Harrow International School Beijing vs Keystone Academy

	H Harrow International School Beijing Beijing, China	K Keystone Academy Beijing, China
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year RMB 228,600 - 356,600	Fees / year RMB 289,800 - 323,950
Age range	Age range 2 - 18 years	Age range 5 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational, Co-educational (boarding)
Curriculum	Curriculum British Curriculum, IPC (International Primary Curriculum), Cambridge IGCSE, Australian Curriculum	Curriculum IPC (International Primary Curriculum), IB (MYP), IB (DP)
Pupils	Pupils 1,500	Pupils 1,596
Typical class size	Typical class size 20	Typical class size 18
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English, Mandarin
Opened	Opened 2005	Opened 2014
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Harrow Beijing's main (Hegezhuang) campus is in Hegezhuang Village, Cuigezhuang, Chaoyang District, Beijing (No. 287 Hegezhuang Village). The school publishes a separate City Campus for very early years; admissions materials list campus addresses and practical travel information.	Location Keystone Academy is in the northeastern suburbs of Beijing: No. 11 Anfu Street, Houshayu Town, Shunyi District (postcode 101318). The campus is in the Shunyi district near Beijing Capital International Airport and is reached by the S11/Jingcheng and local roads; the school's admissions office lists the campus address and phone for directions.
Stages	Stages The school accepts students aged about 2–18 and is organised into Kindergarten/Lower School (Pre‑Prep), Prep (Years 2–6) and Upper School (Prep, Senior and Sixth Form / Years 7–13).	Stages Keystone is a full K–12 school split into Primary (early years/primary), Middle (MYP-style curriculum) and High School (IB Diploma in Grades 11–12). The website presents distinct Primary, Middle and High School pages and materials for each division.
School type	School type Harrow Beijing is an international, co‑educational school for Chinese and foreign pupils (ages 2–18). The school's public pages describe day programmes across the phases; boarding is not described on the Harrow Beijing site (note: some other AISL Harrow schools do offer boarding). For confirmation about boarding options contact admissions.	School type Keystone is a private, co-educational K–12 school that operates both day and residential (boarding) programs. The school's Residential Life program describes dormitory living and student supervision; students are required to board starting in Grade 9.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support Harrow Beijing has a Learning Support Department with a full‑time Learning Support Coordinator in both Lower and Upper School, dedicated intervention teachers, and access‑arrangement support for external exams; the team works with families, teachers and external specialists including an educational psychologist.	Additional learning support The school runs a Student Development Support Centre (CSD) that provides academic support plans, accommodations and ongoing case management; the centre also helps coordinate with external specialists when needed. The admissions policy asks families to disclose learning support needs so the school can assess whether it can provide appropriate support.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation Harrow Beijing is part of the Harrow family and the AISL Harrow Schools network; it traces its heritage to Harrow School in London.	Country affiliation Keystone is an independent school located in China; its program explicitly weaves a Chinese curricular thread into a bilingual, international model rather than being affiliated to a foreign national school system.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation The school's public information does not identify a religious affiliation; pastoral provision is presented as non‑denominational and focused on wellbeing and safeguarding.	Religious affiliation The school does not identify with any religion on its official pages; its materials present Keystone as a secular 'world school' focused on bilingual and experiential education.
School day structure	School day structure Morning care (Breakfast Club) is available; a parent newsletter notes breakfast‑club drop‑off from about 07:05 with students heading to class shortly before 08:00. Typical published school‑day times used in school listings are roughly 08:00 to mid/late afternoon (around 16:30), but exact start/finish times and after‑school activity schedules vary by year group and are given in the school handbook.	School day structure The school's published schedules vary by program and year group and the site does not offer a single public bell-time table for all divisions. Example program pages show typical arrival for programs around 8:15–8:30 and program-day end times near 15:30, and the FAQ notes after-school activities and evening boarding routines for residential students (including supervised study periods). For exact daily start/end and break times you should request the current parent handbook or contact admissions.
