Keeping in Touch with Parents
Keeping in touch with your child's progress at secondary school can feel very different from what you are used to at primary school, so it's natural to wonder how easy it will be.
Parents tell us that communication is a real strength of our academy. We know that communication and support between families and the school makes a real difference; we're committed to making it as strong as possible.
Coaches & Head of Year
Every child has a Coach and a Head of Year who have an overall picture of your child's academic progress, attendance and wellbeing.
You'll also have your child's coach name and email address, who they see every day for 30 minutes. You can also call both the coach and the Head of Year on 0207 732 2276 and leave a message with our efficient reception team.
If your question or concern is more specific (for example, about a particular subject) you may be directed to contact the relevant subject teacher or Head of Department.
If you're not sure who to contact, please contact our reception on 0207 732 2276 or info@harrisdulwichgirls.org.uk and they will be happy to direct you to the right person.
Our Pastoral Team
We benefit from a dedicated Pastoral Team, led by our Director of Pastoral Care. If you have a pastoral concern or query you may direced to our Pastoral Team who will be able to answer your query.
For more serious concerns, such as safeguarding, you can speak directly to our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or a member of the Senior Leadership Team.
Our home-academy agreement
We all want the very best for your son, and research shows that students thrive when parents and schools work in partnership. That’s why we have a Home-Academy Agreement – a simple summary of what you and your child can expect from us, and what we ask from you and them in return, so we can support their learning and wellbeing together.
We’ll ask you to read the agreement before your child joins the academy and be ready to ask any questions you may have, and then sign the agreement either before they starts, or during the first week of term. You’ll find the Home-Academy Agreement at the bottom of this page.
Parents’ evenings
You will be invited to the school at least once a year for a Parents’ Evening, at which you will meet your child’s subject teachers to discuss academic progress, behaviour and overall wellbeing. We'll let you know well in advance when parents' evenings are planned, to make it as easy as possible for you to attend. You’ll be able to ask questions, raise concerns and gain a clearer understanding of the curriculum and expectations.
Parents’ evenings help to strengthen the partnership between home and school, helping parents support their child's learning more effectively, and encouraging students to stay engaged and motivated in their education.
Regular assessments
All students in the academy are assessed regularly, with a formal assessment twice a year. These tests aim to develop students' exam technique and enable them to demonstrate depth of knowledge, critical thought and, for many subjects, their practical skills. Most importantly, they are used to help gauge progress.
In order to keep you informed about your child's progress, we will report back to you at two points during the academic year – one mid-year report and one end-of-year report. These reports will summarise the academic and non-academic progress your son has made.
MyChildAtSchool app
All parents have access to the MyChildAtSchool app, which gives you instant access to important information like attendance, behaviour, timetable and reports – all in one place. Before you child joins the academy we’ll invite you to download the app and give you the necessary login inform. With real-time updates and secure messaging, it makes it easier to stay informed and involved in your child’s school life.
Weekly parent update, newsletters and latest news
We communcate weekly with parents via our weekly parent update. This shares all the brilliant news from the week and informs parents about important upcoming events. We also publish a newsletter once a term and we have a comprehensive news page on our website.
Parent survey results
Each year we survey all parents to ask their views on how their child is getting on at school – whether they feel safe, are making good progress and about how well parents feel informed. We also ask parents how we can make our school even better and we love to read all the positive and kind messages of thanks to staff.