John Lyon’s Excellence Programme provides an opportunity for all pupils, 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. It works with all the academic departments to help deliver in-house and external competitions, lectures from leading academics, workshops and discussion groups.
The Programme also oversees the School’s student-led Academic Society lectures, and JLx, a programme of 15-minute lunchtime lectures delivered by teachers on subjects beyond the curriculum.
Excellence Programme pupils have exclusive use of the 1876 Reading Room, a quiet space dedicated to independent thinking and research.
Pupils can be nominated to the Excellence Programme by any teacher. They can also put themselves forward to participate. 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
Upcoming Excellence Events
TALKS-ON-THE-HILL
‘LA PESTE’
Thursday 4th February 2021
7.00 – 8.30pm
Microsoft Teams Broadcast
Registration details coming soon
The third annual Talks-on-the-Hill brings together the John Lyon School and the Harrow-on-the-Hill community, with speakers all talking on the topic of La Peste / The Plague. Speakers will each approach the topic from a different perspective: Medical, Historical, Literary.
Confirmed Speakers:
Daniel Wong, John Lyon Head Boy
Prof Hugh Montgomery, Professor of medicine and director of the Centre for Human Health and Performance, UCL
Dr Lori Jones, Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of History at Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada
Revd Andrew Hammond, Chaplain, St John’s College, Cambridge.
IN CONVERSATION WITH
LORD DANIEL FINKELSTEIN
Thursday 11th March 2021
6.00 – 7.30pm
Boyd Campbell Hall and Microsoft Teams Broadcast
Registration details coming soon
Journalist and politician Daniel Finkelstein speaks to pupils, parents and staff about his life, career and the state of our politics today. The prominent Conservative member of the House of Lords and columnist for The Times will take questions on all topics in what promises to be a fascinating session.
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 pupils and their parents. Recent speakers include BBC journalist Emily Maitlis, and four-time Olympic champion Sir Matthew Pinsent.
Excellence speaker: Sir Matthew Pinsent
Excellence speaker: Emily Maitlis
Excellence speaker: Lord Winston
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.
Talks-on-the-Hill: The UK Space Agency's Jeremy Curtis
Talks-on-the-Hill: Lower Sixth student Adam Zoromba
Talks-on-the-Hill: Professional photographer and Harrow resident Lucy Baker
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.
Students using the 1876 Reading Room