Harrow International School Shenzhen vs The King's School Shenzhen International

	H Harrow International School Shenzhen Shenzhen, China	T The King's School Shenzhen International Shenzhen, China
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year RMB 291,400 - 360,300	Fees / year RMB 205,000 - 309,800
Age range	Age range 2 - 18 years	Age range 2 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational, Co-educational (boarding)	Type Co-educational (boarding)
Curriculum	Curriculum EYFS (Early years foundation stage), British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels	Curriculum EYFS (Early years foundation stage), Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels
Pupils	Pupils 900	Pupils 230
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 2020	Opened 2022
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Harrow Shenzhen is located in the Qianhai Cooperation Zone, Nanshan District (No.39 KeChuang 6th St), Shenzhen — a short commute from the Shekou/Qianhai areas and with cross‑border business links toward Hong Kong.	Location The school's main campus is in Qianhai, Nanshan District — address listed as No.375 Yuewan (月湾街375号), Shenzhen. It sits inside the Qianhai/Month Bay area, a short drive from central Nanshan and within reach of local metro and bus links (nearest metro references list Liyumen/Qianhai area).
Stages	Stages The school serves pupils aged 2–18, organised as Early Years (2–5), Pre‑Prep (5–11), Prep (11–13), Senior (13–16) and Sixth Form (16–18).	Stages The King's School Shenzhen serves ages 2–18: a Pre‑Prep/Early Years section (EYFS) for about 2–6 year‑olds, a Prep/Primary and Middle phase (roughly Years 1–8 / ages 6–14) and a Senior/High School for Years 9–12 (ages up to 18). Grade-year groupings and curriculum routes (EYFS, Cambridge IGCSE, A‑Levels) are described on the school site.
School type	School type Harrow Shenzhen is a co‑educational day and boarding school offering boarding options (including flexi‑boarding) from upper primary/Year 5 through to Sixth Form.	School type The school is co‑educational and offers day places across the whole age range. Boarding is available from around Grade 4 upwards (lower‑year rooms are four‑person, older students 2‑person rooms per the school's boarding description).
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support The school has a published SEND policy and a SEND Coordinator; support includes EAL programmes, small‑group literacy and maths support, dyslexia intervention, social‑skills work, access to a school psychologist and individual education plans (IEPs) where required.	Additional learning support The school publishes a range of pastoral and academic support services: a Health & Well‑Being provision, English support and an academic support / pastoral care structure are mentioned on school materials and news items. For children with specific additional learning needs, the school describes inclusive support and structured academic/pastoral teams — parents are advised to discuss individual needs with admissions to confirm precise provisions.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation Harrow Shenzhen is part of the Harrow/AISL group and follows a British international curriculum linked to Harrow (UK) schools.	Country affiliation The Shenzhen school is an overseas branch of The King's School, Canterbury (UK) and states an operational link with the UK parent school. It is therefore affiliated with that British foundation rather than to a Chinese national chain.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation The school presents a values‑based ethos but does not state a religious affiliation on its website.	Religious affiliation The Shenzhen campus does not advertise a local religious denomination on its public pages; it operates as the international branch of The King's School Canterbury, a historic UK school with Church of England roots, but the Shenzhen materials focus on academic and pastoral provision rather than explicit religious observance.
School day structure	School day structure According to the school FAQs, EYC pupils finish at about 15:00; Pre‑Prep and Upper School pupils finish at about 15:00 and then attend the Harrow Diploma Activities (HDA) programme, with the later day ending around 16:00. Boarding students follow a separate weekday routine with supervised study, activities and set lights‑out times.	School day structure The school publishes an academic calendar and term dates but does not publish a single, fixed daily start/end time for every division on its public pages. Municipal guidance for Shenzhen schools sets typical earliest start times (for reference: primary not earlier than about 08:20, lower secondary not earlier than about 08:00), so exact daily timetables (arrival, break and lunch times) should be confirmed with admissions for the relevant year group.