Bus service details	Bus service details The school offers a school‑bus service; route maps, timings, fees and the transport provider are described in the Admissions Information Centre and the school handbook (the admissions team handles route allocation). For current routes, pick‑up points or to register for transport contact admissions by phone or email.	Bus service details Keystone provides a paid school-bus service (route and fee details vary by year and program). Summer/short-program pages list school-bus fees and typical pick-up (around 8:15) and drop-off (around 15:30) times for day programs, and the FAQ notes a school bus service for after-school activities (e.g., 16:30 pick-up after clubs). For route coverage, fees and pick-up/drop-off points the admissions office can provide the current routes and pricing.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application fee - Registration (application) fee: RMB 3,500, payable once at the point of application. Tuition fees (annual and per term, by year group) - Pre-Nursery (Pre-N): Tuition RMB 228,600 per year — approximately RMB 76,200 per term (if split equally into three terms). - Nursery: Tuition RMB 228,600 per year — approximately RMB 76,200 per term. - Reception: Tuition RMB 259,600 per year — approximately RMB 86,533 per term. - Year 1: Tuition RMB 282,600 per year — approximately RMB 94,200 per term. - Year 2: Tuition RMB 295,800 per year — approximately RMB 98,600 per term. - Year 3 & Year 4: Tuition RMB 305,800 per year — approximately RMB 101,933 per term. - Year 5: Tuition RMB 306,800 per year — approximately RMB 102,267 per term. - Year 6: Tuition RMB 309,800 per year — approximately RMB 103,267 per term. - Year 7 & Year 8: Tuition RMB 321,600 per year — approximately RMB 107,200 per term. - Year 9, Year 10 & Year 11: Tuition RMB 336,000 per year — approximately RMB 112,000 per term. - Year 12 & Year 13: Tuition RMB 356,600 per year — approximately RMB 118,867 per term. Note: the per-term figures above are simple equal one‑third divisions of the published annual tuition and are provided for planning purposes; check the school's billing schedule for exact instalment amounts and due dates. Billing schedule and payment terms - The registration fee is payable at application. An Acceptance Form must be returned and a small advance payment of tuition is required to secure a place after an offer is made. Payments are to be made to the school's bank account (Hang Seng Bank Beijing — account: Harrow International School Beijing; Account Number: 531031680020). Boarding fees - Harrow Beijing operates as a day school (no boarding provision listed); there are no boarding fees for this campus. Other costs and fees - English Intensive class: some year groups offer an English Intensive class that incurs additional fees. - School uniform: all students must wear school uniform; uniforms are purchased by parents according to the school's uniform guide. - School bus: a school bus network is available; parents should contact Admissions for bus routes and fees. - Canteen (lunch): the school provides a canteen service; separate meal charges apply (sample lunch menu published by the school). Refund information - The registration fee is charged at application and is stated as payable once; the admissions materials do not specify a general refund of the registration fee. The school's formal fee and refund terms appear in the full fee or parent handbook documents. Fee payment options - Bank transfer to the school's Hang Seng Bank Beijing account is provided (bank details published). The school uses an online admissions portal (OpenApply) for applications and enrolment procedures. For other accepted payment methods and any applicable bank/transaction charges, follow the school's payment instructions.	Fee details Application fee - The school's public admission pages do not publish a fixed application-fee amount. Keystone uses the OpenApply application system and indicates that application submission includes payment of required application fees as part of the process. Tuition fees (annual, current academic year) - Primary School: RMB 289,800 per year. - Middle School: RMB 320,850 per year. - High School: RMB 323,950 per year. Per-term breakdown - Keystone publishes tuition as annual amounts by school division. A per-term (semester/term) breakdown is not published on the school's public pages and therefore per-term figures are not available in the school's public materials. Boarding and meals - Boarding and meal fees (for students required to board from Grade 9 onward) are RMB 110,250 per academic year. Boarding is required starting in Grade 9. Billing schedule and payment terms - The school states that next year's tuition and other fee levels are determined and announced in February each year. Detailed billing schedules (term invoicing dates, due dates) and standard payment terms are not published on the school's public admission pages. OpenApply is used during application processing and the admission process references submission of application fees as part of that workflow. Other costs and optional fees - Some after‑school activities and specialist external programs may carry additional charges; most teacher‑run KAP activities are included but certain activities run by hired specialists may require extra fees. Uniform procurement and supplier arrangements are handled by the school (supplier selection has been announced) but uniform costs are not listed publicly. Additional costs such as trips, optional program fees, transport or personal items are not published as fixed amounts on public pages. Refund information - The school does not publish a detailed public refund/withdrawal policy (refund amounts, timelines, or administrative procedures) on its admission or how‑to‑apply pages. Fee payment options - The school's public pages do not list specific accepted payment methods (for example: bank transfer, credit card, Alipay, WeChat Pay). The application process is handled through OpenApply and the Admissions Office is the listed contact for payment and billing questions.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options —	Food options —
