Harrow International School Shanghai

A Philosophy Rooted in Heritage and Innovation

Harrow Shanghai's overarching vision — "Educational Excellence for Life and Leadership" (育以至善·卓以领航) — distils more than four centuries of Harrow School London's tradition into a modern, multicultural context. The school was deliberately designed to be a place where, as the official website states, "the best of East and West come together."

The Four Core Values

Every aspect of school life at Harrow Shanghai is underpinned by the same four values that define all Harrow schools globally:

• Courage — to take on challenges and stand up for what is right
• Honour — to act with integrity in all things
• Humility — to remain grounded and open to learning
• Fellowship — to build community and support one another

These values are not merely aspirational; they are woven into the house system, co-curricular programme, and the school's leadership development activities.

Mission Statement

The school's formal mission states: "To ensure every child exceeds their individual expectations, we will challenge and inspire them, inside the classroom and beyond its boundaries... we seek to create exceptional, honest, reflective, influential leaders who seek to make the world a better place."

This commitment to whole-child development means that academic rigour coexists with an equally strong emphasis on:

• Character formation through the House pastoral system (Churchill, Byron, Shaftesbury, Rothschild)
• Leadership opportunities via Student Council, Duke of Edinburgh Award, and service projects
• Creative and physical development through arts, music, drama, and sport

East-West Fusion in Practice

In practice, the East-West philosophy manifests in several ways:

• Mandarin Chinese is offered from Early Years through to A-Level (both as a first and second language stream)
• Chinese cultural events and celebrations are part of the school calendar
• The school sits in Pudong, Shanghai — a symbol of China's dynamic modernity — while maintaining the traditions, uniform, and ethos of a classic English public school
• All teaching staff are internationally recruited but must pass rigorous vetting by Harrow's Hong Kong headquarters

Pastoral Life at Harrow Shanghai

The House System

A defining feature of life at Harrow Shanghai — as at Harrow London — is the House system. Every student from Early Years through Year 13 is assigned to one of four Houses:

• Churchill
• Byron
• Shaftesbury
• Rothschild

Houses serve as the primary unit of pastoral care, inter-school competition, and community building. Housemasters and tutors within each House provide daily pastoral oversight, and students meet with their House tutor group regularly for guidance on academic progress, wellbeing, and personal development.

Daily Pastoral Structure

• Every student has a House Tutor whom they see daily
• Tutors provide guidance on organisation, planning, and mental health
• The Head Master (currently Mr Alex Reed) also serves as the campus Safeguarding Lead, supported by a named team that includes the Heads of Lower School, Upper School, and Sixth Form
• A full-time school nurse is on campus for medical needs
• A formal Anti-Bullying and Child Protection Policy is published and reviewed regularly

Co-Curricular & Leadership Opportunities

Pastoral life extends beyond the classroom through a rich programme of leadership and service activities:

• Student Council — elected student representatives who have a voice in school governance
• Duke of Edinburgh Award — available to senior students; involves community service, skill development, physical activity, and an expedition
• Leadership & Service Programme — Sixth Formers lead assemblies, mentor younger students, and run service projects
• Community Service — Volunteer initiatives linked to local Shanghai charities and NGOs

Wellbeing Facilities

The school's campus design supports student wellbeing through dedicated spaces:

• Comfortable common areas and a Café Bar for social interaction
• Outdoor play areas and gardens
• Indoor sports halls and a swimming pool for physical activity
• All indoor areas equipped with air purification and heating systems

The emphasis on character — expressed through the four Harrow values of Courage, Honour, Humility, and Fellowship — permeates every aspect of pastoral life, ensuring students develop as rounded individuals as well as high academic achievers.

Academic Excellence Within a British Framework

Harrow Shanghai follows the full British curriculum pathway from Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) through to A-Level, giving students a coherent and internationally recognised academic journey:

• Early Years & Primary (Pre-Nursery – Year 5): English National Curriculum with EYFS in the youngest years. Classes are taught by native English-speaking class teachers supported by specialist teachers for PE, ICT, Mandarin, and music.
• Lower Secondary (Years 6–9): Continuation of the UK National Curriculum, broadening into departmental specialist teaching.
• IGCSE (Years 10–11): All students study Mathematics, English (First/Second Language), Physics, Chemistry, and Biology as compulsory subjects, plus four optional subjects chosen from Chinese (First/Second Language), Spanish, Geography, History, Business Studies, Computer Science, Art & Design, Music, Drama, and PE.
• A-Level / Sixth Form (Years 12–13): Students typically choose three to four subjects from a broad menu including Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Business Studies, Economics, Geography, History, Computer Science, Art, Music, Drama, English, Chinese, and Spanish.