Bus service details	Bus service details The school operates a multi‑route student bus service covering many residential areas in Shenzhen; routes (with estimated pickup/drop times) are published and adjusted each term to meet demand. Buses carry an on‑board escort and parents are expected to have children ready at the scheduled stop times.	Bus service details The school operates a paid school‑bus service for both the Early Years and the Main School; the admissions information and FAQ note that routes are arranged according to demand and currently cover parts of Nanshan, Bao'an and Futian. Specific stops, route maps, pick‑up/drop‑off times and fees are managed by the school and are provided to families when places are offered. }
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Assessment fee and facility deposit - Assessment fee: non-refundable, non-transferable; RMB 3,000 per application. - Facility deposit: RMB 25,000; the school may use this deposit to offset amounts owed and refund is handled under the school's Terms and Conditions. Tuition fees (per year and per term — RMB) - Pre‑Nursery: Per year RMB 291,400. Term 1 RMB 116,560; Term 2 RMB 87,420; Term 3 RMB 87,420. - Nursery: Per year RMB 301,300. Term 1 RMB 120,520; Term 2 RMB 90,390; Term 3 RMB 90,390. - Reception: Per year RMB 301,300. Term 1 RMB 120,520; Term 2 RMB 90,390; Term 3 RMB 90,390. - Year 1: Per year RMB 342,100. Term 1 RMB 136,840; Term 2 RMB 102,630; Term 3 RMB 102,630. - Year 2: Per year RMB 342,100. Term 1 RMB 136,840; Term 2 RMB 102,630; Term 3 RMB 102,630. - Year 3: Per year RMB 342,100. Term 1 RMB 136,840; Term 2 RMB 102,630; Term 3 RMB 102,630. - Year 4: Per year RMB 342,100. Term 1 RMB 136,840; Term 2 RMB 102,630; Term 3 RMB 102,630. - Year 5: Per year RMB 346,800. Term 1 RMB 138,720; Term 2 RMB 104,040; Term 3 RMB 104,040. - Year 6: Per year RMB 346,800. Term 1 RMB 138,720; Term 2 RMB 104,040; Term 3 RMB 104,040. - Year 7: Per year RMB 356,800. Term 1 RMB 142,720; Term 2 RMB 107,040; Term 3 RMB 107,040. - Year 8: Per year RMB 356,800. Term 1 RMB 142,720; Term 2 RMB 107,040; Term 3 RMB 107,040. - Year 9: Per year RMB 360,300. Term 1 RMB 144,120; Term 2 RMB 108,090; Term 3 RMB 108,090. - Year 10: Per year RMB 360,300. Term 1 RMB 144,120; Term 2 RMB 108,090; Term 3 RMB 108,090. - Year 11: Per year RMB 360,300. Term 1 RMB 144,120; Term 2 RMB 108,090; Term 3 RMB 108,090. - Year 12: Per year RMB 360,300. Term 1 RMB 144,120; Term 2 RMB 108,090; Term 3 RMB 108,090. - Year 13: Per year RMB 360,300. Term 1 RMB 144,120; Term 2 RMB 108,090; Term 3 RMB 108,090. Billing schedule and payment terms - The school offers payment in two instalments: the first instalment covers Term 1 tuition and applicable fees; the second instalment covers Term 2 and Term 3 tuition and service charges. Specific billing dates and invoices are issued according to the school's billing cycle. Late or outstanding sums are managed through the school's finance processes. Boarding and other fees - Boarding: regular full‑boarding fee per academic year RMB 119,800. Flexi‑boarding nights are charged per booked night by prorating the annual boarding fee plus 20% administration charge; amounts are settled no later than the end of each term. - School bus: RMB 20,100 per school year (including tax). - Uniform: parents purchase uniforms (school specifies supplier). - Catering: charged on a consumption basis by vendor. - Additional potential costs: textbooks, examinations, some extra‑curricular activities, expeditions, and trips. Withdrawal and refunds - Notice: one full term's written notice delivered to the Head is required for withdrawal, unless the school's Terms and Conditions state otherwise. - Assessment fee is non‑refundable. Facility deposit refund and any other refunds are handled under the school's Terms and Conditions; the school may use the facility deposit to offset outstanding balances. Fee payment contacts and invoicing - Billing, invoicing and Fapiao are handled by the school Finance Department (accounts@harrowshenzhen.cn). The published fees page does not specify detailed payment channels (credit card, bank transfer) on the same page; the Finance Department can confirm permitted payment methods and required remittance details.	Fee details Application and enrolment fees - Application fee: RMB 2,000 (one‑time, non‑refundable). - Placement / enrolment deposit: RMB 25,000 (paid on acceptance; held against future charges and refundable according to the school's terms and conditions). Tuition fees (annual and typical term structure) - Kindergarten (K1–K3): RMB 205,000 per year. - Grades 1–3: RMB 236,500 per year. - Grades 4–6: RMB 262,000 per year. - Grades 7–10: RMB 288,800 per year. - Grades 11–12: RMB 309,800 per year. (Note: the school issues fee notices and offers payment in installments; historical practice shows a larger first installment followed by a second installment for the remaining balance, and an incentive for a single annual payment.) Billing schedule and payment terms - The school issues a formal fee notice with specific due dates. Families who pay the full year by the first deadline historically receive a discount (commonly a 2% annual‑payment discount). Installment schedules (for example a larger first payment followed by a second payment) have been used in prior years. Exact instalment amounts and deadlines are set in each year's fee notice. Boarding / accommodation fees (where applicable) - Boarding (weekday accommodation) is published at approximately RMB 100,000 per year (weekday: Sun–Thu); schools may invoice by semester (about RMB 50,000 per semester in past notices). Weekend boarding or additional nights is charged separately. Other costs - School uniform: charged separately (one‑off purchase on enrolment; prices vary by year group). Textbooks, exam fees, optional trips, certain extracurricular providers, lunch and transport are additional and charged as incurred. School lunch and other ancillary charges are commonly invoiced separately (monthly or per term). Refunds and withdrawal - The placement deposit is described as refundable subject to the school's published terms and conditions; withdrawal and refund adjustments follow the school's fee and refund policy as set out in the acceptance paperwork and fee notice. Payment methods - The school has required bank transfer for major payments in prior years (annual payments and first‑installment deadlines are often fulfilled by bank transfer); exact accepted payment channels and account details are provided on the school's fee notice. Other online or card options are not publicly detailed in the available fee notices. Summary of gaps: public sources publish annual tuition, application fee and placement deposit and indicate installment arrangements, a discount for full‑year payment, and boarding charges; however, a definitive per‑term split for every year group for the current academic year was not found in openly published fee tables and is set each year in the school's formal fee notice.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements The school operates boarding in two houses: The Park for boys and The Grove for girls. Flexi Boarding is open to Years 5–13, with spaces allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and bed availability. Boarders receive meals and structured activities: breakfast Monday–Friday 7:00–7:30, dinner Sunday–Thursday 18:00–18:30, and evening activities Monday–Thursday 19:45–21:00, plus prep and academic support 17:00–19:30 and snacks; pastoral care is provided by a dedicated boarding team.	Boarding arrangements The King's School Shenzhen International operates a boarding program at the Qianhai campus. Junior boarders live in four-person dorm rooms and senior boarders in two-person dorm rooms. A dedicated boarding team of four classroom teachers and three boarding tutors oversees daily life, with tutors residing on the same floors as boarders. Boarding life follows a structured routine with after-dinner activities, access to study spaces and library resources, and an evening study period supervised by teachers; the canteen provides three meals and three snacks daily.
