Harris Primary (East Dulwich) feedback so far...?

[ksh]

Hi there

Has anyone got any feedback so far please? I know its early days for a very new school but I'd love to hear your views so far on the head, the teaching staff and the general 'feel' of the place. We're considering this for our son next year.

Thanks

[Norfolkvillas]

Hiya, it is very very early days - we're only in the third full school week, but so far I've been delighted. My son's transition into school life has been 100% positive and stress-free. The head is enthusiastic and motivated, the teachers and teaching assistants all seem lovely and very capable, and the temporary classrooms seem spacious and well-appointed.

Not to mention a particularly friendly, sociable and motivated set of parents :-)

With only three weeks of experience to go on, it's thumbs up all round from this household. Couldn't be happier with our choice so far. Feel free to PM me with further questions.

[Mariamadeit]

I can second that too, am so pleased, it really couldn't have gone better for my son either, he loves school and I have been particularly impressed with the head, staff and resources available to them.

[Caroline_S]

Another very happy family here! We are thrilled with our choice and our son has had a very happy and stress-free introduction to school life. The staff ratio is amazing and we too are very impressed with the head so far, who has been really keen to get parents involved with developing the school. Until this week they've been concentrating on helping the children settle in so there has been no homework etc and as such it's hard to comment on their approach to teaching or the curriculum, but the school's specialism is literacy which personally I am really pleased about. And as the school is brand new there is a very special sense of community already which has been lovely.

[sofia_s_i]

Hi everyone.

Just wondering how people are finding harris in light of coming school applications.

Thank you for any feedback

S

[Mariamadeit]

Not sure I have understood your question? If you want to look around, they have sessions on Tuesdays that you need to call and book your place on.

[sofia_s_i]

Yes I know. I'm going on Tuesday. Just wondering if any parents had any further thoughts about the school half a term in.

Regards

S

[Caroline_S]

We continue to be very happy, as does my son who has had no trouble at all settling in or returning after the half term holidays. We had our first parents' evening this week and, whilst there are obviously no stats for the class's progress as a whole, my son is making great progress with literacy, handwriting and maths and I was very happy that his teacher has a clear plan for his individual development in these areas. The staff are very responsive to parents' feedback. In fact we have just asked to be removed from the waiting list of our original first choice of school as we have no concerns at all about Harris.

[Norfolkvillas]

Likewise, still very happy in this household. My son adores school, and talks enthusiastically about all of the teaching staff. I've been amazed at how much progress he's made in half a term! The school are very responsive and even as a nearly-full-time working mum, I feel very much in the loop. The regular letters home, newsletters and termly parents evenings are much appreciated. I only do the school run once a week, but that gives me two chances to say hi to my son's class teacher, and the head, and whilst I haven't yet had any concerns or questions, I'm reassured that they're there to chat to if need be.

As a family, we've really enjoyed being part of a small, new school, and how easy and enjoyable it's been to get to know everyone - staff, kids, and parents alike.

Happy to answer any specific questions by PM if it's helpful.

[lenster]

Hi there. We are about to hit "submit" on our 2015 application and I just saw a copy of the letter that went out to parents about the head teacher moving to a different Harris & the head from Peckham taking over here. Seems very early days to be making a change in leadership... anyone able to help clarify how this change has/will affect the school?

I will try to speak to them directly, but am aware the clock is ticking for our application.

Thanks.

[buggie]

Really? :-0

We went to an open morning at Harris ED less than a month ago & he said he was fully committed to

The school and overseeing the build/move into permanent base, although (perhaps tellingly) when asked he did confirm his contract was with Harris Federation not the ED school & so could be moved to another school if needed.

[Mariamadeit]

Yes the heads have switched, it all happened very quickly at the end of last term, parents fed back to the academy our feelings and thoughts on how it was handled and harris have committed to improving communication as a result. The new head started this week, she has lots of experience and so far so good, nothing has radically changed, we are still happy with the school and long term, she may even be better as she is committed to ed and has experience of working in a new school so knows about what needs to be doone, she has a very forward thinking approach and above all, for the children, nothing has changed that much. I would still recommend the school to other parents.

[Monkey]

Well, that did not last long! Hope the new head is more committed to ED than the previous head was to the school.

[Norfolkvillas]

Most parents I've spoken to don't seem unhappy with the swap. And I don't for a minute think it's a reflection of lack of commitment - both heads, and in fact everyone I've met so far at Harris seem hugely committed. As part of the collegiate structure, I'm pretty sure we'll still be seeing Mr Hoyte from time to time.

