Our Team

Mr Alex Reed, the Founding Head Master of Harrow Guangzhou, is a distinguished educational leader with over 30 years of experience in building, developing, and leading outstanding school communities.​

​He holds a degree in English Literature from the University of Cambridge and trained as a teacher in Sheffield. He qualified as a Head as one of the very first teachers to receive the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) through the Institute of Education, now part of University College London (UCL). He also completed a Master’s degree in Literature on the novels of Muriel Spark (the wonderful Scottish writer) at the University of Auckland during his time in New Zealand. ​​

​Alex is currently the Head Master of Harrow International School in Shanghai, one of China’s leading schools, renowned for both academic excellence and vibrant co-curricular programmes in sport and music. In his time at the school, he has overseen exceptional examination performances, with A Level results placing the school amongst the very best in the world. He takes particular pride in the university destinations of Harrow Shanghai graduates, with students progressing to top global universities each year, including Cambridge and other G5 institutions, as well as leading universities in the US and across the Russell Group. ​​

Mr Jack Benstead graduated from Bishop Grosseteste University with a degree in Primary Education with QTS and holds the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH). He has extensive leadership experience within the AISL Harrow family of schools, most recently as a founding member of staff and leader at Harrow Hengqin, where he combined curriculum innovation with a strong focus on early language development for young learners. ​​​

A trained facilitator for the UCL Institute of Education National Professional Qualifications, Jack is passionate about staff professional development and building capacity within teaching teams. His leadership across AISL Harrow schools has included curriculum innovation, cross-campus collaboration, and the design of forward-looking approaches that combine academic rigour with holistic student growth.​​

 ​​In August 2026, Jack will take up the role of Founding Head of Lower School at Harrow Guangzhou, where he is committed to establishing a world-class, future-focused school that provides an outstanding foundation for learning, firmly rooted in Harrow’s values of Courage, Honour, Humility, and Fellowship.​

 ​​Beyond his professional life, Jack enjoys travelling and exploring new cultures. He also takes every opportunity to pursue his favourite sport of skiing, which reflects his love of adventure and the outdoors.  ​​ ​

Mr Douglas Bridges joins Harrow International School Guangzhou as Founding Deputy Head (Academic), bringing over two decades of educational leadership experience across the UK, the Middle East, and Asia.​​

A graduate of the University of Brighton, Douglas holds a degree in Education with QTS. He began his career as a Mathematics teacher before progressing into senior leadership, developing a reputation for strategic academic vision and a collaborative approach to school improvement.​​

He has previously served within the AISL Harrow family as the Founding Head of Upper School at Harrow Zhuhai and played a key role in the establishment of King’s School Hove in the UK. Douglas joins Harrow Guangzhou from a leading British international school in Cairo, where he led teaching, learning, and assessment, contributing to the school’s Outstanding inspection in 2025. A trained international school inspector, he brings extensive experience in evaluating and enhancing school performance across a range of contexts.​​

Dr. Tracy holds a Doctorate in Education (EdD) from the University of Dundee, Scotland, specialising in supporting teachers and school leaders in designing professional development pathways for effective technology integration within international schools. She brings over 15 years of experience to her roles, having served as an accomplished senior school leader within high-achieving International and UK Independent Schools. ​​
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Dr. Tracy holds the UK National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) and Post Graduate Diplomas in both Education and Educational Leadership from the University of Strathclyde, Scotland. Her expertise is formally recognised by her Fellowship Status (FCCT) with The Chartered College of Teaching, UK. Known for her visible presence and commitment to equality, excellence, and high expectations, she consistently fosters a collaborative approach with the wider school community. ​​
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Dr. Tracy prioritises the delivery of exceptional pastoral care and the promotion of holistic student education and well-being. ​​​

As a product of both the British education system (including IB), culminating in graduation from the University of Oxford, and a Shanghai international school following the AP curriculum, she is deeply familiar with international curricula and pathways. More importantly, she represents the educational outcome that many international school parents aspire for their children to achieve.​

Born to a mother with a doctorate, she feels that education “chose” her just as much as she chose it. Her relationship—or even yuanfen (缘分)—with English teaching began during her IB years, when she taught ESL to immigrant children with no prior English knowledge as part of the IB CAS programme. Through dedication and hard work, the student she taught made such remarkable progress that both teacher and student were interviewed by BBC News at the time.​

To date, she has accumulated 15 years of experience in ESL teaching, 10 years in international education and university counselling, and almost 8 years in education management, curriculum design, and implementation.​

She is currently the Co-founder and Deputy Head of a small school of approximately 100 students in her parents’ hometown of Liyang, which she co-founded in 2018. The school is the only institution in the city legally licensed to teach English and employ foreign teachers. Its students are widely recognised for possessing the strongest and most natural English proficiency in the city, with learners ranging from Early Years to IELTS candidates and adult learners.​

Mr Matthew Hewitt is an experienced mathematics educator and department leader who has worked across the UK, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, developing high-performing teams and fostering a culture of curiosity, challenge, and academic ambition. He holds a First Class Honours degree in Mathematics Education from the University of Brighton and has led Mathematics departments in both British and international schools, with a strong focus on deep conceptual understanding, independence, and intellectual resilience.​

Throughout his career, Matthew has championed mathematical enrichment beyond the classroom, encouraging students to participate in competitions and problem-solving initiatives that broaden their perspectives and strengthen their confidence in tackling complex ideas. He believes strongly in active engagement and in empowering learners to take ownership of their progress.​