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement The Uniform Policy is strict; students wear the standard school uniform and Harrow Hat to and from school. Students arriving in non-uniform clothing may be sent home to change; contact the School Operations department at HIS@harrowshenzhen.cn for more information.	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options On-site canteens provide meals with healthy, well-balanced menus, and the menus accommodate dietary preferences. Boarding includes home-cooked style healthy meals with a diverse menu, catering to dietary preferences.	Food options The in-house canteen is run by the school's catering team. It serves three meals and three snacks daily (breakfast, lunch, dinner, morning snack, afternoon snack, and evening snack), prepared to be delicious and nutritious.
House system	House system Harrow Shenzhen uses a six-house system: Deng Xiao Ping House (Green), Curie House (Purple), Lyon House (Orange), Attenborough House (Red), Song Qing Ling House (Yellow), and Churchill House (Blue). All students belong to one House. Lower School Houses compete in events such as sports and singing, with pastoral care provided by Class Teachers and Heads of Phase; Upper School Houses form tutor groups led by Housemasters/mistress(es) with support from the Assistant Head and Head of School. The House system fosters a small-school atmosphere and provides a clear link between school and home.	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership The school is part of AISL Harrow Schools, a group of Harrow-branded international and bilingual schools in Asia. The AISL group preserves the Harrow heritage and values and coordinates relationships among Harrow schools and Harrow London.	Governance and ownership The school is part of The King's School network and has a sister-school relationship with The King's School Canterbury in the United Kingdom. The visit of The King's School Canterbury's Head and International Director to announce the Incoming Executive Principal signals ongoing cooperation and alignment between the Shenzhen and Canterbury campuses.
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details Harrow Shenzhen operates a British-based programme for ages 2–18 divided into Early Years (2–5), Pre-Prep (Years 1–6), Prep (age 11–13), Senior (age 13–16) and Sixth Form (age 16–18). The Early Years follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) approach of the English National Curriculum. In Pre-Prep (Years 1–6) the school emphasises literacy, numeracy and broad exposure to specialist subjects (languages, music, PE, computing, art and design), while the Prep phase continues specialist teaching in core subjects including English, Mandarin, mathematics and science. The Senior School prepares students for international public examinations, with most students completing Cambridge/IGCSE courses typically taken in Year 11 across subjects such as English, mathematics, sciences, humanities, languages, arts and design/technology. In Sixth Form students follow a two‑year A‑Level programme (with many taking an Extended Project Qualification) aimed at university preparation; the school also sets subject-specific entry expectations for A‑Level choices.	Curriculum details The King's School Shenzhen teaches ages 2–18 (kindergarten 2–6; primary/ prep approximately 6–14/Grades 1–8; senior/high school 15–18/Grades 9–12). Early years (2–6) follow the UK Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework with bilingual staffing. The primary/Prep phase combines elements of the Cambridge/ Cambridge Global curriculum with aspects of the Chinese national curriculum and school‑developed courses across maths, English, science and foundation subjects. Senior school (Grades 9–10) delivers Cambridge IGCSE (offered as the standard two‑year programme or an intensive one‑year pathway), and Grades 11–12 proceed to AS/A‑Level study; students may also undertake an extended research project (EPQ/IPQ) and receive university‑entry guidance. Instruction is primarily in English (Chinese language and China studies are taught in Chinese) and the school supplements the academic programme with co‑curricular activities and subject specialist teaching.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression —	Higher education progression —
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning Harrow Shenzhen describes pastoral care as a structured, school-wide system that uses homerooms in the Lower School and a vertical House system and close personal tutoring in the Upper School to ensure each student is known and supported by staff. The House system creates cross-age “family” units with Housemasters/mistresses and tutors who monitor academic progress and provide pastoral guidance. The school runs focused activities and campaigns (for example Fellowship Week and anti‑bullying initiatives) to promote inclusion, peer support and respectful behaviour. Small class sizes and boarding pastoral routines are cited as part of the personalised support network for students.	Social & emotional learning The school presents a structured pastoral-care model adapted from The King's School, Canterbury and identifies pastoral care and wellbeing as a core element of school life. The Deputy Head for Pastoral Care (Mrs Carrie Cameron) leads homeroom teachers, tutors and the House system that are described as central to day-to-day student support. Co-curricular activities are explicitly linked to health and wellbeing in the school's programme. Boarding provision includes dedicated boarding tutors and supervised evening study to support students outside lesson time. (Sources: school pastoral pages and staff/news items).
