Harrow International School Shenzhen vs The King's School Shenzhen International

	H Harrow International School Shenzhen Shenzhen, China	T The King's School Shenzhen International Shenzhen, China
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year RMB 291,400 - 360,300	Fees / year RMB 205,000 - 309,800
Age range	Age range 2 - 18 years	Age range 2 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational, Co-educational (boarding)	Type Co-educational (boarding)
Curriculum	Curriculum EYFS (Early years foundation stage), British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels	Curriculum EYFS (Early years foundation stage), Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels
Pupils	Pupils 900	Pupils 230
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 2020	Opened 2022
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Harrow Shenzhen is located in the Qianhai Cooperation Zone, Nanshan District (No.39 KeChuang 6th St), Shenzhen — a short commute from the Shekou/Qianhai areas and with cross‑border business links toward Hong Kong.	Location The school's main campus is in Qianhai, Nanshan District — address listed as No.375 Yuewan (月湾街375号), Shenzhen. It sits inside the Qianhai/Month Bay area, a short drive from central Nanshan and within reach of local metro and bus links (nearest metro references list Liyumen/Qianhai area).
Stages	Stages The school serves pupils aged 2–18, organised as Early Years (2–5), Pre‑Prep (5–11), Prep (11–13), Senior (13–16) and Sixth Form (16–18).	Stages The King's School Shenzhen serves ages 2–18: a Pre‑Prep/Early Years section (EYFS) for about 2–6 year‑olds, a Prep/Primary and Middle phase (roughly Years 1–8 / ages 6–14) and a Senior/High School for Years 9–12 (ages up to 18). Grade-year groupings and curriculum routes (EYFS, Cambridge IGCSE, A‑Levels) are described on the school site.
School type	School type Harrow Shenzhen is a co‑educational day and boarding school offering boarding options (including flexi‑boarding) from upper primary/Year 5 through to Sixth Form.	School type The school is co‑educational and offers day places across the whole age range. Boarding is available from around Grade 4 upwards (lower‑year rooms are four‑person, older students 2‑person rooms per the school's boarding description).
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support The school has a published SEND policy and a SEND Coordinator; support includes EAL programmes, small‑group literacy and maths support, dyslexia intervention, social‑skills work, access to a school psychologist and individual education plans (IEPs) where required.	Additional learning support The school publishes a range of pastoral and academic support services: a Health & Well‑Being provision, English support and an academic support / pastoral care structure are mentioned on school materials and news items. For children with specific additional learning needs, the school describes inclusive support and structured academic/pastoral teams — parents are advised to discuss individual needs with admissions to confirm precise provisions.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation Harrow Shenzhen is part of the Harrow/AISL group and follows a British international curriculum linked to Harrow (UK) schools.	Country affiliation The Shenzhen school is an overseas branch of The King's School, Canterbury (UK) and states an operational link with the UK parent school. It is therefore affiliated with that British foundation rather than to a Chinese national chain.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation The school presents a values‑based ethos but does not state a religious affiliation on its website.	Religious affiliation The Shenzhen campus does not advertise a local religious denomination on its public pages; it operates as the international branch of The King's School Canterbury, a historic UK school with Church of England roots, but the Shenzhen materials focus on academic and pastoral provision rather than explicit religious observance.
School day structure	School day structure According to the school FAQs, EYC pupils finish at about 15:00; Pre‑Prep and Upper School pupils finish at about 15:00 and then attend the Harrow Diploma Activities (HDA) programme, with the later day ending around 16:00. Boarding students follow a separate weekday routine with supervised study, activities and set lights‑out times.	School day structure The school publishes an academic calendar and term dates but does not publish a single, fixed daily start/end time for every division on its public pages. Municipal guidance for Shenzhen schools sets typical earliest start times (for reference: primary not earlier than about 08:20, lower secondary not earlier than about 08:00), so exact daily timetables (arrival, break and lunch times) should be confirmed with admissions for the relevant year group.
