The Standard - Autumn Term 2020

THE STANDARD

The John Lyon School Magazine | AUTUMN TERM 2020

CONTENTS AUTUMN TERM 2020

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FROM THE HEAD School buildings and classrooms are designed to be full of life.

NEWS AND EXCELLENCE

John Lyon and Quainton Hall unite to offer all-through education to local children.

University of London the popular post-A-Level destination while GCSE students are on cloud 9.

Summer estates work sees learning spaces enhanced for start of term.

John Lyon’s founder commemorated in a day of distanced celebration.

Special guests continue to educate and inspire, in person and online.

Lunchtime lectures see teachers take pupils to University. ¡100 Por Ciento! Six pupils hit the perfect score in sponsored Spanish word challenge.

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Face masks prove to be no barrier to fantastic charity moustaches.

Data transfer helps Cambridgeshire Academy.

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THE ARTS Scrolling instead of strolling: School trip goes ahead from

the comfort of John Lyon classroom.

Very focused pupils!

10 House Photography Competition.

12 Singers take starring role on the professional concert stage.

13 Lights, camera but no audience for Solos Concert musicians.

Richard earns his place in leading UK Youth choir.

14 The future looks bright despite delays and dystopia for Drama.

NEWS 15 “Happy, resilient pupils are more able to embrace opportunity and fulfil their potential.”

16 Online Remembrance and rank promotions give moments to remember for CCF in Autumn Term.

17 Year 9 Remembrance poetry competition winner.

Diwali, the festival of lights celebrated by Hindus, Jains and Sikhs around the world, was a little different this year.

SPORT 18 John Lyon makes Cricketer Schools Guide 100 list for the first time.

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19 Football goes in-House as competition continues and Year 7 pupils shine.

Remi gets his hands on national silverware.

20 "Despite all the changes and extra considerations, I am confident that we can still offer sport for all."

21 Six month wait doesn’t dampen John Lyon Hockey awards joy.

Star swimmers come home to train.

OLD LYONIANS 22 In Memoriam, and in celebration of great Lyonian lives.

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School buildings and classrooms are designed to be full of life

Miss Katherine Haynes, Head

Approaching the end of the longest term of the School year, three months on from reopening our doors after being away from Middle Road for such a long time, my overwhelming feeling is that of pride in a School community that always seems to find the right response to the toughest of challenges.

As we reopened the School doors in September, we were full of hope for the term but, like every other school, did not know exactly what we would be facing, day-by-day, week-by-week.

All our usual ways of practice and communication were reviewed and amended, policy documents updated, and all possible safety measures put in place to ensure we could be as covid-secure as possible.

It has been a steep learning curve. I believe every member of the community — from the Year 7s who have just joined us to the Upper Sixth students now in their senior year, and of course the dedicated staff body — have done themselves proud.

School buildings and classrooms are designed to be full of life, and despite the long list of regulations now in place, there has been so much taking place here this term. In these pages you will read stories of achievement both in and out of the classroom, items of individual and group success, and gain an overarching sense of the great wealth of events that take place here, including the annual celebration of our founder, pictured above.

The first news item reports on our coming together with Quainton Hall School to form a single all-through school. This hugely exciting development comes at the end of a 2020 which saw us announce our move to coeducation and receive the highest possible school inspection result.

2020 has been a year of multiple challenges. With the passing of time I hope the great positives of the year will live long in the memory.

www.johnlyon.org/values

FRONT COVER Arin Padhye (7EJG), Michael Knight (7EJG) and Noah Lloyd (7EJG) on their first day at John Lyon in September

John Lyon and Quainton Hall unite to offer all-through education to local children Having educated the young people of Harrow since Victorian times, John Lyon and Quainton Hall School will soon come together to offer an all-through education for children aged 2 - 18

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Quainton Hall pupils will continue to learn at their central Harrow site. Below, Headmaster Mr Simon Ford

ooted in the centre of Harrow for more than 120 years, prep school Quainton Hall will amalgamate with John Lyon (a sprightly 144 years old) to form a unified 4 – 18 school with attached 2 ½ – 4 nursery for 800+ pupils. The schools will continue to operate on both sites.

The move to become a single school will represent the most important and significant change that either school has ever seen and comes at a time when both are in positions of strength. Pupil numbers are secure and both schools have recently received coveted Double Excellent school inspection reports.

John Lyon and Quainton Hall share similar educational values. Both place a great focus on the importance of an all-round education; that learning and development both in and outside the classroom help develop confident, successful and happy children.

The move to unite the schools was led by The Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham, which has run Quainton Hall for the past 75 years. The Shrine, based 125 miles away in north Norfolk, approached John Lyon believing a partnership with another established local school, which itself is part of the wider John Lyon’s Foundation (John Lyon School, Harrow School and John Lyon’s Charity), would be in the best interest of Quainton Hall.

John Lyon Head Miss Katherine Haynes said: “Bringing together two highly successful schools to create a single institution focused on delivering a strong and broad education to local children is a great success story and a hugely exciting point in our combined histories. The timing seems especially right as it comes just months after John Lyon announced it will soon educate girls for the first time.

Quainton Hall is a school which holds very similar values to John Lyon, and we have been lucky to work with them for many years.”

Mr Simon Ford, Headmaster of Quainton Hall School, said: “As Head, I am delighted to join with Miss Haynes to bring together the two schools, both of which are in the perfect position to create a highly successful single school, offering educational excellence for boys and girls from Nursery to Sixth Form. Such an alliance will enable the two schools to unite their shared educational values, expertise and resources to provide a safe, secure and nurturing through education for our pupils.”

