The John Lyon School

Infobox UK school
name = The John Lyon School


size =
latitude = 51.5709
longitude = -0.3438
dms =
motto = "Stet Fortuna Domus" (Latin: "Let the fortune of the house stand")
motto_pl =
established = 1876
approx =
closed =
c_approx =
type = Independent
religion =
president =
head_label = Headmaster
head = Kevin Riley
r_head_label = Deputy Headmasters
r_head = David Rimmer, Stuart Miles
chair_label = Chairman of Governors
chair = Mr J.F.R. Hayes
founder = The Governors of Harrow School
founder_pl =
specialist =
specialist_pl =
street = Middle Road
city = Harrow on the Hill
county = Middlesex
country = Englandflagicon|England
postcode = HA2 0HN
LEA =
ofsted =
staff = ~100 (full-time)
enrollment = ~580
gender = Boys
lower_age = 11
upper_age = 18
houses = Butler, Moore, Norwood & Vaughan color box|bluecolor box|yellowcolor box|greencolor box|red
colours = Blue & Red color box|bluecolor box|red
publication = "The Lyonian", "The Standard", "Connection" (joint with Northwood College), "Zeitgeist", "StandardExtra" (online)
free_label_1 = Former pupils
free_1 = Old Lyonians
free_label_2 = Badges
free_2 = Rampant Lion
Crossed Arrows
free_label_3 = Termly Fees
free_3 = £3,975
website = http://www.johnlyon.org/
website_name = www.johnlyon.org

The John Lyon School (formerly The Lower School of John Lyon) is an academically selective independent school in Harrow on the Hill, Middlesex. The school was founded in 1876 by the Governors of Harrow School for the education of local boys, in (belated) keeping with the wishes of that school's founder, from whom it takes its name. It maintains its historic ties with Harrow School to this day.

The school is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference (HMC).

tructure and Curriculum

The Governing Body of Harrow School retains ultimate control of John Lyon but most responsibilities are delegated to a Board of Governors (officially styled "Committee of Management"), on which a number of Harrow governors serve together with various co-opted governors.

The school is separated into three sections:
*Oldfield and Lower School (Juniors) - Year 7, 8 and 9
*Upper School (Colts) - Year 10 and 11
*Sixth Form (Seniors) - Year 12 and 13

Oldfield & Lower School

The first three years are largely based in Oldfield House, which also houses the History and Languages Departments. Years 7 and 8 each comprise three forms of around 22 boys each, selected following the school's 11+ entrance examination. Year 9, which is a larger year group following the school's 13+ entrance examination, comprises four forms of around 25 boys each, and is reorganised along House lines.

The curriculum comprises English, Mathematics, French, a second language (Spanish, German or Italian), Biology, Chemistry, Physics, History, Geography, Drama, Music, Art & Design, Religious Studies, Philosophy & Ethics, and Physical Education (PE). In addition, all boys take part in activities and games programmes, as well as Social, Personal & Citizenship Education (SPACE).

Upper School

In years 10 and 11, students prepare for GCSE qualifications. Most will take 9 or 10 subjects from the following: English, English Literature, Mathematics, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Science (Biology, Chemistry and Physics as a double award), History, Geography, Drama, Music, Art & Design, Religious Studies, and Physical Education (PE). The school offers the Mathematics IGCSE rather than the standard Mathematics GCSE. All pupils continue with SPACE, activities and games.

Able mathematicians take the Mathematics IGCSE at the end of Year 10, and then follow an Additional Mathematics course in Year 11 as a preparation for AS/A2 Level. Similarly, able linguists can take French GCSE a year early, and then study a Language Diploma in Year 11, while able scientists can take the AS Science for Public Understanding at the end of Year 11. Many boys also take AS Critical Thinking at the end of Year 11, or in December of Year 12, in addition to their other studies.

ixth Form

In the Sixth Form, students are placed in House groups comprising boys from both year groups. Students are expected to take four AS levels by the end of their Lower Sixth year, and for three of those to be taken to A2 level at the end of their Upper Sixth Year, from a choice of: English Language & Literature, English Literature, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Psychology, History, Geography, Economics, Government & Politics, Computing, Drama, Music, Music Technology, Art & Design, Religious Studies, and Physical Education (PE).

