Starting Year 7 - Useful Information for Parents
Full details of our transition programme for students joining us in September 2026 can be found below. If you have any queries please contact Gavin Kensit g.kensit@harrislowewillesden.org.uk.
I am delighted that your child has been allocated their chosen place at our exceptional Academy for September.
On this page you'll find lots of helpful resources to help you make the transition from your primary school to HLAW.
Most of you will already have visited us before, but perhaps you can't remember too much about the school or what it looked like. Don't worry! On this page we're going to add lots of useful information about the school to help you feel at home when you join us in September.
We look forward to welcoming your child in September and supporting them to thrive academically, personally, and socially as they begins their journey with us.
Josh Deery, Principal
Unlock your child’s potential with a Harris Scholarship!
If you haven't already, please do find out more about our Harris Scholarships. We offer Elite Athlete Sports and Drama scholarships, exclusive to this academy, plus Harris Federation English, Maths and Science scholarships.
Our Year 7 Scholarships are designed to open up minds to a world of intellectual curiosity, personal growth and exciting opportunities.
What happens next? Events for your diary
To support the transition process, we have the following events, to which you are warmly invited.
Academy visits specifically for students with EHCPs or SEND. These are one-to-one visits organised by our SENCo, Ms Beard, who will be in touch with you individually about this.
Year 6 family meetings
Dates: Wednesday 17th and Thursday 18th June 2026
Timing: 8:30-3:00pm
Each family will be sent a letter with their appointment time. Students must attend this interview with a parent and will meet a key member of staff from Harris Lowe Academy Willesden to support your child’s transition to secondary and answer any questions.
Year 6 Taster Day
Date: Friday 3rd July 2026
Timing: 8:30am - 2:45pm
Students will attend Harris Lowe Academy Willesden and meet their peers and their tutor. They will spend a day experiencing life as a Harris Lowe Academy Willesden student. All details will be emailed to parents directly.
Parent Information Evening
Date: Friday 3rd July 2026
Timing: 3:00pm to 4:00pm, or 6:00pm to 7:00pm
Parents will receive a presentation from key staff on the transition process, answer any questions about taster day or summer school and go through some of the policies and procedures at Harris Lowe Academy Willesden.
Summer induction
Thursday 3rd September and Friday 4th September.
Uniform measuring and purchase days
Friday 3rd July 4:00-6:30pm
Saturday 4th July, 10:30am-4:30pm
Sunday 5th July, 11:00am-4:00pm
Friday 10th July, 4:00-6:30pm
Saturday 11th July, 10:30am-4:30pm
Sunday 12th July, 11:00am-4:00pm
Book your appointment before you arrive. Visit www.uniformdays.co.uk. Please select Harris Lowe and register. Only those with confirmed appointments may attend this event.
Step-by-step booking guide:
1. Visit www.uniformdays.co.uk
2. Choose Harris Lowe Academy Willesden
3. Pick a date and time
4. Fill out the form and opt in to reminders
5. Your appointment confirmation will be sent through email (check junk mail)
Arts exhibition
Date: Thursday 2nd July 2026
Timing: 3:30 pm - 6:30 pm
All of our new Year 7 students and their families are invited to attend our summer Arts Exhibition which showcases GCSE, A-Level and Sixth Form work from all the arts, media and catering students. It is a wonderful, informal event and will be another opportunity to get familiar with our school community.
Year 7 induction programme
Dates: Tuesday 1st and Wednesday 2nd September 2026.
Timings: 8:30am - 3:15pm
Start of term arrangements
Year 7 students will start at the Academy on Friday 4th September 2026. The first day will run from 8.15am-1.35pm, finishing slightly earlier than our normal timing to allow for a welcoming BBQ where you can come and meet the staff.
The rest of the students will not return until Monday 7th September 2026, giving the new students a chance to settle in. From Monday, the normal school day will start at 8.15am and end at 3.25pm.
Some useful contacts
For SEND: Ms Katie Beard – Assistant Principal, SENDCo K.Beard@harrislowewillesden.org.uk
For Safeguarding: Ms Hannah Heyes – Designated Safeguarding Lead H.Heyes@harrislowewillesden.org.uk
For medical/allergies: Ms Kharis Corbin – Medical & Welfare Officer K.Corbin@harrislowewillesden.org.uk
For Free School Meals: Ms Liv Stewart – L.Stewart@harrislowewillesden.org.uk
For ParentPay: Mr John Fung – J.Fung@harrislowewillesden.org.uk
For all other queries: Mr Gavin Kensit – Transition Lead, Year 6 into Year 7 G.Kensit@harrislowewillesden.org.uk
ParentPay - cashless payments
The academy uses a cashless catering system for the canteen purchases. We will send you an activation letter with details of how to create your ParentPay account. Click HERE to go to the ‘Getting Started’ guide from ParentPay.