Left, Harsh Hingorani (L6ND) and right, Vinay Kapoor (L6BRD) both got faultless GCSE grades. Head Boy Husain Abedi (OL2020) celebrates his A-Level results with his father

University of London the popular post-A-Level destination while GCSE students are on cloud 9 The ‘most difficult year’ for all students taking public exams ended on a positive note with John Lyon’s 2020 GCSE pupils and A-Level students celebrating notable successes

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ard work and dedication in the face of great difficulty and uncertainty paid off in August as A-Level students secured coveted places at the UK’s leading universities and GCSE pupils gained Sixth Form scholarships in record numbers.

Despite relying on a unique grading system — the result of no summer exams being sat — there were many great success stories.

The first results day, for Upper Sixth students, saw The London School of Economics and Bristol University each confirm four places for John Lyon students. As ever, entry to London institutions was high, with at least 14 staying in the capital to take up places at LSE, UCL, King’s College, City, Queen Mary and Royal Holloway. Other leading Russell Group universities included Durham, Warwick, Nottingham, Southampton, Manchester, Cardiff and Bristol, for courses including Medicine, International Relations, Biochemistry, Mathematics, Computer Science, Dentistry, Economics, English and History.

Christopher Lau (OL2020) achieved A* A* A* A and was accepted to King’s College London to study Medicine. He said: “I’m over the moon. This year has been one with many surprises and pitfalls, but I’m eternally grateful that my work was recognised and I’m truly excited and honoured to be able to start my medical studies at King’s.”

Head Boy Husain Abedi (OL2020) (A* A* A A) is now studying International Relations and History at the London School of Economics.

Adam Zoromba (OL2020) (A* A* A A), who showed great commitment to his academic studies as well as captaining the 1st XI Football team, achieved the grades to study Law and Anthropology at LSE. He said: “This has been a peculiar year to say the least, and I am thrilled to have achieved my end goal with the help of the John Lyon staff.”

A week later, GCSE pupils received the news that two of the cohort had achieved straight 9 grades (the equivalent of the highest A* grades), and 17 Sixth Form Academic Scholarships were awarded, to pupils attaining at least eight 8 grades.

Harsh Hingorani (L6ND) achieved a clean sweep, excelling in all ten subjects to achieve 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9. A true all-rounder who spends much of his time in Music and Drama, and with numerous extra-curricular interests, on his results he said: “Two extensive, painstaking years of diligent and scrupulous work has finally paid off for me in the best way I could possibly imagine.”

In his nine subjects, Vinay Kapoor (L6BRD) also hit straight 9s and he has taken up his Academic Scholarship.

You can read more about this year’s exam successes at www.johnlyon.org/news.

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Clockwise from top: Head of Science Mr Alex Kyles-Brown teaches Physics in the new STEAM laboratory; Abdul-Kareem Salam (8EKM) and Abishan Suthakaran (8EKM) build and programme a robot; the entrance to the new-look Lyon Building (Luke Hayes Photography)

Summer estates work sees learning spaces enhanced for start of term With the School site closed for an extended period in summer, two significant School estates projects were started and completed for the beginning of the academic year

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he Lyon Building, home to the Maths and RSP Departments, as well as the Library and Boyd Campbell Hall, received its most significant programme of works since it was constructed in 1990.

The works have seen a whole new look and feel to the building, while retaining the structure and overall layout. Doors, windows and window blinds are all new, walls have been re-plastered and new flooring, lighting and acoustic panelling fitted.

There is also new, flexible-use classroom furniture, including desks with writable surfaces. Hallways and stairwells benefit from new flooring and recessed noticeboards. To help ready the School for coeducation in 2021, new girls’ toilet facilities have been created.

In the main School building, the former M6 classroom has been transformed into a new STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) Laboratory, designed as a modern and flexible learning space in which the full range of STEAM activities such as robotics and CREST Award can take place. It also provides a seminar space for up to 50 people.

Next door to the STEAM Laboratory is a smaller STEAM Makerspace, designed for smaller group work and housing the School’s 3D printers and laser cutters.

Both sets of School estates work have been planned using the latest research on best practice for learning and teaching spaces, and have gone down well with the teachers whose classes are seeing the benefits.

Head of Science Mr Alex Kyles-Brown said: “Teaching in the new STEAM lab is just so versatile! With the moveable furniture we really can create any environment we like – we have held debates “in the round”, or can set up as laboratory or classroom. Pupils absolutely love the flexibility to break off for smaller group work in a separate area. The sockets from the ceilings offer huge flexibility in setting up kit such as soldering irons, glue guns, or physics experiments. The room has great storage facilities for robotics kit, which we used for the recent STEAM Scholarship day for 11+ and 13+ applicants.”

Pupils file out from St Mary's past the tomb of John Lyon. Below, Mr Huw Jones directs the Year 7 Choir and Pride of Lyon's chamber choir

John Lyon’s founder commemorated in a day of distanced celebration The church on the Hill wasn’t packed, as is tradition, but John Lyon’s founder was celebrated in three special Founder’s Day events

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ounder’s Day in October saw pupils head up the Hill to St Mary’s Church in three separate groups, to hear words and music in celebration of John Lyon, the philanthropic yeoman farmer who lived in the village of Preston in Harrow 450 years ago. In his lifetime he created what is now Harrow School, and then 300 years later in 1876 a new boys’ day school was opened and named after him.

Led by the Vicar of St Mary’s, The Reverend James Power, the short ceremonies reflected on the work and legacy of the School's founder. He highlighted the generosity of John Lyon in his time and how what he had put in place

in the 16th century is still alive in the School today.

spirit characterising our School and our community.”

