Leadership and Service

Concerto Concert

the ever-changing Covid protocols, we sought to keep ensembles going.

We provided regular opportunities for boys to submit performances from home for pre-recorded concerts, as well as opportunities to compete in some of the traditional competitions. Concerts resumed with near normality in September, and small subsets of the choirs performed in Chapel. The boys worked incredibly hard for Glees and XIIs and we managed to run this event so that all boys could watch it in Houses, with only small numbers present in Speech Room.

Remembrance was celebrated with the showing of a poignant film largely produced in-house, thanks to the work of the department. A full Carol Service was pre-recorded and this featured members of the Byron Consort, Chapel and Harmony Choirs and the Brass Ensemble. The Christmas Celebrations concluded with mini-carol services led by a socially distanced Chapel Choir, and every boy was able to participate in singing carols round the Christmas tree in Bill Yard. In January, everything moved back online. We project that by the end of 2021, 3,500 minutes of boys’ performances will be available online.

Mass gatherings for singing were always going to be a problem. The School XII recorded a programme for Harrow Association Songs in October, and a larger group of senior boys (with all Houses represented) came together to record Churchill Songs. When we were unable to return to School in January, it seemed that this great tradition of Harrow songs might be imperilled. During the start of the Summer term, however, the Director of Music rehearsed each House separately in Speech Room for 40 minutes to hear boys sing one verse of the most popular 20 songs. The boys loved this, and their act of singing together as a House and raising the roof was a joy to behold.

The boys came up with some excellent ways to keep the whole community involved with music. The Guild’s Desert Island Disc Series regularly achieved large

CONCERTO CONCERT PROGRAMME

■Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61 by Beethoven Allegro ma non troppo – Joseph Wragg (The Grove) Rondo. Allegro – Julian Chan (The Head Master’s) ■ Concerto for Flute and Strings, Op 45 by Arnold Hadrian Ho (The Head Master’s) ■ Allegro from Trumpet Concerto in Eb major, Hob VIIe:1 by Haydn Graham Lambert (Lyon’s) ■ Adagio – Moderato from Cello Concerto in E minor, Op 85 by Elgar Ruairi Pringle (The Head Master’s) ■ Allegro non troppo from Violin Concerto in D major, Op 77 by Brahms Jon Yuan (The Head Master’s) ■ Andante sostenuto from Piano Concerto No 2 in G minor, Op 22 by Saint-Saëns Mark Liu (Druries) ■ Allegro from Piano Concerto No 2 in F major, Op 102 by Shostakovich Daniel Sandell (Moretons) ■ Fine from Concertino for Timpani, Percussion and Strings by Panufnik Hassan Hammad (The Park) and Henry To (The Grove)

Concerto Concert

listening figures, as did the Buck Society’s weekly podcasts.

When live concerts with small audiences resumed, a particular highlight before half-term was the Byron Consort’s performance in St Pancras Church as part of the London Festival of Contemporary Church Music.

In the second half of the Summer term, we sought to offer boys the usual opportunities for music making, and the chance to catch up on things they missed. The boys produced some excellent performances in the House Instrumental Competitions, Music Prize Finals, ABRSM examinations, performances on Speech Day, Big Band Concerts, an astonishing Concerto Evening and workshops on Handel’s Messiah. – David Woodcock, Director of Music

CHAPEL

THE SCHOOL

2020–21 is an academic year we shall not forget. Nonetheless it was a season when I was filled with gratitude for the way the staff worked so hard to keep the School delivering a world-class education under the severest of restrictions. I was also thankful to Fr James and Fr Stuart for the way they adapted their ministry to the challenge of offering sacred space and opportunities for worship during the year.

