Mottos: Stet Fortuna Domus (May the fortune of the house stand); Donorum dei dispensatio fidelis (The faithful stewardship of the gifts of God).
Harrow School is a full-boarding school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1572, under a royal charter from Queen Elizabeth I, by a local landowning farmer, John Lyon, whose original intention was to provide 30 boys of the parish with a classical education. Today, the School’s purpose is to prepare boys with diverse backgrounds and abilities for a life of learning, leadership, service and personal fulfilment; distinguished Old Harrovians include seven British prime ministers and the first prime minister of India, Pandit Nehru, as well as poets and writers as diverse as Byron, Sheridan and Richard Curtis. This statement of purpose is borne out through our various areas of activity: teaching that helps boys achieve their best academically, pastoral care that matures them both emotionally and spiritually, and an extra-curricular programme that develops their characters and interests. The School’s 324 acres have a collegiate feel, its historical architecture complemented by modern buildings that meet its pupils’ developing needs. Approximately 840 boys attend Harrow, from across the UK and further afield.
Academic. Harrovians routinely progress into higher education that ranks among the best the world has to offer. The vast majority of boys who go to university attend either Oxbridge, Russell Group or well-known international institutions, particularly in the USA. These include Stanford, Harvard, Yale, Princeton and Cornell. Following 2024 A Level results, Harrovians will be attending six of the world’s top-ten universities, including Oxford, Cambridge and Ivy League institutions, and nearly two-thirds of the 2024 leavers are taking up places at Russell Group universities. However, no two Harrovians are the same: some live in London, others much further afield in the UK or overseas; a number come from established Harrow families, others have no experience of public schooling; many excel in sport or the arts, others are very strong academically. What Harrovians experience through their extracurricular activities, and by leading and serving others, are just as important as their lessons.
The Super-Curriculum. Beyond the examination syllabus, our Super-Curriculum focuses on the aspects of scholarship that are not formally assessed: habitual reading, independent research, reflection and debate. Central to this is the electives system, in which boys select a challenging off-syllabus course that is taught in small groups. These courses promote lateral thinking, problem-solving and the articulation of profound thought, while also allowing boys to lead their own learning. On virtually every night of the week, there are seminars and society meetings, and we are able to attract eminent speakers from all walks of life to enrich and broaden the boys’ experience of academic and cultural life.
Boarding. Our leafy 300-acre estate contains 12 Boarding Houses. The buildings are quite individual, with their own gardens and facilities, helping to set each one apart. The Houses inspire fierce loyalty from the boys and old boys, who take pride in their own part of Harrow. House Masters and their families live in the Houses, and are assisted by an Assistant House Master, Matron, Year Group Tutors and Health Education Tutors. In addition, the chaplaincy, full-time psychologist and pastoral support committee provide further layers of nurturing and support. Approximately 70 boys live in in each House. There are no dormitories: a boy shares his room with a boy of the same age for the first year or so, and thereafter has a room to himself. Every boy has a computer in his room and each House has common rooms and shared kitchens. All teachers live in the School. Typically, for the first two weekends of a term, all pupils are in the School. If they are able to, parents come and visit. On the third weekend – an exeat – all pupils go home or to friends; the weekend starts around noon on Friday and ends at 9.00 pm on Sunday. The next two weekends are followed by a nine-day half term.
Sport. With afternoon games available in around 30 sports, five times a week, sporting fixtures against other schools and the chance to compete regularly in House matches, boys are kept healthy and active. Under the expert guidance of some of the country’s leading coaches, boys develop their skills, character and confidence. Through games such as rugby, soccer, cricket and Harrow football, they learn how to be team players. Equal emphasis is placed on the many individual sports offered here that cultivate resilience, self-discipline and enjoyment. Surrounded by acres of sports fields, AstroTurf pitches, a golf course, swimming pool, sports centre, tennis, rackets and fives courts, Harrow has a breadth of sporting opportunities. Our elite sportsmen have an impressive record of achieving excellent standards and some go on to enjoy successful, professional sporting careers. Unique occasions like the annual cricket match versus Eton provide memorable highlights in the School year.
The Arts. The arts are an extremely important part of Harrow’s packed calendar of activities. Whether it’s learning a musical instrument, playing in orchestras and ensembles, singing in choirs or in houses, performing in plays or discovering beauty in fine art, sculpture and ceramics, the opportunity for creative expression at Harrow not only sets our boys on a lifetime of personal enrichment and enjoyment, but also teaches them to be more self-disciplined, attentive and better at planning and organising their busy lives. Boys who participate in the vast spectrum of Harrow’s creative and performing arts also find that this involvement has a broader, more beneficial effect on their overall academic performance. By encouraging boys to perform in the highest-quality School and house concerts, plays and competitions, we see them finding their own voice and the confidence to express their individual creativity, regardless of innate talent.
After Harrow. Virtually all of our boys take up places at selective universities. Boys who are heading towards Oxbridge, Ivy League and other competitive institutions are given specific guidance and preparation from their House Masters and our dedicated Universities Team.
The Harrow Association, Harrow’s Old Boys’ Society, has a thriving membership of over 10,000. Tel: 020 8872 8200, email: ha@harrowschool.org.uk. Fees per term (2024-2025). £17,850, including board, tuition, textbooks, a stationery allowance and laundry. For any subject requiring additional tuition, there is an extra charge.
Scholarships and bursaries. A large number of scholarships are awarded every year. Scholarships have a value of 5% of the fee and are held throughout a boy’s time at Harrow, subject to satisfactory performance. Boys may apply for more than one of the different types of scholarship, which include Academic, Music, Art, Sport and Outstanding Talent. Boys do not necessarily need to be awarded a scholarship to be considered for a bursary. In this case, bursary support is considered for strong candidates upon application to the School. Sometimes, candidates will be asked to achieve a scholarship to be eligible for a bursary. More than 10% of boys in the School receive support with their fees.
Charitable status. The School is constituted as a Royal Charter Corporation known as The Keepers and Governors of the Possessions Revenues and Goods of the Free Grammar School of John Lyon, which is a Registered Charity, number 310033.
Governors & Staff:
Senior Management Team:
Head Master: W M A Land, MA
Deputy Head Master: S Harrison, PhD
Director of Studies: C E G Bailey, BA, FCCT
Director of Pastoral Care: S Taylor
Director of Safeguarding: Dr D R Wendelken, BA, MPhil, PhD
Academic and Universities Director: Ms H R Fox, MA
Director of Shaftesbury Enterprise: T M Dalton, BSc
Registrar: Dr E R Sie, BSc, PhD, CChem
Bursar: J Wood
Chief Executive of the Harrow Development Trust: D L Collins
Director of Operations: R G Arundell