John Lyon Head Miss Katherine Haynes then spoke to pupils, reading from John Lyon’s Dream, the most complete history of the School, written by the late Michael Burrell (OL1956).

She said: “A great deal has happened in the life of our School since being founded, to make us the vibrant 600-student strong School that we have become today.

The Year 7 ‘bubble’ Choir sang Ave Verum Corpus by Edward Elgar and the School Song, Stet Fortuna Domus. The Pride of Lyon’s motet choir performed O Come, ye servants of the Lord, by Christopher Tye, an English composer from the time of John Lyon.

“John Lyon’s Dream links to thousands of boys and scores of teachers who have made our School what it is. Nowadays, the dream of our founder lives on in the day to day life of our School. Every boy, and every staff member, contributes to the quality and ethos of our School.

And it is fascinating to see how, through testing times and easier ones, there has clearly been a definable John Lyon

As the ceremonies ended, pupils exited the church via the tomb of John Lyon, at which a wreath had been left to mark his death at the beginning of October 428 years ago.

A recording of the Pride of Lyon’s singing O Come, ye servants of the Lord can be found on the School’s YouTube channel www.youtube.com/c/ JohnLyonSchoolHarrowontheHill

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Top to bottom: Jeremy Thomas talks about mental health to Sixth Form students, Author Jon Robinson and Laura Braun both appeared by Microsoft Teams; Zoe Griffiths demonstrated geometry with smoke

Special guests continue to educate and inspire, in person and online While the early part of Autumn Term saw guest speakers come to School to talk to pupils, November’s second lockdown meant virtual sessions had to resume

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s ever, the John Lyon Excellence Programme had lined up a number of guests with expertise in areas beyond the usual curriculum, designed to enrich and stretch pupils’ learning. In September, Year 10 and 11 pupils heard from Laura Braun and Lucinda Hazell, both PhD students at Imperial College London, who gave an introduction to environmental engineering, and discussed with pupils 6 | THE STANDARD | The John Lyon School Magazine

their research into providing water and sanitation to all countries.

Mathematician and maths communicator Zoe Griffiths filled the Boyd Campbell Hall with giant rings of smoke in October, as she introduced Year 7 and 8 pupils to spherical geometry, fluid dynamics and Mobius loops.

The Sixth Form Goldhawk Lectures (formerly John Lyon Union) had a varied programme with a different speaker each week who talked to A-Level students.

Subjects covered were wide and varied, from student finance and gap years, to the filming of extreme sports in a talk by Everest mountaineer Matt Dickinson. Old Lyonians Sam Deacon (OL2009) and James Scholefield (OL2013) both returned to School to give talks, and big questions were asked, such as ‘is poverty inevitable?’, in a session by the CEO of CARE International UK, Laurie Lee. One of the most powerful lectures was given by former record label boss Jeremy Thomas, who spoke frankly about his battle with manic depression and bipolar disorder, some of the dark and dangerous places he had been in his life, and how he learned to “stay sane in an insane world”. He presented students with a mental health ‘toolkit’ designed to

help recognise warning signs and focus on the importance of coping skills and strategies to help get the best out of life.

Setting aside the better part of a whole day, noted youth author Jon Robinson gave three separate talks to different year groups, talking about his journey to becoming a published writer and giving valuable tips to any budding young writers.

LUNCHTIME LECTURES SEE TEACHERS TAKE PUPILS TO UNIVERSITY

– The popular JLx continued in Autumn Term, with six departments taking on the challenge of delivering 15-minute university style lectures to pupils of all ages on topics well beyond the School curriculum. From The American Dream in English to Zuboff’s Age of Surveillance Capitalism in Economics, each session drew audiences from Year 7 to Upper Sixth. Head of Politics Dr Christopher Clews had the benefit of good weather for his JLx in September, as he discussed the idea of a UK Constitution with pupils on the Red House lawn.

¡100 Por Ciento! Six pupils hit the perfect score in sponsored Spanish word challenge Doubling as a charity event, Year 7 pupils were able to raise a fantastic total while showing off their linguistic skill

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rganised by Head of Spanish Mr Phil Berry, the popular annual Spanish Word Challenge saw every Year 7 pupil complete the 100-word vocabulary test in October.

Containing greetings, months of the year, colours, foods, animals and a host of other nouns, adjectives and conjunctions, pupils – many of whom had only been studying Spanish for a few weeks – excelled.

Giorgio Avduli (7AJM) concentrates hard on his Spanish test. Below, Mahdi Mossahar (7AJM) reviews what was to be a 100% paper

Six pupils recorded perfect scores: Mahdi Mossahar (7AJM), Rishab Shah (7AJM), Huzayl Ali (7EJG), Troj Mehmetaj (7EJG), Dylan Noronha (7SRP) and Harvey Sharma (7SRP). A further third of the year group scored over 80%.

In total, £850 was raised through sponsorship, which will go to the School’s chosen charity, the Young Harrow Foundation. Form 7AJM raised the most and both Khush Malde (7AJM) and Arun Karunadasa (7AJM) managed to raise more than £100.

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Face masks prove to be no barrier to fantastic charity moustaches Left to right: Mr Charlie Scotcher, Sanjiv Jadav (U6PWM), Mr Geoff Mattey, Mr Robert Ellis-Paul, Mr John Blenkinsop and Mr Nikhil Dholakia show off their moustaches

With restrictions in place, the School’s charity efforts have proved more challenging than ever, but this couldn’t stop Movember, the month-long pursuit of fabulous facial hair

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n what is now a mainstay of the School calendar at John Lyon, Sixth Form students took advantage of the special permission granted to them to take part in Movember

John Lyon’s chosen charity for the

JOHN LYON'S CHOSEN CHARITY FOR 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR IS THE YOUNG HARROW FOUNDATION – YHF seeks to provide better, sustainable, high quality support services for children and young people in Harrow, helping them to reach their full potential. www.youngharrowfoundation.org

– deviating from usual uniform and appearance rules to grow moustaches in aid of men’s health. They were joined by members of staff.

