The John Lyon School has topped the London school league tables for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, with nearly 100 pupils winning Gold, Silver or Bronze.

Eight recent leavers have received their Gold Award in a number of ceremonies at St James’s Palace this term, 28 current pupils have received their Silver Award and a further 58 have gained Bronze. The Silver and Bronze winners received their awards in a special assembly in the School’s Boyd Campbell Hall.

The record performance by the 600-pupil Harrow school is the best by any independent day school in the London region.
Headmaster Kevin Riley said: “This is an amazing achievement for a relatively small day school. Each of these awards – and especially the Gold – represents a great deal of application and hard work over a lengthy period, so many congratulations are due to the Award winners.

“The Duke of Edinburgh Award forms an important part of our personal development and leadership programme for pupils: we find it is excellent for developing skills and attributes such as team-working, self-awareness and self-sufficiency.”

The School in Middle Road, Harrow on the Hill, has a long association with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and is an operating authority for the scheme. The Duke himself opened the School’s Sports Centre in 1997.

The John Lyon School looks set to continue its recent record of increasing participation in the Awards year-on-year. Sixteen boys completed their Gold expedition in the Scottish mountains this summer. To date, two of these boys have gone on to complete the requirements for the award and are awaiting confirmation that they have been successful.

In addition, 51 boys are currently working towards their Silver Award. Due to current changes in the operating practices for the awards scheme, the Bronze Award has been postponed during this academic year but will recommence next year when Year 10 pupils may apply.

ENDS

Issued on behalf of The John Lyon School

MEDIA CONTACTS: Mr Kevin Riley on 020 8872 8400