Founded in 1572 under a royal charter of Queen Elizabeth, it is scattered over Harrow Hill across some 260 acres, only 10 miles from the City of London. The school is in a village and includes a lake, a conservation area, a golf course and a farm. First-class accommodation and facilities of every kind are provided. The school has a notable reputation for its teaching and all-round academic achievements. Standards are high and examination results excellent. The majority of sixth formers take a gap year before going on to university; large numbers go on to Oxbridge. It is very strong in music, art and drama. There is an extensive variety of sports and a number of county and national representatives. Numerous extra-curricular activities cater for most interests.
Pupils: Age range 13-18; 800 boarding boys. Entrance: Main entry age 13, with some at 16. Approx 20% are sons of former pupils. Common Entrance used; for sixth-form entry, interview, school report and 7 GCSEs at grade A*. No special skills or religious requirements. Feeder schools include Aysgarth, Caldicott, Cothill, Edge Grove, Papplewick, Summer Fields, Wellesley House.
Some 30 pa scholarships at 13 (academic, art, music, sport/IT/acting); value 5%-10% fees but can be supplemented further if proven need. Parents not expected to buy textbooks; extras include music tuition, outings.
15+% in industry or commerce; 30+% are doctors, lawyers etc; 10+% in armed services. 40+% live within 30 miles; up to 10% live overseas.
Head Master: Barnaby Lenon, in post from 1999. Educated at Eltham College and the universities of Oxford and Cambridge. Previously Headmaster of Trinity School, Croydon, Deputy Head Master at Highgate and Head of Geography at Eton. Teaching staff: 90 full-time, 36 part-time (almost all music). Annual turnover 10%. Average age 30.
GCSE: 160 pupils in fifth form: all gained at least grade C in 8+ subjects. A-levels: 160 in upper sixth: 25% passed in 4+ subjects; 75% in 3 subjects - with an average final point score of 462.
99% of sixth-form leavers go on to a degree course (50% after a gap year), 15% to Oxbridge. 8% take courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science, 30% in science and engineering, 15% in law, 35% in humanities and social sciences, 5% in art and design. A few go directly into the armed services or agriculture.
GCSE, AS and A-levels. 25 AS/A-level subjects. Sixth form: Most sixth formers take 4 subjects at AS-level (75% mixing arts and sciences), 3 at A-level. No general studies. Key skills are integrated into courses (not examined except ICT). Vocational: Work experience available. Special provision: Full-time special needs co-ordinator. Languages: French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Japanese and Mandarin offered at GCSE and A-level. Regular exchanges for sixth form. ICT: Taught both as a discrete subject and across the curriculum. 890 computers for pupil use (15 hours a day), all networked and with email and internet access. Fibre-optic cabling to all academic departments and boarding houses.
Music: Up to 66% of pupils learn a musical instrument; instrumental exams can be taken. Some 17+ musical groups including orchestra, wind band, concert band, string orchestra, choral society, choirs etc. Finalists in National Schools Chamber Music Competition in the past 6 years. Drama: At least 5 house plays annually; Shell drama presentations (by new boys); school Shakespeare play; and main school production (a musical or a play). A-level theatre studies may be taken. Art and design: On average, 60 take GCSE, 20 A-level. Design, pottery, photography, sculpture also offered. Regular entrants to art college.
Sport: Rugby, cricket, soccer expected in early years. Optional: shooting, swimming, water polo, athletics, tennis, golf, badminton, fives, rackets, squash, fencing, cross-country, archery, volleyball, basketball, riding, polo. Activities: Choice between Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme, CCF, community service or conservation. Up to 30 clubs, eg academic, art, history, chess, fishing, conservation, film, climbing, photography, debating.
Uniform: School uniform worn throughout. Houses and prefects: Each Housemaster appoints head of house, house prefects (house monitors). School monitors appointed by Headmaster. Philathletic Club (senior boys organising games), Guild (senior boys organising cultural activities). Religion: Church of England. All Anglican boys attend weekday chapel twice a week and once on Sunday; Holy Communion celebrated daily. 2 chaplains (C of E and RC); visiting instructors for Jewish and Muslim pupils. Thought for the Day option to Chapel. Social: Joint choral works, plays with local girls' schools; visits to London for concerts, plays etc. Trips overseas include to eg Greece, Austria, Namibia; recent sports tours to eg Zimbabwe, South Africa, USA, India; exchanges with schools in Germany and Beijing. School shops sell clothes, books, tuck and photographic items.
Pupils failing to produce prep once might expect to repeat it plus extra work; those caught in possession of cannabis could expect expulsion.
70% have own study bedroom, 30% share with one other. Houses of approximately 70. Qualified nurses in medical centre. Central dining room. Pupils can use house kitchens for snacks. 2 weekend exeats per term and half-term. Visits to local town allowed with housemaster's permission.
Harrow Association, is run by James Virgin, c/o the School.
7 Prime Ministers including Winston Churchill; King Hussein of Jordan; Lord Shaftesbury (social reformer); Jawaharlal Nehru (first PM of India); Terence Rattigan (playwright); Sir Keith Joseph (politician); Earl of Lichfield (photographer); Lord (Bill) Deedes (journalist); Lord (Robin) Butler (ex-Cabinet Secretary); General Sir Peter de la Billiere (British Army); Richard Curtis (scriptwriter and actor); James Blunt (singer); Julian Metcalfe (founder, Pret à Manger).
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