Harrow Hengqin is delighted to announce that Mr Jonathan Pope will officially join our school in August 2025 as Head of Upper School. He was selected from a pool of exceptional candidates due to his outstanding leadership skills and extensive educational experience, making him an invaluable addition to our school.
Jonathan is Assistant Head (Teaching & Learning) at The King’s School, Canterbury, an academic boarding & day school in the UK. He was previously Head of Economics & Business Studies and Deputy Housemaster of a boarding house.
He is particularly experienced in strategic leadership of T&L improvement in schools, quality assurance of teaching & learning, professional development programmes and digital strategy. His arrival will bring valuable experience and innovative educational ideas to Harrow Hengqin, further driving the school’s academic development and the holistic growth of its students.
Jonathan joins Harrow Community with his wife, Jo Bao, and their two children Oscar & Owen. Ms. Bao has taught and been a head of department in an academic UK grammar school and currently teaches Mandarin and PSHE at The King’s School, Canterbury, as well as running some whole-school pastoral projects. Jo is an experienced mentor of PGCE trainees and ECTs and a qualified DofE supervisor. Jo speaks Thai in addition to Mandarin and English and will teach CAL, EAL and PSHE in the Upper School.
Jo Bao
- PGCE and MA in Education from Goldsmiths, University of London
- BA in Tourism Management and MA (pending) in Teaching CAL from Yunnan Normal University
Jonathan’s Expectations for Upper School
“Power of high expectations”
Jonathan says it is an honour to become part of such a dynamic and high-achieving school, and he looks forward to contributing to its continued success. He has seen firsthand the transformative power of high expectations. A culture of challenge, inspiration, and support allows students to reach their full potential, and he is excited to help further foster this environment at Harrow Hengqin. He is committed to using Harrovian values – Honour, Courage, Humility, and Fellowship – as a guiding force in his leadership, ensuring that our students develop into self-confident, globally minded and morally grounded future leaders.
“Understanding each student’s aspirations”
At the heart of his approach is a deep commitment to understanding each student’s aspirations, strengths, and individual needs. Truly effective education begins with care and connection, and as a parent himself, he knows how much families invest in their children’s happiness, fulfilment, and success. He looks forward to working closely with parents, as a strong partnership between home and school is key to ensuring that every child receives the best possible support and encouragement.
“Quality assurance in teaching and learning”
Jonathan’s professional interests include leadership of strategic change, quality assurance in teaching and learning, professional development, and digital strategy. In his current role as Assistant Head (Teaching & Learning) at The King’s School, Canterbury, he led whole-school initiatives aimed at driving educational excellence and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. He hopes to bring this experience to Harrow Hengqin to further enhance academic success and open doors to the world’s leading universities.
Jonathan and his family are excited about the new life they are about to begin in Hengqin, and they look forward to becoming part of this vibrant school community. We are confident that Jonathan and Jo will bring new energy and opportunities to Harrow Hengqin, further advancing the school’s development.
We warmly welcome Jonathan, Jo, Oscar and Owen and look forward to the new chapter they will begin with us.
