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Harrow International School - Guangzhou logo

Harrow International School - Guangzhou

China, Guangzhou

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· Reviewed by · B2C Marketing Manager

The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees Fees not listed
Ages 2 - 18 years
Type Co-educational (boarding)
Opened 2026
Bus Service Yes
principal
Ms Ruth Whymark
School Principal
Academic offering
Curriculum British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels
Taught languages Mandarin, English
Typical class size 20
Strengths Sport, STEM, Academic Enrichment
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Cultural and Language, Leadership and Professional
Stages Early Years, Primary School, Secondary School, Sixth Form
Introduction

AISL Harrow Guangzhou stands as a beacon of excellence, created from the partnership between the Harrow School in the UK, one of the country’s leading schools for 450 years, and the innovative AISL Group. Rooted in the British educational tradition, the school offers a cohesive academic pathway from Early Years to Year 13, emphasising mastery in English through intensive language programs and an immersive English environment, as well as advanced Mathematics and Science curricula that are one year ahead of standard offerings. Nurturing a growth mindset and future competitiveness, the school integrates innovation and entrepreneurship into its learning framework. Its flagship AISL FutureLab and AISL Entrepreneurship Centre provide students access to exceptional educators and state-of-the-art facilities, empowering them through interdisciplinary exploration. By engaging with AI, robotics, CAD, and drone technologies, and participating in real-world collaborative projects, business competitions, and industry partnerships, students develop essential skills in problem-solving, creativity, and teamwork. Beyond their academic studies, the school fosters character and leadership through the AISL Harrow Diploma program, grounded in the core values of Courage, Honour, Humility, and Fellowship. This structured leadership path focuses on cultivating well-rounded individuals, preparing them to thrive and lead in a rapidly evolving world.

No.23, Huanxin North Road, Huangpu District, Guangzhou

The Essentials

Harrow International School - Guangzhou has typical class sizes of 20, instruction in English.

Location
No.23, Huanxin North Road, Huangpu District, Guangzhou, China

Stages
Early Years to Year 13

Type
British International Boarding School

Country affiliation
United Kingdom

School day structure
7:30–8:00 Arrival; 8:00 Registration; 8:15 Period 1; 9:10 Period 2; 10:05 Break; 10:30 Period 3; 11:25 Period 4; 12:25 Lunch; 1:15 Period 5; 2:10 Period 6; 3:05 ECA; 4:00 End of day
Diving Deeper

Boarding Arrangements
Boarding is available at Harrow Guangzhou. Boarders join a home-away-from-home community with campus facilities and a programme of activities plus supervised and guided prep time to support their studies. The boarding houses provide a safe, secure and diverse environment with Heads of Boarding House offering pastoral support for students. Boarders have access to musical studios, sporting facilities and the library, and they develop social and English-language skills through interaction with peers and boarding staff, with dedicated supervised prep time each evening.

Food Options
School lunch programmes are provided to support pupil nutrition.

House System
Harrow Guangzhou uses a House System. From kindergarten onward, pupils are assigned to houses and earn points for performance, volunteering and inter-house competitions, with a House Trophy awarded at the end of term. The House System promotes belonging, teamwork and personal development through a tutor-led PSHE programme.

Governance and Ownership
Harrow Guangzhou operates under a licensing arrangement with Harrow International Schools Limited (HISL). The Harrow name and badge are used under a sub-licence granted by HISL, a charity that owns Harrow School and its trademark. The school is part of the AISL Group of Harrow Schools in Asia.
Fees
APPLICATION FEE
A non-refundable, non-transferable application fee of RMB 3,000 must be paid for each application.

RESOURCES FEE
A refundable Resources Fee of RMB 25,000 is payable by each pupil after accepting the offer from Harrow International School Guangzhou. This payment will be held by Harrow Guangzhou for the duration of the pupil’s time at the School.

The Resources Fee is non-interest bearing and shall be refunded in RMB when the pupil leaves Harrow Guangzhou. However, the School reserves the right to offset this fee against part or all of any amount that parents may owe at any time to the School, including but not limited to outstanding tuition fees, exchange loss from foreign currency transfers into an RMB account, charges for academic materials, transportation and to cover the loss or non-return of school books and equipment, or courier fees. Should the outstanding amount be worth more than RMB 25,000, payment for the difference is required.