The underpinning goal of the Chaplaincy throughout the year was to promote opportunity for prayer and worship while providing ongoing, and online, pastoral support. Messages and services were produced each Sunday with a new Stream channel – Chapel Word. Short messages about life and faith, hope and love were recorded all over the Hill. From the highest point in Harrow, the roof of St Mary’s, we looked down over London, paralleling Jesus gazing down on Jerusalem during his temptation. Homilies by the School lake evoked memories of the Rabbi from Nazareth calming the storm on the sea of Galilee. Whether on the Sunley, in the Hill Shop, or on the wondrous 8th tee, each week we continued to open the ancient scriptures and, mysteriously, like a conduit, something of the Spirit of God was imparted to the human soul. We were delighted with the hundreds of ‘hits’ and even, on occasion, found Chapel messages trending!

Innovation, as in all times of struggle, was important. We missed some timehonoured occasions, but we also found new ways to gather. One highlight was certainly the introduction of a stunning Christmas tree and a double gathering of boys singing Christmas carols in Bill Yard. It was a particularly moving occasion to hear the boys’ voices as they sang so heartily. We certainly hope that this event will become a Harrow tradition for the future. – Fr Nic Tivey, Lead Chaplain

ST MARY’S CHURCH

The School year began with some optimism that the lockdown of the previous year was behind us. In the event, although a full Autumn term proved possible, it was conducted under restricted circumstances, meaning that the weekly services at St Mary’s were spread over a fortnight with three Houses attending on each of the four days available. The Eucharist at 8am on Sundays remained suspended for parish and School alike. Nonetheless, a programme of reflection and worship continued both in church and online. The annual Commemoration of the Founder remained possible, kept by both John Lyon School and Harrow with visits to the tomb of John Lyon. In a rather moving innovation, the socially distanced John Lyon School services concluded with every boy walking past the tomb before leaving the church. In the case of Harrow, Choral Evening Prayer was held in a similar – though distanced – manner to recent years, with the Head of School laying a wreath on the tomb.

As the restrictions resulted in an entirely online Spring term, Founder’s Day became an online event with a reflection recorded at the grave of Montagu Butler. Indeed, in finding innovative and interesting venues for such recordings, it has been possible to remind oneself of the rich and deep connection between St Mary’s and the School. The north side clerestory windows, sadly too high to be fully appreciated, tell the story of the founding of the School, many of the memorials on the walls are to beaks and OHs, not least to the Drury family in the Anselm Chapel, and the churchyard is the final resting place of many Giants of Old and their mentors, among whom are Montagu Butler, Ralph Moore, who was Head Master during the Second World War and only Head Master to have died in office, Edgar Stogdon, a former Vicar, beak and Missioner of the Harrow Club, the Revd Francis Rendall, after whom Rendalls is named, and Edward Bowen, author of Forty Years On and better known outside the School as being a member of the very first team to win the FA Cup. Dr Wood referred to the Chapel as a “biography in stone”; St Mary’s is no less so!

– Fr James Power,

Vicar of St Mary’s Church

LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE CONSERVATION

The School estate is blessed with many ponds. Some have been created as attractive features of House gardens while others have a more practical role in holding the water that drains from the School fields to prevent flooding.

All of them enhance the biodiversity of the estate. Ponds require management in order to hold back the process of ecological succession and maintain their aquatic nature. One of the key tasks for Conservation this year was to remove silt and vegetation, such as reedmace, clogging up the ponds, and to fell small trees on the margins to allow more light in. The local dragonfly and damselfly populations seemed to benefit from our efforts, judging by the numbers recorded in the summer. It was a delight to see broad-bodied chasers, with their striking blue abdomens, on the pond below Lyon’s for the first time.

While we managed to plant up a small section of hedgerow on the Farm with blackthorn and hazel before the end of the autumn, lockdown in the new year put paid to further planting. Boys were encouraged to explore their local patches while stuck at home and get involved with the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch. They were also sent pictures and videos of the seasonal changes taking place in Harrow as winter turned slowly into spring.

