This article appeared in the October editions of the London House and Buckinghamshire Life magazines.

Adolescence is a formative, and often vulnerable, stage of life when young people are beginning to question who they are, what they stand for, and how they fit into the world around them. For teenage boys in particular, these years are often marked by pressure – pressure to achieve, to perform, to fit in, and to embody certain stereotypes of masculinity.

The choice of school for your son, therefore, is critical to help shape his character and morals, and to ensure that, when he leaves school, he has the confidence and the humility to take his place in, and contribute to, society.

Harrow School has a long and impressive history of nurturing generations of young men. Its 326-acre leafy estate in Harrow on the Hill provides a safe and secure environment where boys grow together in a place where the school’s values of Courage, Honour, Humility and Fellowship permeate everything they do.

Head Master, Alastair Land, explains why he believes a values-led education is vital in giving boys a sense of identity and a good moral compass. “Our four values create identity, focus, unity and drive. They explain what we belong to, what is important to us, what holds us together and why our collective efforts matter.

“In our context, their meanings are replete with much more than their dictionary definitions, just as the word ‘Harrow’ means more than just a school. Outwardly, they give a sense of the distinctive quality of Harrow School and express what we think is important. A school that values courage, honour, humility and fellowship is a school at its best: one deserving of the name ‘Harrow’ and one to which we aspire. It is an unparalleled holistic education.”

Founded in 1572 under a royal charter from Queen Elizabeth I, Harrow soon became one of the greatest schools in the country, attracting pupils from all over the world. All boys board, living together in one of 12 Houses and under the care of a House Master, Assistant House Master, Matron and Tutor. Through the fellowship of the boarding model, boys learn to respect each other and value differences, to be kind and inclusive and ultimately go on to develop a lifetime of friendships.

“Such a close community enables boys to build binding, constructive relationships that help us all to make a positive contribution,” explains the School’s Director of Pastoral Care, Simon Taylor. “They learn to respect each other and to value their differences; they learn the importance of displaying the behaviours they would like to see in others and they only ask of others what they would be prepared to do themselves.”

With all beaks (the school’s term for teachers) also living on the Hill, the whole day is used productively with groups and societies meeting every day after prep and at weekends. The vast range of activities on offer ensures boys are kept busy and fully immersed in the richness of a Harrow education. Whether they are part of the Harrow Rifle Corps, preparing to address their peers at one of the 80 clubs and societies on a subject about which they are passionate, experiencing the thrill of Harrow football – the School’s version of football – or helping young people through the work of the School’s Shaftesbury Enterprise, boys are encouraged to face everything with Courage, Humility and Honour.

In an age where children are bombarded with conflicting messages – from social media, peer groups and cultural expectations – Harrow believes a consistent set of guiding values helps boys to develop a sense of identity that is authentic rather than reactive, rooted in principles that endure when trends and pressures fade.

“Knowledge is a powerful tool, but combined with a values-led education, schools can help boys uncover the talents, skills and value to be of good influence beyond their school days,” says Mr Land.

The Harrow School Values

Courage encourages us to innovate and take risks, inspiring change for the better. It means challenging adversity and complacency, making the most of opportunities, putting fear of failure to one side and staying the course, even when it is difficult. 

Honour is about doing the right thing, having the highest standards and leading by example. It involves taking responsibility and, ultimately, is what makes us worthy of the trust of others.  

Humility asks us to recognise that we are a work in progress and that struggling with our own weaknesses is essential to growth. Humility increases our awareness that talent and achievement alone, however impressive, are not sufficient to succeed as a human being – and that none of us is at the centre of the universe. 

Fellowship means building binding, constructive relationships that help us all to make a positive contribution. This is resonant with our belief that the strongest relationships of all are based on faith, hope and love. 

Read more here.