*For Tuition Fee and Boarding Fee, please kindly contact the school admission teachers.*
Academics

Harrow International School - Guangzhou teaches British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels for students aged 2 to 18.

Curriculum
EARLY YEARS
At Harrow Guangzhou, we will have a positive and engaging learning environment where pupils experience inclusive, high quality, rich play. Our Early Years children use the world’s leading Phonics programme, Read Write Inc, to develop their English and our accelerated Mathematics programme begins the day they walk into school.​

PRIMARY SCHOOL
We use the English National Curriculum in the Harrow Guangzhou Primary School, which sets our children up well for success in the Upper School, when they move on to IGCSEs and A Levels. ​English, Maths and Mandarin are considered core subjects. All pupils are also supported by the Language Lab, ensuring that their English develops faster and more consistently than in other schools.​

YEAR 6 – YEAR 9​
With a sharpened curriculum, we have:​ Accelerated English Language Learning with the Language Lab​; Accelerated Mathematics learning; The AISL FutureLab Design Thinking curriculum, connected to ​and in partnership with the Entrepreneurship Centre and LSE ​Generate​.

YEAR 10 – YEAR 11​
In the Senior School, Harrow students follow a rigorous, broad academic curriculum, following the IGCSE pathway which prepares them fully for the challenge of A Levels. The extensive Harrow extra-curricular programme ensures all students continue on their path to becoming multi-talented young adults​

YEAR 12 – YEAR 13​
Our academically rigorous programme continues in Years 12 and 13. Our A Levels, delivered by experienced teachers and designed for entrance to the best universities in the world. The extensive Harrow extra-curricular programme ensures all students continue on their path to becoming multi-talented young ​adults.​

Student Teacher Ratio
First Year Staff-Student Ratio: 1:3

Higher Education Progression
In Years 12–13, the A Level programme is designed for entrance to the world's leading universities. The full range of A Level subjects is offered, most through Cambridge International, with EPQs supported. The FutureLab programme continues to develop design thinking and entrepreneurship skills through projects with the Entrepreneurship Centre. Graduates typically progress to top universities globally.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The school provides personalised pastoral care through a home room in the Lower School and the House system in the Upper School, ensuring every student is known by name and understood in terms of strengths and areas for improvement. The school uses small class sizes to support close relationships between teachers and students, enabling targeted emotional support. Pastoral care underpins AISL Harrow Schools, delivering safe, academically successful and fulfilled students. The school works closely with parents and carers to support each child on their journey to successful adulthood. The safeguarding framework monitors pupil wellbeing and identifies those who may require assistance at the earliest opportunity.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The school has an Individual Needs team to support pupils with additional educational needs. The team coordinates support for pupils with additional needs in collaboration with staff. Pastoral care systems provide personalised support and small class sizes that help address diverse needs. The safeguarding framework coordinates to ensure wellbeing and appropriate interventions. The approach integrates with safeguarding and student wellbeing.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The Language Lab provides an individualized English development programme spanning reading, writing and speaking. The programme begins before a child joins Harrow Guangzhou and continues through graduation. The Harrow Guangzhou pathway includes Phonics in the Early Years and English and Mandarin development side-by-side. For Primary and Upper School, a placement process uses CAT4, a written test and an interview to determine English level, with CEFR levels and a Language Lab category for Oracy. The Language Lab Guide reports progress to parents every six weeks, and the program includes an English Enhancement Programme for students at certain levels to prepare them for Harrow Guangzhou.

Mental Wellbeing
The school provides personalised pastoral care to recognise each student's needs and life outside school. The House system and small class sizes help staff know students well and respond to wellbeing needs. Pastoral care underpins safe, academically successful and fulfilled students. The school works closely with parents and carers to support each child on their journey to successful adulthood. Staff undergo safeguarding training to support mental wellbeing and respond to wellbeing concerns.