There were no new recruits to Conservation in the summer since the Removes had many weeks of cadet training to catch up on. However, in Expeditions Week, a small number of boys assisted with hosting visits to the Farm by groups of primary school pupils. Following a successful model established in the summer of 2019, the boys led the children and accompanying adults on tours around the farmyard, fields and Park Lake, conducting activities along the way. We hope this collaboration with local schools can develop in the future. – Nick Keylock, Master-in-Charge

School Farm

HARROW RECORD | 2021 Lyon’s pond

THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S AWARD

BRONZE

Twenty Harrovians completed the Bronze Award; between them they pledged to contribute over 306 hours of volunteering at School, in the community and at home during the pandemic. Over 72 hours were spent coaching or tutoring younger siblings or pupils online. One boy became a social media volunteer for St John’s Ambulance and many continued to develop their coaching and leadership skills through the Harrow Rifle Corps. For their skills section, several boys developed their creativity and made art, played musical instruments and helped with School drama productions. Others turned to sport, caring for animals and learning to cook. Some used the physical section to develop their knowledge and skills in team sports such as rugby, football, basketball and hockey. Many pledged to keep fit by developing home fitness routines or using the gym, and others developed their skills in individual sports such as fencing, skiing and squash. All boys undertook a practice expedition and qualifying expedition in the summer. They travelled to Tring and enjoyed the different experiences offered to them when journeying through the Chilterns on foot, with every boy making it to the top of the Ivinghoe Beacon and achieving the expedition aim.

SILVER

During Expeditions Week, 65 boys from the Fifth Form took part in the practice and qualifying expeditions for The Duke of Edinburgh’s Silver Award. They travelled first to the Chiltern Hills for acclimatisation and navigation practice. The boys threw themselves into the challenge, making occasional navigational mistakes but learning from them. They were ably assisted by a team of beaks who trained them in the skills they would need on the qualifying expedition.

The morning after, we travelled to the Black Mountains in Wales, where boys had an opportunity to show what they had learned. Based across three different campsites, the boys walked up on the ridges of that area, enjoying beautiful views of the Welsh landscape. The days were long and tiring, but they stayed in good spirits, and certainly earned their gas-stove-cooked dinners at the end of the day.

The weather was a challenge. Boys had been expecting rain, but in the end were fortunate to get a lot of sunshine, which meant they quickly learned the importance of staying hydrated. Each group worked very well together, supporting each other through the hard parts and enjoying the good parts.

GOLD

At the end of term, 34 Lower Sixth boys travelled to the Lake District to complete the expedition element of the Gold Award.

The trip in the summer included both the practice and qualifying aspects of the expedition, which were undertaken back-to-back. This meant the boys, and beaks, faced seven consecutive days of walking and wild camping, much of it in testing weather conditions, and all of it in classic British mountain terrain.

Their routes took them through deep glaciated valleys such as Langdale and Wasdale, and over many of the highest peaks in England – with some groups even scaling the biggest giant, Scafell Pike itself. The boys were entirely self-sufficient, carrying all their food from day one and sourcing clean water from fast-moving becks and gills above the fell wall. They showed great skills of campcraft in selecting discreet and beautiful wild-camp locations, with particular highlights found in Dovedale and remote Langstrath.

The boys faced various challenges throughout the trip with fortitude and enthusiasm, and they all successfully completed the expedition. The external assessor summarised this year’s cohort as ‘probably the most committed, pleasant and resourceful’ he had come across.

One group make some new friends in Langdale

Making steep descent by Wetherlam Edge to their wild camp

HARROW RIFLE CORPS

The Harrow Rifle Corps’ training year achieved a great deal despite the obvious restrictions in place.

