The Harbour School Foundation Limited

What The Harbour School Foundation Limited does

The Harbour School Foundation Limited is the parent/sponsoring entity of The Harbour School (THS), a through-train American curriculum international school in Hong Kong founded in 2007 by Dr. Jadis Blurton and Dr. Craig Blurton. THS operates two campuses in Ap Lei Chau (The Garden Campus and The Grove Campus, the latter a ~6,000 m² facility designed by P&T Architects and winner of World Architecture Awards) and serves students from Junior Grade 1 through Grade 12 (ages 5–18) drawn primarily from international families in Hong Kong. The school positions itself as a small, deliberately progressive institution with an 8:1 student-teacher ratio and has produced 96 graduates across 8 classes since opening, while awarding HK$4M+ annually in need-based financial aid.

The core product is the American curriculum adapted from Common Core frameworks, delivered through three proprietary Centers of Excellence that anchor differentiation: the Marine Science Center (aquariums, touch tanks, and resident marine scientists collaborating with Hong Kong University), the Black Dolphin (a 50-foot WWII-era sailboat repurposed as outdoor classroom for maritime education), and The Foundry (a makerspace using Design Thinking). Supporting programs include the Learning Extension (FSA for mathematically advanced students, LEAP for advanced readers/writers), Learning Support (EAL, Accommodation Plans, Push-In/Pull-Out services), the Social Impact and Sustainability Program (aligned with UN SDGs, including the Marine Action and Regeneration program of artificial oyster reefs, seaweed farming, and Precious Plastics upcycling), Black Dolphin Sports (ISSFHK member), and holiday programs (F.I.S.H., S.E.A.) open to all Hong Kong students.

The business model combines recurring tuition (HK$202,600–259,500 per academic year by grade tier) with one-time Capital Charges structured as Admissions Rights: HK$450,000 per family (depreciating annually and partially redeemable), HK$8,000,000 for corporate Admissions Rights (held in perpetuity), and HK$2,800,000 for Green Admissions Rights (NGOs, consulates, community organizations). An annual Capital Levy of HK$33,000 is charged to students not covered by an Admissions Right, and miscellaneous fees (application, entry, technology, overseas trips, PTA, uniforms, bus) round out the revenue stack. The school operates direct-to-consumer admissions with no intermediaries and is funded entirely by tuition and Capital Charges, with no endowment or outside equity. The Harbour School holds WASC accreditation (2013), EARCOS membership, ISEEN Leadership Circle status, and has recently accumulated a stack of ESG awards including the T4 Education World's Best School Prize for Environmental Action (2024) and the Hong Kong Sustainability Award Grand Award (2024).

Name

The Harbour School Foundation Limited

Legal name

The Harbour School Foundation Limited

Website

https://ths.edu.hk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Harbour School Foundation Limited operates a through-train American curriculum international school in Hong Kong, serving students aged 5–18 across two Ap Lei Chau campuses through progressive pedagogy, proprietary Centers of Excellence (Marine Science Center, sailboat, makerspace), and tiered tuition plus Capital Charge pricing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International K-12 Private Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.) (EDAJABAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Subject-Specific Short Courses & Academies (e.g., STEM, Business, Arts) (EDAIAIAC)

Keywords

• International education
• American curriculum
• K-12 private school
• Experiential learning
• Progressive education

Headquarters

HQ city

Ap Lei Chau

HQ country

Hong Kong SAR China

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees: Primary revenue stream from annual tuition fees charged to students. Fee structure varies by grade level from Junior Grade 1 through Grade 12. All fees are subject to Hong Kong Education Bureau Approval.
2. Family Admissions Right: One-time Capital Charge of HK$450,000 per family for admission rights. Depreciates annually according to a fixed schedule based on years enrolled. Holder may request redemption at depreciated value or donate remaining value.
3. Corporate Admissions Right: One-time Capital Charge of HK$8,000,000 for corporate admission rights. Provides preferential access to school places. Held in perpetuity.
4. Green Admissions Right: One-time Capital Charge of HK$2,800,000 for NGOs, schools, societies, consulates, clubs and chambers. May be transferred to another community organization on mutually agreed terms.
5. Capital Levy: Annual Capital Levy of HK$33,000 charged to students not covered by an Admissions Right. Non-refundable, non-negotiable, non-redeemable, non-transferable. Used to support development of the school.
6. Miscellaneous Fees: Application fee (HK$2,500 one-time), Entry fee (HK$16,000 first child, HK$6,000 additional), Technology fees (laptops ~HK$8,000), Camps and Overseas Trips (HK$3,000-$22,000), PTA Fee (HK$500 annually), Uniforms, School Bus transportation.
7. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate partners purchase Capital Charges as part of executive employee benefits program. Several blue chip companies have participated.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels13 records

