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China, Shenzhen
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Merchiston International School Shenzhen opened in August 2018 as the overseas branch of Merchiston Castle School (the Edinburgh school was founded in 1833). The Shenzhen school was established to operate a British-style boarding and day-school model for pupils aged 4–18 and later expanded to a second (Qianhai/Shekou) campus. The school was developed through a local education group led by Lighthouse International Education Group and operates under local corporate entities referenced on the school site. Governance is delegated to a Board of Governors working with the school leadership to set policy and strategic direction.
The school maintains a clan (house) system—Edinburgh, Lomond, Nevis and Balmoral—that groups students across year levels and provides opportunities for inter‑clan competitions, leadership roles and pastoral support. Regular community and cultural events on the school calendar include Founders' Day (Merchiston Day), St Andrew's Day, Halloween activities, Chinese New Year celebrations and a Christmas Winter Market; the school also runs summer MIS camps. Recent anniversary and Merchiston Day celebrations have combined performances, campus tours and student-led cultural or charity stalls.
The school's Parent Association (MISPA) states a mission to build an active, supportive community that benefits students, parents and staff and publishes an organisation chart and photo record of activities on the school site. MISPA works with the school to run community events and volunteer activities; for example, the Parents Association took a leading role in organising the school Christmas Market, where parents, teachers and students staffed stalls and ran activities. MISPA materials on the site show committees and member roles (an organisation chart) and a visual “MISPA Moments” record of past activities, indicating ongoing coordination between parents and school staff. The association also supports charitable or community-facing elements of larger events (such as cultural and creative charity sales held during Merchiston Day).
Merchiston International School (MIS) Shenzhen opened in August 2018 as an overseas branch of Merchiston Castle School (Edinburgh) and serves students aged 4–18 (Early Years to Year 13). The Longhua campus lists facilities that include a library, multimedia classrooms, science laboratories, theatre and recording studio, an indoor swimming pool, basketball and tennis courts, an indoor virtual golf hall, gymnasium and landscaped gardens. MIS delivers a British-based programme (Early Years Foundation Stage and the British National Curriculum), with IGCSE and IAL/GCE AS & A Level pathways and an American AP pathway available for Years 10–13; the school also operates a separate Qianhai campus in Shekou. MIS operates a boarding programme alongside day provision and publishes class-size maxima (Early Years 16; Years 1–11 typically up to 22; Years 12–13 up to 16). Co-curricular offerings include sports, drama, music, debate and outreach/community projects.
