Harris Academy Merton
Encyclopedia
Harris Academy Merton is a secondary school
located inside the London Borough of Merton
district of Mitcham
. The academy was designated as an Enterprise and Sport College by the Department for Education and Skills when it was formerly called Tamworth Manor Secondary School. The academy is part of the Harris Federation
of South London schools which were opened to allow schools in the same area to 'borrow' educational values. Currently it is the only Harris school in Merton. The new academy takes in students from both genders between the ages of 11 and 19. The school's sixth form opened in September 2007, but at the moment courses are being offered on site in conjunction with Harris CTC, who Merton have very good links with.
The school saw its GCSE results increase from 32% under the former Tamworth Manor High School to 40% 5A-C GCSE's in the result that were published in August 2007.
Since becoming an academy the school has become over-subsrcibed.
in an area called Pollards Hill
. The nearest train station is at Norbury
and Mitcham Eastfields
, with the nearest Tramlink
stop being at Beddington Lane station which are both about a 20 minute walk from the school.
administration on Merton Council and was strongly supported by the local MP Siobhain McDonagh
and Labour councillors. Making the school an academy was also opposed by the then Conservative
opposition on Merton Council. Rob MacDonald who is a prominent activist in the Socialist Party
, was the event organiser and brought the case to the High Court
, urged parents to contest the "privatisation" of education. He said academies were being "rail-roaded".
But on 27 July the High Court decided that the closure of Tamworth Manor school, to make way for an academy, should be allowed to go ahead. He argued that parents did not have access to the "funding agreement" underpinning the deal.
of South London schools is a federation of academies in over five South London
boroughs. There are fourteen schools in the federation, with plans for many more. The schools are all sponsored by the Lord Harris of Peckham, who is investing around £2 Million into them to make new facilities and for re-development of certain schools. The boroughs included are Southwark
, Croydon
and Merton
.
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
located inside the London Borough of Merton
London Borough of Merton
The London Borough of Merton is a borough in southwest London, England.The borough was formed under the London Government Act in 1965 by the merger of the Municipal Borough of Mitcham, the Municipal Borough of Wimbledon and the Merton and Morden Urban District, all formerly within Surrey...
district of Mitcham
Mitcham
Mitcham is a district in the south west area of London, in the London Borough of Merton. A suburban area, Mitcham is located on the border of Inner London and Outer London. It is both residentially and financially developed, well served by Transport for London, and home to Mitcham Town Centre,...
. The academy was designated as an Enterprise and Sport College by the Department for Education and Skills when it was formerly called Tamworth Manor Secondary School. The academy is part of the Harris Federation
Harris Federation
Harris Federation is a federation of Primary and Secondary academies in South London, England. There are currently fourteen open academies in the federation which span over five London boroughs including the London Borough of Croydon, London Borough of Southwark, London Borough of Bexley, London...
of South London schools which were opened to allow schools in the same area to 'borrow' educational values. Currently it is the only Harris school in Merton. The new academy takes in students from both genders between the ages of 11 and 19. The school's sixth form opened in September 2007, but at the moment courses are being offered on site in conjunction with Harris CTC, who Merton have very good links with.
The school saw its GCSE results increase from 32% under the former Tamworth Manor High School to 40% 5A-C GCSE's in the result that were published in August 2007.
Since becoming an academy the school has become over-subsrcibed.
Location
The academy is located on the edge of Wide Way and Recreation Drive, north of Mitcham CommonMitcham Common
Mitcham Common or Seven Islands is 182 hectares of common land situated in South London. It is predominantly in the London borough of Merton, with parts straddling the borders with Sutton and Croydon.- History :...
in an area called Pollards Hill
Pollards Hill
Pollards Hill is a residential district crossing the border of the south London boroughs of Merton and Croydon between Mitcham and Norbury. It is the name of a council ward in Merton. The district is bisected by the Merton/Croydon boundary along Recreation Way...
. The nearest train station is at Norbury
Norbury railway station
Norbury railway station is in the London Borough of Croydon in south London miles from Victoria. The station is operated by Southern, who also provide the majority of services and is in Travelcard Zone 3.Ticket barriers are in operation at this station.- Service :The typical off-peak train...
and Mitcham Eastfields
Mitcham Eastfields railway station
Mitcham Eastfields is a railway station in London, United Kingdom, which opened on 2 June 2008. The station is located at Eastfields Road level crossing, in an area previously poorly served by public transport...
, with the nearest Tramlink
Tramlink
Tramlink is a tramway system in south London in the United Kingdom which began operation in May 2000...
stop being at Beddington Lane station which are both about a 20 minute walk from the school.
Opposition
In 2004, when the school was still Tamworth Manor, people were protesting that academies cause a loss of relationship between pupils and parents and the academy. The decision to make it make it an academy was taken by the former LabourLabour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
administration on Merton Council and was strongly supported by the local MP Siobhain McDonagh
Siobhain McDonagh
Siobhain Ann McDonagh is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Mitcham and Morden since 1997. She previously served as an Assistant Whip in the Labour Government, but was fired following comments regarding a leadership contest to replace PM Gordon Brown.She...
and Labour councillors. Making the school an academy was also opposed by the then Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
opposition on Merton Council. Rob MacDonald who is a prominent activist in the Socialist Party
Socialist Party (England and Wales)
The Socialist Party is a Trotskyist party active in England and Wales.It publishes the weekly newspaper The Socialist and the monthly magazine Socialism Today...
, was the event organiser and brought the case to the High Court
High Court of Justice
The High Court of Justice is, together with the Court of Appeal and the Crown Court, one of the Senior Courts of England and Wales...
, urged parents to contest the "privatisation" of education. He said academies were being "rail-roaded".
But on 27 July the High Court decided that the closure of Tamworth Manor school, to make way for an academy, should be allowed to go ahead. He argued that parents did not have access to the "funding agreement" underpinning the deal.
Harris Federation
The Harris FederationHarris Federation
Harris Federation is a federation of Primary and Secondary academies in South London, England. There are currently fourteen open academies in the federation which span over five London boroughs including the London Borough of Croydon, London Borough of Southwark, London Borough of Bexley, London...
of South London schools is a federation of academies in over five South London
South London
South London is the southern part of London, England, United Kingdom.According to the 2011 official Boundary Commission for England definition, South London includes the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Southwark, Sutton and...
boroughs. There are fourteen schools in the federation, with plans for many more. The schools are all sponsored by the Lord Harris of Peckham, who is investing around £2 Million into them to make new facilities and for re-development of certain schools. The boroughs included are Southwark
London Borough of Southwark
The London Borough of Southwark is a London borough in south east London, England. It is directly south of the River Thames and the City of London, and forms part of Inner London.-History:...
, Croydon
London Borough of Croydon
The London Borough of Croydon is a London borough in South London, England and is part of Outer London. It covers an area of and is the largest London borough by population. It is the southernmost borough of London. At its centre is the historic town of Croydon from which the borough takes its name...
and Merton
London Borough of Merton
The London Borough of Merton is a borough in southwest London, England.The borough was formed under the London Government Act in 1965 by the merger of the Municipal Borough of Mitcham, the Municipal Borough of Wimbledon and the Merton and Morden Urban District, all formerly within Surrey...
.
External links
- Harris Academy Merton
- Harris Federation
- Merton School Sport Partnership
- Merton - Tamworth Manor
- BBC News article - about opposition to the school