John Lewis (headmaster)
Encyclopedia
John Elliot Lewis was the head master of Eton College
from 1994 to 2002.
Born in New Zealand
in 1942, Lewis attended King's College, Auckland
. He gained a double first
in Classics
from Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
, and taught at Eton between 1971 and 1980. He was a distinguished rugby player and cricketer. From 1980 to 1994, Lewis was the Headmaster of Geelong Grammar School
in Australia
, which had been attended by The Prince of Wales
and Rupert Murdoch
. Under the leadership of Lewis the school set about renovating the boarding and day houses to try to bring them up to somewhere near acceptable modern standards (which was successful), and a focus on improving academic results, for while the school had offered a generally rounded education, its poor academic performance had earned it the tag of a "finishing school for idiots".
Lewis took up the Headship of Eton College in 1994. Sir Eric Anderson
, the previous head master, had led Eton College to second place in the league table of independent schools. Under Lewis, it dropped to 29th place. Under his Headship, Eton introduced a zero-tolerance policy on illegal drugs, backed up by random testing. He expelled several pupils for drug use. He supervised the education of Princes William and Harry
.
Lewis retired in August 2002, having reached his 60th birthday.
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
from 1994 to 2002.
Born in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
in 1942, Lewis attended King's College, Auckland
King's College, Auckland
King's College is an independent secondary school in New Zealand. It was originally a boys-only school but now also admits girls in the sixth and seventh forms . The school has strong links to the Anglican church; the Anglican Bishop of Auckland, and the Dean of Auckland are permanent members of...
. He gained a double first
British undergraduate degree classification
The British undergraduate degree classification system is a grading scheme for undergraduate degrees in the United Kingdom...
in Classics
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
from Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Corpus Christi College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. It is notable as the only college founded by Cambridge townspeople: it was established in 1352 by the Guilds of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin Mary...
, and taught at Eton between 1971 and 1980. He was a distinguished rugby player and cricketer. From 1980 to 1994, Lewis was the Headmaster of Geelong Grammar School
Geelong Grammar School
Geelong Grammar School is an independent, Anglican, co-educational, boarding and day school. The school's main campus is located at Corio, on the northern outskirts of Geelong, Victoria, Australia, overlooking Corio Bay and Limeburners Bay....
in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, which had been attended by The Prince of Wales
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
and Rupert Murdoch
Rupert Murdoch
Keith Rupert Murdoch, AC, KSG is an Australian-American business magnate. He is the founder and Chairman and CEO of , the world's second-largest media conglomerate....
. Under the leadership of Lewis the school set about renovating the boarding and day houses to try to bring them up to somewhere near acceptable modern standards (which was successful), and a focus on improving academic results, for while the school had offered a generally rounded education, its poor academic performance had earned it the tag of a "finishing school for idiots".
Lewis took up the Headship of Eton College in 1994. Sir Eric Anderson
Eric Anderson
Eric Anderson may refer to:* Eric Anderson , British educator* Eric Anderson , English soldier, recipient of the Victoria Cross* Eric Anderson , American basketball player...
, the previous head master, had led Eton College to second place in the league table of independent schools. Under Lewis, it dropped to 29th place. Under his Headship, Eton introduced a zero-tolerance policy on illegal drugs, backed up by random testing. He expelled several pupils for drug use. He supervised the education of Princes William and Harry
Prince Harry of Wales
Prince Henry of Wales , commonly known as Prince Harry, is the younger son of Charles, Prince of Wales and the late Diana, Princess of Wales, and fourth grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
.
Lewis retired in August 2002, having reached his 60th birthday.
External links
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/348376.stmLewis interviewed on 'Drugs in Eton's sixth form' BBC NewsBBC NewsBBC News is the department of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online...
25 May 1999] - http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/new-head-appointed-for-eton-1464584.html'New head appointed for Eton' The IndependentThe IndependentThe Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
December 1, 1993]