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership —
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details Harrow Beijing runs a values‑led programme from Early Years to Sixth Form: Early Years (ages 3–5) follow the AISL Harrow Early Years Curriculum (AHEYC) / Little Lions kindergarten framework. In Primary (Years 1–6) the school teaches the English National Curriculum integrated with the International Primary Curriculum, with daily Mandarin, Expressive Arts and a specialist emphasis on PE and outdoor education. The Prep phase (Years 7–8) provides a broad foundation across subjects to prepare students for Upper School. In the Senior Phase (Years 9–11) students consolidate learning and are prepared to sit GCSE/IGCSE examinations in Year 11. The Sixth Form (Years 12–13) follows a two‑year A‑Level programme (with options for a three‑year pathway) and Harrow Beijing lists A‑Level subjects including Art, Biology, Business Studies, Chemistry, Computer Science, Design Technology, Economics, Mandarin, Further Mathematics, English Literature, Geography, History, Mathematics, Media Studies, Music, Physics, Psychology and Theatre Studies, plus EPQ and other enrichment awards.	Curriculum details Keystone Academy (北京市鼎石学校) operates a K–12 bilingual (Chinese–English) programme that deliberately integrates elements of the Chinese national curriculum with international curricula and a boarding model. In the primary school the programme uses a dual‑language immersion approach and the International Primary Curriculum (IPC), combined with a distinctive “China” thread that embeds Chinese language, culture and national curriculum standards. The middle school covers Grades 6–9 and explicitly blends the China national curriculum with the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP) alongside continued bilingual, inquiry‑based learning. The high school prepares students for the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB DP), including the DP core (Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay and CAS) and a bilingual/China‑focused approach to TOK and the curriculum in Years 11–12. Across all stages Keystone emphasizes experiential learning, outdoor education and a broad co‑curricular programme (KAP) and provides university‑counselling support to prepare students for tertiary study.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression —	Higher education progression —
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning —	Social & emotional learning —
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History —
Community	Community —	Community —
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions 1. Initial enquiry and visit. During a visit or Open Day you will be shown the facilities, meet admissions/academic staff and have an opportunity to ask about year-group availability and programme detail. Parents who cannot visit can use the school's online resources (virtual tour, prospectus, videos) before applying. 2. Submit the online application and pay the registration fee. Applications are made through the school's online portal (harrowbeijing.openapply.cn) and the school charges a one‑time registration fee of 3,500 RMB payable at the point of application; the application should include required documents such as passport pages, recent school reports (two years), a teacher reference and photos. The Admissions Quick Guide lists exactly which documents are required and confirms the registration fee and online submission URL. Early application is recommended because demand is high and waiting-list priority is based on submission date. 3. School review, consultation and age placement. After you submit the application the Admissions team will review the documents and confirm the appropriate year group using the school's age-placement guide (placements follow dates of birth). Depending on the child's age and the year group applied for, the school may arrange a consultation, assessment or interview with academic staff; details and timing are set by the Admissions Office after they receive a completed application. Note that Harrow Beijing describes itself as academically selective; where academic requirements are not met or spaces are limited, this will affect the decision or placement offered. 4. Specific entry rules for older year groups. The school does not permit direct entry to Year 11 or Year 13 and does not permit entry to Year 10 or Year 12 after the October half‑term for that academic year—parents should plan timing accordingly if applying for those year groups. For applicants seeking direct entry into Year 12 (A Level), the school specifies academic prerequisites (a minimum of five GCSEs or equivalent at Grade C or above and Grade B or above in any intended A‑Level subject). If you are applying for a senior place, confirm the exact subject and examination equivalency requirements with Admissions. 