The Harvey Grammar School - The School

The School

The main school site is situated in the Folkestone suburb of Cheriton. It has been there since 1912-3 when the main building was constructed. In 1989, school buildings in the town centre, next to the Folkestone Library, were closed on completion of a new Science & Technology Block on the main site. A sports hall was added in 1997 and, in 2001, a further building was added with facilities for ICT, Art, Business Studies and Biology; this was named the John Edwards Centre in 2002 in honour of the school's headmaster from 1986 to 2002. The school also boasts an adjacent sports field with a cricket pavilion named after former pupil Les Ames (Kent and England wicketkeeper-batsman); money for this was raised by the Old Harveians Association under the leadership of its President, John Smith. The pavilion was opened in 1997 by Colin Cowdrey in a ceremony also attended by Godfrey Evans, another famous former Kent and England wicketkeeper. In a special match to mark the pavilion opening, the school's 1st XI cricket team played a celebrity team that included ex Kent and England opening batsmen Brian Luckhurst and Mike Denness. The school also benefits from the proximity of council-owned sports facilities, including a floodlit astroturf pitch.

The Harvey's badge is worn by all boys 11–16 on their school uniform. The uniform consists of a black blazer with badge, black trousers and black shoes, a white shirt and a tie. The tie of which uses the colour corresponding to the pupil's house, in a diagonal-stripe fashion. The sixth form wear a different, less strict but still formal suit of their choice, with a different tie which is plain black with the school badge insignia emblem. Once they have reached the sixth form, this can rise to have a single house-coloured stripe diagonally across, to denote prefect status.

In 2005, the Harvey was awarded specialist status in sport with mathematics. Even before the Sports College status, the Harvey had an excellent record in sport across the county of Kent and beyond. It has reached more county football and cricket finals than any other school in Kent, a proud tradition largely established by long-standing Head of PE Alan Philpott (1957–92) (alumnus). The school itself has a structure which encourages competition at all levels, not only sport. A House music and a technology competition are examples of two of the non-sport inter-house activities, which the Harvey have introduced in recent years to benefit boys less interested in sport.

Now these have been changed in September 2009 to four houses, the pupils decided what to call them on a survey, and they decided on four famous ships. These are now the names of the houses: Discovery, Endeavour, Resolution and Victory. The form groups have also been put into vertical tutor groups. This means year 7, 8 and 9s will be in a form so the school gets a mix and also Yr 10 and up together. This is one of the last schools to go into vertical tutoring in the Area.

On 2 March 2012, it was revealed by Principal W T Wright that the school intended to apply for academy status. The issue is currently under consultation with parents.