| Motto | Achieving Excellence Together |
|---|---|
| Established | 1968 |
| Principal | Rebbecca Hickey |
| Specialism | Science and Enterprise |
| Location | Manor Way Beckenham London BR3 3SJ England |
| Local authority | Bromley |
| DfE URN | 137121 |
| Ofsted | Reports |
| Gender | Boys, Co-educational Sixth Form |
| Houses | Blue , Yellow , Red , Green |
| Website | HAB |
Harris Academy Beckenham, formerly Kelsey Park Sports College (KPSC) is a secondary school located in Beckenham in the London Borough of Bromley. The Academy is run by the Harris Federation.
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Harris Academy Beckeham started life as Alexandra Boys School, in Parish Lane, Penge. The school opened in 1875 and consisted of one room. Throughout the following ninety years the school suffered war damage, theft, icy inkwells but more importantly it outgrew the site.
In the mid-1950s, it was decided to move to a new school which would be built on the Elgood Playing Fields in Beckenham. However, it took more than 10 years for these plans to become a reality. On 23 April 1968, Kelsey Park School for Boys opened.[1] In 2005 it achieved Sports College status resulting in Kelsey Park changing its identity and renaming to 'Kelsey Park Sports College'. Following the Sports Status, the college was one of the first schools in London in favour of putting boxing into the National Physical Education Curriculum and was part of the campaign sponsored by Amateur Boxing Association of England.
Following growing pressure from local parents in the Beckenham area for a co-educational school [2] [3] a public consultation in February 2011 regarding the future of the school concluded that Kelsey Park Sports College was to become a co-educational Academy sponsored by the Harris Federation from September 2011 with the Kelsey Park name being scrapped. [4] [5] The first co-educational cohort is due to begin from September 2012. [6] Brian Lloyd stepped down as head teacher of Kelsey Park Sports College after six years along with 20 other members of staff throughout the school. On the last day of Kelsey Park Sports College the emotions were high as at the end of a very inspiring speech by Mr Lloyd all students threw their ties up in the air as a symbol of respect for KPSC. Rebecca Hickey of the Harris Federation was appointed as Acting Principle.
Under the Harris Federation the previous House system was overhauled to be known as a Faculty structure which is seen in all Harris Academies. The four faculties are now Blue, Yellow, Red and Green which are made up of different subject areas under the leadership of an Assistant Principle.
Previously Kelsey Park Sports College reintroduced a "Guild" or "House" system in September 2007. The Guild names were Brunel, Chaucer, Newton and Wilberforce. Prior to 2001 the House System was Grace (Yellow Striped Tie), Eden, (Green Striped Tie), Paxton (Red Striped Tie) & Beck (Blue Striped Tie)
Vertical Tutoring was also the term used in Kelsey Park for form 'tutor' groups being made up of a mixture of boys from Years 7 to 11. Each form had roughly 20 students and was part of one of the guilds and Students were required to have a "strip" either sewed or ironed onto their blazers, beneath the School logo, to show which Guild they are from.
A Multi-Purpose Sports Hall was under construction from September 2010 and was completed in July 2011 for first use in September 2011. Minor refurbishments of the main reception, classrooms and overhaul of the networking system took place over Summer 2011. Plans for a redevelopment for the rest of the school are due to be discussed with Harris Federation for the co-educational intake to begin for September 2012.
Plans were drawn up to create a food technology block due for completion in 2011, however these plans were scrapped in July 2010. [7]