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 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, the Harrow 450 development programme will also deliver significant social impact through expanded bursary provision and strengthened partnerships with the local community, benefiting young people across north London and beyond.
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.
widening access to find and nurture the leaders of tomorrow.
Over the next ten years, the School aims to significantly expand opportunities for boys requiring financial assistance to come to Harrow by increasing the number of full-fee awards for pupils from less advantaged backgrounds.
Building for the Future
“Throughout Harrow’s history, transformative construction projects have helped secure the excellence that defines a Harrow education. The need for inspiring environments for Harrovians remains as important today as it has been for the last 450 years.”
A Sports Centre worthy of the greats
Long associated with sporting excellence, Harrow School uses sport to develop boys’ character, resilience and leadership skills, to maintain health, wellbeing, and meet the boys’ leisure needs.
Through the Sporting Harrow campaign, fundraising is now underway for the new world-class Sports Centre, a transformational project that will create outstanding facilities for generations of Harrovians and open opportunities for young people in our partner schools and wider community.
We are grateful for the generous donations we have already received, which will help ensure sport at Harrow continues to change lives, on and off the field. Read more about the Sporting Harrow campaign here.
An inspiring learning environment for Biology and Chemistry
With thanks to all our 450 Society members, whose generosity helped make this possible, the new Biology and Chemistry Building opened its doors to the boys at the beginning of the 2024/2025 academic year.
With 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, while also enabling greater collaboration and shared access for the wider community.
Harrow has a long tradition of scientific excellence, and we are proud to serve as a proving ground for future generations of scientists and pioneers.
A refurbished dining hall to feed young minds
The refurbishment of the Shepherd Churchill Dining Hall has now been completed, with the space being officially reopened by Old Harrovian Mark Mosimann (Bradbys 1990³) of Mosimann’s, on 24 April 2026.
This project was undertaken to increase capacity and enhance the boys’ mealtime experience, reflecting the School’s commitment to the importance of food and dining in daily life at Harrow.
The refurbished space overlooks the Capability Brown-designed grounds and lake, with stunning views of London in the distance.
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.
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.
