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Harrow 450

Following the School's 450th anniversary, we are steadfast in continuing the Governors' ambitious development programme which celebrates 450 years of Harrow, and will provide an abiding legacy for decades to come

Indeed, it is without doubt the most ambitious programme, and consequent funding need in the long history of the School. This programme will involve significant investment in our bursaries and School facilities, the preservation of our key historic buildings, and innovation in learning and scholarship.

​​​​​​In keeping with John Lyon’s original vision, this Harrow 450 development programme will deliver a significant social impact, not just through increased bursary provision but also through strengthening authentic partnerships with the local community, benefitting many young people in north London and further afield. During this five year period, the Harrow Development Trust aims to raise over £150m to help fund the following priorities:

 

Bursaries - Transforming lives

John Lyon founded the School in 1572, with a clear vision to provide a free education for 30 less advantaged boys from the parish of Harrow on the Hill. The School’s bursary provision remains guided by this principle in enabling talented boys to benefit from a holistic education at Harrow.

£20m will be directed towards widening access to find and nurture the leaders of tomorrow. 

Over the next ten years, the School aims to significantly increase the opportunities for boys requiring financial assistance to come to Harrow, by providing many more full-fee awards for pupils from less advantaged backgrounds. 

Our short term aim is to increase our bursary funding by a further £20m, increasing the percentage of boys in receipt of means-tested support from 10% to 30%.

Building for the future 

"Throughout Harrow’s history, transformative construction projects have ensured the margin of excellence that distinguishes a Harrow education.  The need for inspiring building environments for Harrovians is as important today as it has been for the last 450 years."

£120m will be directed towards transformative building projects on the eastern side of the Hill.

 

 
An inspiring learning environment for Biology and Chemistry

The new Biology and Chemistry Building opens its doors to the boys in September, the beginning of the 2024/2025 academic year. With its 14 state-of-the-art laboratories and a 180-seat lecture theatre equipped with the latest audio-visual technology, the building is set to benefit all 840 boys at Harrow and allow increased collaboration and shared access for the wider community.

 
A refurbished dining hall to feed young minds

The complete refurbishment of the Shepherd Churchill Dining Hall is well under way, among the School’s priorities to increase its capacity and improve the boys’ mealtime experience.

 
A Sports Centre worthy of the greats

Also on the horizon is a substantial new Sports Centre – meeting the needs of a growing 21st century sports programme, and widening community access, while initiating the scheme to provide safer, more direct thoroughfares across the east side of the Hill, away from the busy High Street. 

Heritage

The School has a rolling programme of renovations to modernise each of our boarding houses on the Hill. Over the next 30 years every House will receive a major refurbishment, ensuring these traditional buildings meet the demands of modern-day boarding.

£10m towards preserving our heritage and innovating our spaces.

The refurbishment of Old Schools, the original Harrow School building constructed in 1615, presented a timely opportunity to combine Harrow’s rich heritage with innovative research and modern teaching practices.

In addition to an external and internal refurbishment, the Old Armoury room has been repurposed as a state-of-the-art Teaching, Artificial Intelligence and Learning Hub. This space is used for experimental teaching practices and training, visits from Shaftesbury Enterprise schools, and boys' independent study. 

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Celebrating our past, refounding our future