Harris Academy Merton: Outstanding State Secondary in South London

In Mitcham, where south London's suburban streets meet the green expanse of Mitcham Common, Harris Academy Merton has transformed the educational landscape since opening in 2006. The school's Progress 8 score of +0.67 places it in the top 10% of schools in England for the progress pupils make between primary and GCSE. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in 2022, with Outstanding grades across every category, this is a state school delivering results that compete with selective and independent alternatives. The academy serves approximately 1,400 students aged 11 to 18, with a thriving sixth form that sends three quarters of its leavers to university.

The school's mission statement is clear: providing an inspiring, personalised learning experience enabling all students to make outstanding progress. This is not empty rhetoric. The Ofsted inspection found that leaders are ambitious for all and have very high expectations of pupils in every subject.

Principal Ms A. Samad leads an academy where the phrase Achievement is Success serves as the central ethos. This philosophy manifests in a calm, orderly environment where expectations are explicit and consistently applied. The inspection report noted that behaviour is excellent, with pupils explaining that clear rules help the school to be a safe and happy place.

The campus sits at the edge of Wide Way, north of Mitcham Common in Pollards Hill. The buildings house specialist facilities for the school's historic specialisms in Enterprise and Science, reflecting its roots as one of the earlier academy conversions in the Harris Federation network. Rare instances of bullying are dealt with swiftly and effectively by leaders and staff. This is a school where structure creates rather than restricts opportunity.

GCSE Performance

Harris Academy Merton's GCSE results place it firmly above the England average. The Attainment 8 score of 52.7 substantially exceeds the England average, positioning the school in the top 20% of all schools in England, including independent and selective institutions. The Progress 8 score of +0.67 indicates that pupils make significantly more progress than expected from their starting points. This value-added measure is particularly meaningful because it demonstrates what the school adds rather than simply reflecting intake ability.

The school ranks 999th in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the top 25% of schools in England. Within Merton, it ranks 8th among local secondaries. In the English Baccalaureate, 28.8% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above across all qualifying subjects, with an EBacc average point score of 4.84, exceeding the England average of 4.08.

For disadvantaged pupils specifically, performance places the school in the top 5% in England. All pupils learn the rich curriculum exceptionally well, including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, and pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds.

A-Level Performance

The sixth form operates as part of Harris Central Sixth Form, a network of ten campuses across London with almost 2,000 students. At A-level, 37.6% of grades achieved were A*-B. The England average for A*-B grades is 47.2%, meaning the sixth form sits below this benchmark. In England rankings, the sixth form places 1807th, within the bottom 40% of sixth form providers. Within Merton, it ranks 8th for A-level outcomes.

These figures require context. The sixth form serves a comprehensive intake and maintains an inclusive entry policy requiring grade 4 in English and maths rather than the high grade thresholds demanded by selective sixth forms. The focus is on progression and value added rather than headline grades.

In the 2023/24 cohort of 107 sixth form leavers, 74% progressed to university. A further 14% entered employment directly, while 2% began apprenticeships. Only 1% continued to further education, suggesting most students leave with qualifications sufficient for direct university entry or work.

Across the wider Harris Sixth Form network, at least four in five students progress to universities, more than twice the national average. In 2024, the network saw 47 students secure Oxbridge places and over 55 progress to medicine, dentistry, and veterinary science courses. Approximately one quarter of students progress to Russell Group universities, 1.5 times the national rate.

Individual success stories from Harris Academy Merton include students progressing to King's College London for Pharmacy and City, University of London for Optometry. The Harris Experience Advanced programme supports the highest attaining students with bespoke Oxbridge, medicine, dentistry, and veterinary science preparation, including residentials and seminar programmes.

Teaching follows clear structures with high expectations consistently applied. Teachers are well trained and experts in teaching their subjects. Leaders ensure teachers remain current through effective professional development. The curriculum spans the full breadth of national expectations with particular strength in Science, one of the school's founding specialisms.

Class sizes across the sixth form are kept small to enable personalised attention. Extra study sessions and targeted interventions provide additional support, while one-to-one sessions build confidence and exam technique. The curriculum is designed to ensure students are fully prepared for the challenges of higher education or employment.

Subjects available at A-level include Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, English Literature, History, Geography, Psychology, Sociology, Economics, Business Studies, IT, Sport, Media, and Health and Social Care. This breadth reflects the advantages of the Harris Central Sixth Form model, providing options that no single site alone could offer.

Year 7 Entry

Harris Academy Merton has a Published Admission Number of 240 for Year 7. Admissions are coordinated through the London Borough of Merton, with applications made via the Common Application Form at www.eadmissions.org.uk. Direct applications to the academy are not accepted.

The application timeline for September 2026 entry runs as follows. The process opens on 1 September 2025 for children born between 1 September 2014 and 31 August 2015. The closing date is 31 October 2025, though late applications with supporting evidence may be accepted until 8 December 2025. National Offer Day falls on Monday 2 March 2026, with acceptance confirmations due by Monday 16 March 2026. Appeals must be submitted by 31 March 2026, with hearings scheduled for May and June 2026.

