Harris Learning Commission
Set up in September 2008, the ongoing aim of the Commission is to investigate the most powerful teaching and learning practices from the UK and abroad, and to share, adapt and embed them across the Harris Federation in order to secure improved life opportunities for all our young people.
The Commission is a whole Federation programme of work which is actively engaging hundreds of our students in the study and application of powerful approaches to learning and teaching. It places enquiry about learning, both within the academies and from external experts and sites of excellent practice, in the hands of young people. Seventy student leaders, supported by teachers and other adults, form the Commission, with hundreds of others getting involved through in-school research and by testing out new approaches.
In just one year, Student Commissioners have taken a lead in the research, application, delivery and evaluation of numerous innovative teaching practices. Through this, relationships have developed between learners and teachers, with increasing mutual trust and understanding underpinning new partnerships in the academies. Published in October 2009, Learning about Learning: 12 early ideas from the Harris Student Commission details the key findings so far, and sets out what needs to be investigated further.
2009/10 Harris Student Commissioners
Harris Academy Bermondesy
Fachiema Menjoh, Year 11
Lolade Idris, Year 11
Mariam Abubaker, Year 9
Mayowa Sofekun, Year 10
Millie Harriet Cook, Year 8
Nardia Durkey, Year 10
Saidatu Odutayo, Year 10
Tia Henry, Year 9
Umu Lamina, Year 9
Harris Academy Crystal Palace
Daniel Moth, Year 8
David Gayle, Year 9
Finn Billingham, Year 8
Funke Jinad, Year 11
Jake Sherwood, Year 13
Lauren Dark, Year 11
Maria Menicou, Year 13
Rebecca Bruneel, Year 10
Vincent Nimoh, Year 9
Zeena Starbuck, Year 10
Harris Girls’ Academy East Dulwich
Elizabeth Komolafe, Year 11
Emmanuella Adjei-Manu, Year 9
Holly Newman, Year 10
Kortney Johnson-Blake, Year 8
Lara Okafor, Year 10
Megan Walker-Rhind, Year 11
Nadia Osumanu, Year 10
Reyss Wheeler, Year 11
Zainab Jalloh, Year 11
Harris Academy Falconwood
Alex Smith, Year 9
Chloe Golding, Year 8
Dean Gould, Year 10
Helen Babalola, Year 10
Jason Ofusu-Yeboah, Year 11
Jessie Gallagher, Year 10
Kieran Simpson, Year 9
Paul Murphy, Year 8
Sam Woods, Year 10
Sharon Uwaibi, Year 11
Harris Academy Merton
Alice Moorhouse, Year 11
April Skorczewski, Year 11
Asad Khan, Year 11
Cecilia Tran, Year 10
Gavin Mootoo, Year 10
Joseph Atkinson, Year 9
Matthew Gavin, Year 9
Sara Goddard, Year 8
Toby Paxton, Year 10
Harris Academy at Peckham
Katy Hua, Year 11
Martinique Bartley, Year 10
Mohammed Munir, Year 11
Nadine Johnson, Year 9
Rhea Jacques, Year 9
Shevelle Stephenson, Year 10
Sumon Miah, Year 8
Timothy Thomas, Year 9
Whitney Ashbourne, Year 11
Harris Academy South Norwood
Arjun Divakaran, Year 10
Chelsea Chapman, Year 9
Daniel Yip, Year 10
Deniz Arslan, Year 11
Indya Phillips, Year 9
Joseph Purcell, Year 11
Lancelot Spencer, Year 10
Lavonica Steel, Year 9
Robert Primus, Year 10
Shaqueel Reid-Robinson, Year 11
Travis Payne, Year 9
Early responses to the Commission
“We should concentrate on people’s learning and how to make it better by involving them and engaging them. We need to actively listen and act on the things that matter most.”
Indya Phillips, Year 9, Harris Academy South Norwood
“The commission is a huge opportunity and a big challenge for the participating students. I firmly believe its success rests with us working in partnership; students and staff together having new and different conversations”
Jane Fletcher, Lead Principal for the Commission, Harris Girls Academy East Dulwich
“Allowing students to progress beyond their potential will require a positive mixture of teacher knowledge and expertise combined with student input”
Kurt O’Brien, Commission Co-leader, Harris Academy Falconwood
“The commission has made me think more about what I’m doing. I’ve taken a closer look at what I’m learning in lessons and I’m taking a closer look at what I’m doing in general”
Matthew Gavin, Year 9, Harris Academy Merton
“Harris is making great strides in improving aspiration and achievement, but we believe the next stage in this transformation requires the full engagement of young people and their educators in the design and delivery of learning”
Dr Dan Moynihan, CEO, Harris Federation
“I think they [the students] are brave and bold and I am deeply impressed by what they are trying to do”
Valerie Hannon, The Innovation Unit