Safeguarding
The Safeguarding page explains that the safeguarding framework has a Safeguarding Committee that meets weekly to review cases and plan actions across the Senior Leadership Team and the School Psychologist. The triage system monitors cases at multiple levels with staff, the School Psychologist and SLT collaboration, and cases are tracked until the pupil's wellbeing is satisfactory. In severe cases, liaison with external agencies such as Social Services or the Police may be necessary to protect pupils. Communication, accurate record keeping and ongoing monitoring track each pupil's safeguarding journey. All staff undergo safeguarding training and are fully vetted, with regular audits of safeguarding provision conducted by external advisors.
Parent Experience

History
Harrow Guangzhou's heritage is rooted in Harrow School, UK, and its long history and heritage are central to the school's identity. The School war memorial, designed by Sir Robert Lorimer, was erected in 1917 to commemorate former pupils lost in the First World War. In the 20th century, a central dining hall was built, small houses were demolished, and the curriculum was modernised. These historical elements illustrate Harrow Guangzhou's connection to its historic foundations and its ongoing curriculum development.

Community
Harrow Guangzhou fosters a vibrant school community through the Harrow Community. The Harrow Community includes Friends of Harrow, the Parents Partnership Programme, Parent Class Representatives – Lower School, and the Parent Consultative Committee – Upper School, plus a Harrow Alumni network. Conversations with the Harrow Community is an event series that provides insights into campus life, curriculum, pastoral care, and community connections.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
Friends of Harrow is part of the Harrow Guangzhou community. The Parents Partnership Programme is a parental involvement initiative. Parent Class Representatives – Lower School and the Parent Consultative Committee – Upper School are formal parent representation channels. Harrow Alumni network connects former students. These groups and networks organize events and contribute to school life.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The school is located in Guangzhou Sino-Singapore Knowledge City, with a gross floor area of about 48,718 square metres and a landscaped area of around 14,100 square metres. The campus features the red-brick colonnade design of Harrow School in the UK. Early Years, Primary and Secondary teaching buildings are clearly defined, with outdoor activity zones, sports facilities and arts spaces arranged to support daily movement and exploration. Classrooms are bright and spacious, and purpose-built facilities include music rooms, dance studios, computer suites and chemistry laboratories. The campus houses a 900-seat multi-purpose conference centre, a full-sized indoor sports hall and an indoor swimming pool, plus extensive outdoor facilities such as a large outdoor sports zone, a colour-track running lane with spectator stands, a basketball court and a tennis court, fitness zones, an active play area and open lawns.

Sports Facilities
Sports facilities include a full-sized indoor sports hall, an indoor swimming pool, and a large outdoor sports zone with a colour-track running lane and spectator stands. Outdoor spaces include a basketball court, a tennis court, fitness zones, an active play area and open lawns. Planting gardens and relaxation lawns provide spaces for outdoor learning and recreation. These facilities support daily movement and integrated learning across the school day.

Academic Facilities
Teaching spaces are bright and spacious. The facilities include music rooms, dance studios, computer suites and chemistry laboratories. These spaces support academic, artistic and interdisciplinary learning across Early Years to Secondary. They are designed to enable collaboration and hands-on exploration, with safe and efficient movement between teaching spaces.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Extended School Day runs from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm with a full academic curriculum. From 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm, pupils participate in ECAs, five days a week. Between 4:00 pm and 5:00 pm, pupils in Years 3 to 13 can join a range of study clubs and additional activities; some are extensions of ECAs or connected to boarding. Pupils in Years 10 to 13 may stay on site until 6 pm with access to the same activities and a supervised study hall. In the afternoons, FutureLab, the Entrepreneurship Centre and the Language Lab run activities and projects.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
Between 3:00 pm and 4:00 pm all pupils take part in ECAs that develop the body, mind and soul. Between 4:00 pm and 5:00 pm pupils can join study clubs and additional activities, with some extensions connected to the Boarding Houses. FutureLab, Language Lab and the Entrepreneurship Centre run afternoon activities to support pupil projects and independent study, and events such as English Launchpad are part of the programme.

Arts & Creative
FutureLab brings together AI, CAD, robotics, advanced manufacturing and the latest creative media hardware/software in a flagship integrated technology space. IDEASLAB enables cross-age collaboration to brainstorm, workshop and develop prototypes connected with Greater Bay Area industries, including creative media. Hands-on prototyping uses VR/3D printing and laser cutters to develop products and test ideas, with immersive technology used for deep exploration. The Entrepreneurship Centre supports an industry-linked entrepreneurial journey, linking creative practice with business insight.

