History & Traditions

Harrow Traditions

Visitors to Harrow Shanghai will see a great many long-lived traditions and will hear some unique terminology. While the origins of many of these, founded at Harrow London over the centuries, may have been lost in time, they remain a common language and set of behaviours among all those who are fortunate to attend a Harrow School.

  • A Beak is a teacher, also known as a Master. 

  • Bill is registration, held every morning at 08:00.

  • A Bluer is the uniform’s dark blue blazer jacket. Greyers are the common grey trousers.

  • A Hat is the name for the famous Harrow headwear.

  • Capping is the polite act of acknowledging a beak or visitor in passing on campus by a pupil touching the brim of their hat.

  • Ducker is the swimming pool.

  • A Monitor is a prefect.

  • Trials are internal School examinations.

  • Send up is a Housepoint.

  • Skew is a recorded incident of bad behaviour or poor work.

  • Remove is the equivalent of Year 10 at Harrow and Shell Year 9.

  • Fifth Form is the equivalent of Year 11. Sixth Form is the combination of Lower Sixth and Upper Sixth, the equivalent of Year 12 and 13.

Joanne Dunphy

Head

NPQH
Senior Examiner, Cambridge International
Inspector, ISI

Ms Dunphy brings over 20 years of leadership and teaching experience across some of the UK’s leading schools, including public, independent, and girls’ schools. She previously held a senior leadership position at the prestigious Cheltenham Ladies’ College.

She pursued advanced studies at the University of Oxford and has extensive expertise in strategic leadership, school operations, and academic improvement. Under her leadership, schools have achieved notable progress in overall performance and student achievement.

Ms Dunphy is deeply committed to fostering an inclusive, supportive, and aspirational school culture. As an educational leader with an international outlook, she strives to achieve a strong balance between academic excellence and holistic student development.

Tina Quan

Teaching Assistant

Tina graduated from Worcester University. She has over 5 years teaching experience. In Tina’s opinion, teachers should be students’ friends as well as their masters. A teacher is a person knowledgeable also a good sample for students.​