The school is oversubscribed, with 658 applications received for 239 places in recent years. This subscription proportion of 2.75 applications per place means competition is significant. Parents should enter the full academy name carefully on application forms given the number of Harris schools in south London.

Sixth Form Entry

Sixth form applications are handled through the Harris Sixth Form website. The minimum requirement is grade 4 in English and maths. Individual subjects may have specific grade requirements. Applications for September 2025 entry are currently open.

In-Year Admissions

For applications to current Years 7-11, contact the London Borough of Merton's school admissions department on 020 8274 4906. Forms should be returned to the council rather than the school. When applications exceed available places, oversubscription criteria apply.

Leaders regularly seek and act on the views of pupils and families on how to improve the school further, from the curriculum to how behaviour is managed. This responsiveness creates genuine partnership rather than top-down imposition.

The personal development provision was rated Outstanding by Ofsted. Students develop the qualities necessary to thrive as global citizens, acquiring not just academic knowledge but the confidence and practical skills for long-term success.

The school maintains a clear behaviour policy that pupils themselves credit with creating a safe learning environment. Leaders ensure the school remains a calm and orderly place where students can focus on their learning without distraction.

Sport

Sport features prominently in the academy's extracurricular offer. The PE Department delivers OCR GCSE PE, OCR CNAT Sport Studies, and OCR CTEC Sport as qualification routes. Beyond the curriculum, the school achieved Education Institution of the Year for the London Region from Basketball England, reflecting the strength of its basketball programme.

Swimming opportunities include competitive representation, with one student, Rafael, representing Merton at the World School Swimming Championships 2023, where he achieved three personal bests and reached the 100m backstroke final. Table tennis enrichment runs regularly with competitive fixtures. Perhaps most distinctively, students have served as ball boys at Wimbledon, with some meeting members of the Royal Family. Judy Murray has visited the academy, described as truly inspirational for the next generation of female tennis players.

Enrichment & Trips

The Scholars programme provides structured enrichment for high-ability students. Year 12 Surrey County Cricket Club scholars participate in work experience at The Oval, including partnership workshops where they pitch sponsorship ideas to professionals. Year 9 Humanities Scholars have attended workshops with The Economist Educational Foundation, debating concepts like the McWages Index and wage equality.

Educational trips include a Year 9 visit to Ypres exploring WWI battlefields, memorials, and museums. Students also participate in BBC Bitesize careers tours and charitable fundraising for organisations including Macmillan Cancer Support.

Sixth Form Enrichment

Enrichment activities in the sixth form include art, basketball, book club, fitness, robotics, and language clubs. Work experience placements are arranged with partners including Lidl and Surrey County Cricket Club, with dedicated summer placements for Year 12 students.

The school day begins at 08:25 with tutor time. Lessons run from 08:50 to 15:40 across a seven-period timetable, with each lesson lasting 50 minutes. A single 20-minute break runs from 10:30 to 10:50. Lunch operates on a staggered schedule: Years 7, 9, and 11 have lunch from 12:30 to 13:10, while Years 8, 10, 12, and 13 eat from 13:20 to 14:00. Period 7 applies to specific year groups on rotation.

The school is located on Wide Way in Mitcham, within the London Borough of Merton. The nearest stations are Mitcham Junction (Southern and Tramlink) and Mitcham Eastfields (Thameslink). Multiple bus routes serve the area.

A-level outcomes lag behind GCSE performance. While GCSE results place the school in the top 25% in England, A-level outcomes sit in the bottom 40%. The comprehensive sixth form intake and inclusive entry requirements explain some of this gap, but families prioritising headline grades at 18 may wish to explore alternatives with higher entry thresholds.

Oversubscribed with no published catchment. With 2.75 applications for every place, securing entry is competitive. The absence of a published last distance offered means families cannot easily assess their chances based on location. Early research and realistic expectation-setting are advisable.

Part of a large federation. The Harris Federation brings advantages in terms of resources, professional development, and sixth form breadth. However, families seeking a standalone school with purely local identity may find the federation structure less appealing.

Sixth form is part of a multi-site operation. Harris Central Sixth Form operates across ten campuses. This provides breadth of subject choice but may mean students travel between sites or study alongside students from other schools.

Harris Academy Merton delivers outstanding GCSE outcomes with a Progress 8 score in the top 10% in England. The school has maintained its Outstanding Ofsted rating since 2012, demonstrating sustained excellence rather than momentary success. For families in Mitcham and surrounding areas seeking a comprehensive secondary with genuine academic ambition, clear expectations, and meaningful extracurricular opportunities, this is a compelling option.

Best suited to families who value structured environments, clear behavioural expectations, and demonstrable academic progress. Students benefit most when they embrace the school's ethos of Achievement is Success and engage with the breadth of opportunities on offer. The main challenge is securing admission in a school that receives nearly three applications for every available place.