The contingent paraded throughout the Autumn term by implementing House Platoons to facilitate training within secure bubbles. These mixed-service platoons engaged in a wide range of military skills and adventurous training, making use of all the grounds and facilities on offer. Cadets were able to use the climbing wall, endurance course, swimming pool and rifle range while also receiving training focused on drill, skill at arms, navigation, first aid and fieldcraft. Cadets completing the APC (Basic) Syllabus were able to progress through their training under the direction of excellent Cadet NCOs and impressively committed and adaptable CFAVs. Cadets completing the APC Syllabus (Advanced) Special to Arm Infantry were introduced to fire and manoeuvre, contact drills and section attacks on the School grounds, which laid an excellent foundation for the contingent summer camp hosted in Norfolk during Expeditions Week in June.

Ceremonial events were necessarily adjusted in line with restrictions. Cadets paraded on Remembrance Sunday without spectators and a recording was made of the event. Standards were exceptionally high and the whole School was able to watch this recording in an act of private remembrance.

Once forced to cease on-the-ground training between January and March, the contingent maintained momentum online. APC Syllabus (Advanced) Cadets received bespoke training on the Methods of Instruction cadre, which culminated in a range of excellent lessons delivered to APC (Basic) cadets. The remainder of the contingent participated in a range of leadership training under the direction of CFAVs, senior cadets and external lecturers including Old Harrovians, serving and veteran personnel.

Cadets were thrilled to participate in the Ansell Bowl Competition during the Summer term, which saw outstanding turn out, command by senior cadets and exceptional feats of endurance. The Park were victorious in the Drill Competition and capitalised on this success to win the Endurance Event and the overall Ansell Bowl Competition, with Newlands and Lyon’s taking well-earned second and third places.

The Honourable Artillery Company Sword of Honour was awarded to SUO Jack Gosden (Lyon’s), who has embodied the Army’s Values and Standards throughout his time in the Harrow Rifle Corps and is a shining example of selfless commitment and exemplary standards to the junior cadets. The Harrow Rifle Corps is proud that SUO Gosden achieved an Army Scholarship alongside UO Peter Cartwright (The Grove). These cadets continue to uphold the fine tradition of the HRC and will make outstanding officers in the future. – Piers Lemoine, Master-in-Charge

SHAFTESBURY ENTERPRISE

The vision of Shaftesbury Enterprise is to give every young person in our community, irrespective of background, the chance to thrive and achieve their full potential, find fulfilment, go on to have a successful adult life and contribute positively to society.

We aim to achieve this by addressing some key challenges: improving educational attainment through appropriate academic intervention at primary and secondary school; improving life outcomes through offering diverse co-curricular and enrichment opportunities; supporting mental and physical wellbeing; and helping individuals to access further and higher education or employment.

In 2020–21, Shaftesbury Enterprise delivered a programme that offered significant support to young people facing the greatest barriers to progress, particularly in light of the Covid pandemic. We raised and donated almost £500,000 to support 10,000 young people through projects to help those who faced the most acute need in particularly vulnerable communities.

Projects funded through Shaftesbury Enterprise with Harrow International Schools

IntoUniversity

After-school sessions for students from vulnerable communities to help them catch up with learning lost because of the Covid pandemic, and help in applying to university.

Place2Be

Support for children in seven schools in Hillingdon and Slough who face challenges such as bereavement, bullying, domestic violence and family breakdown, including long-term, one-to-one counselling for children with the most immediate mental health needs.

Harrow Carers

Three new weekly groups: one focused on increasing academic attainment and two groups on promoting mental wellbeing for carers aged 16–18, and, in collaboration with Harrow College, weekly face-to-face sessions on moving into employment or further education.

Aldridge Foundation

A programme of one-to-one tutoring and coaching for pupils at Sudell Primary School whose existing learning gaps have widened during the COVID-19 pandemic, to ensure that these children, who may have difficult backgrounds and been disproportionately affected by the pandemic, have the same chance to catch up academically and thrive as every child in the UK.

Westside Young Leaders Academy (WYLA)

WYLA provides support and early intervention for Black and Ethnic Minority participants who are at risk of underachieving at school and of participating in criminal and anti-social behaviour. The WYLA Raise the Bar programme aims to address the personal and systemic barriers that undermine participants’ development and attainment, and offers enriching activities designed to teach key leadership skills, improve confidence and self-esteem, raise aspirations, improve presentation skills and develop a ‘can-do’ attitude, particularly for at-risk individuals.

