John Lyon’s Excellence Programme provides an opportunity for all boys, no matter their academic ability or age, to maximise their potential to learn and to discover their passion.

The Excellence Programme’s activities vary every term and include trips to cultural events, lectures from leading academics, external national competitions, in-house workshops and discussion groups, delivering Academic Society lectures, and using the School’s 1876 Reading Room to demonstrate a commitment to independent thinking and research. Reading is at the heart of our programme, with pupils encouraged to reflect on their reading in a journal.

Any pupil wanting further information about the Excellence Programme or to find out about joining the Excellence Committee, which helps organise events should contact excellence@johnlyon.org

Excellence Programme Guest Speakers

Since the launch of the Excellence Programme by Lord Winston in 2017, many guest speakers have visited us in North West London to deliver lectures to boys and their parents. Recent speakers include BBC journalist Emily Maitlis, historian and author David Starkey and four-time Olympic champion Sir Matthew Pinsent.

Talks-on-the-Hill

The Excellence Programme has also launched Talks-on-the-Hill, an annual lecture series which brings together pupils, teachers, subject experts and Harrow residents to deliver short lectures on a given subject.

1876 Reading Room

Located in the Red House, the 1876 Reading Room was opened in 2017 by Lord Winston. It has been designed for exclusive use of boys on the Excellence Programme for reading and further study. Here they can access a variety of books, publications and research for furthering their knowledge in a peaceful space.