The Movember Foundation seeks to raise awareness and funds for a number of leading concerns connected to men’s physical and mental health – and challenges men across the world to grow moustaches in return for sponsorship throughout the month of November.

Despite face masks covering the impressive range of facial hair throughout the month-long effort, our cameras were able to capture some of the participants on the final day.

Charity Prefect Sanjiv Jadav (U6PWM) was proud of the John Lyon team’s efforts despite the limitations. He said: “I think our school participation in the Movember initiative was brilliant.

Whilst the Movember charity is widely known as a cancer charity, it also provides support in issues that are very relevant to all pupils, like men’s mental health, and

DATA TRANSFER HELPS CAMBRIDGESHIRE ACADEMY – The Physics Department has donated ALBA

data logging equipment to the Sawtry Village Academy, a mixed secondary school and sixth form near Perterborough. The equipment is used to take precise measurements of various physical quantities such as temperature, velocity, or light levels, over a period of time. The data logging automates the results-taking process so that students can analyse the data in Excel. Jamie Mayville (left) visited to collect the kit from Head of Science Mr Alex Kyles-Brown.

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so it pleases me very much to be able to say I was able to support this amazing charity.”

Charity Coordinator Mr Charlie Scotcher added: “Movember has had an increased resonance this year with reports of mental health being affected for many.The take up from the Sixth Form in this year’s event was hampered by regulations put in place during November, but well done to the Charity Prefect Sanjiv for leading from the front and taking part. Thank you to Mr Blenkinsop, Mr Ellis-Paul, Mr Mattey and Mr Dholakia for also enduring the moustache! £641 has been raised so far and I would like to thank all those who donated. For those who would still like to support a great cause you can find our team at www.johnlyon.org/movember.

Thank you.”

Scrolling instead of strolling: School trip goes ahead from the comfort of John Lyon classroom The first School trip of the academic year in September saw GCSE Art pupils tour the National Portrait Gallery, all without leaving the School site

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he group of 13 Year 10 pupils spent a full morning within the walls of the central London gallery looking at works selected for the BP Portrait Award 2020.

Head of Art Miss Courtney Burley gives advice to Moaaz Nagib (10PS).

Inset, Arda Opuz (10NB) checks the perspective of his picture

looking at all 2,000 artworks hanging on the walls, with the ability to click on each image to see it in more detail and learn more. As would be the case on a regular gallery tour, pupils sketched a number of the works they saw.

As well as looking at the competition’s winning entries, there was a focus on a particular work by artist Charles Williams, titled I saw Will Self riding A Brompton down John Islip Street. The original work was a ‘lightning sketch’, made as the artist saw the titled event take place, and this became a useful lesson for the pupils in how to sketch well at speed.

the portrait exhibition within the walls of the gallery there has been great value in looking in detail at these stunning portraits online, with the ability to move around the rooms and zoom in on some of the finer details. It also gave us the opportunity to combine a gallery visit with a lesson on artistic technique, which will help our Year 10 pupils as they begin their GCSE course.

Some of the world’s best galleries are right on our doorstep in London and we look forward to returning to them when we can.”

Speaking after the virtual excursion, Head of Art Miss Courtney Burley said: “While we would all have liked to see

VERY FOCUSED PUPILS! – With some

teaching continuing online during the second lockdown period,Year 9 pupils in Art class were tasked with creating pencil drawings of their eyes. The result leaves us thinking we’re being watched…

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House Photography Competition Clockwise from top left: student 1st, Liam Louiset-Hall (7CJC); staff 1st, Mr Ryan Marshall; staff 2nd, Miss Alexandra Larion; staff 3rd, Mr Leon Felgate; student 3rd, Shaan Patel (7EJG); student 2nd, Ismael Doghem-Rashid (10PS).

To view all this year's entries visit www.johnlyon.org/housephotography-2020

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The Pride of Lyon's perform for the LCO concert. Below, a Music Junction masterclass takes place in the Music Hall

Singers take starring role on the professional concert stage Seven John Lyon singers took to the professional stage — virtually — in November to perform in one of the UK’s leading orchestra’s centenary season concerts

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he Pride of Lyon’s chamber choir, made up of John Lyon singers in all years, was invited to sing two pieces for the interval of the London Chamber Orchestra’s November concert, part of the LCO 100 centenary concert season.

The pre-recorded part songs, Liebe and Zum Rundetanz (D.983A/B) both by Franz Schubert, were filmed in the School’s Boyd Campbell Hall and then played out in the interval of the concert, which featured American violinist Benjamin Beilman and Principals from the LCO, who played a programme of Bach, Schubert and Farrenc. The concert, and the John Lyon performance, were introduced by virtuoso saxophonist Jess Gillam.

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The Pride’s invitation came as a result of the School’s active participation in LCO’s music outreach programme, Music Junction. The Music Junction project sees the LCO’s professional musicians give masterclasses to John Lyon’s musicians, who in turn pass on their learning to young children from a range of different primary schools.

Supported by John Lyon’s Charity, the project works to bring young people from very different social and economic backgrounds together to promote confidence, nurture self-esteem and encourage participants to develop empathy and respect for themselves and others within the wider community through music making. Since 2018 there have been numerous music-making sessions, as well as a grand concert in which all the children, John Lyon pupils and LCO professionals played together.

