Culture Week 2026

Celebrating Our Global Community

Harris Academy Merton's annual Culture Week returned with a vibrant celebration of the rich diversity within our school community.

Organised by the Student Voice for the entire student body, the week was packed with engaging activities, friendly competition, and opportunities to learn about cultures from around the world.

Each day celebrated a different region, taking students on a global journey:

Monday – Europe

Tuesday – Americas

Wednesday – Caribbean

Thursday – Africa

Friday – Asia

Events and Activities

Throughout the week, students took part in a variety of exciting events. Our Poster Competition challenged students to create eye-catching collages inspired by the works of an artist from a region of their choice, showcasing both creativity and cultural appreciation. A Treasure Hunt encouraged students to discover more about their teachers by matching them to the countries where they were born, while pop-up quizzes during break and lunchtime tested students' knowledge of the regions being celebrated and sparked plenty of enthusiastic participation.

One of the week's standout events was Whisk Me Away, our annual cooking competition. This year's theme, Global Desserts, saw students from Years 7 to 10 prepare delicious sweet treats from around the world using ingredients provided on the day. Their creations were expertly judged by our Principal and Vice Principal, making for a fantastic showcase of culinary talent, creativity, and teamwork.

The celebrations concluded with the highly anticipated Rhythms and Runway, an inspiring evening that combined a cultural fashion show with a talent showcase. Students proudly wore traditional cultural dress, celebrating their heritage while sharing music, dance, and performances that reflected cultures from across the globe. 

The event was supported by ticket sales of just £1, with all proceeds donated to a charity chosen by the Student Voice, demonstrating our students' commitment to making a positive impact beyond the school community.

A Message from the School

Culture Week was a tremendous success, bringing our school together to celebrate diversity, promote inclusion, and deepen our appreciation of the many cultures that make our community so unique.

A huge thank you to our Student Voice, staff, participants, and everyone who helped make this year's celebration such a memorable one.

We are already looking forward to Culture Week next year!