Harrow School Location

[School2023]

Hi there,

I visited Harrow School for Boys for their Open Day this morning and thought it was really good; I was very impressed.

However, I was slightly concerned with the location of the school, in that it is in close proximity to the public; you can literally rub shoulders with complete strangers and you walk from lesson to lesson and I wasn't sure in terms of safeguarding how that would work.

Does anyone have any information/suggestions on what they have been doing?

Many thanks

That's not uncommon for secondary schools that are based in towns - even my state school, had an annex site and pupils were expected to make their own way between the two.

You need to ask the school what it does. The boys have a very distinctive uniform and are usually to be found in clumps, in a very quiet area where is would be difficult to hang around unnoticed. if you were seeking to harm a 13+ boy, I doubt this would be a place to snatch one from. Royals and other international prominent families have been happy to use the school

Westminster has pupils (in uniform more like an ordinary suit) moving between several locations on central London. IIRC they take a register at the start so if something interrupts a pupil's journey its quickly spotted.

Why would this be a problem. The youngest boys are 13 so hopefully full used to being in public alone!

At day schools, the vast majority of teenagers do the journey on public transport every day with no problem. Is it that you're concerned about members of the public accessing school property? If so, then that's definitely one to put to the school.

OP is probably worried their PFB will catch "common" from the oiks in the street.

Do they still have to wear their boaters in public ?

Eton's the same - the boys have to actually walk on public pavements to get in between classes / canteen etc avoiding the commoners

Gosh, how terrible that they might have to mix with the general public 🙄

Is this a serious post? Are you really expecting your son to be insulated against any meeting with "strangers" or members of the public whilst walking across a campus that is, like many others, open to the general public?

Ah the inverse snobs are out. Yes may be PFB, it may seem like a ridiculous concern to you but she is a mum and he is a child and she is asking for reassurance. Poor form @MumofSpud

My secondary school was all on one site, and we weren't allowed to leave during the day until 6th form, and even then there were rules. I found it weird that DH's school was on various sites like this.

My sons went to Harrow and the High Street was no problem at all. I would hate my kids to be locked into a 'posh twats' campus / compound like Wellington College in Berkshire!

I do think people are being a little unfair. Maybe @School2023 lives overseas and her son isn’t used to being on busy London roads. Also, I am sure the boys in harrow are also targeted and stick out like a a bit of a sore thumb.. I went to a boarding school in a town (as an expat) and we had to walk to our houses which were not on campus and to games etc. there were some funny safeguarding issues, like a flasher who everyone knew, and occasionally groups of girls were followed and harassed and one time some friends had eggs thrown at them, but I never feel unsafe. You are always around other friends and not really walking around on your own in uniform. I also agree it is good to be in town rather then sheltered away on a campus in the country but I guess if that is what you want then there are lots of other school options you could look at. All the best.

There is an excellent series of fairly recent documentaries on Harrow....showing the boys surviving the streets!

Found on Google/ You tube etc

OP - what safeguarding issues are you worried about in particular.
If you need security, maybe a campus school would suit you better?

Harrow School boys are a very common sight indeed on the High Street -- I'd be a bit more concerned about the traffic, if anything, although there are speed gates etc to slow everything down.
I would also imagine the School is very alert to this and any other possible dangers to their pupils. But you see them going from x to y in their school uniforms, sports gear or mufti. (And the older ones in the local pubs too. )

Many public schools in England have their buildings scattered among parts of towns and pupils have to walk along public pavements and cross public roads to get to their classes. My dcs school also has no fences/gates, and not even porters (we are not as precious as Harrow and Eton), so the public could walk freely around the grounds (few do as it's not a touristy place). My dcs school starts at 11, so some are 2 years younger than Harrow pupils, and all the dc cope fine. They obviously take a register at the beginning of each class, so would notice if someone went missing. All buildings have number locks, so noone random can walk into boarding houses/class rooms. Pupils are allowed to wear mufti (homeclothes) when venturing into town for shopping/cafes. In the first week, a teacher walks everywhere with them to ensure they don't get lost/follow traffic rules. From week 2, they are happy to make their own way and during the last 400 odd years, noone seems to have vanished/been kidnapped/hit by a bus.

There's a private school in my small town with various buildings and sports facilities spread out. The students walk around the town during the day to get around and seem to be able to buy their lunch out.

I drive through Harrow-on-the-hill regularly. It's a tiny place, more like a village, the boys walk along the street, mainly led by a school master (in a gown). I think it's all part of the experience of attending Harrow. The straw boater hats etc are part of the theatre.

I don't think this is a problem generally, especially as children get older and should have more freedom to explore the local area. The likley problem with Harrow though is just that. The location at the top of the hill is stunning and resplendent with school houses/buildings and boarding houses, as well some local independent shops and pretty housing. However, should boys wish to venture down the hill to Harrow town, things are very different - think chicken shops and a rather intimidating environment, especially for boys in their Harrow Hats.

Harrow boys love a chicken shop! Most aren't that isolated that they don't think Harrow is a great multicultural environment. And the older they get the more they venture out regardless of the rules!!

Not only that, but the commoners may be from Slough. clutches pearls

Harrow on the Hill is a very nice, small, villagey place. I’m guessing your son is only 10 or 11; remember, he will be 13 before he goes to school there, and will be well able to navigate roads etc with a group of his peers.

A Harrow hat is NOT a boater