The Harris Experience is a two-part programme that takes place over five years, from Year 9 to Year 13. It aims to broaden the academic and cultural experiences of our most promising secondary school students.
Our programme has a particular focus on students who are not only bright but also come from disadvantaged backgrounds. One of the outcomes is that Harris students now attend Russell Group universities at a rate of more than twice the national average.
In the long term, we see the programme shaping future leaders in all walks of life, helping to level the playing field and bringing much needed diversity to key professions and to the public sphere.
Harris Experience: Years 9-11 exposes students to a wealth of high-end academic and cultural experiences, ranging from world class art expo event with Christie’s Auctioneers to a trip to the Royal Opera House; from a day of Science in Action at Imperial College London to a bespoke day of lectures at Oxford University.
Within their own academies, our Harris Experience students are taught to think independently, to express themselves effectively and to embrace learning for its own sake—as well as to start the process of understanding their individual academic pathways.
We hope that all Harris Experience students will enter a Harris sixth form, where they will automatically gain entry to the Harris Experience Advanced.
Harris Experience Advanced: Years 12-13 is a Russell Group application programme providing expert guidance and individually-tailored academic opportunities for our most able sixth formers. The programme is aimed at disadvantaged students who have achieved outstanding grades at GCSE or who prove themselves to be making outstanding academic progress early in Year 12 and maintain this throughout their two years in sixth form.
We also run the Harris Scholars (HS) and Harris Scholars Advanced (HSA) programmes which are specialised for students with an interest either in applying to Oxford or Cambridge, or to study medicine, dentistry or veterinary science. The HS programme spans two years for each cohort from Year 10 to Year 11; the HSA programme spans two years for each cohort, from Years 12 to Year 13.
The programme comprises:
- Whole group sessions
- Academic tracking
- Trips and masterclasses
- University visits
- Subject-specific societies to support academic stretch with subject specialist guides
- An Oxbridge programme
- A medical/dentistry programme
- Weekly bulletins and follow-up on a wealth of academic opportunities outside of school
- Guidance on writing very competitive applications to Russell Group universities
- Interview practice and advice
- Learning mentors for Oxbridge
Related Links & Articles
Catching up with Harris Experience Advanced alumni at Oxford and Cambridge
Our Partners
We are exceptionally grateful to the organisations we work with that make our programme of enriching opportunities possible. Please see a list of our partners below:
Christie’s Education - World leading art business
Unifrog - Award-winning university selection and tracking tool
Royal Opera House - Renowned opera house and performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London
King’s College London - One of the world's leading research and teaching universities based in the heart of London
Imperial College London - Top-ranking STEM focused university based in Central London
London School of Economics - One of the foremost social science universities in the world
University College London - London's leading multidisciplinary university
University of Cambridge - The world's third-oldest university in continuous operation
University of St. Andrew’s - Scotland's oldest university. With an unforgettable student experience and flexible degree structure
Shakespeare’s Globe - A world-renowned theatre, education centre, and cultural landmark
The Kalisher Trust - Transforms the lives of bright young people through the development of advocacy skills
StepUp Expo - STEP UP brings together a unique mix of schools, colleges, universities and employers