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) Harrow Shenzhen lists staff with learning‑support and special‑education experience on its teacher pages (for example Krista Berry is listed as a Learning Support Teacher and Yaeliz Rabassa's bio notes a Master's in Special Education and prior Head of Inclusion roles). The school's admissions information asks parents of children with SEN to consult the school before applying and states explicitly that Harrow Shenzhen “does not have the facilities or faculty required to educate children with severe learning needs.” The website does not publish a dedicated Special Educational Needs policy or a comprehensive public list of specific conditions the school can support. Therefore, while the school employs staff with SEN experience and offers learning‑support provision, it is not presented as a specialist SEN institution.	Special educational needs (SEN) The school states it operates an inclusive policy and has a Learning Support department that advises teachers and parents on additional learning needs. On entry pupils undertake baseline testing to help identify learning difficulties, and the school describes use of differentiation in class and, where appropriate, individual learning plans (ILPs). The school says it will refer students to external specialists (for example an educational psychologist) if needed and that interventions are discussed with parents. The website does not list specific categories of special educational needs it can support nor does it describe operating as a specialist SEN institution. (All points taken from the school's Q&A and learning-support descriptions).
English as an additional language	English as an additional language Harrow Shenzhen presents an EAL provision on its site (including a subject video) and lists a dedicated EAL team and leaders — for example an Upper School Head of EAL and several Upper School EAL teachers in the staff directory. Early Years phonics provision (Read Write Inc.) is described on the site and is noted as supporting young learners for whom English is an additional language. The school's pages describe targeted EAL teaching and specialist EAL staff rather than stating a single uniform programme for all year groups. If you need details about levels of support, assessments or class‑by‑class provision the school publishes a subject video and staff list but does not provide a single, detailed public EAL policy on the website.	English as an additional language The school publishes staff profiles and articles describing staff experience teaching pupils for whom English is an additional language and explains classroom approaches used to support language learners. Senior students are also given electronic materials to preview and review lessons to assist comprehension and language acquisition. The school's published information indicates in-class differentiation and learning-support input are used to help non-native English speakers. The website does not, however, show a separately named EAL department or a detailed, standalone EAL policy. (Information from staff/profile articles and the school's admissions/learning-support Q&A).
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing The school names a Director of Care, Guidance and Support (Zaynah Lyons) whose profile lists counselling and psychology qualifications and wellbeing specialisms, indicating a senior role for student mental‑health support. Pastoral care, the House system and boarding routines are described as contributing to students' social and emotional support, and some staff hold mental‑health first‑aid training. Harrow Shenzhen also runs parent workshops addressing topics such as bullying and positive parenting, which form part of its wider wellbeing provision. The school materials emphasise pastoral and boarding structures rather than a separate public‑facing mental‑health policy document.	Mental wellbeing The school frames mental wellbeing within its pastoral-care provision and describes systems intended to ensure students feel safe and supported emotionally. Leadership states an aim to manage workload so pupils are “stretched not stressed,” and pastoral leaders oversee houses, tutors and boarding to support students' social and emotional needs. Boarding routines and co-curricular activities are described as offering structured opportunities to decompress and build resilience. Teachers and boarding tutors are presented as first-line contacts for students needing support; more formal referrals are handled through the Learning Support team and external specialists where necessary. (Sources: pastoral pages, news/Q&A and boarding article).
Safeguarding	Safeguarding Harrow Shenzhen states that safeguarding and child protection are central to school operations, with its policy aligned to UK legislation (the Children Acts 1989 and 2004) and international frameworks such as the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The site names the Designated Safeguarding Lead (Zaynah Lyons, Director of Care, Guidance and Support) and lists deputies William Mitchell and Natalie Dirkze, and gives an email contact for concerns (safeguarding@harrowshenzhen.cn). The school says the full Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy is available to parents via the Parent Portal. Visitor and campus safety guidance (photography, adult/child boundaries, ID badges) are published on the safeguarding page.	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview The school operates as an international day and boarding school in Shenzhen, opened in October 2020. It has approximately 700 pupils from up to 20 countries and class sizes of 16–24. The campus spans about 14,700 square metres and provides facilities for Early Years through Sixth Form, including sports and leisure areas, a library, break-out spaces, canteens and lecture halls. Boarding is available.	Facilities overview The King's School Shenzhen International comprises Pre-PreP, Prep School, and Senior School. The Pre-Prep School has over 3,000 square meters of outdoor space, one of the city's largest outdoor areas among international early years schools. The Pre-Prep includes Pre-K, K1, K2, and K3. The Pre-Prep classrooms are bright and airy with plenty of natural light and fresh air. The outdoor spaces include a sandpit, climbing frame, slide, swings, a football field, and a forest area, with weekly forest classes. The Pre-Prep campus was designed by architect Cindy Walters.