Uniform
See our Uniform page for details of our uniform supplier and how to order, including details of our Uniform Exchange, at which we offer items of second-hand uniform for very low prices.
Free school meals - how to apply
Please Click HERE to apply for Free School Meals within Brent.
Registering for free meals could also raise an extra £900 per student for the school, to fund valuable support like extra tuition, additional teaching staff or after-school activities.
If you need any support at all with FSM, please email Liv Stewart (L.Stewart@harrislowewillesden.org.uk), who will be delighted to help.
Frequently asked questions
Below are some of the FAQs raised by parents. We hope you find this helpful.
How will my child be supported with transition?
There are many ways we will support your child to make the transition as easy and enjoyable as possible.
- In March, we invite parents to have a tea and during an initial parent meeting, which is a great opportunity to visit the Academy, meet the Leadership Team informally, and connect with other parents.
- On Transition Day in July, we invite all our new Year 7 students to come and spend the day with us on site before they join us in September.
- Year 7 students will have three days of induction in September before other students return to the academy. This will help them confidently settle into secondary school.
- There will be extended lunch breaks for the first three weeks.
Which tie colour do I need to buy?
A red tie.
When will I know the form group?
Students are told their form group in July. Please note, this is subject to review and could change in September.
Are there any activities scheduled during the summer?
Yes. Our induction week at the end of the summer holiday.
Why don’t we do a banding test?
At Harris Lowe Academy Willesden, we removed the banding test three years ago from our admissions policy. Our admissions criteria are listed in our policy, but the most important is the straight line distance from the school. Students are allocated places based on this and we naturally have a diverse and unique intake of children each year due to our location.
Is Uniforms Direct the only uniform supplier?
Uniforms Direct is our official uniform supplier. However, we also run a uniform exchange/second‑hand event three to four times a year, where families can obtain good‑quality pre‑loved uniform items.
What are the house names and what do their colours represent?
The names of our houses, inspirational figures and corresponding colours are:
|
House Value |
Inspirational Figure |
Colour |
|
Determination |
Nelson Mandela |
Red |
|
Integrity |
C.S. Lewis |
Yellow |
|
Curiosity |
Albert Einstein |
Green |
|
Empathy |
Princess Diana |
Purple |
When will I be coming to HLAW?
We expect all students to attend the induction days which run on Tuesday 1st September and Wednesday 2nd September 2026.
After this, Year 7 students will officially start at the Academy on Friday 4th September 2026. The first day will run from 8.15am-1.35pm, finishing slightly earlier than our normal timing to allow for some additional staff training. Students need to be on-site by 8.15am in full school uniform.
What do I need to bring?
You will need to bring a school bag. Also, you will need your own personal learning equipment including black, blue, red and green pens, pencils, ruler, pencil and sharpener.
What lessons will I have?
On Friday 4th September 2026, you will have a variety of sessions welcoming you to the academy. You will have a welcome assembly led by the Principal and time with your tutor. Your regular lessons will start on Monday 7th September. Please note that you will not need your PE kit for the first day and that you will receive your full timetable on your second day at the school.
What will happen at break and lunchtime?
We are pleased that for the first day ONLY we will provide all students with lunch. We do suggest that you bring an additional bottle of water or juice (not fizzy drinks) in case the weather is warm. From the next day on, you will be able to purchase a hot meal at lunchtime so please ensure your ParentPay account is kept topped up (ParentPay log-ins will be emailed to all Year 7 parents on the first day). Students who are in receipt of free school meals will receive their lunch in the normal way. Please also feel free to bring a packed lunch and a bottle of water if preferred.
Can my son wear a winter jacket? And which colours are allowed?
Yes, winter jackets are allowed and encouraged at the Academy. They must be plain dark blue or black, with no logos or images. Students should remove their jackets before entering the Academy. Please label the jackets with your child's name to prevent loss or mix-ups.
Do you provide Halal food?
Yes, the menu runs on a three-weekly cycle and includes halal and non-halal options. For more information please visit our school meals page.
How much is the meal?
Currently, the meal deal is £2.76 and includes a hot meal, pudding and juice.
How will my child purchase lunch?
The academy uses a cashless catering system for the canteen and other purchases. The vast majority of students use their fingerprint for payments, but 4-digit pins are also available. Once you received the ParentPay activation letter, please make sure you make the top-up. See our Using ParentPay page.