Twitter Wall

15/07/24

Our sixth formers attended a day at Stubbers Adventure Centre, where they demonstrated excellent teamwork, kindness, and encouragement towards one another. They participated in a variety of activities, including kayaking, rifle shooting, axe throwing, wall climbing, raft building pic.twitter.com/QgkOiB2wY3

12/07/24

Their placements included solicitors, NHS hospitals, engineering companies, roles within the education sector, dentist practices, pharmacies, insurance brokers, Network Rail, banks, tech companies, and many more.

12/07/24

Year 12 students have successfully completed their work experience week, demonstrating commendable effort in securing placements in highly competitive areas. Students have acquired valuable lifelong skills that will significantly enhance their competitive profiles. pic.twitter.com/7Uf4YISO3n

08/07/24

A huge thanks goes to Prisca for organising the cultural food stall and to all the students who cooked and baked to make the event so special. Thank you to those who wore clothes representing their cultural heritage. It was a pleasure to celebrate the diversity we have at HSRF. pic.twitter.com/ul0MRr3uuZ

08/07/24

Culture Day at HRSF was a wonderful celebration of culture, diversity, and inclusion. It was fantastic to see so many of our students wearing their cultural attire and educating others through talks in assembly. pic.twitter.com/e5hth8sqb8

08/07/24

Students have been eagerly preparing for our HSRF Culture Day, a celebration of culture, diversity, and inclusion. This is organised by our Diversity and Inclusion lead, Alicia, with valuable assistance from our student president, Sarah, along with the student leadership team. pic.twitter.com/nPg5o8YJj4

08/07/24

This experience sparked many interesting conversations throughout the day, particularly about the abstract ideas behind some of the works. I am excited to see how this exposure will influence the students' personal investigations and the creative work they produce.

08/07/24

This week, our A Level art students visited two prominent London galleries: The National Gallery and The Tate Modern. They had the opportunity to see a vast range of artworks, from the very traditional to the ultra-modern. pic.twitter.com/pGYmnkQfCE

06/06/24

Students were given a tour of the grand library and an academic referencing workshop by the university’s librarians. Followed by an undergraduate style lecture by Dr Nicola Abbott, in her specialism, on social psychology and bystanders.

06/06/24

HRSF psychology and sociology students were treated to an academic outreach programme put on by the Institute of Education at University College London. pic.twitter.com/DhC2KZjuGh

04/06/24

This week a group of our sixth formers attended an English Literature event at Royal Holloway, University of London. They received keynote lectures on key texts such as Shakespeare’s Othello and were given a tour around the beautiful campus. pic.twitter.com/UAC8SQZix9

04/06/24

Mrs Ward shared her career in politics, including her time working as part of the Foreign Office, and her current work representing local residents in her ward. Students and staff thoroughly enjoyed Mrs Ward's visit and found it insightful to see how local government operates.

04/06/24

On Tuesday 22nd May, Politics students at Harris Rainham Sixth Form received a visit from Mrs Lee Ward, a member of Thurrock Council. Mrs Ward is the councillor for the West Thurrock and South Stifford ward and represents the Labour Party. pic.twitter.com/nsYCMfU4aR

04/06/24

HRSF has a Chess Society! Chess is a game of objectivity, concentration and commitment. It has been associated with better educational outcomes, helping students to improve their memory and deepen their focus. If you are interested in joining: Music Room- Thursday Lunch. pic.twitter.com/XbfeYKPZ1S

04/06/24

Enoch has successfully achieved a place on the In2STEM pathway. This programme offers a blend of online and in-person activities, equipping sixth formers with the skills, knowledge and confidence needed to excel in STEM.

04/06/24

We wanted to acknowledge more fantastic achievements this week. Enoch and Harrison have both been accepted onto different STEM programmes which will support them on their journey towards university and STEM focused careers. pic.twitter.com/XvyqpWbJ3e

03/05/24

Congratulations to Aliyah who has been accepted onto the Target Bath programme! Target Bath supports students of Black African and Caribbean heritage to gain places at the University of Bath. pic.twitter.com/uuPGanRVqC

03/05/24

Congratulations to Jomi who has been accepted onto the Bright Ideas Medicine Pathway. Jomi has already benefitted from Saturday sessions and will soon be attending a medical summer school at Anglia Ruskin University. What a fantastic opportunity! pic.twitter.com/auietyIn8K

29/04/24

We wanted to congratulate Oden who has been invited to attend an Insight Day with Macquarie, a large asset management group. Oden will then have the opportunity to apply for a work placement and a possible financial scholarship for university through the company. Well done! pic.twitter.com/r42EW8PNTL

29/04/24

We wanted to highlight a fantastic achievement from Nimrut, who has been selected to take part in the Sutton Trust US Programme following an application process. Nimrut is one of 100 students who were selected nationally, and we are very proud as a sixth form team. pic.twitter.com/IZaMvueaX9

Electives

Electives are a unique aspect of the academic offer at Harris Rainham Sixth Form. In Year 12, students elect to study something beyond their chosen A-Levels for one period per week.  

