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Harris Invictus Academy Croydon is an 11–18 mixed,
free Free may refer to: Concept * Freedom, the ability to act or change without constraint or restriction * Emancipate, attaining civil and political rights or equality * Free (''gratis''), free of charge * Gratis versus libre, the difference betw ...
secondary school A secondary school, high school, or senior school, is an institution that provides secondary education. Some secondary schools provide both ''lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper secondary education'' (ages 14 to 18), i.e., b ...
and
sixth form In the education systems of Barbados, England, Jamaica, Northern Ireland, Trinidad and Tobago, Wales, and some other Commonwealth countries, sixth form represents the final two years of secondary education, ages 16 to 18. Pupils typically prepa ...
in
Croydon Croydon is a large town in South London, England, south of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Croydon, a Districts of England, local government district of Greater London; it is one of the largest commercial districts in Greater Lond ...
,
Greater London Greater London is an administrative area in England, coterminous with the London region, containing most of the continuous urban area of London. It contains 33 local government districts: the 32 London boroughs, which form a Ceremonial count ...
, England. It was established in September 2014 and is part of the
Harris Federation Harris Federation is a multi-academy trust of 52 primary and secondary academies in and around London. They are sponsored by Philip Harris (Lord Harris of Peckham). Description With 52 academies in London and Essex, the Harris Federation educat ...
.


History

:: "I am the master of my fate: ::: I am the captain of my soul." ''
Invictus "Invictus" is a short poem by the Victorian era British poet William Ernest Henley (1849–1903). Henley wrote it in 1875, and in 1888 he published it in his first volume of poems, ''Book of Verses'', in the section titled "Life and Death (Echoe ...
'',
William Ernest Henley William Ernest Henley (23 August 1849 11 July 1903) was a British poet, writer, critic and editor. Though he wrote several books of poetry, Henley is remembered most often for his 1875 poem "Invictus". A fixture in London literary circles, th ...
(1849–1903). In 2010, Croydon had three popular
Harris Federation Harris Federation is a multi-academy trust of 52 primary and secondary academies in and around London. They are sponsored by Philip Harris (Lord Harris of Peckham). Description With 52 academies in London and Essex, the Harris Federation educat ...
academies that had been graded as 'outstanding' and demographic pressure to create a thousand extra secondary school places. Invictus was a local pressure group that teamed up with the Federation to apply to form a free school. Harris Invictus Academy Croydon was established in September 2014. It was rated 'outstanding' by
Ofsted The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) is a non-ministerial department of His Majesty's government, reporting to Parliament. Ofsted's role is to make sure that organisations providing education, training ...
in both of its last inspections, which took place in 2016 and 2023. Harris has identified that children of low income families do better with shorter
Key Stage 3 Key Stage 3 (commonly abbreviated as KS3) is the legal term for the three years of schooling in maintained schools in England and Wales normally known as Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9, when pupils are aged between 11 and 14. In Northern Ireland the ...
, and a three-year exam orientated
Key Stage 4 Key Stage 4 (KS4) is the legal term for the two years of school education which incorporate GCSEs, and other examinations, in maintained schools in England normally known as Year 10 and Year 11, when pupils are aged between 14 and 16 by August 31 ...
, this is spoken of as 'three years to do their GCSE'. Ofsted believes that these students are losing out on the wider Key Stage 3 experience, and warned Harris that schools who used the two plus three method would lose their 'outstanding' status. Harris instructed Invictus Croydon and 26 other secondary academies to switch to the three plus two model in July 2019.


Curriculum

Virtually all maintained schools and academies follow the
National Curriculum A national curriculum is a common programme of study in schools that is designed to ensure nationwide uniformity of content and standards in education. It is usually legislated by the national government, possibly in consultation with state or othe ...
, and are inspected by Ofsted on how well they succeed in delivering a 'broad and balanced curriculum'. Schools endeavour to get all students to achieve the
English Baccalaureate The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) is a school performance indicator in England linked to the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) results. It measures students' attainment by calculating an average score from specified subject grades. ...
(EBACC) qualification — this must include core subjects, a modern or ancient foreign language, and either history or geography. Harris Invictus Academy Croydon operates a three-year,
Key Stage 3 Key Stage 3 (commonly abbreviated as KS3) is the legal term for the three years of schooling in maintained schools in England and Wales normally known as Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9, when pupils are aged between 11 and 14. In Northern Ireland the ...
where all the core National Curriculum subjects are taught. The school chooses to prioritise breadth of curriculum early on, so that students can widen their understanding and appreciation of the world, music, art and science, believing that through broad immersion, students will excel later in formal examinations. The preparation for
GCSE The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) is an academic qualification in a range of subjects taken in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, having been introduced in September 1986 and its first exams taken in 1988. State schools ...
examinations,
Key Stage 4 Key Stage 4 (KS4) is the legal term for the two years of school education which incorporate GCSEs, and other examinations, in maintained schools in England normally known as Year 10 and Year 11, when pupils are aged between 14 and 16 by August 31 ...
starts in year 10. The students follow a core curriculum of maths, science and English for 6 lessons a week and take four options for 3 lessons a week. One of these options should be Spanish or French, and another history or geography. In addition, there is compulsory RE (PSRE) and a session of sports or physical education (PE). Where appropriate, any subject may be set by ability. Students with
English as an additional language English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Culture, language and peoples * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England * ''English'', an Amish ter ...
will be put in a higher ability set than the raw test mark would suggest, reflecting that limited language might have depressed their score.