Sports facilities	Sports facilities The campus includes sports facilities as part of its holistic learning environment, with spaces for physical education and recreation integrated into the daily timetable.	Sports facilities The co-curricular program includes a broad range of sports as part of the overall activities. The Pre-Prep outdoor space includes a football field. Outdoor spaces support active play and physical education, including a football field and other play installations.
Academic facilities	Academic facilities There are comprehensive academic facilities across the school, including libraries and breakout spaces to support learning from Early Years to Sixth Form.	Academic facilities The Pre-Prep provides a library, creator spaces, and art and physical exercise areas. The Pre-Prep classrooms are sunlit and airy with fresh air. The Prep and Senior School pages indicate Teaching and Learning arrangements and a Curriculum page for the Senior School. The school presents Curriculum information for its Senior School in the Curriculum section.
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities Enrichment and service activities are part of the Harrow education, anchored by Harrow values such as Courage, Honour, Humility and Fellowship.	Extra curricular facilities The co-curricular program includes sports, music, drama, art, debating, chess, and community work, with many clubs. The program offers trips and Summer Schools. Music opportunities include public performances, ensembles, orchestras, and choirs.
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History Harrow International School Shenzhen opened in 2020 as part of the AISL Harrow Schools network. It is operated by Asia International School Limited (AISL) and uses Harrow School's name and badge under a sub-licence from Harrow International Schools Limited. The campus was established to extend Harrow's traditions and values into the region and to participate in the group's regional programmes and events. The school's development has been carried out within the AISL governance and partnership framework since its founding.	History The King's School Shenzhen International began as the school's first overseas kindergarten, which opened in Shenzhen in 2019 as an overseas branch of The King's School Canterbury. In January 2022 the school announced plans to expand into a full 1–12 campus in the Qianhai/Front Sea area, with middle and senior phases planned to open in the 2022 academic year. The Shenzhen campus has been led by senior staff seconded from the UK and announced its founding executive principal at the time of the expansion. The project is backed by a single listed investor identified in reporting as Hengyu Capital, which has been described as the school's sole investor.
Community	Community The Harrow Shenzhen community is active and event-driven: annual traditions such as the Long Ducker charity run bring together students, parents, staff and local participants (recent editions drew close to 1,000 participants). The school also takes part in AISL-wide academic and cultural exchanges, for example the Huasheng Cup Chinese–English debate tournament that involves multiple Harrow campuses. Parents and staff collaborate on seasonal and cultural events (including Christmas and Teacher's Day activities) and the school runs regular open events and community gatherings for families.	Community The school describes an active school community made up of international and local families and publishes regular newsletters and event calendars for parents. Typical community activities reported by the school and local press include regular campus open days, pastoral coffee mornings, seasonal cultural celebrations (for example Mid‑Autumn Festival), and student club activities such as a debate society. The school has used public information sessions and on‑campus open houses to involve families in curriculum and pastoral briefings.
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association Harrow Shenzhen's parent organisation is called Friends of Harrow (FoH). FoH describes itself as a bridge for home–school communication and support: representatives work with school leaders, welcome new families, and coordinate parent volunteers. At Harrow Shenzhen FoH parents have supported school events such as the Long Ducker and seasonal performances, and have formed parent groups (a dance group and a choir) that perform alongside students and staff. FoH members also run activities intended to support staff (for example Teacher's Day acknowledgements), deliver parent-led talks or leadership/service sessions, and help organise fundraising and charity initiatives. The school has published FoH leadership names and committee announcements and FoH has been visibly involved in major social events such as the school's community Gala Ball.	Parent teacher association The school established its first Parent‑Teacher Association (家委会 / PTA) in the 2023–24 year; the school newsletter announced that the inaugural PTA meeting was scheduled for 25 September 2023 and invited parent applications. The newsletter describes the PTA as a channel to improve home–school communication and to involve parents in the school's ongoing development. The PTA invitation included a contact route (email to the school pastoral lead) for parents wishing to apply or participate. Early school calendars show the PTA working alongside the school calendar (open houses, pastoral coffee mornings and other parent events), indicating its role in coordinating parent engagement around those activities. The school's public posts and newsletters are the primary sources for these details.