It does sound though as if the new head in particular is going to be with our little school for the long haul - as other current parents have pointed out, she's an ED mum herself with two primary age kids at school here, and has said that her long term ambition was to build a successful school within her own community. In this respect, I can't imagine a head whose interests are more aligned with ours.

I've only met her once, but she does come across as an impressive and effective head, with what appears at this stage to be a good balance of long experience and forward-thinkingness (sorry, I just made that word up!) and approachability.

She's already made an impression on my son who is full of chat about her already after just the first week!

[Caroline_S]

Monkey Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Well, that did not last long! Hope the new head is

> more committed to ED than the previous head was to

> the school.

Actually I don't think that was the case at all and so this is a bit of an unfair comment. He is still involved with the school. It seems it was an unusual set of circumstances that led to a slight reshuffle of staff within the Federation and they have assured us parents that this is certainly not something that will happening on a regular basis. All staff in post seem hugely committed to the school.

[Debbie08]

Hi

My son has been offered a place at Harris primary east Dulwich and I'm after some feedback from parents. What is the new head teacher like? I was told that the new school would be ready around easter 2016, is that still the case? Every time i walk past the site on Lordship lane nothing much seems to be happening...are current pupils local to East Dulwich or is there quite a wide catchment. Any feedback/reassurance would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

Debbie

[Ruth Campbell]

Hi Debbie,

Our son is at Harris and we are very happy, infact we couldn't be happier. The new head is really great with a clear vision for achieving an outstanding school, and the staff are all welcoming and clearly very good at their jobs.

The children are mainly from East Dulwich and they all seem very happy, settled and thriving. There are so many benefits to the new school not least the small scale which eased the transition from nursery, the bright teaching staff that have come to the school and the strong sense of community that has been built over the last year.

The school site is now anticipated to be ready in sept 2016, but the lovely thing about the temporary site is how close we are to the park so many of us are glad we will get another summer of after school trips to the adventure playground!

Welcome! We are planning a new parents welcome picnic (details to follow) so hope to see you there.

[Mariamadeit]

My son is also at HPED and I would echo what bubble bob has said, we are also very pleased, and feel extremely lucky to have our son at the school.

[MrsC]

Hi Debbie

Congrats on your place! My son started at Harris last year and he is thriving. It's a safe and nurturing environment with a real sense of pride amongst the kids about their new school. Due to its size it's felt more like a village school, and has really helped in the transition from nursery to 'big' school. In terms of the head, she's great. She comes with a lot of experience and a strong vision for the school to excel. She is at the gate most mornings and knows each of the children's names, she's an accessible and approachable head. The permanent site is on track for next September. The temporary site was actually my main concern accepting the place last year but it has worked out really well! It's position opposite the park has been great for post school gatherings etc.

Feel free to PM me with any questions

[azurh]

is the new site for harris academy the police station site? do they judge the catchment based on the new site or the temp site?

[Mariamadeit]

Yes the new site is the police station and I think they do judge the catchment from there.

[Debbie08]

Thank you for all the messages. Really reassuring to hear such positive feedback, after having a bit of a wobble regarding our choice I'm feeling much better today.

Look forward to meeting everyone at the picnic.

Be great to hear from other parents whose children will be starting in sept 2015. Perhaps we could get our kids together so they'll have familiar faces when they start. Feel free to pm me.

[Norfolkvillas]

Congrats Debbie08 and welcome! Another happy parent here - you can read my responses to previous posters further up the thread. Like others I think our new head is absolutely excellent and feel that the school is in extremely capable hands as it continues to grow, and through the transition to the permanent site from Sept 2016 (they have assured us that this is still a feasible timeline).

The school now has an official PTA and there are loads of plans and ideas in the pipeline. The PTA has a Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/hpaeastdulwich and a website is coming imminently.

Ref the question about catchment, there wasn't one in the first year but distance was (and will continue to be) measured from the permanent site rather than the temporary one. I can't think of anyone who comes in from further away than the bits of SE15 and SE23 that border onto SE22, and there are plenty of us within 500m ish of Lordship Lane, so the cohort certainly feels very "local". I'm guessing the catchment will probably narrow this year, and for future years as the school gets more established. I'm sure someone told me recently that 180 families had put it as their first choice this year...

[Caroline_S]

Yes, today's newsletter home says they had 180 applications and will be full next year. So cohort will almost certainly be very local to Lordship Lane.

Glad to hear you are feeling more reassured, Debbie08!

[uzma]

Hopefully includes se21!