The university celebrates a first year with over 200 local pupils graduating
Harrow Children’s University (HCU) proudly celebrates a highly successful first year, marked by two graduation ceremonies honouring the achievements of more than 200 primary school pupils. Launched through a unique partnership between John Lyon’s Foundation (John Lyon’s Charity, The John Lyon School and Harrow School), and Young Harrow Foundation, this impactful programme is opening up new opportunities for children across Harrow.
HCU was established in 2024 to tackle the low engagement of schools in Harrow seeking funding for arts activities from John Lyon’s Charity via its Home-School-Community – Cultural Capital Fund. By uniting the strengths and resources of John Lyon’s Foundation and Young Harrow Foundation, the initiative has connected schools with a wide range of local services and enrichment opportunities, giving pupils access to exciting, high-quality learning experiences outside the classroom.
Building on the success of similar initiatives funded by John Lyon’s Charity in Ealing and Westminster, Harrow Children’s University is part of a growing movement to ensure all children, regardless of background, can benefit from meaningful extracurricular learning. Research shows that access to these activities significantly improves academic attainment, confidence, and mental wellbeing. Yet for many families, especially those facing financial hardship, such opportunities remain out of reach. A report from the Campaign for Learning[1] revealed that nearly half of children are missing out on out-of-school trips due to the rising cost-of-living, with those from disadvantaged backgrounds three times more likely to be excluded.
Locally, the picture is equally concerning. The HAY (How Are You, Harrow?) survey, which gathered insights from over 6,800 young people across 29 schools, found that:
- 1 in 5 primary pupils worried about running out of food.
- 76% reported feeling anxious or nervous.
- 65% said they often felt down or depressed.
- Cost was a major barrier to participating in sports and other enrichment activities.
Perhaps most strikingly, only half of young people surveyed said they felt hopeful about their future, underscoring the urgent need for projects like Children’s University.
Through Harrow Children’s University, children take part in enriching learning experiences beyond the school day, including after-school clubs, university and museum visits, and social action projects. Their achievements are recorded in personalised “passports,” and once they complete a set number of learning hours, they graduate in a special ceremony that celebrates their hard work and commitment.
This year, The John Lyon School played a vital role in supporting three Harrow primary schools (Welldon Park Academy, Grange Primary and St Bernadette’s Primary), the first schools to join the programme, by offering volunteer support to help children log their learning hours. Harrow School also played an active role, enhancing the Children’s University offer through Drama and Music workshops, film screenings, and other creative initiatives. Overall, an incredible 36,213.35 hours of enrichment activities have been logged by 420 children in Harrow, opportunities they would not have had without the Children’s University. John Lyon’s Charity is proud of this joint initiative that has harnessed the resources of John Lyon’s Foundation to benefit local children and young people in Harrow.
With thriving programmes now established in Westminster, Ealing, and Harrow, John Lyon’s Charity encourages schools, community organisations and local authorities across its Beneficial Area to explore how the Children’s University model can benefit their communities. To learn more about John Lyon’s Charity and its funding opportunities, please click here. If you are interested in bringing the Children’s University model to your area, click here to find out more.
[1] Almost half of children missing out on learning outside of school due to cost-of-living pressures