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual Harrow Shenzhen offers Harrow Diploma Activities (HDA), an after-school program running from 3pm to 4pm daily, with over 210 activities. The program provides academic enrichment through the Super-Curriculum and includes leadership and service opportunities. The HDA features the LSA programme (student-led activities), leadership and service expeditions, the Shaftesbury Enterprise charity committee, community and service projects, the JASS Junior Achievement Award, the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award, house competitions, and student leadership roles.	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative Over 210 activities cover the performing, visual, and musical arts, as well as debate and public speaking, STEM, and the humanities and social sciences. Arts opportunities include music ensembles and theatre-related activities, integrated with the broader HDA. The programme supports creative work across visual and performing arts and public speaking.	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language Expedition Week fosters cross-cultural communication and global perspectives through service and cultural immersion activities. The school also hosts debates and public-speaking events as part of its co-curricular offerings.	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies House competitions and events form a core part of the activities programme, encouraging teamwork and social engagement. A wide range of clubs and interest-based activities are available through Harrow Diploma Activities.	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service The activities programme includes the Shaftesbury Enterprise (Charity Committee), community and service projects, and the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award, alongside other service-oriented opportunities.	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional Students participate in leadership roles through the Student Council and House Leaders, as well as the LSA framework and leadership expeditions. The programme emphasizes developing transferable leadership and service skills.	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing Sports and fitness are integral to the holistic approach, with facilities including an outdoor running track, a 7-a-side football pitch, an indoor sports hall, two fitness areas, a dance studio, a golf simulator, table tennis, a rooftop basketball court, and a 25-meter heated swimming pool. PE and sport are actively offered to nurture lifelong fitness and well-being.	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision The Early Years Centre adopts the EYFS of the English National Curriculum. Prep Phase includes English and Mandarin as core subjects. Senior Phase includes Languages as a subject. English language acquisition is supported for students whose first language is not English, with an additive approach that uses Mandarin to support English, and the schools are not English-only environments.	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching Mandarin is used to support English language learning. In Prep Phase, English and Mandarin are core subjects. An additive language approach strengthens Mandarin to support English learning. AISL Harrow Schools are not English-only environments, and immersive experiences in English and Mandarin are provided.	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs Immersive experiences in L1 and L2 are provided. Native Mandarin speakers scaffold learning and connect L1 concepts with L2 learning. Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) is implemented as a whole-school approach to promote English across the curriculum. A language-rich environment supports language development and classroom practice.	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards Harrow Shenzhen — School-level awards listed on the school website (past five years; school-level only) - Forbes China International School — Top 100 (2025): inclusion in Forbes China's 2025 list of top international schools (ranked among the country's top 100 international schools). This is a school-level recognition appearing on the school's honours page. - Kinglead China International School rankings (2025): multiple Kinglead rankings shown on the school site — Innovative Competitiveness (Top 9), Research Characteristics (Top 100), Leadership Characteristics (Top 10), and Mathematical Characteristics (Top 10). These are published ranking placements for the school. - Forbes China — Foreign Passport School (Shenzhen) 2024 — Top 4: ranked by Forbes China among Shenzhen schools in the foreign-passport school category (school-level placement reported on the site). - China Schools Awards 2023 — New School Award Finalist: the school is listed on the site as a finalist in the China Schools Awards 2023 New School category (finalist status is an institutional recognition). - Forbes China Outstanding International Schools Awards / 2021 recognition: Harrow Shenzhen's 2021 Forbes China recognition and placement (No.21 in China, 2nd in Shenzhen) is recorded on the school website as an early external ranking/award the school received. - AISL Harrow Chinese Debate Championship — Best Organization Award (Dec 2024): the school's event/participation page records Harrow Shenzhen winning the Best Organization Award at the AISL Harrow Chinese Debate Championship (an award given to the school for organisational contribution). Notes and scope limits - All items above are taken from Harrow Shenzhen's own website pages and news/honours listings; I have included only awards and recognitions that the school (not individual students or individual teachers) is shown as receiving. Where the site lists teacher awards or student competition results, those have been excluded as requested. The primary sources used are the school's accreditations announcement and the Honours/Awards pages.	Awards • Red Dot Design Award (2023) — the school's website states the Qianhai campus won a 2023 Red Dot Design Award in Germany for its campus design; the Red Dot is an international design prize recognising product and communication design. • The Plan (Italy) award — the school's website refers to The Plan Award (2023) in two places: one page says the campus was shortlisted for the Italian THE PLAN Award, and another page refers to a The Plan Award in 2023. Because the school's own pages use both “shortlisted” and wording that implies a win, the site's information about The Plan Award is inconsistent; I have listed it here because it appears on the school website, but the site does not present an unambiguous single statement of a win. Note: I have included only awards and accreditations explicitly reported on the school's official website. The site also mentions items such as being a finalist in the 2022 China School Awards (Pastoral Care) and various student competition results, but those are either finalist/student-level recognitions rather than school wins or are awarded to students rather than to the school itself, so I did not include them in the list above.
