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22/03/24

Delighted to welcome and his team into our academy this week to film for his latest book. Inspiring our students to develop their reading further.

18/03/24

It is with great pleasure that we can announce that our Science Technician, Rudolf Van Koningsveld, has been awarded The Registered Science Technician Award (RSciTech), a registered mark recognising excellence for technicians working in science education! pic.twitter.com/v7kYxDhU4E

18/03/24

Year 11 students dazzled the examiner with their recent GCSE Component 2 performances, worth 20% of their overall grade.Performing two gripping extracts from 'Starlight Express', the students showcased months of hard work and dedication, leaving the examiner in awe. pic.twitter.com/eAc3eRjgae

18/03/24

Principal's Breakfast on Friday celebrated ten students nominated for 'doing the right thing all the time' this week by their teachers. Each week the winners receive a free breakfast, gift voucher and certificate pic.twitter.com/vfyD3TDyLS

21/02/24

🎉Congratulations to both and on maintaining their Outstanding Ofsted judgments following recent inspections!Read more about their success here:https://t.co/cXhlAIPOFJ

21/02/24

🎉Congratulations to both and on maintaining their Outstanding Ofsted judgments following recent inspections!Read more about their success here:https://t.co/cXhlAIPOFJ

21/02/24

Very happy to be featured in this week along with following both our Ofsted 'Outstanding' ratings. We're incredibly proud of our staff and students and it's lovely to have our success celebrated! https://t.co/UMwA7yMjcG

20/02/24

Year 12 and 13 students were treated to a talk about economics (and careers) by Chief Economist Peter Arnold . "Peter's talk has encouraged me to pursue a career in economics," said Imran. "I look forward to learning more about the macroeconomic policies in my course." pic.twitter.com/y6KPjVpk7K

15/02/24

We had fun last week celebrating our recent Ofsted 'Outstanding' Award with students. We were very proud of the way our students conducted themselves during the visit. They were a true credit to themselves, our Academy and their families. https://t.co/Frz4TrGe5f pic.twitter.com/S27e95IBt4

13/02/24

Get your tickets for our latest school production, Bugsy Malone, 13th and 14th March 2024. Tickets available on ParentPay from 19th February. Don't miss! pic.twitter.com/mfp6r7W1xP

13/02/24

We are thrilled to announce that our student, Sebastian, has emerged as the winner in the Southwark Regional Final of Jack Petchey's Speak Out Challenge. A compelling and persuasive performance indeed! https://t.co/iJGSNARJai pic.twitter.com/lrwpFhyoyL

06/02/24

Our Art Prefects have had their second workshop with ceramicist Marie Tricaud. Students fired their ceramics in the kiln and applied coloured glaze. We experimented with colour and different painting techniques, finishing with beautiful results https://t.co/UyUjtBhnU3 pic.twitter.com/hALsSeg85L

01/02/24

Younes, Lawrence, Artur and Chowdhury competed in the Year 7 Spelling Bee earlier this week, taking on challenging words such as onomatopoeia, armageddon, connoisseur, fluorescent, leprechaun, garrulous and haemorrhage. A superb effort from our team! pic.twitter.com/f3onldp091

29/01/24

Urban Plan delivered a great urban development workshop today. Year 10 students were split into five 'development companies' and had to show industry professionals why their team should gain the opportunity to develop a new town centre. https://t.co/DyBJtLqfuN pic.twitter.com/mT1G2GLMOO

29/01/24

On Friday we held a special rewards breakfast for all the boys who helped with our Winter Showcase music concert at the end of last term.It was the largest amount of students we have had in one concert, so well done everyone. Our next event is Bugsy Malone in March! pic.twitter.com/QmVbi8qwuT

25/01/24

Our debating team made waves at the recent competition held at Sydenham High. Twelve of our best debaters rose to the occasion, demonstrating their eloquence and critical thinking. Judges praised their poise and respectful engagement with their opponents. Well done boys! pic.twitter.com/UIXm2Ec43h

09/01/24

Ofsted have again found our academy to be 'Outstanding'. A huge thank you to our excellent team of staff who work tirelessly to provide our students with the very best learning opportunities. Thank you so much😃. Read more https://t.co/vOQdNotx7K pic.twitter.com/XU2Hy4Cj6E

14/12/23

Our Chess Club enjoy a friendly tournament with six keen players from . The event was held in the school library, where 15 players competed in a series of matches. Great sportsmanship and camaraderie. Watch out for a Chess Competition! pic.twitter.com/5y6mJlKqMs

12/12/23

We were delighted to welcome our sponsor, Lord Harris, to Harris Boys' Academy East Dulwich last week. It was inspirational for many of the students to meet Lord Harris and hear his passion and enthusiasm for our academy. pic.twitter.com/94SSlYjWhh

07/12/23

Sixth formers attend a PwC graduate scheme event for Black students recently, organised in collaboration with . The event catered to Black A-level students in years 12-13 aspiring to attend top-tier universities. Read more https://t.co/a0uJVg5o3G pic.twitter.com/HF5orb2Fto

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Latest News

Posted on February 10th 2017

Author Bali Rai Runs Creative Writing Workshop

Bali Rai

Humans are natural story tellers,” said award-winning author Bali Rai during his visit to the academy yesterday.  

Bali, whose parents emigrated to Britain from India, became a writer because of his experience of growing up in Leicester ("the most multi-cultural place in England").

Although as a child he read several books a week, he couldn’t find characters or stories that represented the world he knew. “My books explore what it means to be brown or black in a country where most people don’t look like you,” he said.

"Impressed"

Bali, whose stories include The Gun, (Un)Arranged Marriage and Soccer Squad  visits schools across the UK to enthuse children about writing, reading and being creative. “The students here had so many interesting questions,” he said. “Often you have to bleed questions out of students but not here. I got more questions from your Year 9 than at any other school I've visited. I was really impressed.”

Bali talked about the importance of writing in your own voice, using the world around you for inspiration. After the assembly several boys followed Bali into the library to ask more questions ahead of the creative writing workshop for selected students in years 8-10.

Bali Rai 3

"Conflict and resolution"

Creative writing forms an important part of the English curriculum and Bali showed students how to structure stories using challenges, conflict and resolution. “If you want to be a writer my best advice is to practise,” said Bali, who wrote his first novel between 6am and 8am after working all night managing a nightclub. “You’ll never be a good footballer without practice and it’s the same with writing.”

During the assemblies students quizzed Bali about how he got started as a writer, where his ideas come from and how long it took to write his books. “Having someone like Bali coming here helps me with my ideas,” said Jem, Year 9. Dwayne, Year 9, added: “He included all of us in his talk and encouraged us to ask questions, which I liked.”

Read, learn, check facts

"I think Bali made a lot of sense to our boys, as shown particularly by how well the year 9s and 10s listened to him, the quality of their questions and the conversations that several boys had with him in the library at break time and after school," said Jo Mead, Learning Resources Manager. "It was great to have him put across the message that it is not only cool but essential to read, learn, get knowledge and check the facts – otherwise you cannot possibly know what is true and what is not in the world today. He also made the boys think about knowing who they are and what their identity is, especially if it is different from their parents."

Martin Pugh, Assistant Principal, said: "Bali Rai was a really good speaker. His story of how he became a writer will surely have inspired some of our students to think that they can do the same."

Bali’s visit is the latest in a series of author talks organised by the library team, who pick authors they know our students will relate to. Authors gain from the experience too. “Coming to schools like this keeps me in contact with young people,” says Bali. “I keep in touch with school culture and the way people speak, and even find students’ names creeping into my fiction!”