We are delighted that Lyonsdown is a ‘Good Schools Guide’ school. The Guide is considered to be the leading and most trusted source of honest and independent information about schools in the UK.
Schools are selected to be a part of the Good Schools Guide, following a rigorous inspection and decision-making process. We are honoured that Lyonsdown has been a part of the guide for a number of years now.
The review is a wonderful description of Lyonsdown – and should be read by all prospective parents who are considering which school in Barnet or North London would best suit their daughter. We are particularly proud of the Good Schools Guide’s summary:
“Visitors are greeted by lion sculptures in the attractive front garden and, basking in the sun on the wall behind them, a pair of ceramic lions – symbolic, perhaps, of the ‘bold and brave’ core value that Lyonsdown girls represent.”
We are also incredibly pleased that the Good Schools Guide recognised the many fantastic aspects that an education at Lyonsdown School offers. Some of the highlights are captured in the following extracts:
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“Neatly ordered classrooms (the tidiest we have seen) are furnished with clever segmented tables on wheels, pushed together for group work, or separated, as required….The youngest girls are introduced to basic coding with Bee-Bots and, by the time they reach year 6, are familiar with abstract HTML coding concepts”.
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“Outdoor learning is now embedded in the curriculum…and free-flow access from reception to the mud kitchen and the water butts provides endless opportunity to get stuck in, and wet, from the earliest years…Every inch of space in the playground is put to good use: a physically challenging climbing frame with fabulous imaginative scope; a ‘loose parts’ (think spare tyres, guttering and traffic cones) play area; and an outdoor story chair where one small child was ensconced with a book. The wraparound garden includes a forest school and, inaugurated for the coronation, the King’s Pond with solar-powered fountain. Imagination is not lacking…”
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“We were blown away by large-scale collaborative art works – still-lifes and portraits. No surprise to hear of multiple successes in national art competitions, even acceptance in the Royal Academy summer exhibition.”
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“The inspirational Art/DT and Music teachers work together to create a post-11+ project to include museums, concerts and the major end-of-year musical production in the theatre of Mill Hill School”.
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“Clubs are popular at all times of the day: Problem Solving, Creative Writing, Yoga, Debating, Newspaper Club (run by girls who edit articles, write book reviews and interview teachers) and, most surprising of all, Maypole Dancing”.
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“Football, cricket and netball are all on offer, with tennis also in the mix… Barnet league lends an opportunity to play football against local schools and competitive cross-country is now also on offer at Mill Hill School, whose facilities (12 minutes by coach) have broadened the scope of sport, not least on sports day..The introduction of intensive swimming ..over a two-week period, led to a deafening Hoorah from parents”.
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“Wellbeing is a timetabled lesson for every year group and Norman the therapy dog is also around as a calming presence, even to be read to!”
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“The teaching style, is ‘very inclusive, no one is seen as different….truly cross-curricular, and ambitious..”.
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“Eleven-plus offers (including scholarships) from north London and Herts independents (including Belmont, Haberdashers’, St Albans High School) and selective grammar schools (Dame Alice Owen’s, Latymer, Henrietta Barnett). Parents of recent leavers say how well the girls are prepared for transition, not just academically but also in their independence and maturity”.
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“A local school with a warm, community feel”.
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“Now I’m at Lyonsdown I can do anything”.
The review rightly highlighted the many aspects of school life, from art to athletics, outdoor learning to coding, and much more beyond. Prospective parents can read the full review here.
We encourage prospective parents to come and see the school for themselves – please click here to arrange a personal tour or to find out the date of our next open event.