Accreditations	Accreditations Harrow Shenzhen — Accreditations (as stated on the school website) - HMC (The Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference): membership of an association of leading UK independent schools; signifies recognition by a body associated with long-established independent-school standards and peer review. - FOBISIA (Federation of British International Schools in Asia): regional membership for British-style international schools in Asia; indicates peer recognition, access to FOBISIA events and external review. - TASS (The Alliance for Sustainable Schools): membership in a network focussing on sustainability in schools; shows the school has engaged with externally-recognised sustainability standards and practices. - ACAMIS (Association of China and Mongolia International Schools): regional association for international schools in China and Mongolia; provides inter-school activities, benchmarking and professional exchanges. - Cambridge International Examination Centre (CAIE) accreditation: officially authorised to deliver Cambridge IGCSE and related Cambridge programmes and examinations on site. - Pearson Edexcel Examination Centre accreditation: authorised as a Pearson Edexcel exam centre to offer International GCSE (IGCSE) and International Advanced Level (IAL) qualifications. - UCAS registration centre: registered with the UK Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, enabling direct access to UCAS processes and support for UK university applications. - College Board & Common Application recognition: the school is registered with the College Board and supports applications via the Common App platform for US university admissions. - SAT examination centre accreditation: authorised to operate SAT test sessions on campus, allowing students to sit the SAT at the school. - LAMDA examination centre/recognition: authorised to offer LAMDA (speech, drama and communication) graded assessments on site. - Duke of Edinburgh's Award (DofE) licensed organisation: licensed to run the Duke of Edinburgh's Award programme, allowing students to participate in DofE awards through the school. - Member of the AISL Harrow family / part of Asia International School Limited (AISL): the school is part of the AISL group that operates Harrow-branded schools in Asia, which provides network support and shared governance.	Accreditations • Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) — The school states it received official certification from Cambridge Assessment International Education in June 2023; this means KSS is authorised to deliver Cambridge curricula and assessments (e.g., Cambridge Pathway/A Levels) and to register students for CAIE examinations. • Council of British International Schools (COBIS) — the school reports that it was awarded COBIS Compliance Status (a formal recognition following inspection) in November 2023; COBIS is a UK-based membership and quality-assurance organisation for British international schools and Compliance Status indicates the school met COBIS's inspection criteria.
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions 1. Harrow Shenzhen will only consider applications if there is space in the requested year group, so parents should confirm availability rather than assume an open place. The school publishes citizenship/residency eligibility rules (foreign passport or HK/Macau/Taiwan ID; for Chinese-passport holders at least one parent must have worked in Qianhai for more than 90 consecutive days and meet specified criteria). 2. Complete the online application and prepare documents: Complete the school's application form (the site links to the online application portal) and assemble required documents such as passports/ID, recent school reports or transcripts, and any certificate of residency/work in Qianhai for Chinese passport families. Parents should note an assessment fee is charged per application (see step 4) and that incomplete applications can delay assessment scheduling. If your child has additional learning needs, the school asks parents to consult Admissions first because the school is not resourced for severe learning needs. 3. Assessment fee and booking: For applicants invited to assessment, Harrow Shenzhen requires payment of an application/assessment fee (the site lists RMB 3,000 for assessments/applications in recent notices). Families should be ready to pay this promptly to confirm a scheduled assessment; any differing fees for specific entry years will be set out by Admissions at invitation. Payment methods are restricted (the school states all fees must be paid by bank remittance; cash is not accepted). 4. Assessment and interview: Once the application and documents are received, the school aims to schedule assessments and interviews within two weeks. Assessment format varies by year group: Pre-Nursery has a parent interview only, Nursery–Year 1 include student observation and parent interview, and Year 2+ include a computer-based assessment, student observation/interview and a parent interview — check the year-by-year table on the Admissions page for exact requirements. Families should prepare appropriate past-school reports, any standardized test results, and (for older applicants) evidence of curricular interests or portfolios where relevant. 5. Admissions outcome and timeframes: The school states that results are usually issued within one week of assessment and interview, though some cases may take longer; Admissions will notify families of the outcome and next steps. If offered a place, parents are required to sign confirmation documents and pay the facility deposit within five working days of the offer or the place may be offered to another applicant. Keep this deadline in mind when planning travel or overseas moves — a delayed response risks losing the offered place. 6. Deposit, fees and billing structure: The published fees page shows a non-refundable facility deposit (listed as RMB 25,000) and gives the tuition schedule for the 2025/26 academic year (tuition ranges by year group; for example, Pre‑Nursery and Reception figures are shown separately from Years 1–13). Harrow Shenzhen offers payment cycles and instalment options (for 2025/26 the school allows two instalments covering Term 1 and then Terms 2+3); confirm the current year's billing schedule with Finance. Additional identifiable charges include school bus, boarding and catering — the fees page lists the school bus and boarding annual charges and notes some charges (textbooks, trips, certain activities) are charged separately. 7. Siblings, discounts and other practicalities: The fees page lists sibling discounts (no discount for second child; 5% for third child, 10% for fourth, 15% for fifth+ when children attend concurrently) — check the exact conditions with Finance. Uniforms are purchased separately through appointed suppliers and the school requires a signed bus agreement before using bus services; boarding uses a separate billing arrangement and flexi-boarding is charged per night. Make arrangements early for bus routes, uniform orders and any boarding requirements to avoid delays at enrolment. 8. Final enrolment and records: After deposit/payment and returned confirmation paperwork, the school completes enrolment and will provide billing/invoice (fapiao) information through the Finance Department. If you later decide to withdraw, the published Terms and Conditions require a term's written notice to the Head; follow the school's specified notice and delivery methods. Keep copies of all bank remittances and the signed confirmation documents for your records. 