Close

Twitter Wall

18/03/24

Y6 cyclists enjoyed a fantastic start to bikeability! Team Shakespeare learnt how to stay safe by controlling speed, looking over our shoulder for approaching traffic and how to signal to other road users a desired direction of travel. pic.twitter.com/yNKr3ctiyf

18/03/24

Y6 cyclists enjoyed a fantastic start to bikeability! Team Shakespeare learnt how to stay safe by controlling speed, looking over our shoulder for approaching traffic and how to signal to other road users a desired direction of travel. pic.twitter.com/grLClqOlUT

18/03/24

Y6 cyclists enjoyed a fantastic start to bikeability! Team Shakespeare learnt how to stay safe by controlling speed, looking over our shoulder for approaching traffic and how to signal to other road users a desired direction of travel. pic.twitter.com/nX2FE6OwVl

14/03/24

In DT, Year 2 have been experiencing different ways of joining fabric. They used staples, safety pins, sewing and gluing. pic.twitter.com/DILMMrnbon

14/03/24

Year 5 having great fun at the hockey festival pic.twitter.com/DaTjFGNt7o

13/03/24

Why not read a. Exciting science book this week in celebration of science week. We started the week with the mind-blowing book ‘Atoms’ (one of our beautiful new library books) and here are some further recommendations. pic.twitter.com/IgTGrIvliG

13/03/24

Our fantastic school choir performing at the Scholars’ Education Trust annual music concert. pic.twitter.com/QyiTeMpGRd

13/03/24

Year six basketball players deciding whether to pass or not in their tactics unit. pic.twitter.com/ZxfcsTZvSO

13/03/24

One of our wonderful year six pupils delivering a session on dyslexia and neurodiversity in advance of Autism Awareness Week. Amazing confidence and engagement with her audience and I particularly loved the book recommendations section! pic.twitter.com/qrO37QBJsf

13/03/24

Happy International Women’s Day to all our lovely girls, mums, aunties, grannies…Why not read one of these books about women who have changed the world…

13/03/24

A little late - but photos from Team Dahl's World Book Day trip to . We explored their wonderous library, solved riddles and delved into the mysteries of their cataloguing system! (2)#English pic.twitter.com/UIjtQNRGQ7

13/03/24

A little late - but photos from Team Dahl's World Book Day trip to . We explored their wonderous library, solved riddles and delved into the mysteries of their cataloguing system! (1)#English pic.twitter.com/yNfHmmfjOJ

12/03/24

Ladybirds have been investigating shadows this week as part of . We also added holes using a hole punch to see how this affected our shadows. pic.twitter.com/q5i3xR8Ame

12/03/24

Year 3 Investigating the motion of pendulums as part of pic.twitter.com/M5R8YtgjNq

11/03/24

Wishing the SET Muslim community the blessings of the holy month pic.twitter.com/McyutIKdIT

11/03/24

Y5 & Y6 keen writers were treated to a day of poetry, short and creative story writing. We were inspired by Simon Lamb’s ‘A Pocket Poem,’ Kit Wright’s ‘Magic Box’ and Harris Burdick’s picture stories. A fantastic day for our children to showcase their writing talents. pic.twitter.com/ERXPJ2GIcF

08/03/24

Happy International Women’s Day to all our lovely Harpenden Academy girls, mummies, aunties, grannies…Why not read one of these fantastic books about women who have changed the world…#reading pic.twitter.com/WYZFJBkiyY

08/03/24

What a wonderful morning already celebrating World Book Day: watching Gandalf teaching a lesson and receiving a visit from Harry Potter to share his book review! pic.twitter.com/7k8gldtIb8

07/03/24

Year 4 creating movie trailers for our class text Coming to England by pic.twitter.com/G2wejV5OGX

07/03/24

Book swop in Y6 went down a treat! pic.twitter.com/0AEbjKcHul

07/03/24

Ladybirds loved using the library today to choose books and enjoy them with their friends. pic.twitter.com/6ezryjUYvL

07/03/24

Year six reader enjoying their Drop Everything and Read session! pic.twitter.com/rPdCWUTY3O

07/03/24

Ladybirds have loved coming to school as their favourite characters today. Can you guess who we are? pic.twitter.com/vP5MrIQv6U

07/03/24

Elmer Class enjoyed a book themed PE lesson this morning. They made letters out of their bodies and did a book themed relay. pic.twitter.com/NgIu7U32In

07/03/24

Potter Class have been enjoying reading books for pleasure in the library this morning. pic.twitter.com/1AQeUzXo3u

All About Our School Dog

Www.school video production.co.uk 0269

Rosie Red is our school dog. She is a a fox red Cockapoo and has been attending our school since she was just 11 weeks old. Rosie Red has been at Harpenden Academy since October 2018. Just like all of our new children, it took her a little while to fit in. We spent the first couple of weeks showing her around the school site - it's amazing how much there is to see. Rosie Red especially likes snoozing in Mrs Davies' office.

Eventually Rosie Red will undertake training to work with children who have special needs, or who are upset in any way and in need of calm, comfort and space before being able to tell an adult what has upset them. 

Once fully trained, Rosie Red will spend her days visiting the classrooms and listening to readers from across the school. Sometimes she will even help us out by looking after anyone who is feeling a bit sad - a little stroke and a look into those big brown eyes is enough to make anyone feel happy again.

There are many benefits to having a school dog, including:

  • a calming effect on pupils, particularly those with behavioural or learning difficulties
  • improved behaviour and concentration, reduced stress and improved self-esteem
  • encouraging expression and participation in more withdrawn children 
  • fostering a sense of responsibility
  • motivating pupils to think and to learn, as most children have a high level of natural interest in, enthusiasm for and enjoyment of animals
  • encouraging respect and thereby improving pupils’ relationships with each other, parents and teachers
  • teaching children to nurture and respect life
  • helping work undertaken with the most vulnerable children, and educational improvements with low achievers
  • helping children build confidence in reading.

Please see separate article link below.

Guardian Article - 'Dogs Listen to Children's Reading' 

We are aware that some parents, teachers and children may be unsure around dogs and we have organised a series of school assemblies to take place by Dogs Trust and indeed the puppy trainer so that all members of our community are aware of what to do and more importantly what not to do around a dog. Our dog will also be available to work with children (and adults) who have had bad experiences with dogs or other animals.

With parental permission, over a period of time children who react fearfully to dogs will be supported in approaching, handling and gaining confidence in managing their fear. While the dog’s main place of residence will be an office area, which is secure and separate from the classrooms, children will able to interact with the dog under strict supervision at certain times of the week as long as parental permission has been given. The dog will not be given access to other visitors without supervision or mutual consent. Please understand that we will do everything we can to reassure children who are fearful and that under no circumstances will they be forced to meet with the dog.

Whilst moving around the school, Rosie Red will be kept on a short lead and will always be with an adult. We have chosen a Cockapoo as the most appropriate breed of dog for the school. The breed has been carefully selected because of its ideal temperament and because it is used widely in the field of therapy and support (e.g. hearing dogs). Cockapoos are also used successfully in other schools as they are, by nature gentle and friendly creatures.

Rosie Red Doggy Passport

Frequently Asked Questions

Risk Assessment School Dog

Child Permission Form

Rosie Red in Lockdown

Your browser is out-of-date!

Update your browser to view this website correctly. Update my browser now

×