Leadership Team

Mr Astin, Executive Principal, has been teaching for 30 years, and with the Harris Federation since 2008. In 2008, Mr Astin was appointed Assistant Principal at Harris City Academy Crystal Palace and after that, he was a leader of the Harris Sixth Form and later the Principal of Harris Girls’ Academy Bromley. He was appointed Executive Principal of Harris Academy Orpington in September 2018 and moved to become Executive Principal of Harris Clapham Sixth Form and Harris Academy Clapham in 2025. 

During this time, he has secured two outstanding Ofsted judgments at Harris Girls' Academy Bromley and a Good with outstanding features at Harris Academy Orpington and also helped to lay the educational foundations of the Harris Westminster Sixth Form. Mr Astin believes passionately in the value and benefit of an outstanding education and is delighted to now be working in Clapham, which is an area of London he previously lived in, and loves.   

 

Ms Heuston, Head of School, firmly believes in the power of a brilliant education to change lives and sees it as a force for social mobility. She has worked in several outstanding Harris academies from the start of her career and is deeply committed to working to improve life chances for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. She has been proud to work in vibrant and diverse London academies, and see students go on to first class universities and apprenticeships with the confidence to speak out and make a difference.  

Miss Heuston loves teaching her subject, English Literature, and is continually inspired and amazed by the power of literature to speak to us about the human experience. Teaching remains an absolute joy for her and the best part of any day, as she discusses and analyses beautiful and insightful language with equally dedicated students.  

Although she has worked in secondary academies, she has always enjoyed working with Sixth Formers the most because they are at such a pivotal moment in their educational lives, where thirteen years of learning in school culminates in decisions about what they want to do with their exciting futures. She is now doing what she has always dreamed of: leading a Harris Sixth Form on its journey to ‘be the best’.  

 

Mr Lloyd, Vice Principal, believes in the transformational power of sixth form education. Having graduated from Durham University after studying Molecular Biology and Biochemistry he joined the TeachFirst program in 2009 and has taught in a range of London schools. His academic background fuels his enthusiasm for Biology, and he is always keen to tell students more about the scientific world. Over the years, he has had the privilege of teaching and mentoring sixth form students who have gone on to achieve remarkable success, including placements at Oxbridge, medicine, prestigious universities, and competitive degree-level apprenticeships.

Mr Lloyd believes that Sixth Form is not only about supporting students in making the next step in their life journey, but also about helping them to develop skills and interests that will see them succeed long after they have left. This chance to have a positive impact on the lives of students is what is so special about teaching and one that he encourages others to join him in.

 

Ms Adams, Assistant Principal, believes that every young person can and will achieve, given the right environment and support. She has worked in a number of schools in South London and the North West of England and is passionate about improving the education experience of students from disadvantaged backgrounds. During her years teaching she has seen many students achieve and excel, going on to pursue careers in their chosen field. 

Ms Adams has always had a passion for teaching Sixth Form. She has found that this time in a young person's academic journey to be pivotal in shaping their outcomes and future aspirations. Working within a Sixth Form allows teachers to encourage and support students to develop not only academically but as well-rounded individuals who will be an asset to society once leaving education. Miss Adams truly believes that students at HCL6F leave the Sixth Form with the skills, attributes and mindset to be successful in their own right, and feels privileged to work in such a setting with students who want to thrive and be the best that they can be. 

 

Mr Davies, Assistant Principal, believes in the ability of education to elevate young people to fantastic new heights. Having worked exclusively in South London schools and been at Harris Clapham Sixth Form since its opening he is dedicated to helping students in the local area succeed. He graduated from Oxford University with a degree in Biological Science, which left him with a keen understanding of academic rigour and a passion for the natural world and its complexities. He then swiftly moved into the world of teaching, working as a teaching assistant and then completing a PGCE at Kings College London.

A dedicated Sixth Form specialist, with experience in UCAS, Careers Guidance and PRSHE, he believes this stage of education is truly transformative. Supporting students through these challenging transitions has become a vital part of his work. A time when students grow not just academically, but personally and socially, developing the independence and ambition that will carry them into adulthood.  He feels privileged to play a part in that journey and is committed to ensuring every student receives the opportunities and support they need to thrive.

 

Miss Pickett, Assistant Principal, believes every child, regardless of their socioeconomic background, should have access to an outstanding education which will provide them with opportunities and choice. Education is not just about qualifications but also ensuring that students are able to grow into articulate, confident and aware young people who feel able to join any conversation.

Miss Pickett has always had a passion for the humanities. This led her to study History at the University of Cambridge. History not only allows students to see beyond their own lived experiences by exploring different times and places but also equips them with the cultural literacy to understand the world around them.

Miss Pickett has always believed that Sixth Form is the most important stage of a student’s academic journey. Having worked as part of the Sixth Form team at an all-through Harris academy for five years, she has seen first-hand the transformational impact of education on her students’ lives. At Harris Clapham Sixth Form, Miss Pickett hopes to ensure that every student is on the most appropriate pathway where they can gain the necessary skills and qualifications to be successful.