Core offering

The Harbour School provides a through-train American curriculum international education for students from Junior Grade 1 through Grade 12 (ages 5-18), delivered across two campuses in Ap Lei Chau, Hong Kong. Core offerings include the Primary School program (Junior Grade 1-Grade 8), the High School program (Grades 9-12), specialized Centers of Excellence (Marine Science Center, The Foundry maker space, The Black Dolphin sailboat), the Learning Extension program for gifted learners, and a Learning Support program. The school also operates extracurricular programs including Black Dolphin Sports, COMPASS activities, F.I.S.H. holiday camps, S.E.A. courses, and the Social Impact and Sustainability Program (SISP).

Product overview

The Harbour School is a through-train American curriculum international school in Hong Kong offering a single unified educational program spanning Primary School (Junior Grade 1 to Grade 8) and High School (Grades 9-12). The school features distinctive Centers of Excellence including the Marine Science Center (marine research facility), The Black Dolphin (50-foot sailing vessel for maritime education), and The Foundry (makerspace using Design Thinking). Specialized support programs include the Learning Extension Program with Full Steam Ahead and LEAP modules for gifted learners, and a comprehensive Learning Support Program offering Accommodation Plans, Push In/Pull Out Services, and EAL instruction. The extracurricular offerings include COMPASS activities, Black Dolphin Sports competitive teams, F.I.S.H. holiday programs, and S.E.A. courses. The school also operates the Social Impact and Sustainability Program (SISP) aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Primary School Program (Junior Grade 1 to Grade 8) American curriculum international school program for students aged 5-14, offering experiential learning, Centers of Excellence access, and personalized approaches to education from Junior Grade 1 through Grade 8.
• High School Program (Grades 9-12) American curriculum international school program for students aged 14-18, offering interdisciplinary learning, university preparation, internships, AP courses, and student-driven projects for Grades 9-12.
• Marine Science Center State-of-the-art marine research facility featuring aquariums and touch tanks with local Hong Kong marine life, staffed by resident marine scientists who collaborate with Hong Kong University on marine environment research.
• The Black Dolphin sailing vessel program 50-foot WWII-era sailing vessel used as an outdoor classroom for maritime education, navigation training, Hong Kong waters sailing, and overnight trips to outlying islands, serving as an experiential learning lab for teamwork.
• The Foundry maker space Makerspace facility using the Design Thinking Model where students and teachers collaborate to create crafts, products, instruments, and inventions through an interactive making process.
• Learning Extension Program (FSA and LEAP) Specialized program for gifted and academically advanced students comprising Full Steam Ahead (FSA) for mathematically advanced students offering subject-specific accelerated content, and LEAP for advanced readers and writers offering extended writing projects culminating in publication.
• Learning Support Program Comprehensive learning support services including Accommodation Plans, Push In Services, Pull Out Services, and English as an Additional Language (EAL) instruction for students with varied learning needs, including EAL learners and students with specific learning impairments.
• COMPASS Extracurricular Program After-school extracurricular program ensuring experiential learning beyond classroom walls, encompassing sports, arts, academics, and community engagement activities.
• Black Dolphin Sports Competitive sports program offering teams for basketball, mini hockey, wrestling, golf, tennis, netball, cross country, and cheerleading, participating in ISSFHK competitions against international schools in Hong Kong.
• F.I.S.H. Holiday Program Holiday program offering courses in marine science, coding, hiking, and other subjects, open to all Hong Kong students regardless of enrollment status.
• S.E.A. After-School Courses After-school activity program offering diverse courses from sports to photography to art, open to all students in Hong Kong.
• Social Impact and Sustainability Program (SISP) Structured educational framework aligned with the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals, providing supplementary developmental activities including the Marine Action and Regeneration (MAR) Program, artificial oyster reefs, seaweed farming, and plastics upcycling initiatives.

