16 November 2023
Prep School takes on John Lyon School identity
The hugely successful merger in November 2020 between John Lyon School (Senior) and Quainton Hall School (Prep) has delivered significant mutual benefits such as shared facilities and resources, shared ethos and School Values, enrichment days, joint activities and events, pupil mentoring opportunities, staff development and the Prep becoming part of the prestigious John Lyon’s Foundation and global Harrow Family of Schools. The next natural step is to give the Prep School a shared John Lyon identity.
With our Head, Mrs Rose Hardy, at the helm of John Lyon School coupled with the forthcoming start of our new Head of Prep, Mrs Sonal Chatrath, this presented us with the ideal opportunity to rethink our Prep School’s positioning within our family. As Northwest London’s leading co-educational, all-through 3 to 18 independent school, our branding must be aligned as one for consistency.
We are delighted to announce that from January 2024, we will come ever closer under one clear John Lyon School masterbrand. From this point, our single John Lyon School name and logo will be used to represent us at all levels and all of our sites, including our Prep School on Hindes Road, our Senior School on Middle Road and our Sudbury Fields on Sudbury Hill.
Whilst this is a significant and historic update for the School, there will be no change to the day-to-day operation of either site. We will continue to cement our all-through identity, as we have been doing so for the last three years. Although the Quainton Hall School name will now be replaced by John Lyon School, we felt it was important to our community to recognise our roots and acknowledge the 126 years of the Prep. In January 2023, we unveiled the rebadged Quainton’s Little Lyons Nursery and Reception and we are proud to confirm that whilst the Quainton Hall School name will be replaced by John Lyon School, the Quainton name will be retained for the Nursery and Reception, so that we pay homage to the Prep’s history and heritage.
From a practical perspective, the implementation and rollout of the branding will start with new entrance signage at the Prep School, but will be a gradual phased process to ensure we carefully consider the implications and impact of changes. With that in mind, some aspects will be updated fairly quickly, others including the School uniform for Prep will be a slower approach, done in consultation with parents/guardians and pupils, and not be changed until they have ended their natural lifespan. This is a more sustainable and more financially prudent approach.
Mrs Rose Hardy, Head, said: “It is hugely important for us that we capitalise on the success of the merger of Prep and Senior divisions and our upward trajectory as one School. Since they have united as one, I am thrilled with the progress we have made together at both Prep and Senior levels. From a strategic and branding perspective, the School Values were recently aligned and now the natural evolution of our merger is that we bring both identities together under our John Lyon School brand so that parents, pupils, staff, governors, alumni and the local community can instantly see and recognise that we are one entity and one whole school. We are proud to continue championing our broad offering from Quainton’s Little Lyons Nursery all the way up to our Sixth Form.”
Mrs Sonal Chatrath, incoming Head of Prep, said: “I am excited to be joining as Head of Prep at John Lyon School – an institution steeped in history and well known in the local circuit. I am honoured to be taking the reins of the Prep School, which is in excellent shape, and I am keen to make the all-through journey as seamless as possible. We have heard already, since the amalgamation, that our families are really proud of being part of the aspirational John Lyon School journey from when they join at 3+, 4+ and 7+.”
Mr Simon Ford, Headmaster of Prep, said: “This exercise is the next step on the exciting journey for the Prep. Since we joined up with the Senior School, we have seamlessly aligned many areas. This will now ensure that we are fully seen as John Lyon School. I look forward to seeing the rollout and implementation following my retirement. I wish Mrs Hardy and Mrs Chatrath all the very best as they take the School forward on its next chapter. I am extremely proud of the School’s positive direction of travel.”
Mr Jesal Suchak, Director of Marketing and Communications, said: “John Lyon School is an educational brand which is recognised across Harrow, Northwest London and beyond. With the Prep and Senior unifying under our masterbrand, we will now be able to convey a strong, clear and consistent message: John Lyon School – Northwest London’s leading co-ed, all-through, 3 to 18 independent school.”
| John Lyon School
Senior School Middle Road Harrow-on-the-Hill London HA2 0HN |
John Lyon School
Prep School Hindes Road Harrow London HA1 1RX |
John Lyon School
Sudbury Fields Sudbury Hill Harrow London HA1 3SB |
- Why this change?
The Governors, Head and Senior Leadership Team have collaborated closely with all Prep and Senior staff to bring both separate Schools together since the merger to the benefit of both Prep and Senior pupils. The current two separate names, with two completely different sets of branding, is no longer fit for purpose for our one-school vision. Whilst the Prep School is part of John Lyon School, this isn’t instantly obvious to those not within our community. We feel one identity supports our all-through 3 to 18 approach to education.
- Why now?
After successfully navigating the first few years aligning the Prep and Senior, we felt that the next natural step is to bring the branding into one clear and consistent message. With our new Head, Mrs Rose Hardy, at the helm of John Lyon School coupled with the forthcoming start of our new Head of Prep, Mrs Sonal Chatrath, this presented us with the ideal opportunity to rethink our Prep School’s positioning within our family. As Northwest London’s leading co-educational, all-through 3 to 18 independent school, our branding must be aligned as one for consistency.
- Will this change or disrupt the pupils in any way?
There will be no change to the day-to-day to either Prep or Senior pupils and therefore no disruption. Their learning and growth will continue to be our priority.
- Are you wasting money on rebranding the Prep School?
Many organisations, including educational establishments, conduct branding exercises to refresh their visuals and update their brand. The rebrand is an important strategic piece of work for us. Whilst we would ideally want to change everything all at once for maximum impact and consistency, we intend to rollout the new identity of the Prep School, with John Lyon branding, at a sensible and measured pace so we will be more prudent in the project. The implementation will start with new signage at the Prep School and the rollout will be a gradual and phased in process as we will want to carefully consider the implications of such change. With that in mind, some aspects will not be changed until they have ended their natural lifespan. This is a more sustainable route and also a more financially prudent approach.
- Will the Prep School uniform change?
There are no immediate plans to change the uniform for existing Prep families. At some point, our suppliers will offer new Prep pupils and families with John Lyon School branded uniform, kit and accessories. Those parents/guardians that currently have the old shield badge on their uniform will not be asked to buy a replacement, as this would be an unnecessary cost to families. Instead, when existing uniform reaches its natural end of life or is outgrown, you may then purchase new John Lyon badged uniform as a replacement. Equally, however, families with the old badged uniform who would like to purchase a new John Lyon branded uniform will be able to do so. We will phase the John Lyon badged uniform in when new pupils join and when current pupils’ uniform needs replacing. The School will consider when to update uniform in the future to reflect the rebrand and, if there are any significant changes, we will provide parents/guardians with ample notice.
- What about key email addresses?
Prep staff email addresses will soon be moved from the quaintonhall.org.uk domain to johnlyon.org. We will inform you when this change has been made.
Key departmental email address updates are as follows:
Absences: from January 2024, parents/guardians should report their child’s absences via the Parent Portal rather than emailing or phoning the School. This is much more efficient process for both parents/guardians and staff. It also gives us a quick centralised list of all absences. Details on reporting absences will be sent out separately later this term.
Admissions: [email protected]
Finance: [email protected]
Reception and School Office: [email protected]
