Harrow International School Qianhai Shenzhen

Who Can Apply to Harrow Shenzhen?

Harrow Shenzhen operates under Chinese regulations as a Foreign Nationals' Children School (外籍人员子女学校), which means its admissions policy is legally restricted:

• Students with foreign passports are fully eligible
• Students holding Hong Kong, Macao or Taiwan status are fully eligible
• Mainland Chinese nationals may only apply if at least one parent holds a foreign passport, or if both parents are Mainland Chinese but one meets specific Qianhai residency/work criteria (e.g. working in Qianhai for 90+ days)

This eligibility framework means the school's student body is almost entirely international, drawn from approximately 20 nationalities.

The Application Process

For students applying to Nursery or Year 1, the process involves:

• Student interview
• Parent interview
• No formal written assessment

For students applying to Year 2 and above, the process adds:

• Online assessment test (academic evaluation)
• Student interview
• Parent interview

The admissions team evaluates candidates on three core criteria: academic ability, co-curricular commitment, and English language proficiency. A non-refundable assessment fee of RMB 3,000 is charged per application.

English as a Non-Negotiable

All instruction at Harrow Shenzhen is conducted in English. Students must demonstrate age-appropriate English fluency to access the curriculum, and this is assessed during the admissions process. EAL (English as an Additional Language) support is available for students who are strong academically but need additional language scaffolding.

Offers and Enrolment

Once an offer is made, families must pay a refundable Facility Deposit of RMB 25,000 within 5 working days to secure the place. Given the school's limited capacity (~700–800 students) and growing reputation, prospective families are encouraged to begin enquiries early.

Sibling Policy

The school offers fee concessions for families with multiple children enrolled:

• 3rd child: 5% discount
• 4th child: 10% discount
• 5th child and beyond: 15% discount

The first and second children pay full fees.

Life Beyond the Classroom

Harrow Shenzhen is distinguished by the extraordinary breadth of its co-curricular offering. The school's Harrow Diploma Activities (HDA) programme encompasses more than 210 distinct activities — an exceptional figure for a school of approximately 700 students.

Sports

The school offers competitive and recreational programmes across a wide range of sports:

• Team sports: Basketball, Football, Rugby, Volleyball, Cricket
• Individual sports: Swimming, Table Tennis, Badminton, Tennis, Athletics, Gymnastics, Cross-country
• Inter-house and interscholastic competitions are held throughout the year
• The 50-metre outdoor swimming pool and indoor sports hall provide world-class training facilities

Arts and Performance

The performing arts are central to school life at Harrow Shenzhen:

• Music: Orchestra, String Ensemble, Choir, Band — with termly House Music competitions
• Drama: School musicals (productions have included The Wizard of Oz and Little Shop of Horrors), drama festivals and house drama competitions
• Visual Arts: Art Club, Photography Club, dedicated art studios and a media suite

Academic and STEM Clubs

• Robotics Club, Coding/Computer Science Club
• Mathematics Club, Science Olympiad
• Chess Club, Model United Nations (MUN)
• Debate and Public Speaking

Service and Leadership

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award is available, alongside a Youth Leadership Council, Student Council (with Head Boy and Head Girl roles), community service projects such as Charity Tea initiatives, and the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) in Sixth Form.

A Diverse International Community

With students from approximately 20 nationalities living and learning together — many in the boarding houses — Harrow Shenzhen fosters a genuinely cosmopolitan atmosphere. Chinese Language and Culture clubs further bridge local and international perspectives, preparing all students for lives and careers in an interconnected world.

A Unique East-West Educational Philosophy

Harrow International School Shenzhen occupies a distinctive position in the landscape of international education in China. Established in 2020 within the Qianhai Co-operation Zone — one of China's most forward-looking economic districts — the school deliberately fuses two powerful traditions: the 450-year legacy of Harrow School in the UK and the entrepreneurial, fast-evolving spirit of Shenzhen.

At the core of the school's philosophy are four values drawn directly from the original Harrow School:

• Honour — acting with integrity in all situations
• Courage — facing challenges with confidence and resilience
• Humility — remaining open to learning and respectful of others
• Service — contributing meaningfully to the community and wider world

These values are not merely decorative. They are embedded in the school's House system, pastoral structures, and co-curricular programme, and they inform how teachers relate to students and how students are encouraged to relate to one another.

Holistic Development

The school explicitly rejects a purely exam-focused approach. While academic outcomes are strong — the Class of 2025 earned offers from Imperial College London, LSE, UCL, UCLA, and HKU — the curriculum is designed to develop "the whole child." The campus itself reflects this philosophy: purpose-built with integrated sports halls, swimming pools, performance theatres, art studios, science laboratories, music rooms, and boarding houses, all designed to enable students to "learn, collaborate and socialise freely."