Pupils from local schools visited the School Local groups used the School’s facilities

MyYard

MyYard targets young people aged 11–18 years who live in temporary accommodation and social housing on the Grange Farm Estate in South Harrow. On two days a week, a MyYard youth worker works with individuals who need support to fulfil their academic potential by addressing their lack of motivation, engagement with and success in education.

Magic Breakfast

The Magic Breakfast project removes morning hunger as a barrier to learning in two schools in the boroughs of Harrow and Brent by providing a free, healthy breakfast for all pupils who want one. Each partner school (where 35% or more of pupils must be eligible for free school meals) receives regular deliveries of nutritious food, and the support of a School Partner to help them optimise their provision so that every child who needs to can access a healthy breakfast without barrier or stigma.

Young Brent Foundation (YBF)

YBF strives to mitigate the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of young people in the African and Asian (Diaspora) and Minority Ethnic (AAME) population of particularly vulnerable communities on three estates in Brent by providing culturally appropriate counselling and therapeutic services to improve their emotional wellbeing and resilience.

Collections for Long Ducker and the Long Ducker Bike Ride are co-ordinated by the Harrow Development Trust.

LONG DUCKER

Arrangements for the 2020 Long Ducker had to be adapted because of the Covid pandemic. It took place over two days, with each House having a different start time and following an 8km route entirely within School grounds. Members of Newlands, Elmfield and West Acre took to the fields on the Friday afternoon. They ran with great spirit, despite the tough course and the unusual circumstances. The weather forecast for the Saturday morning, when the nine remaining Houses were scheduled to run, promised a torrential downpour. The first House away in the staggered start managed to dodge the worst of the weather but, over the course of the day, routes had to be changed and emergency marshalling procedures implemented due to the rain and, by the time the final House, Bradbys, ventured out they were faced with a course where falling over was inevitable.

The half-marathon event involved three gruelling laps of the course and was run by over 50 boys in the Sixth Form. A new event was the Hempstall Dash, a 1km timed segment mid-way through the course.

Those who were keener to swim had the choice of swimming either 5km (200 lengths) or 10km (400 lengths). Some boys in the Fifth Form, Remove and Shell opted to try the Short Double Ducker involving the 8km run and the 5km swim. A few Sixth Form boys bravely attempted the

RESULTS

Long Double Ducker of a half-marathon run and a 10km swim. William Tate (The Knoll) was the only competitor to achieve the coveted Double Ducker tie, completing both events in tie-gaining times.

Participants in this year’s event raised over £175,500, which was shared between Young Harrow Foundation, the Harrow Club and local charities. LONG DUCKER BIKE RIDE

The 2020 Long Ducker Bike Ride comprised a long (100 miles), medium (70 miles) and short route (40 miles). A fantastic turnout of 120 cyclists of all abilities took part in one of these three fully supported rides starting and finishing at Harrow. It was a great day of cycling with beautiful weather but with significantly more hills than in the previous year. Nearly £20,000 was raised to support vulnerable young people in north-west London.

8km run

1st Tom Emery (Moretons) 00:30:21 2nd Tom Hobbs (Newlands) 00:32:43 3rd Julian Abass (Elmfield) 00:33:21

Fastest Shell

Freddie Emery (Moretons) 00:36:30

Fastest Remove

Julian Abass (Elmfield) 00:33:21

Fastest Fifth Form

Tom Emery (Moretons) 00:30:21

Fastest Lower Sixth

Felix Majumdar (The Knoll) 00:34:01

Fastest Upper Sixth

Jude Brankin-Frisby (Newlands) 00:34:51

Half-marathon

1st Graham Lambert (Lyon’s) 01:30:47 2nd Eddie Jodrell (Elmfield) 01:34:08 3rd Freddie Taylor (Newlands) 01:35:38 Hempstall Dash

