Harris City Academy Crystal Palace

Welcome from the Principal

Harris City Academy Crystal Palace aims to provide high quality education and training for students of all abilities and backgrounds. We emphasise traditional standards of uniform, good manners, discipline and respect whilst providing a very relevant and modern education which will enable our students to succeed in the workplace and society of the twenty-first century.

Mr Rigby

12 November 2025@hcacpToday we’re standing up to cyberbullying. Every message, comment, and post matters, so let’s choose kindness, respect, and support online. Together, we can make the internet a safer place for everyone. #AntiBullyingWeek #PowerForGood #StandUpToCyberbullying #HCACP #AllCanAchieve pic.twitter.com/QUOX5LpzOp

12 November 2025@hcacpIt was a pleasure to host our brilliant alumni and share this big achievement, which they have been a huge part of. Thank you for taking the time to reconnect and celebrate with us! #HarrisAlumni #HCACP35 #Outstanding #AllCanAchieve Thank you @cleverbox for the brilliant photos! pic.twitter.com/bwx5b7xPP0

12 November 2025HCACP - 35 Years of Excellence and a Fourth “Outstanding” OfstedHarris City Academy Crystal Palace has just celebrated its 35th anniversary, along with the incredible achievement of receiving a fourth consecutive “Outstanding” judgment from Ofsted. To mark the occasion, students and staff hosted a special event, welcoming back alumni and special guests, including Lord Harris and former Prime Minister The Rt Hon Sir John Major, who officially opened the school back in 1990. His return 35 years later made the celebration even more meaningful. The Academy first opened in 1990 as Harris City Technology College, replacing Sylvan High School, which was struggling at the time. With the support of Lord Harris of Peckham, the school quickly turned things around and became one of the first independent state schools in England. In 2007 it officially became an Academy, and helped pave the way for the Harris Federation. Former Prime Minister The Rt Hon Sir John Major, returned to HCACP 35 years after opening the school in 1990. Transforming the lives of students Since then, HCACP has transformed the lives of thousands of students from Croydon and beyond. With consistently strong results at GCSE and A Level, students have gone on to top universities and high-level apprenticeships, often overcoming significant challenges to get there. As part of the event, three major awards were presented. The Sir John Major Award was given to Oscar Ocieczek, who achieved an incredible 4 A*s this summer, and has now started a competitive apprenticeship at Microsoft as a Solution Engineer for Cloud and AI. The Valentine Douglas Award was awarded to Tahseen Miah and Cherise Aboagye-Mensah for their commitment to learning. Each received £15,000 per year to support them during their university studies. The Charlie Harris Award, which celebrates sporting success, went to Ignacy Zakrzewski-Obem for his achievements in basketball. This same award was previously won by Sadia Kabeya, now a professional rugby player for England’s Red Roses. Strong results have transformed the lives of thousands of students from Croydon and beyond. Celebration, reflection and inspiration Guests were given a tour of the school, enjoyed student performances, and joined a speed-networking event where former students shared their career experiences with Sixth Formers. It was an absolute privilege to hear from both Sir John Major and Lord Harris, who continue to inspire our students 35 years on. This was a day of celebration, reflection and inspiration, marking outstanding education and the students who continue to make the Harris City Academy Crystal Palace proud. John Major, left, pictured with Lord Harris of Peckham, at the event to celebrate 35 years of outstanding education. John Major meets students during a day of celebration, reflection and inspiration to mark our 35th anniversary.

11 November 2025@hcacpIt’s Day 2 of Anti-Bullying Week, and we’re focusing on the Power for Good that each of us has. When we choose kindness, support one another, and stand up against bullying, we help build a community where everyone feels valued. #AntiBullyingWeek #PowerForGood #HCACP pic.twitter.com/ayv29p06L1

11 November 2025@hcacpLest us forget. pic.twitter.com/V6hQ7kD7zi

10 November 2025@hcacpWe recently celebrated 35 years of Harris City Academy Crystal Palace and our 4th consecutive 'Outstanding' Ofsted rating! We were honoured to welcome Sir John Major and Dame Norma Major, alongside our other amazing guests and alumni! #HCACP35 #Outstanding #AllCanAchieve pic.twitter.com/yECP0fQlHT

10 November 2025@hcacpToday marks the first day of Anti-Bullying Week. The theme this year is 'Power for Good'. Follow along this week to see what exactly the 'Power for Good' means and how you can prevent and respond to bullying. #HCACP #AllCanAchieve #AntiBullyingWeek pic.twitter.com/hfM87Lz5v7