Ofsted

The school was inspected by
Ofsted The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) is a non-ministerial department of His Majesty's government, reporting to Parliament. Ofsted's role is to make sure that organisations providing education, training ...
on 30 September 2016 and 19 January 2023 and was rated 'outstanding' both times. This article contains quotations from this source, which is available under th
Open Government Licence v3.0
© Crown copyright
In 2023, Ofsted reported that "pupils build very successfully on their learning from previous lessons and previous years. Leaders have given meticulous thought to how pupils should develop knowledge and remember it in the long term. Pupils spoke positively about how well they have been prepared for their next steps." In 2016, Ofsted said the following: "In two years, senior leaders, staff and governors have built a highly successful school by focusing on the pupils’ academic and personal development. The attention to detail results in a very positive climate in which pupils’ academic achievement, care and welfare are highly valued and disadvantaged pupils make very strong progress. English as an additional language speakers make very brisk progress and are high achievers." The inspectors found that pupils behave very well around the school and there is very little disruption in lessons allowing pupils to learn without interruption. They were extremely well turned out and had first-rate manners and have excellent attitudes to learning and to school. In the only criticism in the report they said "the most able pupils are sometimes under-stretched in lessons." They found high expectations, well-structured learning and the effective use of good resources.


Building

Harris Invictus Academy Croydon is on the site of the former Croydon General Hospital whose buildings had been demolished. It lies between the London Road and Lennard Street which is residential. The school opened in 2014, to a single year group, in temporary classrooms to the north of the site, while planning permission was sought. The site was zoned for multiple use so this was a deviation from the local plan. Permission was given in 2015 and the building delivered in 2018. The contractors
Scott Brownrigg Scott Brownrigg (originally Scott Brownrigg & Turner) is a British architecture practice with nine offices in the UK and abroad, with staff of 280. It was founded in 1910 and is headquartered in London. Company The company was originally establis ...
were challenged to create a vibrant, secure learning environment with civic qualities and community access. There was a collaborative partnership, with Invictus, a community action group, Harris and Scott Brownrigg. There was significant local pressure for extra school places. The lead architect was Clark Barton. The site is very constrained. At 9,250 sq m, it is designed as a single superblock, though visually appears in three parts. The community facilities were on the ground floor and the school mainly on the floors above. The building was low cost and is designed to be energy efficient and low maintenance. Vertical
brise soleil Brise, Brisé or Briše may refer to: * Brisé (dance), a type of jump in ballet * "Brisé" (song), Maître Gims 2015 *Brisé (music), Style brisé (French: "broken style"), Baroque music Places * Briše, Kamnik, Slovenia * Briše pri Polhovem G ...
are a design feature and also a method to reduce thermal gain in summer. Natural light is important, and is channelled through to different areas through internal clear glass glazed walls. Harris had opportunity to define the space it needed for its style of teaching and learning. Access for pupils is from Lennard Road, and access for users of the community facilities from the London Road. Break out spaces are designed in: allowing for better pupil management and a calmer school. The building cost £20 million, and was handed over to the school in 2018. There are general classrooms, a Main Hall, a Sports Hall, a Dance Studio, an outdoor MUGA, a Dining Hall and Food Tech Preparation Area all of which can be hired by the community when not in use by the school.


See also

*
Harris Academy Purley Harris Academy Purley (formerly ''Haling Manor High School'') is an academic secondary school in South Croydon, England. It is also part of the Harris Federation. Haling Manor High School was one of only fifteen schools in the country to be awa ...
*
Harris Academy South Norwood Harris Academy South Norwood is a city academy in South Norwood, London, for students of both sexes aged 11–18. The school was designated as a Business and Enterprise College by the Department for Education and Skills when it was formerly cal ...
*
Harris City Academy Crystal Palace Harris City Academy Crystal Palace is a mixed-sex secondary school and sixth form in Croydon, south London, England. It was established in 1990 to replace Sylvan High School, a newly built mixed comprehensive school which had opened in 1974. Syl ...


References


External links

*
Mayor of Londons Planning Appraisal

Croydon Advertiser History of the Croydon General Hospital Site with images
{{Authority control
Invictus "Invictus" is a short poem by the Victorian era British poet William Ernest Henley (1849–1903). Henley wrote it in 1875, and in 1888 he published it in his first volume of poems, ''Book of Verses'', in the section titled "Life and Death (Echoe ...
Secondary schools in the London Borough of Croydon Free schools in London Educational institutions established in 2014 2014 establishments in England