Speaking after the concert had been broadcast, Pride of Lyon’s baritone, Harsh Hingorani (L6ND), said: “When we first heard about this opportunity, I was thrilled to say the least; it would be one of the greatest

opportunities the Pride of Lyon’s have received. The LCO comprises some of the most talented musicians across the city, and to be able to perform in one of their concerts was an amazing experience; the music was very fun to learn! The Music Junction project is such an amazing opportunity for us and the younger children. Exposing students to the world of music at such a young age is so important and beneficial, it can really inspire them to start off their musical journey.”

John Lyon's Director of Music, Mr Huw Jones, added: “We are now in our third year working with the LCO and the opportunities this project has given the School’s best young musicians are vast.

To be coached by some of the country’s top performers has improved our pupils’ craft and performances, and in turn they have been able to pass on these skills to young children across North West London, many of whom will be picking up musical instruments for the first time. To be invited to take part in this concert is a hugely proud moment for the John Lyon Music Department.”

LIGHTS, CAMERA BUT NO AUDIENCE FOR SOLOS CONCERT MUSICIANS – The first full School concert broadcast live from the Boyd Campbell Hall saw nine singers and instrumentalists take to the School’s main stage in November, with only a handful of other people for company. First up was Harsh Hingorani, pictured, who sang Frederick Keel’s Trade Winds with great skill. Other performances were given by Harman Bhamra (9JNL), Sumeet Shah (8EKM), Khush Malde (7AJM), Shaan Khoda (7SRP), Tarun Naodhar (8EKM), Harishan Raveenthiran (9JNL), Kesavan Sukanthan (9JDG) and William Davey (L6REM).

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RICHARD EARNS HIS PLACE IN LEADING UK YOUTH CHOIR – The National Youth Boys’ Choir will soon have a John Lyon singer

in its ranks, with Richard Garcia-Kelleher (10JEB) having been accepted as a member. Richard, who has been a chorister at St Mary’s Church on the Hill, was put forward by the School’s Visiting Singing Teacher, Mr Rhys Bowden.

As a member of the choir, Richard will receive the best choral training possible, including unbeatable opportunities to develop skills in music, performance, recording, leadership and teamwork.

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Jon Maqedonci (7AJM), Syrus Emerenini (7SRP), Troj Mehmetaj (7EJG) and Nohah Diedrick (7SRP) improvise haunted houses in Year 7 Drama Club. Below, Jordon Andrews (11CEP) and Lanre Sunmonu (11CEP) rehearse for GCSE Drama

The future looks bright despite delays and dystopia for Drama Autumn Term has seen the Drama Department catching up with previously postponed GCSE and A-Level work, with student work looking at dystopian society and online hyperreality. Head of Drama Mr Leon Felgate looks back on a turbulent year

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he Drama Department, like the rest of the School, was hit hard by lockdown.

The National Theatre Connections Festival production of The Marxist in Heaven, successfully staged here in March, sadly could not transfer to artsdepot in North 14 | THE STANDARD | The John Lyon School Magazine

Finchley as was planned. The National Theatre’s New Views playwrighting programme for 14- to 19-year-olds was put on hold. Drama visits were cancelled.

The department had to quickly adapt the curriculum and deliver what is essentially a practical subject in a remote manner.

Online GCSE and A-Level lessons included practical vocal and physical warm ups and script readings in group channels in preparation, while live theatre was watched via an online stream.Year 7 pupils learned Stop Motion Animation as part of their Co-Curricular provision on Friday afternoons and Year 11 pupils hoping to progress into A-Level took part in the ImagiNation Festival.

At the beginning of this academic year, Upper Sixth students went straight into an intensive ten-day rehearsal period for the Practical Devising Component of their A-Level — the exam they had been due to sit in June. Their performance, entitled VR, was devised online during lockdown and came to fruition as the boys reassembled again in September. A piece influenced by Theatre de Complicité, it tells the story of a dystopian society created by a technological auteur and expressed the themes of real world vs online

hyperreality while simultaneously looking at the very apt subject of mental health, something that the students saw as being highly pertinent during lockdown.

The Department was also immersed in delayed practical GCSE scripted examinations which were meant to take place in May.Year 11 pupils performed extracts from a variety of plays, including Zoo Story by Edward Albee and Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett.

Despite the coronavirus, the future looks good for the Drama Department this academic year. The bubbled Year 7 Drama Club is popular, we hope to build on unfinished work from the last academic year, there are plans for live performances once again, and we have confirmed our participation in the National Theatre Connections Festival and New Views Festival, the latter in partnership with Nower Hill High School in Pinner.

We are always looking for new content for the blog, from pupils and even parents! If you would like to write, please contact Ed.Holmes@johnlyon.org for more information.

Left, Saiyon Jegatheesan (L6MEW), Rahul Renganath (L6NGA), William Davey (L6REM) and Vivek Vadher (L6NGA) listen to Mrs Laura Herman in their Mentor training. Right, Arjun Mehta (7AJM), Vatsal Patel (7AJM), and Marcus Shotton (7AJM) in an Art class on their very first day at John Lyon.

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ollowing the long period of “Happy, lockdown, it was wonderful to see the Red House lawn bathed in sunlight at the resilient pupils beginning of September and the new boys gathered together are more able tentatively making new friends and meeting their teachers. to embrace Parents were watching from a safe distance, struggling to shield the sun from opportunity their eyes while hoping for a wave or a but also bracing themselves for the and fulfil their smile, transition of their little boys who were now embarking on the first day of their adventure of growing up at John Lyon potential” without so much as a backward glance.