The Harrow Diploma Activities (HDA) programme, which encompasses over 210 co-curricular activities, is a central feature. This programme is inspired by the Duke of Edinburgh's Award model: it requires students to engage in breadth — academic enrichment, physical activity, creative arts, and service — not just depth in a single domain.

Chinese Cultural Integration

Uniquely among British-heritage schools, Harrow Shenzhen places Chinese culture and language at the heart of its identity. The six House names themselves reflect this duality: Deng Xiao Ping and Song Qing Ling honour celebrated Chinese figures alongside Lyon, Attenborough, Churchill and Curie, who represent the global tradition. Mandarin Chinese is compulsory for all students, offered at three levels (First Language, Second Language, Foreign Language), and available as an A-Level subject.

This integration is not superficial. The school describes its mission as preparing students for a world in which understanding both Western and Chinese contexts is a critical advantage — a message that resonates deeply with the families of Shenzhen's international business community.

Academic Programme: UK Rigour in a Chinese Context

Harrow Shenzhen offers a fully British academic pathway from the earliest years through to university entry, covering:

• Early Years (ages 2–5): EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage), aligned with the English national framework
• Lower School (Years 1–6, ages 5–11): UK National Curriculum with specialist teaching in key subjects
• Middle School (Years 7–9, ages 11–14): UK National Curriculum at Key Stage 3
• Upper School (Years 10–11, ages 14–16): Cambridge and Edexcel IGCSE examinations
• Sixth Form (Years 12–13, ages 16–18): Cambridge International A-Levels

IGCSE Subject Range

At IGCSE level (typically taken in Year 11), students study a broad range of subjects including Art & Design, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Design & Technology, Drama, English Language, English Literature, Geography, History, Mathematics, Physics, and Chinese. Physical Education and additional languages are also likely offered.

A-Level Subject Breadth

The Sixth Form is academically ambitious, offering:

• Art & Design, Biology, Business Studies, Chemistry
• Chinese Language & Literature, Computing, Drama, Economics
• English Literature, Geography, History
• Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Music, Physics

All Sixth Form students are also required to complete the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), which develops independent research skills highly valued by leading universities.

University Destinations

The school's first graduating cohorts have achieved remarkable results:

• Class of 2025: Approximately 200 university offers — around 7 per student
• 80% of the cohort received offers from UK G5 universities, HK's top institution, Canada's top university, Australia's top university, or top US arts schools
• 93% received offers from UK Top 10, US Top 20, HK Top 3, Canada Top 1, or Australia Top 2 institutions
• Named universities include Imperial College London, LSE, UCL, UCLA, and HKU

Teacher Quality

With 126 academic staff serving approximately 700 students, the school maintains a student-to-teacher ratio of approximately 5:1 — exceptionally low by any standard. This enables small-group teaching, particularly in IGCSE and A-Level classes which typically have 10–16 students, ensuring each pupil receives close academic attention.

Pastoral Care: The House System at the Heart of School Life

Harrow Shenzhen's pastoral structure is modelled on the famous House system of Harrow School in England, adapted thoughtfully for its Shenzhen context. The six Houses are:

• Deng Xiao Ping House
• Song Qing Ling House
• Churchill House
• Attenborough House
• Lyon House
• Curie House

The naming of Houses after both celebrated Chinese and international historical figures is deliberate, reflecting the school's dual cultural identity. Each House has its own colours, traditions and sense of identity.

Vertical Groupings

A defining feature of the Harrow House model is its vertical structure: students from Pre-Nursery through Year 13 are mixed together within each House. This means a Year 12 student will share their House identity with a Year 3 student, creating natural mentoring relationships and a strong sense of continuity and belonging across age groups. The school notes that older students are encouraged to "support their younger peers" — an intentional mechanism for building leadership and empathy.

Housemasters and Pastoral Staff

Each House is led by an experienced Housemaster or Housemistress, supported by a dedicated pastoral team. These staff members are responsible not only for discipline and administrative matters but for the holistic wellbeing of every student in their House — academic progress, social integration, mental health and personal development.

The school also has a formal Prevention of Bullying Policy, reflecting a commitment to maintaining a safe and supportive environment.

Boarding

Harrow Shenzhen offers boarding for students from Year 5 (age approximately 10) upwards, with a current capacity of 89 boarders. The boarding community is housed in three separate boarding houses (boys and girls separated), with single, double and triple room configurations. Regular boarding is charged at RMB 122,600 per year, with flexi-boarding available at a pro-rata rate plus 20%.

Boarders benefit from supervised study rooms, common room facilities, and the full pastoral support of their Housemaster or Housemistress. The boarding programme is an integral part of school life, rather than a separate entity — boarders participate fully in HDA activities, House competitions and social events alongside day students.