We have a broad range of electives which students can immerse themselves in. They aim to provide knowledge and develop understanding beyond A-Levels, while preparing students for university and future related careers. This looks different across all electives, with some sessions focusing on the exploration of new ideas, while others develop the skills to debate, argue and communicate their own opinions and some supporting students with university style questions which challenge logical thinking.  

The electives courses provide students with an amazing array of knowledge and ideas both to inform their UCAS applications and to enliven any university interviews that they might be fortunate enough to be invited to. They are also interesting on their own terms and are often the intellectual and cultural highlights of many students’ weeks. 

The following list is a selection of the remarkable courses that Harris Rainham Sixth Form students have been able to sign up to just this previous academic year: 

Drama and theatrical elective 

The aim of the theatrical elective is to provide students with the opportunity to enhance their personal skills such as confidence, communication, creativity, and co-operation whilst working creatively on a range of performance techniques and activities in a creative and safe space.  

 

Additionally, the program prepares students, and delivering presentations- equipping them with the essential skills needed to stand out from the crowd in any competitive industry.  

Sustainability elective 

The socio-economic and geographic context of our school is one in which many students have not had the privilege of exploring their local area, and even fewer have visited other areas of interest within the wider Greater London area. The aim of our sustainability elective is to address this fact and give our students the opportunity to learn about the remarkable features of their local area, develop skills in critical analysis, gain cultural capital and learn how they can participate in and lead positive change in their local area. This is particularly important as Rainham and surrounding areas are in the midst of both physical and demographic change.  

  

Wedded to this is critical engagement with questions of social, economic, and environmental sustainability. We aim to take students from simply listing the challenges in the local area, to identifying local opportunities, proposing well-reasoned solutions, and prototyping them in miniature.   

  

We also aim to give students the tools they need to critically engage with the sustainability issues that are certain to affect their futures, build self-confidence, agency and widen their schemas/frames of reference, allowing them to learn, understand and become inspired by best practice case studies from other places.  

Chemistry elective 

The aim of the chemistry elective is to provide students with the opportunity to enhance their laboratory skills in preparation for the School Analyst Competition, held during the final term of the academic year. Each term, we focus on a distinct area of analytical chemistry, combining theoretical learning with practical application.  

 

Additionally, the program prepares students for university by incorporating sessions on lab report writing, data analysis using software like Excel, and delivering presentations- equipping them with the essential skills needed to excel as science undergraduates.  

Sports coaching elective 

The aim of the Sports Coaching Elective is to give students the opportunity to develop their leadership characteristics to enhance their coaching skills. Students will explore coaching models and philosophies to create their own coaching identities. Students will plan, delivery and reflect on sessions they implement at HAR but also the chance to discovery wider coaching roles, courses and careers in sport. Throughout this elective, students will meet and interview coaches/managers but also been given ample experiences whilst visiting university and witnessing live coaching sessions.  

Criminology elective 

Criminology is an engaging and dynamic elective designed to introduce students to the study of crime, criminal behaviour, and the societal response to criminal acts. This elective aims to develop critical thinking, analytical, and investigative skills by exploring the psychological, sociological, and legal aspects of criminology. Through interactive lessons, case studies, and practical activities, students will gain insight into the complexities of criminal behaviour and the strategies used to address crime.  

 

Students will have a clear understanding of how crime impacts individuals, communities, and broader societal systems. Furthermore, they will be able to identify and apply key criminological theories, such as biological, psychological, and sociological explanations of crime.   

  

Students will gain analytical and investigative skills as they will have learned how to critically evaluate evidence from hypothetical and real-world crime scenarios. As well as be able to create comprehensive criminal profiles by synthesizing evidence, victimology, behavioural patterns, and criminological theories.  

 

Economics and finance elective 

This course is designed to prepare students for university courses in economics, business, banking, and finance. Students will develop their critical Thinking and Analytical Skills by debating complex topics like government policy, globalisation, or game theory encourages students to evaluate evidence, form reasoned arguments, and challenge assumptions.  

 

In addition, students will have opportunities to develop their research and data interpretation skills and learn to interpret economic indicators (e.g., inflation rates, GDP) and apply them to arguments, a crucial skill for university-level coursework. 

 

Topics like globalisation or environmental sustainability challenge students to connect economic models with current events, fostering the ability to apply abstract theories to practical situations—a key skill for success in higher education. 

EPQ 

The aim of the EPQ is to provide students with the opportunity for students to develop and demonstrate their project management skills and provides opportunities for extended writing, both of which are highly valued for progression to higher education and employment. The Extended Project will develop and extend from one or more of the student’s study areas and/or from an area of personal interest or activity outside their main programme of study. It will be based on a topic chosen by the student(s) and agreed as appropriate by the centre.