As the first half of Autumn Term ended in October, School Counsellor Mrs Laura Herman wrote for the John Lyon blog, looking at happy, resilient pupils and how she is here to help both new and established pupils

Parents continue to play a key role in how we deliver our pastoral care here at John Lyon and for many years I have had the privilege of holding a Parenting Teenagers Course each term, which are always popular events at which I cover subjects such as meeting teenagers’ needs, setting boundaries and managing emotions, amongst others.

Due to current restrictions and social distancing, the next Parenting Teenagers Course will go ahead in four online sessions in January and February. To register, please email me at Laura.Herman@johnlyon.org

As their sons were led away by Prefects and Sixth Form mentors into the Music School, few parents, if any, as you would expect, received a kiss blown across the garden! At best, perhaps there was an odd sideward glance that was safely undetected by their new peer group.

The boys embarking on their transition from child to young adult involves great

change and adaptation for all involved and we believe it is vital to arm both boys and parents with some additional knowledge and support in negotiating this change.

Mental health and wellbeing plays a very important role here at John Lyon as happy, resilient young people are more able to embrace opportunity and fulfil their potential.

I have also enjoyed training the new year’s Sixth Form mentors, a group who will be able to engage with pupils of all ages having received training with a focus on listening, communication skills, values, boundaries, confidentiality and keeping safe.

For any enquiries, I can be contacted at Laura.Herman@johnlyon.org. Pupils can drop in to my office, next to the Music Office, any Tuesday lunchtime without an appointment. They can ask a parent or form tutor to contact me or just drop a note under my door. Basically, any way they feel comfortable to make contact.

PARENTING TEENAGERS COURSE Wednesdays 20th January, 27th January, 3rd February and 10th February 2021 9.30 - 11.30am Online through MS Teams Autumn Term 2020 | THE STANDARD | 15

The John Lyon CCF led the School's Act of Remembrance, filmed in advance and shown on screen to all pupils. Below, the newly promoted Staff Sergeant Ibrahim Mansour

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Online Remembrance and rank promotions give moments to remember for CCF in Autumn Term

adly, due to the various restrictions in place, the CCF has not been able to run its usual calendar of events. However, there have been a number of successes to celebrate.

With fewer events and opportunities to train than planned, the term was a frustrating one for the John Lyon CCF, but much was still achieved, writes Contingent Commander Lt John Blenkinsop

Further down the School, boys have returned to physical training and after being locked down in the Summer Term, it has been very exciting to move from a more theoretical approach.

Boys have enjoyed the opportunity to practise drill in person for the first time as well as developing their DofE skills planning for their expedition.

Firstly, the CCF was able to run a Remembrance parade which, with the assistance of the AV Club, was able to be recorded and played in classrooms across the School and sent out by email link to Old Lyonians, so that all members of our community could still acknowledge Remembrance Day in a fitting way. All our senior cadets participated in this and it was noted by all who viewed the video – staff, boys and OLs – how excellent the Act of Remembrance was.

Older cadets have been working on the creation of a green powered car, as a part of the School’s STEAM focus and 16 | THE STANDARD | The John Lyon School Magazine

our affiliation with the Royal Engineers, which we hope to eventually race once it has been completed. The project has been almost entirely student led, with teachers available in an advisory capacity. It has been great to see the boys displaying not only great teamwork but collective independent thinking.

Lastly, congratulations to those cadets I had the pleasure of awarding promotions to in November: Cadet to Lance Corporal Cdt Yusuf Shaikh to LCpl Lance Corporal to Corporal LCpl Odin Verden to Cpl LCpl Aryan Pande to Cpl Corporal to Sergeant Cpl James Rosario to Sgt Sergeant to Staff Sergeant Sgt Ibrahim Mansour to SSgt

Year 9 Remembrance poetry competition winner The Fallen by Ahwaan Sharma (9JDG) There. A gun lies in the field of broken souls, Its wielder lay beside it, He had written to his love his promise of returning home as one, through all the grime and grit, Yet that lie now lies broken amongst the field of foul.

This once luscious land, is now where only Loss and Hopelessness dwell, Not a quest for glory, but for survival.

Bewitched are those who believe it is their battle, For not even God can count those who fell.

Age is but a number in a war like this, If war is what they’ve called it, It’s more like a bloodbath in the devil's pitOf doom and despair, which not even the luckiest can escape with their lives, and continue to believe in bliss.

Those who escaped Satan's horns, Instead suffered the loss of their delicate sanity, As they remembered the rat-tat-tat of the rifles, the calamity, And the dying children’s moans.

These boys were but some of the fallen of the Great War, They opened our eyes to the truth, As their own blinds shut in the soot, And their hearts stopped beating before they hit the blood splattered floor.

The generals sat in their finery, a fat and proud yet timid bunch, When death slashed his unrelenting scythe, The troops cut down in millions, an unholy sight.

Each one longing for their mother's touch.

102 years later, the true horror reveals itself - pain to all whose innocent ears the truth fell The stories of the starved youth finally hit the surface, Their lives ripped apart all those years ago, Finally remembered by the people who live, because of their selfless journey through hell.

DIWALI, THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS CELEBRATED BY HINDUS, JAINS AND SIKHS AROUND THE WORLD, WAS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THIS YEAR – Instead of large celebrations with friends and family, the festival in November was marked at home by individual families, including

by Akshar Patel (8ADH) and his family in Harrow. Appearing in a report on ITV London News, Akshar said he was ‘even more excited’ than usual.

