring students develop secure foundations and a love of learning that prepares them exceptionally well for GCSE study.
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In Year 10, students begin to specialise and refine their subject choices. This process is carefully guided by staff so that students and families are supported to make informed decisions aligned with individual interests, strengths and future aspirations. Our teachers are committed to inspiring the very best in every student. We consistently ‘pitch high and support well’, ensuring all students are challenged while receiving the care they need to succeed. Where additional support is required, targeted interventions, small‑group teaching and one‑to‑one coaching help students overcome barriers and build confidence. This personalised approach ensures that every learner is supported to thrive and achieve success.
Beyond the Classroom Beyond the classroom, enrichment plays a vital role in developing confident, well‑rounded young people. Our wide range of enrichment opportunities help students to build confidence, develop social skills, expand their networks and gain new knowledge and abilities. Above all, enrichment allows students to explore new interests, take on leadership roles and make a positive contribution to their community.
Our enrichment programme includes a variety of activities both within and beyond the academy, such as clubs, educational visits, guest speakers, workshops and community projects. These experiences are designed to complement academic learning, broaden horizons and inspire ambition. Our Theatre Company is a shining example of the inclusive and creative spirit of our school community, delivering outstanding productions year after year. We also offer a thriving Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, supporting students to develop resilience, teamwork and independence. Recent enrichment opportunities have included Art, Drama and Physical Education visits to the USA, providing memorable experiences that extend learning beyond the classroom. At Harris Academy Wickford, we are proud to offer a curriculum and enrichment programme that broadens horizons, raises aspirations and supports every student in becoming the very best version of themselves.
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Preparing Students for Life, Not Just Exams Personal Development at Harris Academy Wickford is a core element of our Achieve, Enrich and Prepare values and underpins daily life at the academy.
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Our Personal Development programme is carefully designed to support students’ character, confidence, independence and sense of responsibility, ensuring they are well prepared for life beyond school.
Opportunities such as trips, clubs, leadership roles and community involvement allow students to explore interests, develop resilience and learn how to work positively with others.
Through a thoughtfully planned curriculum, alongside a wide range of enrichment opportunities, students develop the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to stay safe, healthy and engaged as active citizens in modern Britain.
We place strong emphasis on developing students’ confidence, aspirations and understanding of diversity, enabling them to show respect, make informed choices and contribute positively to society. Our approach supports students’ readiness for the next stage of their education, employment or training.
A Sixth Form for Success At Harris Academy Wickford Sixth Form, we provide a dynamic and supportive environment in which students are empowered to achieve academic success and personal growth. Our bespoke curriculum is carefully designed to meet the individual needs, interests and aspirations of each student and is delivered by a team of highly skilled and committed staff who provide expert, inspirational teaching. We believe Sixth Form education should go beyond academic study. Alongside outstanding teaching, we place strong emphasis on developing independent learning, critical thinking, leadership and personal responsibility. This ensures our students leave us as confident, well rounded young adults, fully prepared for the demands of a rapidly changing world. Students benefit from a wide range of progression opportunities, including personalised pathways to leading universities – including Oxbridge and Russell Group institutions – as well as apprenticeships, employment and other career routes across a broad range of sectors.
Exceptional pastoral care and tailored academic support ensure every student is guided through their post 16 journey with confidence and clarity. Enrichment is an integral part of Sixth Form life. Students have access to a variety of extracurricular activities, leadership roles and wider opportunities that develop resilience, creativity and a strong sense of global citizenship. Harris Academy Wickford Sixth Form welcomes applications from current Year 11 students as well as students from other schools. Provisional conditional offers are made from January for a September start in Year 12, with final places confirmed following the publication of GCSE results and subject specific entry requirements.
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Being a part of something bigger The Harris Federation is a not-for-profit charity with 59 academies in London and Essex. The founder and Chairman of the Harris Federation is Lord Harris of Peckham. His vision of delivering happy and successful education is brought to life by an excellent team of teachers and leaders. The Federation regularly tops academic studies and national league tables measuring progress and performance. Almost all Harris secondary academies achieve the highest ratings from Ofsted.
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Harris secondary academies are known for combining traditional standards of manners, discipline and uniform with the best of modern teaching and technology. Across the academies, there are around four applications from parents for every place available. In addition to running schools, the Harris Federation provides high-quality training and professional development for teachers throughout this part of England.
Admissions We are delighted that you are considering Harris Academy Wickford as the next step in your child’s education. The progress and wellbeing of our students are at the heart of everything we do, and we are proud to offer a warm, inclusive environment where every child is supported to be the best version of themselves. We recognise that this is a significant milestone for students and their parents or carers, and we are committed to providing the care, guidance and support needed to ensure a positive and confident transition.
If you are interested in a place, please book onto one of our tours. We look forward to meeting as many of you as possible. Our full admissions policy – together with the details of tours and date of our Open Evening – are set out on our website.
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Grange Avenue, Wickford, Essex SS12 0LZ t. 01268 471201 e. info@harriswickford.org.uk www.harriswickford.org.uk