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13/11/24

Thanks to for their support on our most recent project. has recently brightened its premises with an innovative addition: new window wraps aimed at enhancing the school's aesthetic while fostering a creative and welcoming environment. pic.twitter.com/KwCFeDuWJ2

12/11/24

Year 2 have been using counters and tens frames to ‘add by making 10’. Using concrete resources really helped the children to understand the strategy. pic.twitter.com/HbfHS88DIY

12/11/24

Year 4 investigating how long it takes to turn a liquid into a solid. pic.twitter.com/vhtDVZcK0x

12/11/24

Year 3 exploring key texts in our new fable unit. We brought in some of our reading skills and performance read extracts. pic.twitter.com/V2mCJZO7XL

12/11/24

**Reception Parent Tours - book yours now and join us in September 2025** pic.twitter.com/0LQYhYK5yL

11/11/24

Team Dahl really outdid themselves at our Harpenden Academy Remembrance Day assembly with their gorgeous performance of ‘For the Fallen’ by Laurence Binyon.#Oracy pic.twitter.com/bhtqzSLQzq

25/10/24

The eco council have been working hard to create an eco- code for our school to follow. pic.twitter.com/ekjangqzZN

22/10/24

So proud of our Y5&6 girls who took part in the ‘Saracen’s Foundation Tag Rugby Festival’ today. They all worked hard as a team on communication, finding the pass and developing resilience! As a result, the girls smiled their way through the afternoon, picking up tags and tries. pic.twitter.com/LC9NYIBm9z

22/10/24

A really productive science lesson today as the children investigated whether mixing can be a reversible change! pic.twitter.com/EuABEO1fjg

18/10/24

Our Ladybirds have fully embraced our school values and remembered to show kindness to each other when getting stuck in the mud pic.twitter.com/J9gPiz9Jog

18/10/24

Year 3 using co-operation and team work to create carrot cars, pic.twitter.com/3OaEDPqd4w

18/10/24

Such a brilliant English lesson in Team Dahl today - we made a conscience alley to debate between two positions using subordinating clauses! pic.twitter.com/HCWZVi24Qg

18/10/24

Team Dahl was lucky enough to be visited by a Sicilian parent to teach us about Italian - our language of the month! pic.twitter.com/QXnn5joTk4

18/10/24

Ladybirds are exploring the pumpkin farm this morning, picking pumpkins, hunting for worms and squelching in mud on our very first school trip. pic.twitter.com/bQhjm15jBb

16/10/24

Year six athletes enjoying their gym session with Fitkidz. pic.twitter.com/a2TyFWnQpY

16/10/24

Year six athletes enjoying their gym session with Fitkidz. pic.twitter.com/EFSsBp7mGy

16/10/24

Moomin class had some great discussions today about how our actions can affect others pic.twitter.com/2TALG0Sfr1

16/10/24

This morning, Year 3 have enjoyed their ‘fit kidz’ PE session. pic.twitter.com/zuAdqrEKND

08/10/24

Year six enjoying a visit from a local Diversity group which focused on prejudice and unkind and unfair behaviour towards vulnerable groups. The talk focused on the importance of being an upstander when witnessing prejudice or bullying. pic.twitter.com/KUM0azoLvn

08/10/24

Today Ladybirds have been exploring the different spatial patterns to represent the number 3. We enjoyed describing them in our carpet session then recreated our own using stickers during our child-initiated learning. 🐞 pic.twitter.com/MKPLyPdsE5

07/10/24

Our lovely parent visitor sharing how she celebrates Diwali with her family. pic.twitter.com/2fD9qMeO7i

07/10/24

Team Dahl partaking in a brilliant diversity workshop! pic.twitter.com/u3BxsrLBtI

07/10/24

Moomin class have enjoyed their ‘Diversity Role Models’ workshop this morning ! pic.twitter.com/ou356DwkzE

04/10/24

TeamDahl were so lucky today to come into contact with real-life Hindu artefacts from their homes of two of our students! pic.twitter.com/52YFgp4pnW

04/10/24

Happy World Smile Day from Team Dahl! pic.twitter.com/SiVtxg7BgJ

Hearts and Minds Project

At Harpenden Academy we believe in developing both the hearts and the minds of all our children so they can have happy, healthy and successful futures. 

As a school we are committed to providing a well-rounded education that both nurtures and stimulates our children. The project came from our values-based educational approach and the importance we place upon the 'Five Ways to Wellbeing.'

What is it all about?

The school staff and children from the school council worked together in 2017 to create a pledge of all the experiences we wanted our children to have during their time with us. These activities would sit on top of our normal curriculum. We pledge that we will provide the children with a range of opportunities which are:

  • Give, by carrying out genuine acts of kindness.
  • Give and support the school or wider community by volunteering.
  • Be active and take notice of nature.
  • Connect with others and learn something new by regularly attending a school club.
  • Plan or participate in a fundraising event in school. 
  • Demonstrate an understanding of how democracy works.
  • Represent the school in either a sporting, cultural or academic event.
  • Develop or actively support eco-friendly systems.
  • Take part in a residential trip.
  • Take part in a school production either on stage or behind the scenes.
  • Attend or take part in a community event.

As the children progress through the school we will provide them with the opportunities to achieve the above tasks. We will track their progress from Reception to Year 6 and we will present an award to them in recognition of the completion of the project pledges. 

Below is this year's overview.

Hearts and Minds Yearly Overview

Year Group Autumn Term Spring Term Summer Term
Reception Give, by carrying out genuine acts of kindness – make Christmas cards for people who help us in school   Give and support the school or wider community by volunteering Be Active and take notice of nature – The Big, Nature Walk and Talk
Year 1

Give, by carrying out genuine acts of kindness – make Christmas cards for local emergency services

Give and support the school or wider community by volunteering Be Active and take notice of nature – The Big, Nature Walk and Talk
Year 2 Give, by carrying out genuine acts of kindness – shoe boxes for charity Give and support the school or wider community by volunteering – Litter picking Be Active and take notice of nature – The Big, Nature Walk and Talk
Year 3

Connect and learn something new by regularly attending a school club

Give, by carrying out genuine acts of kindness

Develop or actively support eco-friendly systems

Represent the school in either a sporting, cultural or academic event

Demonstrate an understanding of how a democracy works

Be Active and take notice of nature – walk to The Oval for bluebell walk and picnic
Year 4

Connect and learn something new by regularly attending a school club

Give, by carrying out genuine acts of kindness – make fruit cakes for staff and parent helpers
Represent the school in either a sporting, cultural or academic event

Plan or participate in a fundraising event in school

Be Active and take notice of nature – walk to The Oval for bluebell walk and picnic
Year 5

Connect and learn something new by regularly attending a school club

Give, by carrying out genuine acts of kindness – sing Carols at local residential home 

Take part in a residential trip

Be Active and take notice of nature – plant trees

Represent the school in either a sporting, cultural or academic event
Take part in a school production either on stage or behind the scenes
Year 6

Connect and learn something new by regularly attending a school club

Give, by carrying out genuine acts of kindness

Be Active and take notice of nature – plant trees

Represent the school in either a sporting, cultural or academic event

Attend or take part in a community event

Take part in a residential trip

 

 

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