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10/07/25

A huge thank you for the generous donation of toiletries 💙 Your kindness will make a real difference to our families and is deeply appreciated by all of us at Harris Academy Peckham. pic.twitter.com/Lew815vjVE

10/07/25

Absolutely fantastic evening performing as part of the first ever Harris Federation Festival of Music last night. Our students loved every single minute of performing and what a great way to showcase them! pic.twitter.com/uKclVM81n1

10/07/25

what do you think of our Year 10 saxophonist 🎷? He has only been playing for 6 years! pic.twitter.com/5rtl4Qo87k

10/07/25

This is 🤩 Orchestras, Rappers, DJs, Steel Pans, Musical Theatre, Choirs, Jazz Ensembles, the list goes on! pic.twitter.com/wTwArFB4Qa

10/07/25

🏳️‍🌈 Huge congratulations to our amazing team for being runners-up in the Just Like Us Charity Pride Group Awards! 🏆 Your passion, dedication, and advocacy continue to inspire. Here's to building an even more inclusive future together! 🌟 pic.twitter.com/kilEHj7aK1

10/07/25

Spectacular performances at the Harris Federation Festival of Music. https://t.co/WVFuUYIJEJ

09/07/25

Thank you to all the families who attended our uniform pop up shop today. To our students, we can’t wait to see you in September. pic.twitter.com/vzychJioIa

09/07/25

Thank you so much! An Outstanding outcome for our entire community. https://t.co/5pc0Lu3tA6

08/07/25

Always a brilliant opportunity to perform with Multi-Story orchestra especially on a project that has such relevance to Peckham and its community pic.twitter.com/r9gzOPD91H

07/07/25

It was a pleasure to welcome our new Year 7 students last week for their transition day! 🌟 A fantastic start to their journey with us — we can’t wait to see all they’ll achieve. 💫#TransitionDay pic.twitter.com/oQVjkO9y4v

04/07/25

So beautiful 💐🤩! Congrats on another fabulous Songfest! We also feel very lucky to have you as part of our team 🎻 🎶!

04/07/25

Prom - Class of 2025! Our students didn’t just show up— they slayed. ✨ Glam, glitter, and red carpet energy all around. pic.twitter.com/TeTBvLnH0T

04/07/25

Look at our beautiful prom setting . Glam vibes, and just enough glitter to find your way home. Prom magic is real! pic.twitter.com/DHrtAZJJF7

04/07/25

It was a pleasure performing with you. We look forward to working together again soon. https://t.co/jQmCNNNGg8

04/07/25

Your passion, dedication, and talent brings so much joy to our community. We’re so lucky to have you! https://t.co/UE1zA67Dpg

04/07/25

Huge thanks to for your incredible support. https://t.co/jVxFqmv5pb

04/07/25

One year into the best job in the world 🩷 pic.twitter.com/pIZFuFeemt

03/07/25

A huge round of applause to our phenomenal Music team and the wonderful local primary schools who made Songfest truly unforgettable! Voices soared, spirits lifted, and community harmony was loud and proud. pic.twitter.com/jD50aS8Tou

03/07/25

Inspectors from rated the school ‘outstanding’ in all areas, praising the Academy’s “highly ambitious” curriculum and “expert” teaching staff, as well as the students’ “excellent” behaviour.#Peckham @Miatsfhttps://t.co/QQZOARKIpI pic.twitter.com/FxOawGmXrh

03/07/25

Inspectors from rated the school ‘outstanding’ in all areas, praising the Academy’s “highly ambitious” curriculum and “expert” teaching staff, as well as the students’ “excellent” behaviour.#Peckham @Miatsfhttps://t.co/1fNV8isdQK pic.twitter.com/wozA3sht53

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Latest News

Posted on March 16th 2022

The Science of Sunscreen - For When The Sun Screams!

Ever wondered what is in sunscreen and how it actually works? Our Year 10 students were taken through a fact-finding mission recently, to understand more about sunscreens and the science behind them.

The day started with an introduction to the topic of radiation where students learnt about ultraviolet rays, and the other types of waves which make up the spectrum of light. The impact of prolonged skin exposure to UV radiation was thoroughly examined.

Science (2)The rest of the day was divided between two experiments. There are compounds in sunscreens that function to absorb UV radiation thereby protecting your skin. For the first experiment, students had to determine which of two samples of sunscreen had a greater sun protection factor (SPF). The ability of sunscreen covered beads to absorb and emit radiation was described as “fascinating.” This investigation informed them about the importance of the SPF when selecting sunscreens. By the end, one student confirmed that, “some sunscreen lotions absorb more UV light.”


Making new molecules

During the second experiment, students had an opportunity to synthesise compounds that can be used in sunscreens. They were amazed that they could actually make new molecules. This was “exciting”, in the words of one student,  because “it was something we have never done before.”

The derivatives created were then analysed to determine which had the highest SPF. As some of the UV active beads covered in a solution of the new compound glowed under UV light, there was a sparkle in their eyes.

The subsequent analysis of the results led students to conclude that the quality of sunscreens is determined by their SPF. The higher the SPF, the more UV radiation is absorbed and the longer the protection. Next time you pick up a bottle of sunscreen, be sure to check the SPF.

The culminating activity was for groups of students to create a marketing campaign to highlight the benefits of sunscreen.

Astor Tate


Science (1)

Science (3)