Bus service details	Bus service details The school operates a multi‑route student bus service covering many residential areas in Shenzhen; routes (with estimated pickup/drop times) are published and adjusted each term to meet demand. Buses carry an on‑board escort and parents are expected to have children ready at the scheduled stop times.	Bus service details The school operates a paid school‑bus service for both the Early Years and the Main School; the admissions information and FAQ note that routes are arranged according to demand and currently cover parts of Nanshan, Bao'an and Futian. Specific stops, route maps, pick‑up/drop‑off times and fees are managed by the school and are provided to families when places are offered. }
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Assessment fee and facility deposit - Assessment fee: non-refundable, non-transferable; RMB 3,000 per application. - Facility deposit: RMB 25,000; the school may use this deposit to offset amounts owed and refund is handled under the school's Terms and Conditions. Tuition fees (per year and per term — RMB) - Pre‑Nursery: Per year RMB 291,400. Term 1 RMB 116,560; Term 2 RMB 87,420; Term 3 RMB 87,420. - Nursery: Per year RMB 301,300. Term 1 RMB 120,520; Term 2 RMB 90,390; Term 3 RMB 90,390. - Reception: Per year RMB 301,300. Term 1 RMB 120,520; Term 2 RMB 90,390; Term 3 RMB 90,390. - Year 1: Per year RMB 342,100. Term 1 RMB 136,840; Term 2 RMB 102,630; Term 3 RMB 102,630. - Year 2: Per year RMB 342,100. Term 1 RMB 136,840; Term 2 RMB 102,630; Term 3 RMB 102,630. - Year 3: Per year RMB 342,100. Term 1 RMB 136,840; Term 2 RMB 102,630; Term 3 RMB 102,630. - Year 4: Per year RMB 342,100. Term 1 RMB 136,840; Term 2 RMB 102,630; Term 3 RMB 102,630. - Year 5: Per year RMB 346,800. Term 1 RMB 138,720; Term 2 RMB 104,040; Term 3 RMB 104,040. - Year 6: Per year RMB 346,800. Term 1 RMB 138,720; Term 2 RMB 104,040; Term 3 RMB 104,040. - Year 7: Per year RMB 356,800. Term 1 RMB 142,720; Term 2 RMB 107,040; Term 3 RMB 107,040. - Year 8: Per year RMB 356,800. Term 1 RMB 142,720; Term 2 RMB 107,040; Term 3 RMB 107,040. - Year 9: Per year RMB 360,300. Term 1 RMB 144,120; Term 2 RMB 108,090; Term 3 RMB 108,090. - Year 10: Per year RMB 360,300. Term 1 RMB 144,120; Term 2 RMB 108,090; Term 3 RMB 108,090. - Year 11: Per year RMB 360,300. Term 1 RMB 144,120; Term 2 RMB 108,090; Term 3 RMB 108,090. - Year 12: Per year RMB 360,300. Term 1 RMB 144,120; Term 2 RMB 108,090; Term 3 RMB 108,090. - Year 13: Per year RMB 360,300. Term 1 RMB 144,120; Term 2 RMB 108,090; Term 3 RMB 108,090. Billing schedule and payment terms - The school offers payment in two instalments: the first instalment covers Term 1 tuition and applicable fees; the second instalment covers Term 2 and Term 3 tuition and service charges. Specific billing dates and invoices are issued according to the school's billing cycle. Late or outstanding sums are managed through the school's finance processes. Boarding and other fees - Boarding: regular full‑boarding fee per academic year RMB 119,800. Flexi‑boarding nights are charged per booked night by prorating the annual boarding fee plus 20% administration charge; amounts are settled no later than the end of each term. - School bus: RMB 20,100 per school year (including tax). - Uniform: parents purchase uniforms (school specifies supplier). - Catering: charged on a consumption basis by vendor. - Additional potential costs: textbooks, examinations, some extra‑curricular activities, expeditions, and trips. Withdrawal and refunds - Notice: one full term's written notice delivered to the Head is required for withdrawal, unless the school's Terms and Conditions state otherwise. - Assessment fee is non‑refundable. Facility deposit refund and any other refunds are handled under the school's Terms and Conditions; the school may use the facility deposit to offset outstanding balances. Fee payment contacts and invoicing - Billing, invoicing and Fapiao are handled by the school Finance Department (accounts@harrowshenzhen.cn). The published fees page does not specify detailed payment channels (credit card, bank transfer) on the same page; the Finance Department can confirm permitted payment methods and required remittance details.	