With 450 years of Harrow’s legacy as our foundation, we empower our people to make a difference—​whether by nurturing future leaders or driving the engine behind our world-class education.​

Welcome to Harrow Guangzhou, and thank you for your interest in our school. As we are hoping you can see in the words and pictures in this application pack, and in the links to other documents that we’ve provided on the TES, we are planning a warm, wonderful school, working closely with our community to give our children every opportunity we possibly can. Academic outcomes will be outstanding; music, art and the dramatic arts will be at the core of the school; and we will grow a fantastic sports programme.

We will also be a school with our eyes firmly fixed on the future. Our Future Lab will be one of China’s most innovative learning spaces; our Entrepreneurship Centre will connect learning to the vibrant business world outside our doors; and our Language Learning Centre will ensure that our children are well-prepared for the future.

Our community will be a very committed one. Our parents and families mean a great deal to us, and they will be heavily involved in school life. They will support us in our work, and have high expectations for their children. We will also have high expectations for them, so that works very well!

We will be, finally, a British curriculum school in Guangzhou, China. Our identity is complicated: we are connected to Harrow School in London, with whom we will continue to have very close ties; we will be part of the AISL group of premium schools and have close ties to our sister schools; and we will be firmly rooted in our time and place. Our children have rich, complex identities too, and we will explore these in every way we can. It will be a great place to work, and a wonderful community to join: we hope you will agree!

Alex Reed, Head Master

OUR COMMUNITY- OUR SCHOOL

The Harrow Guangzhou community will be a close one. Our children will be generally academically able; most children will have learned English as a second or even third language, though mostly very capable indeed; and they will have a wide range of cultural backgrounds, though most will have a Chinese cultural heritage.

Families will have high expectations but will be very supportive and committed to the school. We will be an exceptionally open community, believing that relationships are the core of everything in life, and so we will develop strong connections to our families through communications and events that draw parents, grandparents and wider families into our school.

All of the AISL Harrow schools share a commitment to community, and you will find the same approach to engaged families in every one of our schools. It really does make a difference.

OUR COMMUNITY- GUANGZHOU ​

Guangzhou is one of China’s, and one of the world’s, great cities. It is one of the country’s four “Tier 1”​ cities, and has long been the political, cultural and economic capital of Guangdong, the large, heavily-​populated and vibrant region that lies to the west of Hong Kong. With a population of over 20 million​ people, there is always something to do and someone to see.​​

Guangzhou was the first city in China to make substantial international connections and it has retained​ that tradition into the 21st century. Known for its manufacturing, it has a growing strength in high-tech​ industries; but you will find it an open, green place, banyan trees and vegetation growing in every​ imaginable space. It has a laid-back feel, and its warm climate means much of life is enjoyed in the open.​​

It also has the best food in China (which means the best food in the world). Don’t let people from other​ places fool you with their biases: Cantonese food is fresh, tasty, varied and always high quality. Our school​ food will also be special with our own, specially-developed menu.​​​​

Living costs are very inexpensive. The metro is extensive and. Taxis or Didis are much, much cheaper than in Europe. Accommodation is paid for by the school, and food is plentiful, inexpensive and easily available.​​

Other shopping in Guangzhou is everything you would expect. It includes the street markets selling tourist souvenirsand antiques, all the way to Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Hermes (for those inclined). Uniqlo, Muji and IKEA are also everywhere. If you fancy a trip to Lane Crawford, Hong Kong is just an hour away by high-speed train. Most shoppingis done online, though, and you will be battling a Taobao addiction before too long. China is largely cash-free too, and you will find that side of life very easy to navigate. Pretty much everything you need can be done through WeChat and Alipay. And maybe Taobao. And Dianping. All apps you will get to know and love.​​

Finally, Guangzhou is one of the best-connected cities in Asia. It has a large international airport that connects it to allmajor cities in China and most in East and South East China. It also has direct connections to most European cities, Australia and New Zealand through China Southern, China’s best domestic airline.​

Hear From Our People

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"I'm very happy and proud to be the Founding Headmaster of Harrow Guangzhou. My experience as Head Master in Harrow Shanghai has been a warm, wonderful one, and I'm delighted that I have the chance to work with the Harrow community in Guangzhou, making sure every child enjoys a rich, challenging education."
Alex Reed

From: Harrow Shanghai, China; Head Master
To: Harrow Guangzhou, China; Founding Head Master

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"AISL Harrow has given me a wealth of opportunities for both professional and personal growth, enabling me to progress across multiple roles and campuses. Each phase has broadened my skills, strengthened my leadership, and deepened my commitment to the Harrow family."
Jack Benstead

From: Harrow Hengqin, China; Head of Lower School
To: Harrow Guangzhou, China; Founding Head of Lower School

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"I’m truly delighted to be joining the Harrow Guangzhou community. Throughout my career, I’ve been committed to building schools where every child experiences a rich and inspiring education. My experiences in Harrow Zhuhai and Cairo have strengthened my belief that great education comes from balancing academic excellence with character development. I’m really looking forward to working with our families and staff as we build something exceptional from day one, preparing our students to become tomorrow’s leaders."
Douglas Bridges

Harrow Guangzhou, China; Founding Deputy Head Academic

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"I am looking forward to bringing my skills and experience in international education to the AISL Group. The role of Deputy Head Pastoral as a founding member of Harrow Guangzhou will allow me to utilise these in support of the newest school in the group, with exceptional holistic education and pastoral care at the heart of what we do."
Tracy Ghomashchian

Harrow Guangzhou; China; Founding Deputy Head Pastoral

Careers & professional learning​

Professional Development at AISL Academy

AISL is committed to nurturing the growth of both academic and non-academic staff. To support this, AISL Academy was established in 2021 as AISL Harrow’s strategy partner to provide a dedicated centre for staff learning and professional development across the AISL family of schools.

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Our network of schools is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. 

All adults in the school community are expected to follow its Child Protection procedures and are required to undertake safeguarding checks. AISL Harrows is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect, where equal employment opportunities are available to all irrespective of all characteristics protected by the Equal Opportunities Commission and all other applicable ordinances.