Published Exam Outcomes

Over a recent five-year rolling average, Harrow Shanghai has reported:

• A-Level: Average A*/A rate of 67%, with approximately 42% achieving A*. This places the school at the top of the global Harrow network in A-Level performance.
• IGCSE: Approximately 53% of all exam entries graded A*, and 88% graded A or A*.
• University Destinations: Virtually 100% of graduates progress to university, with notable recent acceptances at Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College London, UCL, LSE, HKU, and UBC.

Teaching Approach

The school operates small classes (maximum ~16 in Kindergarten, ~22 in Primary, ~24 in Secondary) against a published student-to-teacher ratio of 1:5. Teachers are recruited and vetted by the Harrow Group headquarters and are predominantly native English speakers, with specialist Chinese staff for Mandarin and cultural programmes. House tutors provide daily academic oversight and pastoral guidance in addition to subject teachers.

Assessment Philosophy

External exams are administered by Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) and Pearson Edexcel. The school emphasises not only examination performance but also the development of independent thinking and leadership qualities that are part of the broader Harrow ethos.

A Purpose-Built Campus Designed for Excellence

Harrow Shanghai's single campus occupies approximately 37,000 square metres in Pudong's Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone at No. 588 Gaoxi Road. Designed from the outset to accommodate a full Pre-Nursery through Year 13 school community, the campus offers an impressive range of facilities across academic, sporting, and arts domains.

Academic Facilities

• Classrooms: Modern, technology-equipped rooms with interactive displays across all year groups
• Science Laboratories: 12 fully equipped labs serving both Lower and Upper School science departments
• Two-Level Library: An extensive collection accessible to all ages
• Computer/ICT Suites: Specialist computing rooms supporting digital literacy across all year levels
• Sixth Form Study Centre: Dedicated independent study and university preparation space

Sports & Physical Education

• Two Full-Size Indoor Sports Halls: Capable of hosting basketball, volleyball, badminton, and other court sports
• Olympic-Length Indoor Swimming Pool: Used for competitive swimming, swimming lessons, and aquatics
• Standard Outdoor Football Pitch: FIFA-standard grass or turf surface
• Running Track and Rooftop Platform Sports Area: Additional outdoor activity space

Performing Arts

• Drama Studio / Performance Theatre: State-of-the-art production space for school plays, musicals, and LAMDA examinations
• Music Rooms: Multiple practice and ensemble rooms
• Dance Studio: Dedicated dance and movement space
• House / College Meeting Hall: Assembly and whole-school gathering space

Pastoral & Communal Spaces

• Café Bar / Common Room: On-campus café serving the school community
• Kindergarten Activity Hall: Dedicated early years play and learning space
• Nurse's Office: Full-time medical care
• All indoor areas are equipped with advanced air purification and heating systems — a notable quality-of-life feature given Shanghai's air quality conditions

Access

The school is well connected by public transport. The nearest Metro station is Zhouhai Road (Shanghai Metro Line 6), approximately 640 metres (about 8 minutes' walk) from the campus. An optional school bus service covers routes within 30 km of the campus for an annual fee of approximately RMB 23,360.

Admissions at Harrow Shanghai: What to Expect

Harrow Shanghai is one of Shanghai's most in-demand international schools, with active waiting lists reported across many year groups. Families are strongly encouraged to begin the enquiry and application process well in advance of their desired start date — ideally 12 months or more before.

Eligibility

The school admits children of:

• Foreign nationals (all nationalities welcome)
• Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan permanent residents
• Children of Chinese nationals born overseas

Mainland Chinese nationals are not eligible to enrol, as the school operates as a licensed international school in China.

Application Steps

1. Book a School Tour — Prospective families can schedule a campus visit via the school website
2. Submit Application via OpenApply — Online application portal with required documents:
   • Recent school reports / transcripts
   • Academic certificates or assessments
   • Teacher recommendation letters
   • Medical form
3. Pay Application Fee — Non-refundable RMB 3,000
4. Assessment & Interview — All applicants complete an age-appropriate entrance test (English and numeracy); most year groups also include a student interview
5. Offer & Acceptance — Successful families receive an offer, sign acceptance forms, and pay the refundable RMB 25,000 Resources Fee (deposit)

Selectivity

While no official acceptance rate is published, the school is widely described as competitive. Year groups consistently fill early, and waiting lists are common. The school does not publish minimum IELTS or TOEFL scores, but given that all instruction is in English, advanced English proficiency is effectively required.

Fees at a Glance (2026/27)

• Tuition ranges from RMB 275,200 (Cubs & Pre-Nursery) to RMB 399,000 (Year 13)
• Application Fee: RMB 3,000 (non-refundable)
• Refundable Deposit: RMB 25,000
• Sibling discounts: 3rd child 5%, 4th child 10%, 5th+ child 15%
• Optional school bus: ~RMB 23,360/year
• Lunch: RMB 8,100/year

Merit-based scholarships (academic, arts, sports, leadership) are available and can cover up to 100% of tuition.