5. Offer, acceptance and deposit timeline. If a place is offered the school will send a formal Offer and an Acceptance Form; parents are asked to sign and return the Acceptance Form and to make the advance payment of tuition fees by the deadline. The school typically guarantees a place for two weeks after an offer is made to allow return of the Acceptance Form and payment; if the acceptance and payment are not completed by the deadline the place may be offered to another applicant. For payment the Admissions Quick Guide gives bank details and requests clear name/year‑group references on transfers. 6. Fees, sibling discounts and other cost notes. Harrow Beijing publishes year‑by‑year tuition for the academic year (example: Pre‑Nursery and Nursery 228,600 RMB; Reception 259,600 RMB; Year 1 282,600 RMB; Year 9–11 336,000 RMB; Year 12–13 356,600 RMB for 2025–2026); the school also notes that certain year groups offer an English Intensive class that incurs additional fees. Sibling discounts are applied to the youngest child in order of birth (2nd child 5%, 3rd child 10%, 4th and subsequent 15%). Check the Tuition Fees document and the Admissions Quick Guide for the currently published year, and ask Admissions about any additional charges (bus, meals, uniforms, optional programmes). 7. Final preparation and start. Once the Acceptance Form is returned and the advance payment is processed, the school will confirm the enrolment and provide practical information (timetables, uniform, bus routes, canteen). Ensure that visas/permits (for international applicants) and any medical or other documentation requested are ready well before the start date. If no space is immediately available but your child meets entry requirements, the school will place them on a waiting list (see below).	Admissions 1. Create an application account (OpenApply) and start your child's application. Keystone asks families to open an account on keystoneacademy.openapply.cn and begin the online application as the first step; because places are limited there is an application cap for the Foundation Year, Grade 1 and Grade 7, so families interested in those grades should start as early as possible. If you have previously applied to Keystone or registered for an admissions event with the same email, you can log in with that address rather than creating a new account. 2. Expect the school to invite scheduled meetings and assessments within a few business days. After you submit the initial application, the Admissions Office will email guidance to schedule a parent meeting and a student meeting/assessment (the site notes this guidance usually arrives within 2–3 working days). Parents should watch the inbox they used for the application and be ready to propose times for those meetings. 3. Prepare and request required school documents and recommendations. Keystone asks applicants to request a current teacher recommendation through the application system; personal recommendation letters are optional. School records must be provided according to the grade: applicants for Foundation Year–Grade 3 should supply one and a half years of school reports; applicants for Grades 4–11 should supply two and a half years of reports. 4. Complete the written statements and (where required) student essay inside the application. Families must complete a parent statement in the OpenApply account; applicants in Grades 6–11 are also required to complete a student essay in the application. These written materials are part of the Admissions Committee's review packet. 5. Track application progress online and wait for committee review. You can log in to your OpenApply account at any time to check whether the application file is complete; completed files are submitted to the Admissions Committee for discussion. Keystone states final decisions are normally communicated in early spring for on-time applicants; families should plan for a multi-week review timeline once the file is complete. If you have particular timing constraints (for example mid‑year entry), contact Admissions directly to discuss options. 6. Post‑decision practical steps if accepted. The school's scheduled next steps typically include formal acceptance communication and then the usual enrolment actions (parents are asked to follow the admissions office's instructions to complete enrollment paperwork and any required payments). For short programs and Archway offerings the site explicitly states that fees are collected after acceptance; for full-year enrolment the Admissions Office will provide the enrollment checklist and payment instructions at the acceptance stage. 7. Be aware of grade availability and language/age requirements. Keystone indicates primary entry grades they plan to admit each year (notably Grade 1 and Grade 7) and says other grade-level admissions depend on vacancies from departing families; Grade 1 entrants must be six years old by August 31 of the entry year. The school also notes applicants for Grade 1 and above should have sufficient Chinese and English to access the bilingual, immersion curriculum. Parents should contact Admissions early to confirm whether there are current openings for the grade you need.
