John Lyon School

John Lyon School (prior to 1965 The Lower School of John Lyon) is an academically selective private co-educational day school for pupils aged 2 to 18 in Harrow-on-the-Hill, Greater London, England. The school was founded in 1876, by the Governors of Harrow School for the education of local boys, in keeping with the belated wishes of John Lyon (whose wife was Jo Lyon), Harrow School's founder. On founders day John Lyon holds a long ceremony commemorating the founder John Lyon at St Mary's Church. John Lyon School maintains historic ties with Harrow School, and the two schools are closely partnered being part of the 'Harrow Family of Schools'. Until September 2021, it was a boys' school, becoming a mixed school for new pupils aged 11. The school is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference (HMC). As of 2025, the school charges fees of around £30,000 per year; however, some academic scholarships are available to help reduce this fee. Until 2020, John Lyon was an 11 to 18 senior independent HMC boys' day school in Harrow-on-the-Hill. In 2020, John Lyon amalgamated with what was then called Quainton Hall Prep, located in central Harrow, to become an all-through School. The school became co-educational in September 2021. From January 2024, Quainton Hall Preparatory School was rebranded as a constituent part of the John Lyon School. Structure and curriculum The governing body of Harrow School retains some control of the John Lyon School; most responsibilities, however, are delegated to a John Lyon board of governors (officially styled Committee of Management). A number of Harrow governors serve on this committee, alongside co-opted governors. Unlike many previous governing bodies in British schools, there is no academic staff involvement in overall school government. Notable alumni Francis Bennion, jurist Michael Bogdanov, theatre director Andrew deMello, scientist and academic Andrew Carwood, conductor and singer, director of Music, St Paul's Cathedral, London Alfred Dunhill, tobacconist and inventor, founder of the Dunhill luxury goods company David Fell, cricketer Alastair Fraser, cricketer and a director of the Middlesex Cricket Board David Gavurin, musician Gary Gibbon, political editor at Channel 4 Ben Gill, former footballer Michael Gold, TV documentary producer Roger Griffin, professor of modern history and political theorist at Oxford Brookes University Liam Halligan, broadcaster and economist Johann Hari, journalist Kenneth Hudson, industrial archeologist and museologist Anthony Jeffrey, former Arsenal FC Academy footballer Vladimir V. Kara-Murza, Russian politician and journalist Michael McCarthy, director of Music, U.S. National Cathedral, Washington, USA Inder Manocha, comedian Peter Marychurch, former Director of the British signals intelligence agency, GCHQ Alastair Miles, operatic and concert bass Brian Pearce, Marxist political activist, historian and translator Stephen Pollard, journalist and Editor of The Jewish Chronicle newspaper David Punter, academic and writer Julian Rhind-Tutt, actor Gordon Douglas Rowley, botanist and writer Raymond Sawkins, novelist, writing as Colin Forbes Michael Shersby, former Conservative MP for Uxbridge Victor Silvester, former band leader Kabir Toor, former Middlesex cricketer Michael Turner, artist John Wardley, attraction and special effects developer Timothy West, actor Paul Wilkinson, academic Notable staff and governors Liam Halligan (Governor), Economic and Politics Broadcaster Neil Enright (Chair of Governors), Headmaster or Queen Elizabeth's School Chris Peploe (cricket coach), Middlesex cricketer Ian Blanchett (former cricket coach), Middlesex cricketer Lord Lexden (former governor), official historian of the Conservative Party Angus Fraser (former Governor / cricket coach), England International cricketer Owain Arwel Hughes (former Chair of Governors), conductor Albert Alan Owen (former music teacher), composer George Weedon (former PE teacher), Olympic gymnast Ian Whybrow (former Head of English), children's author The Old Lyonian Association represents the school's alumni (Old Lyonians). References External links School Website Profile on the ISC website