5 November 2025@hcacpDonation Drive for Hurricane Melissa. pic.twitter.com/eje1JGthnt

5 November 2025Hurricane Melissa Donation Drive -How You Can HelpIn response to the devastating hurricane in Jamaica, we are providing drop off stations in the Harris City Academy Crystal Palace for students to donate to those affected. Students are encouraged to collect and donate essential items that are detailed in the list below. Every contribution makes a difference. Items include: Dried goods (eg rice, pasta, oats, couscous, noodles, flour, lentils, soup mix, crackers, granola bars and cereal) Canned and packaged goods (eg sardines, tuna, corned beef, mackerel, baked beans, canned vegetables, coconut milk, canned soup, condensed milk, can opener) Sauces and seasonings (e.g cooking oil, ketchup, soy sauce, hot pepper sauce, all-purpose seasoning, curry powder, seasoning cubes) Personal hygiene supplied (eg soap bars, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, shampoo, sanitary pads, tampons, baby wipes, hand sanitisers, lotion, flannel, towels, cotton buds, tweezers, nail clippers) Hygiene and cleaning supplies (disinfectant, bleach, washing powder, dish soap, paper towel, sponges, bin bags, all-purpose wipes) Medical supplies (first-aid kit, bandages, plasters, antiseptic wipes, thermometer, disposable gloves, oral rehydration salts) Baby items (eg baby formula, baby wipes, baby cereal, nappies, bottles, baby lotion, baby snacks, baby blankets/bedding, baby clothes, baby toys) Emergency supplies (eg camping lanterns, solar power lights, candles, power bank, battery bank, charging cables/plugs, torch, whistle) Clothing (women’s, men's, children and babies) Children comfort items (eg colouring books, crayons, sweets, snacks, small toys, pens, pencils, notebooks) Other items (eg carrier bags, Ziplock bags, labels, tape, storage tubs) If you would like to donate, please bring your items into school and drop them at Reception or in the Canteen. Find more information on the hurricane from The Jamaican High Commission.

4 November 2025@hcacpMovember aim to change the face of men's health! Movember is uniquely placed to address this crisis on a global scale. They fund ground breaking projects all over the world, engaging men where they are to understand what works best and accelerate change.#AllCanAchieve pic.twitter.com/RHzx54gSDp

3 November 2025@hcacpWelcome back, we hope you had a restful Half Term! pic.twitter.com/T6zEmUJwMf

28 October 2025@hcacpAfter a final day spent at a beautiful water town and learning the art of Chinese calligraphy, we are saying farewell to China after a phenomenal 10 days. Time for our 18-hour journey back home. ✈️🇨🇳#hcacpinchina pic.twitter.com/Gbk0RA0hH8

27 October 2025@hcacp#hcacpinchina The group has spent the penultimate day soaking up everything Shanghai has to offer: exploring the Old French quarter, visiting the Yu Zu gardens, viewing the city from 119 floors up and seeing the famous ERA show. Now off for nighttime glimpse of the Bund! 🌃🇨🇳🍜 pic.twitter.com/EE73zjYl0P

25 October 2025@hcacp#hcacpinchina Today was a truly educational experience for us in China, from the city museum to visiting a Chinese school. Everything was absolutely brilliant and we are learning so much! 🇨🇳🍜🧧#allcanachieve pic.twitter.com/sgTPTTh1GV

23 October 2025@hcacpOur day ended with a trip to the Night Market for some retail therapy. 12 hours well spent 🙌🏾#hcacpinchina#allcanachieve pic.twitter.com/qXxVsMea4X

23 October 2025@hcacpWhat a fun filled morning! We visited the Terracotta Warriors and got the chance to create our own versions. Incredible! Then a trip to the Muslim Quarter for a competitive game where students practiced their mandarin skills to gain points - brilliant work🏆🗣️🇨🇳 #allcanachieve pic.twitter.com/AcYJZXOMZ4

22 October 2025@hcacp#hcacpinchina This morning we said goodbye to Beijing and hello to Xi’an! The best way to get acquainted with a new city is to explore its ancient history by bike 🚴🇨🇳🚴🏾‍♀️ #allcanachieve pic.twitter.com/nbCxVUmhOw

21 October 2025@hcacpA fantastic second day in China visiting the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and a variety show at a prestigious Tea House to close out the evening! 🇨🇳 #hcacpinchina #allcanachieve pic.twitter.com/7RU6dTECAL

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