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John Lyon School (previously The Lower School of John Lyon in Harrow) is a public day school in Harrow-on-the-Hill, England. The school maintains some ties with Harrow School, for which a century ago it was founded as a day version, with both schools part of a Foundation which includes the two schools and John Lyon's Charity. This was done in keeping with the wishes of the founder of Harrow School, John Lyon, who wanted to provide education for the sons of local residents and businessmen. They share facilities, notably The Speech Room, Sports East Playing Fields and The Ryan Theatre. Today the school educates 580 boys. The governing body of Harrow School still retains ultimate control of the School but many responsibilities are delegated to a Committee of Management, on which a number of Harrow governors serve together with various co-opted governors.
The school is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference (HMC).
History of the schoolWith Harrow School firmly established as one of the leading public schools in England, it was decided after the Public Schools Act of 1868 to carry out the wishes of John Lyon and establish "The Lower School of John Lyon in Harrow" in 1874. The new school opened two years later after the construction of the original school building which is still in use today. The school has placed due emphasis on traditional academic subjects. In comparison with its rivals Haberdashers' Aske's and Merchant Taylors' School, John Lyon (with just under 600 boys) is a smaller school as a result of its compact site, and has been regarded by many as being a friendly school.
During the last thirty or so years, under its recent headmasters (see below for dates), the school has grown increasingly in size. The school began a vigorous pastoral development when David Dixon was head; the next head, Rev'd Wright, built many new buildings thereby thoroughly modernising the site and continued the pastoral emphasis; Dr Ray and David Rimmer concentrated upon the academic foundations of the school and made many improvements noted by school inspectors in 2004; and under the most recently appointed and energetic head, Kevin Riley, the school has maintained its momentum and is now firmly established as one of the top 100 schools in the country, according to the Daily Telegraph league tables.[citation needed] School DayThe school day commences at 8:30 with registration. Assembly (where applicable) starts at 8:45. Full school assembly takes place on Monday. There are separate assemblies in the week for the three different age groups. Lessons are of either 35 or 40 minutes duration, lessons of 35 minutes duration occurring at each first period after a break (periods 1, 4 and 7). Lessons commence at 11.45AM with a 20 minute break at 10:40AM; and a 1 hour lunch break from 12:55PM. Afternoon school starts with afternoon registration at 2:00PM, with lessons commencing at 2.05PM, although boys are expected to be present in their form rooms from 1.55PM. The school day ends at 4.00PM, with the exception of Fridays, where with only 8 periods of lessons the school day finishes at 3.20PM. Structure & CurriculumJohn Lyon School is separated into three different age groups:
Oldfield & Lower SchoolThe first two years are housed in the Oldfield building on the North Side of the school with the Languages and History departments. Each year has three form groups of around 22 boys, which they will stay in for two years. The third year (Lower School) sees the enlargement of the year group as a result of the 13+ applicants. The third year grows to five form groups of around 22 boys and they are segregrated into their House affiliation (see later). They will stay in these forms for the rest of their time in the Middle School. The curriculum includes: English, Mathematics, French, second language (Spanish, German or Italian), Biology, Chemistry, Physics, History, Geography, Drama, Music, Art & Design, ICT, Religious Studies, and Physical Education (PE). In addition, all boys take part in activities and games programmes as well as Social, Personal & Citizenship Education (SPACE). First Year games (sports) afternoon is held on Thursday, with Second Year games on Monday. Third year games afternoon is on Tuesday
Upper SchoolThe fourth and fifth year are concerned with students studying for their GCSE qualifications. Most will take 9 or 10 subjects from the choice of: English, Mathematics, English Literature, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Science (Biology, Chemistry and Physics as a double award), History, Geography, Drama, Music, Art & Design, Religious Studies, PE. The school is noticeable in taking the mathematics IGCSE (International GCSE) rather than the standard mathematics GCSE. All pupils continue with SPACE, activities and games. Boys who have been selected to take their Mathematics GCSE a year early do so at the end of the fourth year, and are advised to take an Additional Mathematics course in their fifth year if they intend to continue to AS/A2 Level. Similarly, good linguists can take French GCSE a year early and then study a Language Dipolma in their Fifth Form; and able scientists can take an AS Science for Public Understanding at the end in the Fifth Form, while those pupils not studying SPU study Critical Thinking instead, with the option of either taking the AS level at the same time as their GCSE's or in December of the following school year. Fourth year games afternoon is on Tuesday, and Fifth year on Wednesday. Sixth FormTo cope with the departure and arrival of students following GCSEs, the form groups are once again rearranged. Students are kept in their House affiliations, but form groups across two years is now introduced. Lower Sixth Formers are in the same forms as Upper Sixth Formers. Relations between the upper and lower sixth formers are for the most part cordial, and more often than not the more troublesome students will have been asked to leave before they are allowed into the sixth form. There are typically two forms for each of the four House 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. Pupils choose from: English Literature, English Language & Literature, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, History, Geography, Economics, Psychology, Critical Thinking, Computing, Drama, Music, Music Technology, Art & Design, PE, Religious Studies, Government, Politics. All boys continue with games and also follow the General Education programme. Sixth formers at John Lyon can usually be identified by their distinctive dark suits. Sixth form games afternoon is on Wednesday, with the Fifth year. Extra Curricular ActivitiesHousesThe majority of extra curricular activities (but not all) are in aid of the inter-House Competition, called both at John Lyon and Harrow- The Cock House Cup. Every student and teaching staff member of the School belongs to one of four houses (named after Headmasters of Harrow):
