EN – Harrow Appi

Harrow Appi Japan Ski Team

Posted on March 27, 2026March 27, 2026 by Gloria

Did you know we have a Ski Team?

As part of our Academy Programme, the most talented students in each sport are identified and invited to join a dedicated team – trained further, challenged deeper, and given the opportunity to compete both locally and internationally.

This season, our Ski Team hasn’t stopped! They competed in 3 FIS ski competitions across Iwate and 2 internal ski races — including our first ever Parallel Team Slalom race. Each student accumulated an extraordinary additional 35 hours of dedicated race coaching, complemented by weekend training sessions and Academy gate sessions on the mountain. They even learned to tune and wax their own skis!

At Harrow Appi Japan, we are committed to ensuring every student has the opportunity to discover, develop and excel in their chosen discipline. And with plans already in place for more competitions across Iwate next season, the best is very much still to come!

Safeguarding and Boarding Conference 2026

Posted on March 27, 2026March 27, 2026 by Gloria

Last week, we were proud to host our Safeguarding and Boarding Conference here at Harrow Appi Japan – and what a remarkable event it was!

Over Sunday and Monday, we welcomed delegates from over 15 schools across Japan, Asia and the UK, alongside 17 members of our own staff and over 15 of our students, who played a wonderful role in showcasing the very best of boarding life at Harrow Appi Japan.

Two days of expert-led sessions, shared best practice and meaningful conversation — all centred on how we best protect and nurture our students in an ever-changing world. It was an honour to open our doors, share what we do, and in turn gain such exciting and valuable insights from colleagues across Asia and beyond.

To every delegate who made the journey to the mountains of Iwate — thank you. We are already looking forward to seeing you again.

How We Guide Students and Parents Through IGCSE and A-Level Subject Choices

Posted on March 23, 2026March 26, 2026 by Gloria

Selecting IGCSE and A Level subjects is one of the most consequential academic decisions a student will make. At Harrow Appi Japan, we are committed to ensuring that neither students nor their families navigate this process alone.

Through a structured series of events, resources, and direct conversations, we keep parents actively involved at every stage — because we believe the best decisions are made in partnership.

Image taken at our Options Fair in 2025

Step 1: Parent Webinar

The process begins with an online parent webinar, which outlines the IGCSE and A-Level options process, key considerations for subject selection, and the timeline for decisions ahead.

Alongside the webinar, we will share the IGCSE Options Booklet and A Level Options Booklet — comprehensive guides to every available subject, the skills each develops, and the university pathways each can open. We encourage parents and students to read these together.

Step 2: Options Fair

For the students, Year 9 and Year 11 students attend our Options Fair — an opportunity to speak directly with beaks and older students about the full range of subjects and pathways available. This event is very well attended and tends to generate enthusiastic discussion. Hearing from a Sixth Form student about the rewards of A-Level Economics, or from a Beak about the creative scope of IGCSE Art, brings subject choices to life in a way that written materials alone cannot. Students left with clearer priorities and, in many cases, new perspectives on subjects they had not previously considered.

Step 3: Parent-Beak Academic Meetings

Ahead of the half term holidays, we run do our Parent-Beak Academic Meetings, the Harrow Appi Japan equivalent to a “Parents Evening”. These one-to-one conversations give parents the opportunity to discuss their child’s academic strengths, the suitability of particular subject combinations, and the pathways that specific choices may open at university and beyond. Tailored to each student and informed by our beaks’ close knowledge of every individual in their care, these meetings are a direct reflection of the depth of pastoral and academic support that defines a Harrow Appi education.

Next Steps

The next stage is a straw poll — an indicative submission of subject preferences that allows the academic team to assess timetable combinations and identify any students who may benefit from further guidance. At the same time, we encourage families to use the upcoming holidays to discuss subject choices carefully with their child, revisiting the options booklets and reflecting on the conversations from the Parent–Beak Meetings. The final deadline for submitting options is then a few weeks after the holidays to give all families the opportunity to assess, discuss and come to a decision about the child’s options.

A Process Built on Partnership

At Harrow Appi Japan, we believe that the best decisions about a student’s education are made when school and family work together. From the parent webinar and the Options Fair, to the academic meetings and the guidance available throughout, our intention is the same: to ensure that every student enters their IGCSE or A-Level years with clarity, confidence, and the full support of both their family and their school.

If you wish to learn more about Academics at Harrow Appi Japan, please explore the Academic section of the website or reach out directly to Admissions to learn more.

Harrow Appi Alpine Festival

Posted on March 20, 2026March 20, 2026 by Gloria

Last week, Harrow Appi Japan welcomed students from Harrow Shanghai and Harrow Beijing for the Harrow Appi Alpine Festival – and what a week it was!

For many of our visiting students, strapping on skis for the first time was no small thing. They embraced every slope, every fall and every breakthrough with real Courage – a value that was visible from the very first run to the last. Our own students, meanwhile, showed what Fellowship looks like in practice: welcoming, generous and genuinely delighted to share their mountain home with fellow International Harrovians from across Asia.

Off the slopes, the week was just as rich. Our Communications Committee hosted a Japanese Cultural Evening on Tuesday and a disco on Friday night, with the week rounded off in style with a Giant Slalom race on Saturday morning!

There is something special about young people who have never met, brought together by a shared set of values, leaving as friends. That is the Harrow family at its finest – and this week, it stretched all the way to the mountains of Iwate. We cannot wait for the next one!

Lyon’s House Formal Dinner

Posted on March 20, 2026March 20, 2026 by Gloria

Last week, Lyon’s House gathered for their Formal Dinner — an evening of elegance, celebration and the very best of house fellowship.

Dressed impeccably for the occasion, students and staff came together for a refined evening that was a true reflection of the Lyon’s spirit. It was a wonderful night and the girls really enjoyed themselves, returning to the house smiling, tired and happy.

These evenings matter. Beyond the occasion itself, they are a reminder of the bonds that form when young people share a home, a table and a sense of belonging. The camaraderie and character on display were a credit to every member of the House.

Here’s to Lyon’s House. 🥂

White Long Ducker 2026

Posted on March 20, 2026March 20, 2026 by Gloria

The White Long Ducker returned this term, bringing with it the spirit of one of Harrow’s most cherished traditions. This year, every student took to the snow-covered course in snowshoes – completing two laps, and carrying their house team with them, quite literally, on sleds.

It was a day that asked something of every participant – not just physically, but as a house, as a team, and as a community. The effort, encouragement and camaraderie on display were a reminder of what makes this tradition so enduring.

A huge congratulations to Hearn House for not only experiencing the White Long Ducker for the first time, but winning!

Then vs Now: Our Beaks

Posted on March 13, 2026March 13, 2026 by Gloria

It is easy to forget that every adult was once a child too.

Before the classrooms, the degrees and the experience, there were dreams, nerves on the first day of school, favourite subjects, inspiring teachers, and moments that shaped who they would become.

At Harrow International School Appi Japan, our staff draw on those very memories every day. They remember what it felt like to be encouraged. To be challenged. To be truly seen. And they use those experiences to shape an environment where every pupil is known, supported and stretched to achieve more than they thought possible.

We would not be a school less ordinary without an extraordinary team. Because creating an exceptional school begins with never forgetting what it feels like to be a child.

To see the full Instagram post, click here!

Trip to Tanzania

Posted on March 13, 2026March 13, 2026 by Gloria

Snow boots swapped for shorts!

The world remains the greatest classroom. We are proud to offer opportunities that challenge perspectives, broaden horizons and embody our belief in a school life less ordinary. This half term, a group of our students traded the slopes of Japan for the vast plains of Tanzania.

From experiencing traditional arts and crafts at Safariland, to visiting a Maasai Boma Camp where they met the son of the village chief, wore traditional Maasai dress and were welcomed with song and dance, students were immersed in rich local culture. In Arusha, they learned to communicate in sign language with artisans at Shanga, a social enterprise employing deaf and blind craftspeople.

The adventure continued through some of Africa’s most iconic landscapes: the Serengeti Gate, where they witnessed wildebeest and zebra roaming the plains; the historic Oldupai Gorge; the breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater; and the vast Serengeti itself.

Our sincere thanks to our Beaks — Mr Alexander, Ms Alexander and Mr Shota — and to the exceptional Kwetu Tours for making this experience so memorable.

See more photos on our Instagram here!

15 Years Since Tōhoku Earthquake

Posted on March 13, 2026March 13, 2026 by Gloria

On the 11 March, we paused to mark fifteen years since the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami – remembering the lives lost and honouring the extraordinary resilience of this region. As a school in Tōhoku, this anniversary is close to home. For many of our staff and students, it is a deeply personal moment of reflection.

In the fifteen years since the disaster, Tōhoku has rebuilt with remarkable strength, unity and determination. That spirit is not lost on us. We are proud to be part of a region that continues to grow, thrive and inspire.

東日本大震災で被災された方々をはじめ、東北のコミュニティの皆様へ、心よりお見舞い申し上げます。

Poetry at Heart Competition

Posted on March 5, 2026March 5, 2026 by Gloria

Led by our English Department and involving the entire school, students recently participated in the Poetry by Heart competition. Students were asked to select a poem of their choice and commit it to memory, performing it within their English lessons. From there, finalists were chosen to recite in the Black Box Theatre before a panel of judges.

Students were assessed not simply on accuracy, but on their ability to truly inhabit the poem – to communicate meaning, emotion and intention, and to move their audience through confident, heartfelt delivery.

Congratulations to every student who took part, and a special well done to our finalists and winners. An inspiring reminder of the power of words when they are spoken from the heart.

To learn more about what the students get up to at Harrow Appi Japan, download our prospectus here!