Cultural & Language
Language Lab provides an individualized English development programme spanning reading, writing and speaking. The Harrow Little Lions Curriculum in Early Years supports English and Mandarin development side-by-side. Language Lab uses CEFR levels (A1–C2) and adds a Language Lab category for Oracy, with the Language Lab guide reporting to parents every six weeks. Before joining, pupils undergo CAT4 testing, a written test and an English interview to determine the appropriate Language Lab level.

Social & Hobbies
Extended School Day includes a five-day-a-week after-school programme with ECAs from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm and additional activities from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Pupils in Years 10 to 13 can stay on site until 6:00 pm to access the same activities and study facilities. Upcoming events such as School Tours, English Launchpad and Taster Classes provide opportunities for social and hobby engagement beyond the timetable.

Community & Service
Service is one of the six Harrow Diploma domains, encouraging students to care for society, creatively solve problems, give back to the community and promote sustainable development. The Diploma also emphasizes leadership, developing passions and wellbeing as key elements of character formation. In Years 12–13, the Diploma oversees internships and business mentoring through the FutureLab and Entrepreneurship Centre.

Leadership & Professional
Leadership is a core Harrovian quality, with the Diploma emphasising cross-cultural leadership skills and effective communication to make a positive impact. The Harrow Horizons programme integrates a Super-Curriculum into the timetable, supported by opportunities for enrichment outside the timetable. Internships and mentoring through the Entrepreneurship Centre and FutureLab provide practical professional development and real-world experience.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Promoting Positive Wellbeing is a Harrow Diploma domain focused on emotional intelligence and resilience. A strong pastoral care system, backed by a boarding ethos and House system, supports a happy, secure and valued community, reinforced by a personal, social and health education programme called Facing Challenges. The Extended School Day resources time for physical, mental and social development, reinforcing wellbeing beyond the core curriculum.
Languages

Language Provision
Languages taught are English and Mandarin. English development is delivered through Language Lab with CEFR levels (A1–C2) and an Oracy category, with six-week progress reports to families. Entry assessments include CAT4, a written test, and spoken English; Nursery/Reception use Phonics Launch Pad and older students follow tailored English Enhancement and Reading Extension pathways.

Bilingual Teaching
The Harrow Guangzhou Little Lions Curriculum supports English and Mandarin development side-by-side in Early Years (Nursery to Reception, ages 3–5). Nursery and Reception children learn English through Phonics.

Immersion Programs
An immersive English environment supports language learning across the school. The Language Lab provides an individualized English development programme in reading, writing and speaking from before enrollment to graduation.
Admissions

Admissions
Stage 1: Complete the online Application Form. To be considered for Harrow Guangzhou, submit an application via the online portal and ensure each application is for one child, accompanied by supporting documents and the application fee. Applications should be submitted early, as waiting lists exist for entry in many year groups.

Stage 2: Admissions Assessments. After submission, the appropriate age group will be contacted to schedule an interview assessment. A non-refundable application fee of RMB 3,000 is charged prior to the assessment date.

Stage 3: Admissions Results. If the assessment and interview are successful, the applicant is informed by email and receives a formal offer letter from the Head Master.

Stage 4: Accept Offer. To accept, sign and return the Acceptance Form, Terms and Conditions, School Bus (if required) and Medical Form. The OpenApply system can be used to familiarise with the process; the school abides by applicable national laws and regulations and does not guarantee enrolment through third party guarantees.

Scholarships
Scholarships are financial awards for excellence and are set at 10% of the school's tuition fee; exceptional pupils may receive more than one scholarship. A bursary is a means-tested award to assist families who could not otherwise afford the fees; scholarship awards can be supported by bursary funding to provide additional financial assistance, enabling gifted pupils from across the global community to enrol. Bursaries are means-tested annually to determine the level of support; it is possible to gain virtually full remission of fees through bursary funding depending on need. Most bursaries are awarded prior to entry and are available from Year 6 upwards. External scholarship applications can be submitted via the school application system (OpenApply) and, historically, deadlines have included dates such as 15 October 2025; scholarship information and criteria are shared through the school's scholarship materials.

Waitlist
The school maintains waiting lists for entry in very many year groups, and applicants are advised to apply early to avoid disappointment.
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