1st Tom Emery (Moretons) 00:03:31 2nd Tom Hobbs (Newlands) 00:03:40 3rd Graham Lambert (Lyon’s) 00:03:52

5km swim

1st Nick Finch (Newlands) 01:05:56

10km swim

1st Maxwell Brooks (West Acre) 02:11:07

Short Double Ducker

1st Henry Gray (Lyon’s) 2nd St John Smith (Newlands) 3rd Alexander Moore (Lyon’s)

Long Double Ducker

1st George Rates (Newlands) 04:29:51

LONG DUCKER – WHERE THE MONEY WENT Summer programme of activities for young people in Harrow (£31,000)

Nearly 800 young people took part in 16 projects that offered activities, learning and free lunches. Support was provided for young carers, refugees, victims of sexual violence, young people faced with the threat of gang violence and those suffering mental health crises.

IGNITE Trust

The IGNITE Trust believes that a healthy community draws people to it, changes individuals and gives them the power to change their community for the better, so they build communities of change around young people’s interests and needs.

The IGNITE Targeted Peer Leaders’ training course engaged young people aged 14–25 in Harrow who are involved in, or at-risk of involvement in, youth violence and the criminal justice system. These young people are among the most marginalised and excluded in society, often experiencing multi-dimensional disadvantage incorporating poverty, homelessness, learning difficulties, mental health issues, poor academic achievement, lack of confidence, leaving care and few opportunities. The course gave them the opportunity to learn about and develop leadership skills.

The young people who took part grew in confidence and self-esteem, which helped them to make positive choices and improve their ability to tackle challenges in their lives. They also Improved their employability skills including communication, teamwork, problem solving, perseverance and leadership.

Build Back Better (£115,000)

Build Back Better is a campaign to help young people find their feet after the Covid lockdowns. Through the projects we funded, nearly 1,500 young people were helped to survive the lockdowns and thrive over the following eight months.

We awarded grants to 24 organisations running programmes covering the five main issues identified as affecting young people in Harrow: youth violence, mental health problems, unemployment, inequality and a lack of physical activity.

Long Ducker Bike Ride

Kids Can Achieve (KCA)

KCA provides services for children and young people in Harrow with learning disabilities, and their families. They support children aged 5–25, including those with complex and multiple disabilities. Their core services are holiday playschemes, an after-school club, a Saturday club, an outreach and one-to-one support service, and family support and therapies. Long Ducker funds paid for a support worker for KCA to help them through the lockdown.

Harrow Club (£60,000+)

Since 1883, the Harrow Club (founded by a former Head Master and a group of Old Harrovians) has been anchored in the local community, providing some of the most marginalised young people in West London with opportunities that enable them to maximise their life chances and enhance their personal development. Long Ducker funds helped them: ■ increase the number of clubs they run to six; ■ extend their late-night support project to cover clubs in Chelsea, Hammersmith and Fulham; ■ launch a daytime programme for young people with behavioural issues who would otherwise be excluded from school; and ■ provide over 100 laptops for young people without access to a computer at home for online schooling.

Shaftesbury Enterprise Partners (£50,000+)

A significant portion of this money helped foundations and schools offer online provision to young people who would not otherwise be able to access an online curriculum. Funds also went to organisations such as Harrow Carers and Refuge to help young people whose difficulties were made almost unbearable by the pandemic.

Lumina

Our Lumina project providing tuition for children in care continued to grow, with 40 regular online lessons taking place with children in care in the London boroughs of Harrow, Ealing and Barnet.

A network of teachers from five schools took part in this scheme, giving hundreds of looked-after children, of both primary and secondary age, access to technology and extra support from a qualified educator in a subject/area of their choosing.

Our online Lumina university access course to help hundreds of Year 12 students from north-west London to gain places at top universities also ran in an online form in July.