Fee details Application and enrolment fees - Application fee: RMB 2,000 (one‑time, non‑refundable). - Placement / enrolment deposit: RMB 25,000 (paid on acceptance; held against future charges and refundable according to the school's terms and conditions). Tuition fees (annual and typical term structure) - Kindergarten (K1–K3): RMB 205,000 per year. - Grades 1–3: RMB 236,500 per year. - Grades 4–6: RMB 262,000 per year. - Grades 7–10: RMB 288,800 per year. - Grades 11–12: RMB 309,800 per year. (Note: the school issues fee notices and offers payment in installments; historical practice shows a larger first installment followed by a second installment for the remaining balance, and an incentive for a single annual payment.) Billing schedule and payment terms - The school issues a formal fee notice with specific due dates. Families who pay the full year by the first deadline historically receive a discount (commonly a 2% annual‑payment discount). Installment schedules (for example a larger first payment followed by a second payment) have been used in prior years. Exact instalment amounts and deadlines are set in each year's fee notice. Boarding / accommodation fees (where applicable) - Boarding (weekday accommodation) is published at approximately RMB 100,000 per year (weekday: Sun–Thu); schools may invoice by semester (about RMB 50,000 per semester in past notices). Weekend boarding or additional nights is charged separately. Other costs - School uniform: charged separately (one‑off purchase on enrolment; prices vary by year group). Textbooks, exam fees, optional trips, certain extracurricular providers, lunch and transport are additional and charged as incurred. School lunch and other ancillary charges are commonly invoiced separately (monthly or per term). Refunds and withdrawal - The placement deposit is described as refundable subject to the school's published terms and conditions; withdrawal and refund adjustments follow the school's fee and refund policy as set out in the acceptance paperwork and fee notice. Payment methods - The school has required bank transfer for major payments in prior years (annual payments and first‑installment deadlines are often fulfilled by bank transfer); exact accepted payment channels and account details are provided on the school's fee notice. Other online or card options are not publicly detailed in the available fee notices. Summary of gaps: public sources publish annual tuition, application fee and placement deposit and indicate installment arrangements, a discount for full‑year payment, and boarding charges; however, a definitive per‑term split for every year group for the current academic year was not found in openly published fee tables and is set each year in the school's formal fee notice.
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 Shenzhen operates a British-based programme for ages 2–18 divided into Early Years (2–5), Pre-Prep (Years 1–6), Prep (age 11–13), Senior (age 13–16) and Sixth Form (age 16–18). The Early Years follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) approach of the English National Curriculum. In Pre-Prep (Years 1–6) the school emphasises literacy, numeracy and broad exposure to specialist subjects (languages, music, PE, computing, art and design), while the Prep phase continues specialist teaching in core subjects including English, Mandarin, mathematics and science. The Senior School prepares students for international public examinations, with most students completing Cambridge/IGCSE courses typically taken in Year 11 across subjects such as English, mathematics, sciences, humanities, languages, arts and design/technology. In Sixth Form students follow a two‑year A‑Level programme (with many taking an Extended Project Qualification) aimed at university preparation; the school also sets subject-specific entry expectations for A‑Level choices.	Curriculum details The King's School Shenzhen teaches ages 2–18 (kindergarten 2–6; primary/ prep approximately 6–14/Grades 1–8; senior/high school 15–18/Grades 9–12). Early years (2–6) follow the UK Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework with bilingual staffing. The primary/Prep phase combines elements of the Cambridge/ Cambridge Global curriculum with aspects of the Chinese national curriculum and school‑developed courses across maths, English, science and foundation subjects. Senior school (Grades 9–10) delivers Cambridge IGCSE (offered as the standard two‑year programme or an intensive one‑year pathway), and Grades 11–12 proceed to AS/A‑Level study; students may also undertake an extended research project (EPQ/IPQ) and receive university‑entry guidance. Instruction is primarily in English (Chinese language and China studies are taught in Chinese) and the school supplements the academic programme with co‑curricular activities and subject specialist teaching.
