Sir John Lawes School
Academy converter secondary school in Harpenden (Hertfordshire).
Location
iSchool location from Get Information about Schools. Nearby schools are coloured by phase. Open Map+ for a full-screen map with neighbourhood deprivation (England only).About
Welcome to Sir John Lawes School. With over 80 years experience of providing exceptional learning for all, students at SJL are offered a true education for a changing world . We excel in supporting each and every student to develop their individual talents and to achieve more than they could imagine.
We have an experienced and talented staff who, combined with our broad, balanced and challenging curriculum, enable all our students to make excellent progress. We set the highest standards possible and through the SJL ACE, which stands for Achievement, Care and Excellence, we ensure that students reach their academic potential and beyond.
The behaviour of our students is excellent, with learners truly valuing their education. Student wellbeing is central to our ethos and culture. Our personal development programme is expertly designed to support our students from Year 7 all the way through to Year 13.
We also offer expert advice and guidance to help students make the best possible choices for their future, including support to access top universities and apprenticeships.
In the school’s own words, from the school website.
Enrichment
24 activitiesiFound on the school website by WhatSchool. Not verified by Governance Register; the school website is the authority.- Athletics
- Badminton
- Band
- Basketball
- Choir
- Cricket
- Dance
- Debating
- Drama
- Duke of Edinburgh
- Football
- Gardening
- Gymnastics
- Hockey
- Minecraft
- Netball
and 8 more
Awards
3 awardsiFound on the school website by WhatSchool. Not verified by Governance Register; the school website is the authority.- Duke of EdinburghPersonal development
- Teaching School HubRecognised award
- Eco SchoolsEnvironment
Key facts
- URN
- 137270
- Type
- Academy converter
- Phase
- Secondary
- Ages
- 11 to 18
- Gender
- Mixed
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Sixth form
- Has a sixth form
- Local authority
- Hertfordshire
- Constituency
- Harpenden and Berkhamsted
- Setting
- Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
- Opened
- 2011
Governing body (10 current, 3 former)
iAcademy trust: local governing body and trust board.2 governors are linked to a profile (all confirmed).
Governors marked “Confirmed same person” have exactly the same forename and surname as the only officer of that name at the school’s own academy trust company on the Companies House register, so we treat them as the same person. The governance record itself comes from DfE.
Leadership
| Name | Role | How appointed | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mrs Katherine Wilmshurst Confirmed same person | Chair of Local Governing Body | Elected by parents | since 2021 · until 2029 |
Full governing body
| Name | Role | How appointed | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sarah Amexheta | Local Governor | Elected by parents | since 2026 · until 2030 |
| Tina Zhao | Local Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2025 · until 2029 |
| Rob Spink | Local Governor | Elected by parents | since 2024 · until 2028 |
| Mrs Vicky Clark | Local Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2024 · until 2028 |
| Leila Guerra | Local Governor | Elected by parents | since 2022 · until 2026 ends 2026 |
| Mr Phil Newbery | Local Governor | Ex-officio by virtue of office as headteacher/principal | since 2022 |
| Ms Sarah Austin | Local Governor | Elected by parents | since 2021 · until 2029 |
| Elizabeth Montgomery | Local Governor | Elected by parents | since 2018 · until 2026 ends 2026 |
| Mr Michael Stevens Confirmed same person | Local Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2016 · until 2028 |
| Ayodele Ibironke Former | Local Governor | Elected by school staff | since 2024 · term ended 2026 |
| Rachel Woolrych Former | Local Governor | Elected by school staff | since 2024 · term ended 2026 |
| Mr James Robertson Former | Local Governor | Elected by parents | since 2022 · term ended 2026 |
Source: Department for Education, Get Information about Schools (governance records, as at 25 October 2026). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Names are shown as published; there are no addresses or contact details. Current and former are worked out from term end dates when the page loads. Object or ask for removal · Report an issue with this record