Autumn Term 2020 | THE STANDARD | 17

The 1st XI celebrate their county cup victory in 2019. Below left, the School team 100 years ago in 1920; right, the 1st XI pitch at Sudbury Fields

John Lyon makes Cricketer Schools Guide 100 list for the first time With a long cricketing tradition spanning the School’s history, John Lyon and its “compelling commitment” to coaching young players has been recognised by the prestigious Cricketer Schools Guide

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nnounced at the end of November, the Cricketer Schools Guide 2021 lists what it judges to be the top 100 UK senior schools that offer Cricket at a high level.

The 148-page guide has been compiled following what the editors call an ‘exhaustive process’ with a record number of submissions to be looked at. All entries were judged against an extensive set of criteria, which included “a compelling commitment to cricket in the curriculum, facilities, fixture programmes and coaching.”

John Lyon – whose 1st XI are the current Middlesex county schools champions – makes the list for the very first time, having previously been highly commended.

A full-page write up in the Guide reflects on the School’s attempts to keep Cricket going during the lockdown and the progress the School has made in recent times – redesigning training to be more inclusive and developing a winter training programme. It also looks ahead to the introduction of girls to the School in 2021 and their inclusion in the Cricket programme.

Editor of the Cricketer, the world’s most respected and best-selling cricket magazine, Simon Hughes said: “This year’s Schools Guide is particularly important in showcasing our schools who have kept the game alive through a very challenging summer. There should be deserved praise for all the teachers,

18 | THE STANDARD | The John Lyon School Magazine

coaches and volunteers who have put in so much hard work, in the most difficult of circumstances, to preserve a love of the game among the next generation.”

John Lyon Director of Sport, Mr Shane Cloete, a former international cricketer with Zimbabwe, said: “To make the list of top 100 cricketing schools is a testament to the hard work of the Sports Department and wider School community onto Cricket. With this dedication, the huge number of talented young cricketers we have at John Lyon are able to hone their skills, techniques and commitment to the sport.

What we are doing with Cricket we are also replicating with Football, Hockey and all the other sports we offer: to offer ‘sport for all, with the pursuit of excellence’ by running an effective, productive and high-quality sporting programme as well as exceptional opportunities for participation and fun across all the year groups.”

Football goes in-House as competition continues and Year 7 pupils shine Head of Football Mr Rob Rice looks back on a term which, while not seeing any fixtures against other schools, hasn’t been short of competition and stand-out players

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Left, Syrus Emerenini (7SRP) and Tobiloba Fagbulu (7AJM) fight for the ball, watched by Troj Mehmetaj (7EJG) and William Pye (7CJC).

Right, the House Football victors from Moore

espite all the hurdles we have had to navigate with regulations and guidance set out by national governing bodies and the Department for Education, the Sports Department has continued to provide more than 400 pupils with the opportunity to participate in a variety of curriculum-based football sessions and inter-House competitions, providing a high level of coaching to our young aspiring sports players.

One of the standout groups this academic year has certainly been Year 7, who have not only demonstrated an excellent level of sporting prowess, but have also showcased a worthy attitude to their sport as a whole.

Year 7 House Football was certainly one of the term’s major highlights, with over 80% of the year group taking part. Top performers on the day were Moore’s Troj Mehmetaj (7EJG) and Norwood’s Syrus Emerenini (7SRP); whilst a tremendous team effort from Moore saw them secure an excellent 1st place in the A competition followed by Butler,Vaughan and Norwood.

Although we know the pupils will have been disappointed they haven’t managed to play a competitive fixture this term, the Sports Department know that this period of internal football will have laid the foundations for future success as they progress through the School.

REMI GETS HIS HANDS ON NATIONAL SILVERWARE

– November proved a big month for Remi Onabanjo (11RS) who was drafted into the AFC Wimbledon squad for the U18 EFL Youth Alliance Cup final. Travelling away to Rotherham United, The Dons faced a tough challenge, with the game decided in the last minute with a length-of-thepitch goal scored by their goalkeeper.

Recently given an Academy Scholarship

by Wimbledon, Remi (third player in from the right in this picture) is described by them as a ‘tricky little winger who is able to play either on the left or the right’. Many thanks to the AFC Wimbledon Academy for letting us use the picture.

Autumn Term 2020 | THE STANDARD | 19

"Despite all the changes and extra considerations, I am confident that we can still offer sport for all" In the face of countless changes to safety and best practice, John Lyon’s Director of Sport, Mr Shane Cloete, looks at how the School’s mantra of ‘sport for all’ is not being lost

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Toby Cope (10NB), Oscar Beynon (10NB) and Alexander Rothwell (10NB) take part in the dreaded beep test at the start of term.

Below, Emmanuel Wang (10NB) jumps as high as he can

port, and the concept of ‘sport for all’ plays a huge role in the life of John Lyon.

It has been crucial, therefore, for us to maintain and continue to strive to provide the best opportunities for our pupils to participate and engage with sport, developing physically and emotionally through an active healthy lifestyle as we negotiated our return to School this term after such a long time away.

Our departmental philosophy of ‘sport for all, with the pursuit of excellence’ seems more important than ever, as we support those who aspire to compete at the highest level, whilst offering opportunity and encouragement to all those who simply want to enjoy their sport and physical activity.

Coronavirus has changed the world and the way we interact with each other. We have had to adapt and change with it.

20 | THE STANDARD | The John Lyon School Magazine

We have approached our ‘new normal’ by gaining a good understanding of best-practice guidelines issued by various sporting governing bodies with whom we work closely, so that we can deliver PE and Games while ensuring a clean, hygienic and safe environment for both our pupils and staff.