All boys continue with games and also follow a General Education programme. Sixth formers wear a dark suit, rather than a formal school uniform.

Extra-Curricular Activities

House System

Every student and teaching staff member of the School belongs to one of four houses (named after previous Head Masters of Harrow):
*Butler (Blue)
*Moore (Yellow)
*Norwood (Green)
*Vaughan (Red)Each house is led by a House Master, assisted by a House Captain drawn from the Upper Sixth. While most house competitions are sporting in nature, there are also competitions in bridge, chess, debating, drama, music, reading and recitation. The culmination of the competition is Sports Day, held annually on the last Wednesday of Summer Term, following which the Cock House Cup is awarded.

The current holder of the Cock House Cup is Butler House.

ports

The school's Sports Centre, on the main school site, features a large sports hall, a fitness studio, and a 25m swimming pool. Its sports ground, a 15 minute walk from the school on the lower slopes of Harrow Hill, has 10 football pitches, 3 cricket squares, an artificial wicket, a large pavilion with hospitality facilities, and an archery range. The school also has extensive access to sporting facilities at Harrow School, including a new athletics track, a nine-hole golf course and tennis, squash and badminton courts.

In the first four years, all boys play football (Autumn and Spring terms) and cricket (Summer term) during their games afternoons, supplemented with rugby, swimming, and gymnastics. In addition, Physical Education lessons are compulsory for students until the Sixth Form, at which point they also have a wider choice for their games afternoons, including archery, golf, rock climbing, squash, swimming, and tennis.

The school has football and cricket teams at 1st XI, 2nd XI, Under 15s, Under 14s, Under 13s and Under 12s levels, and also fields representative teams in archery, athletics, badminton, cross country, swimming and tennis. Association Day, held on the Saturday after the end of Summer term, sees a selection of school teams take on Old Lyonians.

Expressive Arts

There are a number of drama productions in the course of the school year, including the school play at the end of Autumn Term and the school musical, staged during Spring Term at Harrow School's Ryan Theatre. These productions are supplemented with inter-House drama competitions at junior and senior level.

The school has two orchestras, two wind bands, a jazz band, and a rock band, all designed to encourage those who learn instruments to participate in a group environment. There is a large school choir, in which all First Form boys participate, and invitation-only Motet and Male Voice Choirs.

Other Activities

The school generally encourages its students to become involved in at least one extracurricular activity during their time there. In practice, however, most boys tend to concentrate on sports, drama, music or house activities. Nonetheless, a variety of clubs and societies are currently on offer, guided by staff members who offer their services voluntarily. These include Ancient Greek, Chess, Photography, and – for the Lower Sixth – Young Enterprise. Staff and students alike contribute to "The Lyonian", the school magazine and organ of record, which appears at the end of the Autumn term each year.

There is also a varied annual programme of expeditions and other trips, including regular exchange programmes with schools in France and elsewhere, field trips and Outward Bound courses, and – in 2009 – an expedition to Antarctica. The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme is offered in the Third Form and above.

Awards

cholarships

The school awards Governors' Academic Scholarships for entry at 11+, 13+ and to the Sixth Form. Other scholarships are available to individuals who show outstanding ability in Art, Drama, Music or Sport. Discretionary bursaries may be offered from time to time to those in a position of financial need.

Colours

Boys demonstrating outstanding achievement in Expressive Arts or Sport may be awarded 'School Colours' and wear a red striped tie. (The number of stripes depends on the section the boy is in: Junior colours have one stripe, Colts two and Seniors three.)

Prizes

Speech Day marks the official end of the academic year, when prizes are awarded to students who have achieved particular distinction in an academic subject. Headmaster's Commendations are awarded termly to students who have made a particular impact on school life in general.

Monitors and Prefects

Twelve members of the Upper Sixth are chosen annually to be Monitors, the school's name for its senior prefects. They are led by the Head of School (Head Boy), and all have the privilege of wearing a striped tie with rampant lions. Each monitor typically has responsibility for a particular area of the school, and leads a team of prefects. The Head of School oversees the monitors, as well as having responsibility for the School Council.

