Teaching & Learning

At Harris Academy Purley, teaching and learning is built around a simple ambition: attainment for all. We believe every pupil can succeed when expectations are high, learning is carefully structured and teaching is responsive to pupils' needs. Our academy motto,"To Learn, To Think, To Act", sits at the heart of everything we do. Our curriculum is delivered through evidence-informed teaching practices that help pupils develop deep knowledge, think critically and retain learning over time. We see learning as a shared responsibility between pupils, staff and parents, with everyone working together to ensure pupils achieve their potential.

 

Our Approach to Teaching

Start Strong: Retrieval and Literacy

Every lesson begins with a Do Now activity that helps pupils recall prior learning. Retrieval practice strengthens long-term memory, identifies misconceptions and ensures pupils are ready to engage with new learning. Alongside this, teachers explicitly teach subject-specific vocabulary through our Word of the Lesson approach, helping pupils develop the literacy skills required for success across the curriculum.

I Do, We Do, You Do

Teachers deliver new learning through structured I/We/You cycles.

• I - the teacher explains, models and demonstrates.
• We - teacher and pupils work together to develop understanding.
• You - pupils apply learning independently through purposeful practice.

This approach ensures pupils receive clear instruction while developing confidence and independence.

Thinking Hard

We believe pupils learn best when they are cognitively engaged. Teachers use high-quality questioning, modelling, discussion and independent practice to ensure all pupils think deeply about their learning. Lessons are designed so that pupils make connections between new and prior knowledge and develop secure understanding over time.

Assessment That Improves Learning

Assessment is used to inform teaching and improve outcomes. Teachers regularly check understanding through questioning, mini-whiteboards, retrieval activities and formal assessments. Feedback is purposeful, helping pupils understand what they have done well and what they need to do next. Dedicated Improvement and Reflection Time (DIRT) provides opportunities for pupils to act on feedback and improve their work.

 

Meeting the Needs of All Pupils

Our teachers know their pupils well and adapt learning to ensure every pupil can succeed. Appropriate challenge, scaffolding and support are provided whilst maintaining high expectations for all. Teaching Partners, literacy strategies, carefully considered seating plans and adaptive teaching approaches help ensure disadvantaged pupils, pupils with SEND and pupils learning English as an additional language can fully access the curriculum.

 

What You Will See in Our Classrooms

• Calm, purposeful learning environments.
• Pupils recalling prior knowledge and building long-term memory.
• Explicit teaching of vocabulary and subject-specific literacy.
• Clear routines and high expectations.
• Skilled questioning and checking for understanding.
• Pupils participating actively and thinking hard.
• High-quality independent work.
• Responsive teaching that addresses misconceptions.
• Teachers supporting all pupils to achieve ambitious outcomes.

 

Our Commitment

We are committed to continually refining our practice through professional learning, collaboration and evidence-informed approaches. By combining excellent teaching, a broad and balanced curriculum, and a relentless focus on pupil achievement, we ensure every pupil is equipped to learn, think and act successfully both within and beyond the classroom.

Knowledge Organisers and Retrieval Practice

At Harris Academy Purley, every pupil is provided with Knowledge Organisers in each subject, containing the key knowledge, vocabulary and concepts they are expected to learn. Pupils use these resources in lessons and at home to support self-quizzing and revision. Every three weeks, pupils complete retrieval quizzes based on the content of their Knowledge Organisers, helping them strengthen long-term memory, identify gaps in understanding and build confidence across the curriculum. Autumn Term Knowledge Organisers can be accessed below and will form the basis of pupils' retrieval quizzes throughout the term.