Harris Clapham Sixth Form

About Harris Clapham Sixth Form

Come and work with an inspiring community of students and help shift the trajectory of their lives. 

We are not your average Sixth Form. Our job is to provide our students with an education that combines academic rigour with character education and the cultural capital our students need to thrive in their next steps.   

Sixth Form encompasses the step from childhood to adulthood. Harris Clapham Sixth Form enables the young people of South London to make that step successfully by offering an excellent academic and general vocational education so that they are ready for the next stage of employment or higher education.

We’re proud to be part of the Harris Federation, the most successful large multi-academy trust in the country and our staff benefit enormously from the subject support networks that the Federation provide and we work especially closely with our sister school, Harris Westminster with whom we share an Executive Principal in James Handscombe. 

Working here is a lot of fun and we work hard to spread joy. We are a community who work together for the greater good of our academy; there is a culture of mutual respect and kindness between staff and students that we are immensely proud of.

Lessons are inspiring and the atmosphere is calm and focused. Staff support each other with their work, as do students, and the ethos of the school encourages students to achieve their very best.

^Teacher

Our mission 

We come to work every day fuelled by a moral purpose: to make our students socially mobile by empowering them with the qualifications, personal development and character education they need to access first class destinations. We are a standalone Sixth Form that takes students from a wide range of secondary schools and turns them into a community. Our motto is ‘come as you are, we will teach you to fly’ which encapsulates the exciting adventure that our students undertake. 

A love of learning and a commitment to the transformational power of education is at our core. We not only aim to empower students with the knowledge and skills that they need to realise their potential, but also help them to develop as leaders and exceptional communicators who have the confidence to challenge and think critically.

We want our students to be hugely ambitious, to dream bigger and to realise their aspirations. Our opportunities for leadership development ensure that our students can make their mark on the world and to have the confidence and integrity to stand up for what they believe in. 

It is incredibly exciting to see the children who walk through the door become young adults and head off to the most exciting futures, and it is an absolute privilege to be part of that journey. 

I enjoy working here because the school provide training and continuing professional development so I can do better in my role and progress. Also, I can see that people genuinely care about what they do. They are engaged in their roles and working hard in order to achieve the results needed for the students succeed.

^{Support Staff}

Our values

• Courage – by which we mean the willingness to take on academic challenges and choosing to do the right thing even when it’s not the easy thing.
• Commitment – by which we mean both following through on our undertakings and loyalty to our community.
• Confidence – which we see as the ability to welcome, accept and celebrate others in our school and our lives.

Students are nurtured in a vibrant, supportive environment where academic excellence meets personal growth.  I enjoy the freedom to design engaging lessons, integrate my unique teaching styles and use creative methods to make learning exciting for students.

^Teacher

Why work for us?

• The opportunity to work a new and exciting academy, judged 'Outstanding' by Ofsted.
• A fantastic community of students who are polite, ambitious and energetic – working with them is an inspiring experience.
• A real opportunity to change lives, to shift the trajectory of young people and enable them to reach their goals and be successful, socially minded, happy adults.
• A highly ambitious environment, where staff are encouraged to dedicate time to subject expertise and learning their craft.
• A rigorous and purposeful professional learning offer that helps staff work towards a common goal, whilst retaining autonomy over their own subject development.
• A friendly staff community who go out of their way to support each other and find opportunities to spread joy.
• Excellent opportunities for professional development and future promotion with support and challenge (both subject-specific and generally applicable) from within the academy and through the Harris Federation.
• Excellent student behaviour and opportunities to make a difference pastorally through our House system. 
• A leadership team who communicates with staff and takes time to listen to them, especially when it comes to workload and work-life balance.
• A new, purpose built sixth form building with amazing facilities and a well-stocked library.
• Frequent celebration of staff success and excellence.
• Generous Harris benefits package and excellent opportunities for personal and professional development. 
• An extra week of holiday which takes the form of a two week half term in October. 

Working at Harris Clapham Sixth Form is both a privilege and a joy. Our students possess a unique blend of soul and grit, bringing diverse experiences and perspectives that make lessons vibrant. This creates an environment where teaching challenging but also deeply rewarding. 

Sixth form is a pivotal time in students' lives, where the impact we have as educators is both tangible and profound. Whether it’s celebrating their hard-earned qualifications on A-level results day or witnessing their remarkable personal growth over two years, teaching here offers the opportunity to shape futures in meaningful ways. The freedom to teach here allows me to shape my practice and truly engage with a subject I love. The professional autonomy afforded by our small departments is both empowering and fulfilling.

^Teacher

Our staff say:

100% of staff agree or strongly agree that our school has a culture that encourages calm and orderly conduct and is aspirational for all pupils

100% of staff agree or strongly agree The school challenges all pupils to make at least good progress

100% of staff agree or strongly agree that students are safe at this school

100% of staff agree or strongly agree that staff consistently manage the behaviour of students well

100% of staff agree or strongly agree that leaders support staff well in dealing with behaviour

91% of staff agree or strongly agree that they enjoy working here

91% of staff agree or strongly agree that students behave well

91% of staff agree or strongly agree that the school deals well with any cases of bullying

91% of staff agree or strongly agree that leaders use professional development to encourage, challenge and support teachers’ improvement

91% of staff agree or strongly agree that staff are treated fairly and with respect at this school

91% of staff agree or strongly agree that Leaders and managers are considerate of their well-being.

90% of staff agree or strongly agree this school is well led and managed.