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. Harrow Shenzhen will only consider applications if there is space in the requested year group, so parents should confirm availability rather than assume an open place. The school publishes citizenship/residency eligibility rules (foreign passport or HK/Macau/Taiwan ID; for Chinese-passport holders at least one parent must have worked in Qianhai for more than 90 consecutive days and meet specified criteria). 2. Complete the online application and prepare documents: Complete the school's application form (the site links to the online application portal) and assemble required documents such as passports/ID, recent school reports or transcripts, and any certificate of residency/work in Qianhai for Chinese passport families. Parents should note an assessment fee is charged per application (see step 4) and that incomplete applications can delay assessment scheduling. If your child has additional learning needs, the school asks parents to consult Admissions first because the school is not resourced for severe learning needs. 3. Assessment fee and booking: For applicants invited to assessment, Harrow Shenzhen requires payment of an application/assessment fee (the site lists RMB 3,000 for assessments/applications in recent notices). Families should be ready to pay this promptly to confirm a scheduled assessment; any differing fees for specific entry years will be set out by Admissions at invitation. Payment methods are restricted (the school states all fees must be paid by bank remittance; cash is not accepted). 4. Assessment and interview: Once the application and documents are received, the school aims to schedule assessments and interviews within two weeks. Assessment format varies by year group: Pre-Nursery has a parent interview only, Nursery–Year 1 include student observation and parent interview, and Year 2+ include a computer-based assessment, student observation/interview and a parent interview — check the year-by-year table on the Admissions page for exact requirements. Families should prepare appropriate past-school reports, any standardized test results, and (for older applicants) evidence of curricular interests or portfolios where relevant. 5. Admissions outcome and timeframes: The school states that results are usually issued within one week of assessment and interview, though some cases may take longer; Admissions will notify families of the outcome and next steps. If offered a place, parents are required to sign confirmation documents and pay the facility deposit within five working days of the offer or the place may be offered to another applicant. Keep this deadline in mind when planning travel or overseas moves — a delayed response risks losing the offered place. 6. Deposit, fees and billing structure: The published fees page shows a non-refundable facility deposit (listed as RMB 25,000) and gives the tuition schedule for the 2025/26 academic year (tuition ranges by year group; for example, Pre‑Nursery and Reception figures are shown separately from Years 1–13). Harrow Shenzhen offers payment cycles and instalment options (for 2025/26 the school allows two instalments covering Term 1 and then Terms 2+3); confirm the current year's billing schedule with Finance. Additional identifiable charges include school bus, boarding and catering — the fees page lists the school bus and boarding annual charges and notes some charges (textbooks, trips, certain activities) are charged separately. 7. Siblings, discounts and other practicalities: The fees page lists sibling discounts (no discount for second child; 5% for third child, 10% for fourth, 15% for fifth+ when children attend concurrently) — check the exact conditions with Finance. Uniforms are purchased separately through appointed suppliers and the school requires a signed bus agreement before using bus services; boarding uses a separate billing arrangement and flexi-boarding is charged per night. Make arrangements early for bus routes, uniform orders and any boarding requirements to avoid delays at enrolment. 8. Final enrolment and records: After deposit/payment and returned confirmation paperwork, the school completes enrolment and will provide billing/invoice (fapiao) information through the Finance Department. If you later decide to withdraw, the published Terms and Conditions require a term's written notice to the Head; follow the school's specified notice and delivery methods. Keep copies of all bank remittances and the signed confirmation documents for your records. 9. When to contact Admissions: If you need to check vacancies, request special arrangements, or confirm assessment requirements for a particular year group or entry month (for example, Year 10/Year 12 subject-selection deadlines are published for specific intake cycles), contact the Admissions team directly — they run campus tours/Open Days and can add you to event registration or the WeChat admissions channel. The Admissions page lists the email and phone number for direct queries.	Admissions 1. Book a campus visit or virtual tour and create an admissions account. The school uses OpenApply for event booking and the application portal; parents should choose the correct campus (Pre‑Prep or Main School), pick the exact year group they are applying for, and use an email address they will keep because that login will be used for the whole application. (See booking fields and campus list on the OpenApply portal.) 2. Complete the online application form in OpenApply and upload required documents. Typical items the system asks for are the applicant's legal name and date of birth, parent/guardian details, current school reports, passport/ID copies, and immunisation/health records — make sure scanned documents match the form field requirements and that names match legal ID. Allow time to translate or certify any documents not in English or Chinese before upload. 