Quantifiable outcome

• 96 graduates as of 2025 across 8 graduating classes
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Precious Plastics Machine DonationminorOthers · 1 January 2021Received an in-kind donation of a Precious Plastics Machine in 2022 to address plastics in the ocean through the Marine Action and Regeneration (MAR) Program.
• Hong Kong UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResident Marine Scientists at the Marine Science Center collaborate with Hong Kong University to contribute to research on the local marine environment. This partnership enhances the school's marine science program and provides students with university-level research opportunities.
• The Children's Institute (TCI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTHS's sister organization that provides one-to-one support services for students. Students may be recommended to only enroll with support provided by The Children's Institute of Hong Kong. The Director of TCI sits on the Executive Committee.
• Blurton Family Development CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded by Co-Founder Dr. Jadis Blurton, this center provides child psychology and family development services in Hong Kong. Dr. Blurton serves as Clinical Director.
• John Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTHS Learning Extension Program supports enrollment in CTY for academically gifted students as part of the comprehensive gifted education offerings.
• Hong Kong Academy for Gifted EducationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExternal opportunity available to high ability students through the Learning Extension Program.
• P&T Architects and EngineerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesigned The Grove campus which has won worldwide recognition and two prestigious architectural awards for its groundbreaking and innovative design in a school.
• Educational Services Fund (ESF)minorOthersBefore joining THS, Rafi Cristobal was affiliated with ESF in Hong Kong teaching year 12.
• The GLOBE ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-Founder Dr. Craig Blurton was the Executive Director of The GLOBE Program, a program in which more than 10 million children have participated and which currently operates in 24,000 schools worldwide.
• Consortium for School Networking (CoSN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-Founder Dr. Craig Blurton was a founding Board Member of CoSN, an organization supporting school technology integration.
• Asia Society Hong Kong CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVirginia Ng serves as Chief Operating Officer at the Asia Society Hong Kong Center and as a THS Board Advisor.
• Cooley LLPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMartine McKenna serves as Event Planning Manager for Asia at Cooley and sits on the THS Board of Directors.
• Sino Group & Hong Kong Heritage Conservation FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMelanie Kwok serves as Assistant General Manager and Sustainability Head at Sino Group & Hong Kong Heritage Conservation Foundation (Tai O Heritage Hotel) and serves as THS Board Advisor.
• Philanthropy for Sustainable Education AsiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHarry Chan, the Ghost Net Hunter, leads Philanthropy for Sustainable Education Asia which develops programs tackling contemporary educational challenges and yielding long-lasting societal benefits.
• Asia Pacific Humanitarian Emergency Rescue OrganizationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHarry Chan serves as Vice Chairman of the Asia Pacific Humanitarian Emergency Rescue Organization and serves as THS Board Advisor.
• NASA Classroom of the FuturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-Founder Dr. Craig Blurton served as Associate Director of NASA's Classroom of the Future, contributing to educational technology initiatives.
• University of CopenhagenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Craig Blurton served as consultant to the University of Copenhagen, advising on educational initiatives.
• University of Hong KongcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Craig Blurton served for six years as Senior Advisor to the Vice Chancellor and Head of the IT & Teaching Group at the University of Hong Kong.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Independent Schools Foundation Academy (ISF): Through-train IB K-12 international school in Hong Kong with progressive, Chinese-Western bilingual pedagogy and premium tuition. Comparable progressive education positioning targeting affluent Hong Kong families.
• Chinese International School (CIS): Long-established K-12 international school in Hong Kong with a bilingual English/Chinese curriculum, WASC-equivalent accreditations, and premium pricing targeting international and local families. Competes for the same Hong Kong premium international school cohort.
• Singapore International School Hong Kong (SISHK): Singapore-curriculum international school in Hong Kong serving K-12 with premium tuition and academic-focused pedagogy. Competes for the same international family demographic seeking through-train premium schooling.
• Canadian International School of Hong Kong (CDNIS): Major North American curriculum (IB and Ontario) international school serving K-12 students in Hong Kong with extensive facilities and premium tuition. Comparable in curriculum model and target demographic to THS's American track.
• Hong Kong Academy (HKA): IB-curriculum through-train international K-12 school in Hong Kong with a personalized-learning philosophy and comparable premium fee structure. Closely overlapping positioning with THS on progressive/experiential education and small class sizes.
• Hong Kong International School (HKIS): One of Hong Kong's largest American-curriculum through-train international schools (K-12), serving expat and local families with similarly premium tuition. Direct competitor for the same American-curriculum progressive education niche as THS.
• Victoria Shanghai Academy (VSA): Through-train IB bilingual international school in Hong Kong with premium tuition and similar small-class pedagogy. Comparable through-train premium model targeting Hong Kong international families.
• Yew Chung International School (YCIS HK): Through-train international K-12 school in Hong Kong offering bilingual education and premium tuition, targeting international and local families. Comparable in the through-train model and Hong Kong premium international school positioning.
• American International School Hong Kong (ASHK): Newer American-curriculum K-12 international school in Hong Kong targeting the same progressive-education, premium-priced demographic. Directly competes with THS for American-track international families in Hong Kong.

Broad incumbents

• Nord Anglia International School Hong Kong: Global international school operator with a Hong Kong campus offering premium English-national-curriculum K-12 education with broad extracurriculars. Wider portfolio and larger brand reach than THS's boutique offering.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/theharbourschoolhk
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheHarbourSchoolHongKong
• Instagraminstagram.com/theharbourschoolhk

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Harbour School Foundation Limited