Upper School Director of Studies

A Harrow Beijing education is one that is built around excellence with the important aim of producing globally aware citizens able to thrive in whatever they do. Harrow is very proud of its heritage and educational experience which has been in existence for over 450 years.

At the heart of our unique educational philosophy is the importance of our school community and the relationships between staff and students. As a school we recognize the importance of intellectual curiosity and breadth, and we aim to ensure every student is known, nurtured, and encouraged to turn their abilities into achievements.

Everything we do at Harrow Beijing encourages our students to develop themselves holistically, so they become rounded and balanced, ethical, moral people who care about the world around them.

Harrow Beijing has two school campuses;

City Kindergarten campus (Ages 2-6)

Our City Campus is nestled in a green and leafy community, purpose-built for Early Years and Year 1 children. This idyllic space enjoys wonderful facilities such as a fully kitted out Sports Hall and Dining Room, a wide range of play-based creative spaces including a Maker Space, Construction Zone, Dance Studio, Visual Arts Studio and Music and Drama Studio. It is a vibrant community where children thrive as they begin their lifelong learning journeys.

Hegezhuang campus (Year 2- Year 13)

Situated in a beautiful village, our Hegezhuang Campus has fully-customised classrooms with cutting-edge technology and thoughtfully designed, flexible learning spaces creating an inspiring environment for students from Year 2 upwards. In addition, our exquisite facilities include two libraries for Lower School and Upper School students respectively with more than 28,000 resources, a large multi-purpose theatre, a mini theatre, a black-box drama area, an arts centre and a music centre with a recording studio. In the sports hall, there is a 25-metre swimming pool, a gymnasium for badminton, volleyball and basketball, as well as a top-rope climbing wall. Outdoors, we have tennis courts and Astro-turf playing fields for football.

Academic Progression at Harrow Beijing

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) at Harrow Beijing encourages pupils to be happy, independent and motivated leaders in their school environment.

Teachers plan for purposeful, play-based learning using the Harrow Early Years learning framework whilst also taking into consideration the individual needs of all of our learners.

A strong focus in the Early Years is on Social and Emotional development alongside key areas in Literacy and Mathematics including Phonics development. Daily classroom activities are supplemented with lessons in specialist subjects of Physical Education, Music, Drama and Mandarin.

In the Pre-Prep phase Years 2 to 5, children continue to develop essential literacy, numeracy, and Mandarin skills. Great emphasis is placed on the enjoyment of books and the teaching of reading and writing in both English and Mandarin, as well as emotional health and wellbeing. As students progress through the school they are introduced to a greater element of specialist subjects in Music, Physical Education, Drama, Art, Computing and Science.

The Prep phase Years 6-8 is modeled on the best practice of British Preparatory Schools and International Middle Schools, the Prep Phase is a blend of specialist-based subject teaching within the security of the Upper School. At the core of the Prep Phase are the subjects of English, Mathematics, Science and Mandarin. The students are also exposed to a wide and varied curriculum including Art, Drama, Humanities, Computing, Design and Technology, Music, Spanish and PE.

Our curriculum in the Senior School Years 9-11 is designed to build on the learning and skills students have developed in the Prep phase, and equip them for success in public examinations. Many of our courses take themes and skills from International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) and introduce them early to students. This provides a strong bridge into Year 10 and ensures students are well prepared to follow the courses of their choice. In Year 10 and Year 11 students follow the GCSE and/or IGCSE courses.

After IGCSE, students move into the Sixth Form phase of the School and prepare themselves for life at university. It is a two-year programme of linear A Levels with a wide range of subject choices. Students go on to study in top universities all over the world, and within China.

Enrichment

Much of what makes Harrow Beijing such a special place is the outstanding enrichment opportunities available throughout the school, which complement the academic curriculum.

Students will get to develop a range of lifelong skills through the friendships they make and interests they develop, which will prepare them for the demands of the 21st Century. They will be able to compete in a range of sports fixtures throughout Asia, build resilience through expeditions, experience the excitement of performing with musical ensembles and in school productions, and become global citizens through the International Award, community outreach programmes, and environmental societies to name just a few.

Teaching staff

Teachers are the backbone of the school where excellence is our expectation. Currently, we employ over 180 teachers principally coming from the UK, China, Australia, New Zealand, the US etc. All of our teachers are highly qualified and experienced experts in the disciplines they teach. The diversity of our teaching staff is a strength of the school and a characteristic of our community that we are extremely proud of.