Scholarships	Scholarships Harrow Beijing runs scholarship programmes and also participates in larger AISL Harrow scholarship initiatives. The school's admissions pages and the Harrow Scholarship information note that Harrow Beijing has offered scholarships such as the AISL Scholarship, a 20th Anniversary Scholarship, and the 450 Scholarship in recent cycles; the AISL Harrow scholarship rounds have included fully funded (tuition‑free) two‑year A‑Level awards targeted at outstanding Sixth‑Form applicants. Scholarship programmes change from year to year (eligibility criteria, application windows, assessment dates and whether full or partial funding is offered), and the school's announcements give the specific application deadline and assessment/interview timetable for each competition (for example, an AISL Harrow scholarship round listed application and assessment dates for the 2025–27 cycle). For current scholarship offerings, eligibility rules and how to apply, contact the Admissions Office or refer to the Harrow Scholarship pages and the AISL Harrow scholarship portal linked from the school website.	Scholarships Keystone operates both merit‑based scholarships and need‑based financial aid; families must submit a scholarship application in addition to the standard admission application. The school states it offers named scholarships (for example the Academy's “Scholar” awards reported in school news) and has an established scholarship/financial aid program intended to help talented students who cannot otherwise afford tuition. The Admission Policy and FAQs make two points parents should note: (1) scholarship applicants complete a separate scholarship form as part of the process, and (2) limited financial aid is awarded on the basis of demonstrated need and is managed annually by the Admissions Office. Selection is competitive and the school treats scholarships and admissions as related but distinct evaluations — if you intend to seek assistance, complete both the main application and the scholarship form and be prepared to supply any supporting materials the admissions team requests. For the most up‑to‑date guidance on application deadlines, required financial documents and the scale of awards, contact admission@keystoneacademy.cn or consult the school's scholarship pages and admissions office directly.
Waitlist	Waitlist Harrow Beijing operates a waiting‑list system. If an applicant meets the school's academic and social entry requirements but no places are available at the time of application, the student will be placed on a waiting list until a space becomes available. The Admissions Quick Guide states that priority on the waiting lists is determined by the date the completed application was submitted, which is why the school recommends early application. If you are placed on the list, contact Admissions to confirm your child's position and to update any changed circumstances or documents; Admissions can advise typical wait times for the specific year group.	Waitlist Keystone does not present a public, numbered “first‑to‑be‑offered” waitlist on its website; instead, the school describes a rolling process for reviewing late/over‑capacity applications and vacancies. The Admissions Policy explains that if spaces become available, the school will review overdue applications from late April onward on a rolling basis, and that places in many grades (especially Grade 1 and Grade 7) are limited and only other grades are considered when space opens up because current families depart. Practically, that means families whose applications arrive after the main deadline or who apply for non‑standard grades should expect their files to be held in a rolling admissions pool and reviewed against available seats rather than being placed on a public, position‑based waitlist. Parents who want to be considered for an unexpected vacancy are advised to keep their application current in OpenApply and to contact admission@keystoneacademy.cn to confirm their interest and status.
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