Inspection and Good Schools Guide

John Lyon is rated ‘Excellent’ at inspection and Good Schools Guide describes us as “A thriving school which provides a well-rounded, well-grounded education in a welcoming atmosphere.”


The school community transcends cultural difference and exudes an ethos of inclusivity.

ISI 2019


Good Schools Guide
Good Schools Guide logo

What The Good Schools Guide says…

Senior School:

  • Parents believe the school gets the balance just right. ‘The grades are good, but you’re not made to feel awful if you’re not at the top of the league tables.’
  • A ‘rounded’ education given a firm emphasis, with a timetabled programme of ‘skills-based’ activities including everything from cooking to changing a tyre.
  • ‘People describe us as one of the best kept secrets in London,’ says the head, who clearly now intends the secret to leak out.

Read the Senior School’s Good Schools Guide Review

Prep School:

  • The curriculum, delivered by knowledgeable and experienced staff, runs roughly along National Curriculum lines, but one step ahead.
  • A positive, upbeat school with high academic standards and a warm family atmosphere, producing well-balanced, confident all-rounders.
  • Good range of clubs from reception, and working parents welcome the wrap-around care – as well as the overall family atmosphere.

Read the Prep School’s Good Schools Guide Review

ISI Report Summary - Senior School

The most recent ISI inspection of John Lyon found it to be rated the highest possible ‘Excellent’ in the quality of pupils’ academic and other achievements and the quality of pupils’ personal development.

The quality of the pupils’ academic and other achievements is excellent

  • Pupils achieve superb results in sports, performing and creative arts
  • Pupils demonstrate very high levels of competence in communication
  • Pupils have outstanding levels of competency in information and communication technology (ICT) and its application to other areas of learning
  • Older pupils have extremely well-developed attitudes towards their learning, demonstrating leadership, initiative and independence

The quality of the pupils’ personal development is excellent

  • Pupils demonstrate very high levels of respect for, and appreciation of, their cultural diversity, showing sensitivity and tolerance to those of different backgrounds and traditions
  • Pupils make excellent contributions to the school and community, fulfilling their roles and responsibilities to an inspiring level
  • Pupils are very socially aware and so are able to work highly effectively with others
ISI Report Summary - Prep School

recent ISI inspection The quality of the pupils’ academic and other achievements is ‘Excellent’

  • Pupils show excellent subject knowledge, understanding and skills across all areas of the curriculum facilitated by very good teacher knowledge and planning.
  • Pupils’ study skills are excellent. They concentrate extremely well in their lessons
  • Pupils’ attitudes to work are outstanding. They are extremely focused and show a very high desire to achieve in whatever activity in which they are involved.
  • Pupils’ knowledge and skills in numeracy are high

The quality of the pupils’ personal development is excellent

  • Pupils display a high level of maturity in making decisions which affect their future. Pupils have an excellent ability to judge what is right and wrong and act accordingly
  • In all age-groups pupils are unfailingly polite, courteous and pleasantly confident. Their attitude to learning is enhanced by a strong degree of resilience; their first action on encountering a problem is to try to work it out for themselves rather than ask
  • Pupils’ social skills are of a high quality because leaders and governors have high expectations and have worked hard to ensure that these are embedded
ISI Reports

A small, thriving school, with historic links to Harrow School, which provides a well-rounded, well-grounded education in a welcoming atmosphere.

The Good Schools Guide

5 star rated on SchoolGuide.co.uk

The Good Schools Guide remains one of the best sources of information for parents. All reviews are entirely impartial.

Please note that reports from both the Independent Schools Inspectorate and the Good Schools Guide were commissioned prior to the merger between John Lyon School and Quainton Hall School in November 2020. Quainton Hall School since become part of John Lyon School, as its Prep School, and was rebranded to be part of the John Lyon family in January 2024. Click here to read more about the rebrand.