9. When to contact Admissions: If you need to check vacancies, request special arrangements, or confirm assessment requirements for a particular year group or entry month (for example, Year 10/Year 12 subject-selection deadlines are published for specific intake cycles), contact the Admissions team directly — they run campus tours/Open Days and can add you to event registration or the WeChat admissions channel. The Admissions page lists the email and phone number for direct queries.	Admissions 1. Book a campus visit or virtual tour and create an admissions account. The school uses OpenApply for event booking and the application portal; parents should choose the correct campus (Pre‑Prep or Main School), pick the exact year group they are applying for, and use an email address they will keep because that login will be used for the whole application. (See booking fields and campus list on the OpenApply portal.) 2. Complete the online application form in OpenApply and upload required documents. Typical items the system asks for are the applicant's legal name and date of birth, parent/guardian details, current school reports, passport/ID copies, and immunisation/health records — make sure scanned documents match the form field requirements and that names match legal ID. Allow time to translate or certify any documents not in English or Chinese before upload. 3. Pay the application fee (if required) and submit the application for processing. The school's published fee schedule shows a one‑time application fee and a refundable deposit as part of first‑year charges for new intakes; expect to be invoiced after an initial application is accepted. Parents should confirm the current amounts and refund terms with admissions before payment because fees and refund conditions can change year to year. 4. Assessments and interviews are scheduled once the application and documents are complete. For entry to Years 1–6 the school's FAQ says the admissions assessments include CAT4 testing plus an interview; for Years 7–8 the school lists CAT4, a writing test and an interview. For kindergarten/early years there is usually an observational session or parent‑child meeting — read the specific test guidance so you can prepare the right ID, school reports and any required samples of work. 5. Wait for the admissions decision and, if offered, review the acceptance paperwork. If an offer is made you will normally receive an acceptance letter or offer and an invoice for the enrolment deposit/first term fee — check the acceptance deadline carefully, the exact deposit amount shown on the invoice, and the school's refund policy before you pay to secure the place. Keep correspondence and payment receipts in case you need them later. 6. Complete registration tasks and prepare for transition. After payment of the deposit and any required enrolment forms, the school may ask you to complete health forms, bus enrolment, uniform orders and other pre‑start checklists in the portal; you should also confirm start‑of‑term dates and induction/transition visits for your child. If your child needs learning support, disclose this early and upload any assessment reports so the school can plan support measures before term starts. 7. Practical items to be ready: legal ID (passport or national ID), recent school reports and transcripts, immunisation records, proof of residence for the correct campus, and any educational/psychological reports where relevant. If you are applying from overseas, check visa/guardian requirements for the relevant year group (the school may also offer boarding from Year 4 and above; confirm the boarding eligibility process separately). These specifics are referenced in the school's admissions pages and FAQs.
Scholarships	Scholarships Harrow Shenzhen operates a Scholarship Programme and also offers means‑tested bursaries; information and application details are published on the school site. Merit-based scholarships are offered in categories such as Academic Excellence, Sports, Music and Drama; the merit scheme is described as providing targeted curricular enrichment and support rather than direct financial discounts for all merit awards (the school distinguishes merit support from full-cost scholarships). The scholarship application process requires a completed application form, supporting documents (transcripts, test scores, references, portfolios where appropriate), a personal statement (the school's guidance indicates 500–700 words for merit applications), and shortlisted candidates are invited to interview with the scholarship committee. In addition, AISL Harrow Scholarships (for example, the Y2025–27 Harrow scholarship round) have been run at Harrow Shenzhen/AISL Harrow and in at least one cycle included full scholarships covering tuition, boarding and examination fees for the two‑year A‑Level programme; check current availability, deadlines and selection criteria for the year you are applying. For means‑tested support, the school's bursary information indicates that all students may apply and that bursaries are intended to ensure talented students can attend irrespective of parental income. For precise application forms, deadlines and contact points (scholarship enquiries list a contact such as Angela Tai and the Scholarship page provides form downloads), contact the Admissions or Scholarship office and download the school's scholarship brochure from the admissions pages.	Scholarships The King's School Shenzhen's senior‑school navigation includes a Scholarship Programme section, which indicates the school runs some form of scholarships at the senior level; however the detailed official scholarship terms (eligibility windows, application deadlines, selection criteria and award levels) are not fully published in a single detailed page that I could retrieve. Third‑party coverage and local school reports indicate the Shenzhen campus has offered senior‑school scholarships in recent years (academic scholarships and performing‑arts/specialist awards have been referenced) and that award levels reported in local media range from partial awards (for example 10% of fees) up to full tuition awards for outstanding candidates. Because third‑party articles summarise past programmes and the school's own scholarship page does not publish full application rules in the public HTML I could access, I recommend contacting admissions to request the current scholarship policy, application form and deadlines (and to ask whether awards are means‑tested, merit‑based, renewable, or limited to particular year groups).
Waitlist	Waitlist Harrow Shenzhen's public admissions pages do not publish a formal waiting‑list policy or a named ‘waiting list' procedure; instead the site emphasises that applications will only be considered where places are available and asks families to contact Admissions to check vacancies. Because the school does not publish a standard waiting‑list mechanism, parents who are willing to be held for a future vacancy should contact admissions@harrowshenzhen.cn to ask whether the school can retain their application or place them in any internal pool when no immediate place exists. If you need a formal waiting‑list placement or a position number for local administrative purposes, request explicit confirmation in writing from Admissions so you have a dated record of any agreement.	Waitlist —
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