Background to the Project
The Harefield Academy was born out of a desire to create a new community school in Harefield village where the students would be offered a strong core curriculum with a vibrant specialism in sport, sports science and health.
The initial planning for The Academy came from a workshop held in 2004 when the Sponsors for The Harefield Academy were supported by the DCSF, Youth Sports Trust and the London Borough of Hillingdon LEA. During the workshop it was obvious that everyone shared an enthusiasm to create an extended school that would prepare young people to leave The Academy with the following personal attributes:
- Ability to become decision makers and leaders
- Ability to create and take advantage of opportunities
- Strong sense of community
- Confident communicators
- A sense of life balance/self identity
- Social and physical well being
- Flexibility, problem solving, knowing how they learn
- Respect for themselves and others
- Accepting success
- Knowing their strengths
- Appreciation of the benefits of Life Long learning
- Disciplined young adults
- ICT confident
- Appreciation of, and hunger for, sport, education and health
During 2005 the planning of The Academy focused on developing systems and structures that will ensure that all students successfully achieve as active learners. The Academy opened in the existing John Penrose school buildings in September 2005 and moved to the new, state-of-the-art Academy building at the start of the 2008/2009 academic year.