3. Pay the application fee (if required) and submit the application for processing. The school's published fee schedule shows a one‑time application fee and a refundable deposit as part of first‑year charges for new intakes; expect to be invoiced after an initial application is accepted. Parents should confirm the current amounts and refund terms with admissions before payment because fees and refund conditions can change year to year. 4. Assessments and interviews are scheduled once the application and documents are complete. For entry to Years 1–6 the school's FAQ says the admissions assessments include CAT4 testing plus an interview; for Years 7–8 the school lists CAT4, a writing test and an interview. For kindergarten/early years there is usually an observational session or parent‑child meeting — read the specific test guidance so you can prepare the right ID, school reports and any required samples of work. 5. Wait for the admissions decision and, if offered, review the acceptance paperwork. If an offer is made you will normally receive an acceptance letter or offer and an invoice for the enrolment deposit/first term fee — check the acceptance deadline carefully, the exact deposit amount shown on the invoice, and the school's refund policy before you pay to secure the place. Keep correspondence and payment receipts in case you need them later. 6. Complete registration tasks and prepare for transition. After payment of the deposit and any required enrolment forms, the school may ask you to complete health forms, bus enrolment, uniform orders and other pre‑start checklists in the portal; you should also confirm start‑of‑term dates and induction/transition visits for your child. If your child needs learning support, disclose this early and upload any assessment reports so the school can plan support measures before term starts. 7. Practical items to be ready: legal ID (passport or national ID), recent school reports and transcripts, immunisation records, proof of residence for the correct campus, and any educational/psychological reports where relevant. If you are applying from overseas, check visa/guardian requirements for the relevant year group (the school may also offer boarding from Year 4 and above; confirm the boarding eligibility process separately). These specifics are referenced in the school's admissions pages and FAQs.
Scholarships	Scholarships Harrow Shenzhen operates a Scholarship Programme and also offers means‑tested bursaries; information and application details are published on the school site. Merit-based scholarships are offered in categories such as Academic Excellence, Sports, Music and Drama; the merit scheme is described as providing targeted curricular enrichment and support rather than direct financial discounts for all merit awards (the school distinguishes merit support from full-cost scholarships). The scholarship application process requires a completed application form, supporting documents (transcripts, test scores, references, portfolios where appropriate), a personal statement (the school's guidance indicates 500–700 words for merit applications), and shortlisted candidates are invited to interview with the scholarship committee. In addition, AISL Harrow Scholarships (for example, the Y2025–27 Harrow scholarship round) have been run at Harrow Shenzhen/AISL Harrow and in at least one cycle included full scholarships covering tuition, boarding and examination fees for the two‑year A‑Level programme; check current availability, deadlines and selection criteria for the year you are applying. For means‑tested support, the school's bursary information indicates that all students may apply and that bursaries are intended to ensure talented students can attend irrespective of parental income. For precise application forms, deadlines and contact points (scholarship enquiries list a contact such as Angela Tai and the Scholarship page provides form downloads), contact the Admissions or Scholarship office and download the school's scholarship brochure from the admissions pages.	Scholarships The King's School Shenzhen's senior‑school navigation includes a Scholarship Programme section, which indicates the school runs some form of scholarships at the senior level; however the detailed official scholarship terms (eligibility windows, application deadlines, selection criteria and award levels) are not fully published in a single detailed page that I could retrieve. Third‑party coverage and local school reports indicate the Shenzhen campus has offered senior‑school scholarships in recent years (academic scholarships and performing‑arts/specialist awards have been referenced) and that award levels reported in local media range from partial awards (for example 10% of fees) up to full tuition awards for outstanding candidates. Because third‑party articles summarise past programmes and the school's own scholarship page does not publish full application rules in the public HTML I could access, I recommend contacting admissions to request the current scholarship policy, application form and deadlines (and to ask whether awards are means‑tested, merit‑based, renewable, or limited to particular year groups).
Waitlist	Waitlist Harrow Shenzhen's public admissions pages do not publish a formal waiting‑list policy or a named ‘waiting list' procedure; instead the site emphasises that applications will only be considered where places are available and asks families to contact Admissions to check vacancies. Because the school does not publish a standard waiting‑list mechanism, parents who are willing to be held for a future vacancy should contact admissions@harrowshenzhen.cn to ask whether the school can retain their application or place them in any internal pool when no immediate place exists. If you need a formal waiting‑list placement or a position number for local administrative purposes, request explicit confirmation in writing from Admissions so you have a dated record of any agreement.	Waitlist —
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