Harrow International School Hong Kong, Harrow School in Hong Kong

• Location: Hong Kong, China,
• Year of foundation: 2012,
• Number of students: about 1650,
• Language of instruction: English,
• Type of education: blended.

Harrow International School Hong Kong — the first and currently the only British international school in Hong Kong offering a full cycle of secondary education: from preschool to graduation classes.

It is part of the international academic system of Harrow schools, founded in London in 1572. In addition to the campus in Hong Kong, Harrow School opens in Beijing, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Bangkok and other cities in China, providing high-quality education and comprehensive development based on the British academic system, its approaches and methods. Opened in 2012, Harrow International School Hong Kong is effectively expanding and modernizing to this day, already educating about 1650 students from 3 to 18 years old.

Students of Harrow Hong Kong receive not only interdisciplinary and practice-oriented knowledge in many scientific disciplines, but also actively participate in creative, sports, social activities. Extracurricular development is on par with academic preparation here: qualified teachers help students find an area of interest for them, recognize strengths, develop them step by step and achieve the best results. By realizing talent in sports, various forms of creativity or public activity, students gain self-confidence, valuable life skills and abilities that will become one of the most important aspects of admission to leading universities around the world and life success.

Several specialized departments operate at Harrow Hong Kong, providing expert support on admissions, English language learning and other challenges. Students regularly meet one-on-one with a mentor to define goals and plan their achievement, adjust the plan, receive advice and supporting resources. Some of the support options offered:

• Assistance with course material directly in class (similar to tutoring),
• Regular individual and group meetings to develop reading, writing, mathematics and self-organization skills,
• Consultations on university selection, review of entrance exams, interview preparation, career guidance assistance,
• Language classes during which students receive practice in writing, reading, speaking and listening skills,
• Selection of external funding, consideration of scholarship opportunities.

Education at Harrow International School Hong Kong is organized into several academic stages, it is a full-cycle school:

• Kindergarten — preschool department for students aged 3-5 years old,
• Lower School — primary grades 1-5,
• Upper School — middle grades 6-8,
• Upper School: GCSE — middle grades 9-11,
• High School: Sixth Form — senior grades 12-13.

Harrow Hong Kong Residence offers students in grades 6-13 a weekly boarding program: students leave campus on Friday evening and return to their rooms on Sunday. Students are accommodated in rooms of varying capacity: two-, three- and four-bed rooms are prepared for middle school pupils, and individual rooms are designed for students preparing for exams in the near future. Bathrooms, a large common area, terrace and infrastructure outside the residence are available for general use.

Three meals a day are served daily in two dining halls — dishes prepared according to recipes of national, British and international cuisine. Regular meetings are held between school administration and the catering company, which also involve students and their parents — this is how the menu is formed, taking into account special dietary, medical, religious needs and children's tastes.

Extracurricular activities at Harrow International School Hong Kong offer students a wide range of opportunities to develop their creative interests, sports skills and social abilities.

Here, the House system is implemented, where younger pupils are mentored by older ones: this approach to team building allows all students to acquire teamwork skills, learn healthy competition, and care for others. Every year, various competitions and contests are held between Houses, followed by an award ceremony at the end of the academic calendar. Houses actively participate in charity events, helping humanitarian, environmental and animal welfare funds.

The physical education program includes various opportunities to participate in sports and fitness activities: from team sports such as rugby and netball to individual activities such as swimming and yoga. These activities not only improve physical health but also instill important qualities: cooperation, discipline and perseverance. In addition to the extensive range of sports sections, expeditions and large-scale trips have been added to the extracurricular program - annually, many age groups hold field events with visits to regional attractions, international thematic trips. Over the past years, pupils have visited Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Great Britain and the USA.

To gain new experience, try their hand at something unfamiliar or develop their existing interests, students join one of many themed clubs:

• Dancing,
• Engineering, mathematics,
• Game development,
• Philosophy,
• Music,
• Painting,
• Tutoring,
• Literature,
• Applied ethics,
• Sociology and others.

• High-quality British full school cycle education,
• Excellent academic results at all educational stages,
• Admission to leading universities in the USA, Great Britain, Canada and other countries,
• Language support center for international students.

The Harrow Hong Kong campus occupies a large crescent-shaped building located near Gold Coast Tsuen Mun, Hong Kong; the kindergarten has a separate learning area in close proximity to the main campus.

The infrastructure meets all needs and modern trends in children's education of different ages. For example, a three-story building with 12 classrooms, common areas for study and recreation, a library, a medical room, and a large outdoor playground have been prepared for the youngest pupils. Students attending grades 1-13 study in specialized studios and laboratories, spacious classrooms and conference halls for group and individual work. Each classroom is equipped with an interactive BENQ board and has subject-specific methodological resources and materials for project work. It is also worth noting computer classes with technological PCs and printing equipment, specialized workshops and creative studios including equipment for playing musical instruments, robotics and programming, painting, and scientific experiments.

The sports infrastructure of Harrow Hong Kong consists of indoor facilities and outdoor areas:

• Several game halls, gyms,
• Swimming pool,
• Full-scale AstroTurf playing field.

The academic calendar consists of three trimesters, as in Britain:

• Autumn: August-December,
• Spring: January-March,
• Summer: April-June.

Depending on the age group of students, the length of the school year will vary slightly.

Classes are held on weekdays, and recreation is organized on weekends, international and national holidays, and during seasonal vacations. The duration of the school day depends on the class, number of electives, and extracurricular activities.

Approximate list of additional expenses:

• Registration, administrative fees and deposits,
• School uniform,
• Textbooks,
• Accommodation and meals,
• School bus,
• Some extracurricular activities, including international trips,
• Exams,
• Individual classes,
• Personal expenses.

During the admission process, applicants go through several stages:

• Filling out an online application and providing the required documents,
• Taking entrance tests, which are also presented in an online format. The complexity and number of tests depend on the student's age and the grade they are applying to,
• Receiving admission results, complete information about arrival at campus and the start of training.

High school students achieve excellent results in exams: in 2024-2025, 33% received A* grades, 70% — A*-A grades, 90% — A*-B. High scores open doors to the world's leading universities, where currently almost all graduates of Harrow International School Hong Kong are studying:

• University of Oxford,
• University of Cambridge,
• Berklee College of Music,
• Princeton University,
• King’s College London,
• University of Nottingham,
• University of Toronto,
• Hong Kong University of Science and Technology,
• University of Southern California,
• Parsons School of Design.

Harrow International School Hong Kong expects from applicants:

• Personal documents of the child and parents, including a foreign passport or birth certificate, visa or residence permit, medical certificates and insurance,
• Academic reports for the last two academic years.

Admission is based on the results of entrance tests and previous academic achievements (selective).

Harrow Hong Kong encourages outstanding students with achievements in areas such as:

• Academics,
• Art,
• Chinese Language,
• Drama,
• Music,
• Sports,
• STEAM.

Awards are typically a 10% discount off the annual tuition fee.

Students with exceptional academic achievements and special talents may apply for financial aid if their parents cannot afford the full cost.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision