Student Story | Annie L：From Papier-mâché Volcanoes to the Highest Mark in the World; Witnessing the Long-termism of Holistic Education

On the Harrow Beijing campus, Year 11 student Annie L is more than just an outstanding scholar; she is a witness to growing up alongside the school.

She has spent her long academic journey on this campus since she can remember. For Annie, Harrow Beijing is not only a place to acquire knowledge but also a solid base where she explores herself, challenges her limits, and ultimately reaches the “top of the world.” Recently, she was honored with the “Highest Mark in the World” in her IGCSE Mathematics exam, but this is merely a snapshot of her brilliant growth story.

Academic Excellence
Rigorous Scholarship
and Mutual Progress
between Teachers and Students

There are no shortcuts to climbing academic peaks. Annie’s journey to becoming a “math prodigy” is the most vivid footnote to Harrow Beijing’s high academic standards.

While preparing for the IGCSE exams, she did not rely on the blind accumulation of endless practice papers. Instead, she demonstrated systematic thinking and self-discipline that surpassed her peers. With a steadfast routine of two sets of past papers per week, combined with deep reviews of mistakes and secondary checks, this near-rigorous practice transformed her—from initially wanting to give up when facing difficult problems to eventually mastering and handling every knowledge point with ease.

However, this process was not a lonely pilgrimage. Harrow’s exceptional teaching faculty became the key pillar supporting her journey. In Annie’s eyes, the teachers are the definition of “excellent, enthusiastic, and encouraging.” Their high level of inclusivity broke down the traditional barriers between teachers and students; whenever Annie hit a bottleneck, the teachers’ doors were always open for discussion. This close academic support system not only helped the student overcome difficult subjects but, more importantly, subtly shaped her resilience to never give up when facing challenges, perfectly illustrating the school’s vision of academic excellence.

Pastoral Care
A Home Away from Home,
Nurturing the Original Heart of Inquiry

At Harrow Beijing, pastoral care is never an empty slogan; it permeates every small yet warm moment. Looking back at her first day on campus, young Annie’s heart was once clouded by fear. It was the teacher’s gentle smile and kind introduction that instantly dissolved her anxiety. This sense of security became the foundation for her courage to explore the world in the years that followed.

One of Annie’s most cherished memories took place in Year 4,  during an activity making papier-mâché volcano models, the teacher used the chemical reaction between vinegar and baking soda to simulate a volcanic eruption. The surprise and awe of that moment not only lit up a child’s eyes but also planted the seed of a love for learning in her heart long before she entered the rigorous academic training of the upper years.

Harrow Beijing is committed to creating exactly this kind of warm, inclusive, and caring environment—it acts like a safety net, allowing students to make mistakes, accepting their low moments, and standing ready to lift them upward. As Annie reflected: “Allowing others to enter your life is not just for companionship, but to become that net that catches you when you are down.”

Holistic Development
Forging Leadership Character
within the Community

Beyond outstanding academic results, the sense of community belonging that Harrow Beijing takes pride in provides a broad stage for students to practice. Annie once spearheaded a charity-focused extracurricular project (LSA), dedicated to giving back to the local community. Through this process of assigning tasks and managing deadlines, her organizational and leadership skills were tangibly honed.

Additionally, she immersed herself in LAMDA drama courses. Working side-by-side with like-minded peers, she deeply experienced the power of teamwork. The collaborative spirit she learned on the artistic stage was flexibly transferred to group discussions and project challenges in the academic classroom. This is the essence of Harrow Beijing’s holistic education: cultivating not just exam winners, but future leaders equipped with organizational skills, collaborative ability, and a sense of social responsibility.

From the “volcano experiment” in Year 4 to the “highest mark in the world” in Year 11, Annie’s story is a victory for the long-termism of Harrow Beijing’s educational philosophy. Here, we encourage every student to follow their inner desire for knowledge and refine their scholarship; we also teach them to accept support and enjoy the process of chasing their dreams. Because at Harrow Beijing, education is not just about the climb in scores, but about how to become a more complete, confident, and responsible person.