September was a busy month at Harrow Hengqin, as we welcomed two visitors from Harrow School in the UK: Mr Alastair Land, Head Master of Harrow School, and Mr David Woodcock, Director of Music. Mr Land returned to Harrow Hengqin after 18 months, while Mr Woodcock made his fourth visit. Their visits brought the two schools together through lessons, music and shared traditions, from the organ to the Harrow school song.
Head Master Alastair Land Returns to Harrow Hengqin
On 18 September 2026, Mr Alastair Land, Head Master of Harrow School, returned to Harrow Hengqin. His visit marked another chapter in the close relationship between the two schools and coincided with Harrow Hengqin’s fifth anniversary in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.
Harrow Hengqin draws on more than 450 years of educational tradition at Harrow School and maintains close links with the school in the UK. During his visit, Mr Land toured the campus with student representatives and visited classrooms to see teaching and learning in action. He was pleased to see the many developments since his previous visit and to witness the continued growth of the school.
At lunchtime, Mr Land joined pupils and teachers from Lower School for lunch. He enjoyed hearing the younger pupils talk about their learning, daily lives and hopes for the future.
In the lunchtime mini concert, pupils performed a selection of pieces they had recently been practicing. The programme included Western classical organ works and pieces performed on traditional Chinese instrument.
Mr Land was also welcomed at a whole-school assembly. Mr Luke Bartlett, Head Master of Harrow Hengqin and an old Harrovian, welcomed Mr Land and the attending parents. He spoke about the traditions and values shared across the Harrow community, and the strong sense of belonging they create for pupils, staff and families.
Mr Land then spoke to pupils about Harrow’s educational philosophy and the values that connect Harrow School with the wider AISL Harrow family of schools. He reflected on how Harrow’s educational tradition has, for more than 450 years, combined academic achievement with character development, leadership and service to the community. He also took part in a student Q&A, answering questions from pupils in both Lower and Upper Schools. The pupils’ questions ranged widely, while Mr Land’s responses were both thoughtful and humorous, prompting plenty of applause. The assembly concluded with the whole school singing two Harrow school songs.
During his visit, Mr Land also met with staff, student leaders and members of the rowing and swimming teams. Upper School pupils had the opportunity to speak with him about university applications and preparing for life beyond school.
Reflecting on his visit, Mr Land praised the pupils’ strong English, enthusiasm and energy. He also spoke highly of the quality of teaching and the positive learning environment at Harrow Hengqin.
David Woodcock Brings Harrow’s Musical Tradition to Hengqin
Just a few days later, on 21 September, Mr David Woodcock, Director of Music at Harrow School, visited Harrow Hengqin together with Mr Warren Lee, Principal Music Director of AISL Harrow Schools.
Mr Woodcock began with a special IGCSE Music lesson for Grade 9 and Grade10 pupils, introducing the organ and exploring how the instrument works. Pupils then had the opportunity to play the organ under his guidance. This was followed by an organ masterclass, giving pupils further opportunity to develop their technique and musicianship.
Harrow Hengqin is home to a high-quality electronic organ made in the Netherlands. It has three manuals, pedals and more than 50 stops, and is located in the spacious ground-floor atrium, which offers excellent acoustics. Mr Woodcock noted how unique it is for an international bilingual school in Asia to have an organ and to offer pupils the opportunity to learn and perform on the instrument.
The school also hosted a lunchtime concert for Mr Woodcock and guests, featuring performances by Harrow Hengqin pupils on the organ, piano, violin and yangqin. Mr Woodcock was pleased to see the school’s continued commitment to music education. He also recognised the importance placed on music by Mr Luke Bartlett and the opportunities provided for pupils to develop their musical interests and talents.
At the afternoon whole-school assembly, Mr Woodcock introduced pupils to Harrow’s school song and its musical traditions. He then led a choir workshop, giving pupils the opportunity to learn and sing the school song together. Mr Woodcock explained that the Harrow school song is an important part of the school’s identity. Singing it helps bring pupils and teachers together and connects Harrovians across the world. At Harrow Hengqin, Mr Bartlett has also thoughtfully adapted parts of the lyrics to reflect the local community.
Harrow Hengqin celebrates its fifth anniversary in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin this year.More than 450 years of Harrow’s educational tradition, together with the richness of Chinese culture, continues to grow at Harrow Hengqin. The visits of Mr Land and Mr Woodcock reaffirmed the close relationship between the two schools and marked an important moment in Harrow Hengqin’s fifth anniversary year.