A member of staff is designated House Master and is expected to lead and organise house activities. Assisting the House Master is a House Captain, a student from the Upper Sixth. The majority of Inter-House Competitions are sports based, with all the sports performed by the school incorporated into the Inter-House competition. The aim is to allow as many boys to participate in a competitive sporting environment. Other Inter-House competitions include chess, bridge, drama (taking place at The Ryan Theatre), debating, and music. Each competition is in a form of a mini-league with points allocated accordingly and contributing to the final total The Cock House Cup total. The Cock House Cup culminates at Sports Day (last Wednesday of Summer Term) which is the last inter-House competition and precedes the announcement of the winner of The Cock House Cup on the last assembly of the school year. SportsUpon entry, all boys are encouraged to participate in sports. The first four years sees boys participate in Football (for the Autumn and Spring term) and Cricket (Summer term) during their games afternoons. This is supplemented with swimming, gymnastics, indoor games, and fitness in their Physical Education lessons, which are compulusory up until and including the Fifth year. In the Sixth Form, students can choose from a larger selection of sport for their games afternoon activities. These include: golf, archery, swimming, tennis or a mixture of activities on-site at the school. All cricket matches and tours are all organised by Mr. I Peg Association Day which is the Saturday after the end of term in the summer, sees a selection of teams from the current John Lyon School take on Old Lyonians, (previous John Lyon School pupils.) The School football and cricket team plays fixtures at 1st XII, 2nd XII, Under 15s, Under 14s, Under 13s and Under 12s levels. The school also participates in swimming, tennis, badminton, cross country, athletics and archery. The school has an historic and annual archery fixture with Harrow School called The Silver Arrow. Non-SportsThe School also has a Chess team who play other schools. There is a similar Bridge team. The John Lyon School does not have an active society community, but there have been some small societies that have managed to exist in the school. Perhaps the most notable of which is the Photography Society, which has always been popular with staff and students alike. There was also an Aquarium Society. The History Society was also founded in the late 1990s and has regular talks by students and external speakers alike (in conjunction with Harrow School). The school also participates in the Model United Nations. The school has a rich tradition in drama, with a number of productions performed during the course of the year, the largest and most celebrated in Spring at The Ryan Theatre, Harrow's custom built 7 million pound facility. These productions are also supplemented with inter-House drama competitions at junior and senior level. The most prestigious production is the school play which usually appears at the end of the Autumn term and features actresses from local girls' schools. Music is an important part of school life, and it is fair to say John Lyon has produced a number of fine musicians. The school has a senior orchestra, a junior orchestra, a jazz band, a wind band and a junior wind band all designed to encourage those who learn instruments to participate in a group environment. These groups will perform at school functions and at a number of school concerts which are held throughout the year. All First Form boys take part in Choir, and the most able are inducted into The Motet Choir, singing at St Mary's Chapel on the Hill, at the beginning of terms Founders Remembrance with Harrow School. Smaller competitions include the inter-House Debating Competition at both junior and senior level; a reading competition; and a recitation competition. Young EnterpriseIn the Lower Sixth Form, students are encouraged to participate in the Young Enterprise Scheme which sees students found and run a company whose purpose is to make money. The scheme is intended for students to understand the basic principles of running a company, and is intended to encourage team spirit. John Lyon has a good record in Young Enterprise but have yet to win any awards. Outward BoundThe Lower Sixth Form are encouraged to participate in an Outward Bound Course at the Outward Bound Centre in Loch Eil near Fort William in the October of the Lower Sixth Year. Students spend a week at the Centre and are placed in clans with the object of the trip to instil principles of teamwork, communication, and co-operation into students whilst being in an alien environment. Duke Of EdinburghFrom the third year, students are actively encouraged to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme. The majority of boys take this up with the aim of at least achieving Bronze level. Smaller numbers go on for the Silver and Gold Awards, but John Lyon students are consistently active participants in the scheme. MonitorsA select number of the Upper VI form are chosen to be "Monitors", which are in essence Senior Prefects (it is the same at Harrow). These positions are considered to be prestigious as they work with the members of staff to ensure the smooth day to day running of the school. They are also meant to serve as exemplars and ambassadors for the school in external and internal functions. The "top jobs" are: Head of School (Head boy), Deputy Head Boy, and Oldfield Monitor (Monitor in charge of the prefects stationed in Oldfield). Monitors have the privilege of wearing a tie with rampant lions, and Monitors who have also been awarded Colours have a tie with the school crest upon it. ColoursBoys with a special ability in either Music, Drama or Sports are awarded 'Colours' for their services. These boys may wear a tie with red blue and white stripes (the number of stripes depends on the form the boy is in, with junior colours having the one stripe and colts colours many stripes, with senior colours bearing the school crest) Alumni
The School has an alumni association, The Old Lyonian Association which is in association with The Old Harrovians Association HeadmastersDavid 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. Rev'd. Tim Wright 1986-2001 At the start of his term, the school was barely recognisable from what it is today, with many facilities simply not existing. With the new millennium fast approaching, Revd Wright pursued the policy of bring the school up to date, with the undertaking of 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 but was shrewdly managed. His continuing emphasis on pastoral matters and his belief that a successful boy is a happy boy were widely admired. 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.
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