We achieve excellent exam results by having high expectations of pupils and by only employing the best teachers. Our pupils are expected to work hard and our teachers are expected to teach in a way which will motivate pupils. We aim to teach well and inculcate in our pupils a work ethic which will enable them to achieve to the limit of their abilities. Many departments run their own extra-curricular societies to stimulate interest and lectures by distinguished speakers from outside the School are frequent. Some departments provide regular fieldwork expeditions and annual exchanges.
“I think both my sons have had an excellent education, both academically and otherwise. In my view the standard of teaching at Harrow has been superb. Will was not particularly clever at his prep school but something at Harrow ignited a spark and got him passionate about reading and about history.” – A parent
Every boy in the School has an Academic Tutor to guide him. Relatively small form sizes enable teaching staff to focus on individuals to greater effect; in the Lower School a boy might expect to find himself in a group of about twenty; in the Upper School, A-level divisions rarely exceed fifteen and are often much smaller.
Parents' Evenings for each year group are held once a year at key points in each year group's academic calendar, and House Masters are available throughout term-time to discuss any concerns parents have about their son's academic progress.
Libraries
Central to the academic life of the School is the Vaughan Library. With its comprehensive collection of 32,000 academic and reference books and its wide range of journals and periodicals, it is both a serious working library and a peaceful place of study and recreation for boys of all ages. On the lower level of the building is a separate fiction section with its own comfortable reading room. Audio CDs, music CDs, DVDs and videos are available for borrowing. The Library incorporates a major computer network with filtered Internet access which is available for use by all boys throughout the week. A chartered librarian manages the library and there is always an experienced member of staff available to assist pupils.
Monitoring progress
During the first term at Harrow every boy will be given a series of tests to enable us to assess his ability and learning needs more accurately than his entrance tests permit. We also assess every boy for dyslexia and, if there is concern, he will see our Head of Learning Support for further assessment and help. Any boy who does not have English as his first language will be given a test of his competency in English and we are able to provide specialist EFL tuition if he needs this.
A full set of reports on each boy is sent to his parents at the end of each term; reports are also written, on a more informal basis and for internal use, at half-term.