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25/08/26

A delayed post but a big Congratulations to all our HAO students on their GCSE results. We are proud of your achievements and excited to see many of you continue to grow, succeed, and shine in our Sixth Form. Read our website article here:  shorturl.at/B5Po2

13/08/26

Congratulations to our Class of 2026! We are incredibly proud of all our students who have achieved a fantastic set of A Level results today. We are especially delighted to celebrate HAO's first-ever Oxford University place!  

26/05/26

Last week, our students enjoyed a fantastic opportunity taking part in a  workshop. The positive impact was clear, with many eager to continue developing their skills. Thank you to Centre Stage Theatre Academy. tinyurl.com/yhbpd8kp

26/05/26

A busy and celebratory end to the half term saw the H2H attendance challenge end with tutor group 7A taking away the Bongo Bingo celebration event. Well done for most improved attendance.

01/05/26

Check out this weeks new books to explore.

01/05/26

We are delighted to be hosting a HAO Culture, Heritage and Identity Day this term on 22/05/2026. The day is to celebrate the incredible diversity within our academy community and to recognise and express our individuality, along with some curious questions.

13/03/26

This week HAO proudly took part in National Science Week, embracing this year’s inspiring theme: “Curiosity – What’s Your Question?” We believe every great idea begins with a question. So we ask our whole community: What’s your question? Video  

10/03/26

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10/03/26

World Book Day took place last week, but as part of the fun activities throughout the week, students produced some great work. Below are a few examples from some of our talented students.

10/03/26

This week HAO is celebrating Science Week, with this years theme ‘Curiosity - what’s you Question?’ Here are some of our staffs curious questions.

06/03/26

On its way to becoming a yearly event, HAO students are once again taking part in the Mini London Marathon for schools, creating our own mini marathon in the last 2 weeks for the spring term. 

02/03/26

The new spring/summer term sports clubs go live this week. Make sure you sign up and bring the right kit to participate.

16/02/26

As its half term, we didn’t want our students missing out on such a celebration, so incorporated it into our week. Thank you to   

16/02/26

The catering team at HAO created an amazing range of foods for lunch last week to celebrate the Lunar New Year, which is tomorrow.

12/02/26

🎓 Happy National School Governors’ Awareness Day! A huge thank you to all our dedicated school governors who give their time, expertise, and passion to support our schools and help every pupil thrive. Your commitment makes a real difference every day.  

30/01/26

Event Reminder - Year 8 Parents Evening is next week. Students will have appointment sheets to book in the meetings. We look forward to seeing you all on Thursday.

23/01/26

HAO is launching its attendance challenge  from Monday. What is the prize I hear you ask... the most improved year group will have a pizza party on the last day of this half term. Last time, Y10 were the winners. Lets see who comes out on top this time.

16/01/26

What are you reading currently? Check out our recommendations.

05/01/26

Event Reminder - Year 11 Parents Evening is this week. Students have already had their appointment sheets. We look forward to seeing you all on Thursday.

15/12/25

Finally, a reminder: The last day of this term is 19/12/2025, and the Academy will close to all students at 12.45pm. Students will be allowed to wear their own clothes, including Christmas jumpers, and we ask all to bring a £1 donation that will go to our local charity.

Harris Academies
All Academies in our Federation aim to transform the lives of the students they serve by bringing about rapid improvement in examination results, personal development and aspiration.

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Leavers Destinations

Our students progress to a wide range of ambitious destinations including Higher Education, Apprenticeships and Employment.

Higher Education

  • Russell Group universities
  • Medical School
  • Teaching and Education degrees
  • Engineering
  • Business and Finance
  • Psychology and Social Sciences
  • Sport and Health Sciences

Apprenticeships

  • Degree apprenticeships
  • Business and Finance
  • Engineering
  • Public Services
  • Health and Care sectors

Employment

  • Professional employment opportunities
  • Training programmes
  • Sports industry pathways
  • Service industries
  • Entrepreneurship and self-employment

HAO destinations map

Student journeys

Every journey is different. Every journey matters.

At Harris Academy Orpington, students leave Sixth Form with the confidence, skills and ambition to take their next step. HAO destinations information

Some examples of student journeys

From volunteering to a teaching degree

"Through volunteering in a primary school during Sixth Form, I discovered a passion for working with young people. The welcoming community and personalised support made my Sixth Form experience both enjoyable and successful. Staff genuinely cared about my success and were always available to offer advice and encouragement. The experience helped me develop confidence, responsibility and clear career goals."

Progression: Primary Education

From Sport to a career in health and fitness

"The combination of studying Sport and taking part in enrichment activities helped me develop teamwork, resilience and leadership skills. Through work experience and careers guidance, I was able to explore different opportunities within the industry and identify the pathway that was right for me."

Progression: Sport and Exercise Science

From STEM success to Engineering

"The support from my teachers challenged me to aim high and develop my problem-solving skills. University visits and careers events helped me understand the different pathways available and gave me the confidence to apply for a highly competitive engineering course."

Progression: Engineering

From Psychology and Sociology to Healthcare

"Sixth Form gave me the skills, opportunities and confidence to take the next step towards my future career. Through work experience and enrichment opportunities, I was able to gain a better understanding of working with people and supporting others."

Progression: Nursing

From Business Studies to a Degree Apprenticeship

"I wasn't sure whether university was the right route for me. The careers advice and support I received helped me explore all my options and successfully secure a degree apprenticeship. I was able to combine learning with workplace experience and start my career straight away."

Progression: Degree Apprenticeship

From Sixth Form to employment

"The strong sense of community made Sixth Form an enjoyable and rewarding experience, helping me develop both academically and personally. The employability skills, work experience and interview preparation helped me take my first steps into the workplace with confidence."

Progression: Employment and Professional Training