A number of things look different. When pupils have a Games afternoon they are asked to wear their sports kit for lessons through the day — this helps avoid the need for using enclosed changing spaces. There is no sharing of personal equipment, the use of the School’s equipment is kept to a minimum and all equipment is sanitised before and after use. There is minimal use of the sports pavilion, and parents are asked not to enter any field of play when collecting their child at the end of the day. The Saturday sport programme has continued, despite having no competitive fixtures against other schools — the time instead being used for expert training and internal competition.

Despite all the changes and extra considerations, I am confident that we have still been able to offer sport for all through an effective, productive and high-quality sporting programme as well as exceptional opportunities for participation and fun across all the year groups.

We will not only continue to challenge each pupil but will give them the opportunity to enjoy sport and be active.

STAR SWIMMERS COME HOME TO TRAIN –

On reaching a certain level of excellence, John Lyon’s elite swimmers are largely coached off-site as part of larger set-ups hoping to hone future champions.

But with much of this coaching disrupted in recent times, the John Lyon pool has welcomed its two most notable swimmers for regular early-morning training sessions. Both Jason Mahmutoglu (L6ND) and Ritchie Grant (9KS) have worked together in Autumn Term, sticking to rigorous personal training sessions as well as helping each other get the most out of their time in the pool.

SIX MONTH WAIT DOESN’T DAMPEN JOHN LYON HOCKEY AWARDS JOY – Just as John Lyon Hockey season was coming to a close in Spring Term, lockdown hit and the usual player awards were put on hold.

But six months on, the stand-out players from the 2019-2020 season have received their Manager’s Player of the Season awards, following a John Lyon Hockey season that saw the youngsters step up and the sport’s growth continue.

The U14As displayed the most notable success, by winning the 2020 Middlesex Cup in February. The U13A were runners-up in their competition. Both the U12A and U13A won over half their games. Statistically, the U15As were the most successful across the course of the season,

winning five of their nine games. Notable victories against Berkhamsted, Westminster and Chigwell have made them a real force. Three Year 10 (now Year 11) players – Ali Malik (11CEP), William Mitchell (11CEP) and Taranvir Bansal (11MRF) – all regularly represented the 1st XI. Manager’s Players of the Season U12A — James Rothwell (8ADH) U12B — Abdul-Kareem Salam (8EKM) U13A — Damhiru Wijesinghe (9JDG) U13B — John Vazquez-Torrez (9KS) U14A — Kiyan Samnani (10JEB) U15A — Taranvir Bansal (11MRF) U15B — Rohan Card (11MRF) 1st XI — Patrick Miles (OL2020)

Autumn Term 2020 | THE STANDARD | 21

Miss Katherine Haynes Head head@johnlyon.org Andrew Panter (OL1962), Brian Hore (OL1956) and Geoffrey Lancashire (OL1940), who all left us this year

In Memoriam, and in celebration of great Lyonian lives The Lyonian Office is regularly updated with the achievements of Old Lyonians in their lives and careers.

These updates, sadly, contain the news of those who are no longer with us. Alumni Relations Coordinator, Mrs Suzannah Chirnside writes

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n occasion, the register pages of the national newspapers will carry an obituary to a Lyonian, but this August we were to see two within five days of each other.

The Times of Tuesday 25th August carried a reflection on the life of Andrew Panter MBE (OL1962), who died aged 76. After School, Andrew pursued an extraordinarily successful career as a civil engineer – becoming the Managing Director of Wimpey Homes – before switching tack to channelling his significant talents and energy into the charitable sector. His daughter, Tiffany, wrote to the Lyonian Office to let us know he had always spoken fondly of his time at John Lyon.

On Sunday 30th August, The Guardian wrote about the life of Paul Knight (OL1960), who died aged 76. On leaving School at 16 he went straight into the television industry with ITV, where his career flourished. He would become a highly-regarded television producer, working on family favourites including The Adventures of Black Beauty in the 1970s (with its iconic theme tune selected for use by Paul), Robin of Sherwood and the very successful London’s Burning in the 1980s.

Brian Hore (OL1956) died in July. Brian not only achieved significant academic success at School, which saw him gain a place in medical school at St Barts (apparently to Boyd Campbell's surprise!), but he was also busy in School life outside the classroom – in the Christian Union, Cricket Second XI and CCF as a sergeant in the Ambulance Section.

This first introduction to medicine led to a very successful career as a consultant psychiatrist and world expert on alcoholism.

One of the School’s last WW2 veterans, Lieutenant Commander Geoffrey Lancashire (OL1940), died in October aged 97. Geoffrey was a regular at the key annual School and OLA events, attending OLA AGMs until 2017 and Remembrance Services until 2018, as well as many Association Days, School performances, lunches and Founder’s Days over the years.

Mr Andy Sims Deputy Head AJS@johnlyon.org

Mr Jonathan Pepperman Deputy Head JOP@johnlyon.org

We remember, also, Simon Henry (OL1972), Stephen Forman (OL1969), Tony Smith (OL1957), Allan Edward Cooban (OL1953), Nicholas Paines (OL1970), former History teacher Francis Tavernor (1976-1990) and secretary to the Centenary Fund Margaret Palmer (1973-1984).

Mr Tim Lewis Director of Studies TJL@johnlyon.org

Longer obituaries to all those named above can be read on the Old Lyonians website at www.oldlyonians.org/news/ remembrance

Miss Rebecca Davies Registrar Tel: 020 8515 9443 admissions@johnlyon.org

To update the Lyonian Office with any news, please contact Suzannah.Chirnside@johnlyon. org or 020 8515 9410

John Lyon Middle Road Harrow-on-the-Hill HA2 0HN 020 8515 9400

Mr Michael Gibson Bursar Michael.Gibson@johnlyon.org Open Day Dates www.johnlyon.org/opendays

www.johnlyon.org @johnlyonharrow