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28/06/25

DOE Update ‘we will be 45 minutes ‘ until we reach Ockendon due to traffic

28/06/25

D of E Silver: day 3 is done! All packed up and on the bus. ETA back to school 1.45om.

28/06/25

D of E Silver Day 3: they are off early! pic.twitter.com/UwwU3o5Kp6

27/06/25

D of E: all back at camp.

27/06/25

Day 2 has started - perfect weather for walking. pic.twitter.com/MHXAXFC9bo

26/06/25

Setting up camp after a long day walking pic.twitter.com/P8b08C8Z8o

26/06/25

Beautiful day ☀️ pic.twitter.com/vJE5Mq61RF

26/06/25

Silver D of E Assessment Expedition has officially started! pic.twitter.com/5feuLDLc3x

25/06/25

Well done to our year 7 rounders team for finishing 3rd place in the Borough at last nights rounders rally 🥉 pic.twitter.com/GNl6ZULJ7R

24/06/25

After a successful Pride themed bake sale on Monday, the cake stall will be up and running again during break time on Wednesday in the network area. Cakes are £1 each. Cash only please. pic.twitter.com/HttdFJKxE2

23/06/25

Some of our year 7’s have attended the Carnegie illustration awards at Harris Chafford Hundred today!  📖 📕 pic.twitter.com/i7AqFttC9F

23/06/25

A selection of year 7 & 9 students attended the prestigious Carnegie awards event at Civic Hall. Some of our student’s have read nearly 8 of the prescribed books- amazing! 📖 🏆 pic.twitter.com/OO2vS82h2l

18/06/25

Well done to our year 10 rounders team for placing 2nd in Essex at today’s regional rounders finals! pic.twitter.com/sLPYHUik6u

07/06/25

D of E: groups are all out and walking. A few downpours already! pic.twitter.com/yDoAJxGynw

06/06/25

pic.twitter.com/cqdoQHd5g6

06/06/25

All students back at camp and cooking dinner. pic.twitter.com/BWX5P4GyEk

06/06/25

pic.twitter.com/q6jgecogd1

06/06/25

D of E Bronze Assessment Expedition is off pic.twitter.com/zdwnbjxBtE

06/06/25

Silver D of E and it’s no longer raining! Students are getting ready to start walking. pic.twitter.com/52OO6iaS5N

22/05/25

Well done to some of our year 9 sports leaders for running a successful year 8 football tournament after school today! ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/2uWxFZkTy5

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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Personal Development

Mission Statement

At Harris Academy Ockendon, our vision is that all students strive to be the best they can be, in all settings, at all times. A cornerstone of this vision is ensuring that every student excels, not only in public examinations, but in their interactions with the world around them so they are prepared for their desired destination, whichever pathway this may take.

We want our students to be responsible, well-rounded and active global citizens, who have the confidence to make the most of all the opportunities life has to offer and the motivation to follow their own passions and beliefs.

Personal development at Harris Academy Ockendon is part of a broad and ambitious curriculum that exposes students to a diverse range of powerful knowledge and cultural capital, which expands horizons and provides enriching experiences. This is implemented through a variety of means during a student’s time at the Academy, which range from extra-curricular and Relatinships, Health and Sex Education (RHSE) lessons, clubs, inter-house competitions, trips, a weekly guided reading curriculum and annual celebrations of culturally significant events such as LGBTQ+ and Black History Month or International Women’s Day.

Far from being tokenistic ‘add-ons’, personal development and cultural capital is inter-woven into the wider Academy curriculum with subject leaders having thought deeply about how to ensure their curriculum delivers the powerful knowledge required to take students beyond their everyday experiences. Subject teachers specifically highlight the contributions made by individuals and cultures from diverse backgrounds and do not shy away from having ‘edgy’ discussions that challenge students' interpretations of the world and society. Thereby, the HAOC curriculum lifts students out of their own local experience and guarantees they have both the tools and experiences to traverse whatever destination or pathway they choose.

Additionally, personal development also works to ensure students are not only culturally enriched but are equipped with relevant knowledge to make informed and safe choices about their futures. The Careers provision at HAOC is carefully planned and sequenced over both a 5 and 7 year pathway, which offers opportunities for students to explore future possibilities and ‘dream big’ whilst ensuring they make choices based on personal passions as opposed to societal or other external forces and pressures.

Interactions with employers from a diverse range of industries, webinars, university trips and bespoke career interviews all form the basis of a highly supportive careers education, information and guidance service for all students. Our RHSE, Citizenship and Religious Education (CRE) curriculum encompasses important life skills and instils knowledge and guidance to promote active mental and physical wellbeing. Students learn about healthy relationships with peers and adults and how to be responsible, safe digital citizens. The Academy is also proud to offer mindfulness sessions to all students in Key Stage Three to support their transition to secondary school and then on to Key Stage Four to help them cope with any additional anxieties or stress in a safe and appropriate manner.

By the time our students are ready to move on from the Academy, the experiences and knowledge they have accumulated make them happy, resilient and courageous, as well as ensuring they contribute positively to society.

To find out more about our Personal Development Curriculum please click HERE.