In addition, the four Houses each appoint a House Captain annually to co-ordinate their activities.

Headmasters (Recent)

O A Lebeau

R F Boyd Campbell

G V "Gus" Surtees 1968-1982

David Dixon 1982-1986

He provided an important impetus to the pastoral side of the school. He left to take up a post at Brentwood School.

The Rev'd. Tim Wright 1986-2001

Wright undertook numerous large construction projects. The first of these was the Lyon Building in the late 1980s which provided the school with a large modern teaching facility set into the side of Harrow-on-the-Hill with a large hall, the Boyd Campbell Hall, which could now adequately accommodate school assemblies. The second large project undertaken was the construction of the Pavilion at the Sudbury games field in 1993. This facility included multiple changing rooms, showers and a canteen which allowed students to prepare for games in a comfortable and modern facility. In 1997, the school added an extension of the Main Building, providing extra science laboratories and a drama studio; a new Sports Hall and Swimming Pool; new library, and redevelopment of the old sports hall. This ambitious development of facilities was possibly at the expense of developments in the curriculum and elsewhere as noted by the school inspectors in 1998.

Dr. Christopher Ray 2001-2004

Dr Ray, from King's College School Wimbledon, took over in September 2001 after Rev'd Wright's retirement. Under Dr Ray the school modernised its curriculum, responding to the evident desire among sections of parents, pupils and staff and the demands of the inspectors, which saw the introduction of Italian, Spanish, Psychology, Critical Thinking, and Music Technology. During his three years at the school, examination results improved. Dr Ray implemented much change at the school which was accepted by some and approved of by the inspectors in 2004, but disapproved of by some. Dr Ray left to become High Master of the Manchester Grammar School.

David Rimmer (Acting) 2004

David Rimmer, one of Dr Ray's deputies, took charge of the school for one term as the school awaited the arrival of a new headmaster. During Dr Ray's last year in the school, preparations were made for an inspection which took place shortly after his departure. The school received a largely positive report from the inspectors who said the school was now good or very good in most of the areas which the last report had deemed required attention. The inspectors also noted that the school was making good progress in other areas. [ cite web |url= http://www.isi.net/report/0559.htm |title= Inspection report on the John Lyon School|accessdate= 2008-04-11 |author= Independent Schools Inspectorate|year= 2004| |publisher= |pages= ]

Kevin Riley (Jan 2005. Incumbent)

Kevin Riley, previously headmaster of the Bristol Cathedral School, took over the headship in January 2005. He leaves his post at the end of the 08/09 academic year, to take on Headship of Harrow International School, Bangkok.

Alumni

*Francis Bennion, jurist. Fact|date=September 2008
*John Barnard, musician. Fact|date=September 2008
*Michael Bogdanov, theatre director. Fact|date=September 2008
*Andrew Carwood, conductor and singer. Fact|date=September 2008
*Simon Childs, tennis player. Fact|date=September 2008
*Jeremy Colman, Auditor General for Wales. Fact|date=September 2008
*David Gavurin, musician. Fact|date=September 2008
*Ben Gill, footballer. Fact|date=September 2008
*Liam Halligan, broadcaster and economist. Fact|date=September 2008
*Kenneth Hudson, industrial archeologist and museologist. Fact|date=September 2008
*Owain Arwel Hughes (former Chair of Governors), conductor. Fact|date=September 2008
*Vladimir V. Kara-Murza, Russian politician and journalist. Fact|date=September 2008
*Inder Manocha, comedian. Fact|date=September 2008
*Stephen Pollard, journalist. Fact|date=September 2008
*Julian Rhind-Tutt, actor. Fact|date=September 2008
*Raymond Sawkins, novelist, writing as Colin Forbes. Fact|date=September 2008
*Michael Shersby (d.1997), former Conservative MP for Uxbridge. Fact|date=September 2008
*Victor Silvester (d.1978), former band leader. Fact|date=September 2008
*Nigel Springthorpe, conductor. Fact|date=September 2008
*Timothy West, actor. Fact|date=September 2008
*Ian Whybrow (former Head of English), children's author. Fact|date=September 2008

The School's alumni association is [http://www.oldlyonians.org The Old Lyonian Association] .

References