南方+“叹校”深圳曼校①:纯英式国际学校如何做到“教育不选择孩子”?
2025-01-17 16:47:00

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In the current wave of globalization, the boundaries of education are continually being expanded. International education, in particular, serves as a window through which children can gaze upon the vastness of the world; it is also like a bridge, constructing a passage for the exchange and mutual learning among different cultures.

Over the past four decades, international schools with diverse systems and philosophies have added a splendid chapter to Shenzhen's internationalization. As the first international school in Shenzhen to offer authentic British education and a boarding management system, Shenzhen Merchiston International School has now completed seven years of its journey.

This year, the international school has officially launched aThree-year Action Planfor quality improvement, striving towards the first decade of high-quality development. Recently, the"Exploring Schools" series by South Plus visited Shenzhen Merchiston Longhua Campus, engaging in dialogues with several leaders from Shenzhen Lighthouse International Education Group and Shenzhen Merchiston International School to gain a deeper understanding of the school's internal driving force for development.

 

When discussing the first international school in Shenzhen to offer pure British education and a boarding management system, it is imperative to acknowledge Lyu Jianjun, the Chairman of the Board of Shenzhen Lighthouse International Education Group and the founder of Shenzhen Merchiston International School.

Chairman of the Board of Shenzhen Lighthouse International Education Group , and the founder of MIS

Venturing into the field of education, Lyu Jianjun's original aspiration was to establish a school that not only excels academically but also goes beyond a mere focus on grades, providing a warm and nurturing education. Over the years, he has continuously built diversified development pathways for students, transitioning from a parent seeking a school for his child to an investor with a deeper understanding of international education.


The original campus of Merchiston is in Edinburgh, UK. In addition to that, Lyu Jianjun's Lighthouse International Education Group nowadays has established MIS Longhua Campus (Main Campus), Songshan Lake Campus, and Qianhai Campus, forming a new layout of "One School & Four Campuses." The word "Lighthouse" has subtly become the power driving the development of these campuses.

Edinburgh

UK





Longhua




Qianhai




Songshan Lake





                         Interview Transcript:                  

1

Become a Modern International School: 

Rooted in China, Forward-Looking, 

Warm-Hearted and Academically Excellent

South Plus: You often say that you use the lighthouse beacon to illuminate the bright future of children. What is the beautiful symbolism behind the name of Lighthouse International Education Group? What mission, vision, and goals does it reveal?


Mr. Lyv: The lighthouse provides light, hope, and strength, and guide direction. In education, I believe that the concept of "lighthouse" is extremely valuable in guiding the growth of children and family education.

   The mission of our Lighthouse International Education Group is "to illuminate life with love". In my opinion, if love and warmth are absent from the educational process, it is impossible to deliver high-quality education, or it cannot be truly considered as education.

   The mission, vision, values, and goals of Lighthouse International Education Group are all clear. We are committed to building an internet of international curricula, building a bridge for global study, and forming a high-quality international education system. This will enable children from different backgrounds to attend school, receive quality education, and have better goals for further studies. Here, children not only acquire knowledge but also learn how to be good people, understand and face future challenges.

     Our goal is to develop Lighthouse Education into the most competitive educational institution in the Greater Bay Area, one that deeply understands China and can connect with the world, truly localizes international curricula, and integrates China's high-quality curriculum system and excellent culture.

Over the past seven years of development in Shenzhen, we have experienced both challenges and harvests. At this juncture, we held the Lighthouse Education High-Quality Development Conference at the end of 2024. The principal and the heads of departments jointly launched a three-year action plan for quality improvement. In our first decade, we will provide quality education to families and children who share our vision, allowing more children to enjoy joyful education. We aim to transform terms like "Involution" and "lying down" into more positive and rational concepts, so that children at Lighthouse Education schools can enjoy the growth brought by attentive education and academic excellence.

2

Adapt to Children's Characteristics & Fully Tap into Their Potential

South Plus: It can be said that it is the energy released by the "Lighthouse" spirit that has given MIS Shenzhen the power and derived the school's adherence to the principle of "Education Is for All Children". How is this principle embodied at MIS Shenzhen?


Mr. Lyv: UK Merchiston Castle School is a prestigious private school with a history of nearly 200 years. In August 2018, Merchiston International School Shenzhen officially became the first overseas branch of Merchiston Castle School globally. What impressed me the most was when the former headmaster said "Education is for All Children" at the our first enrollment press conference in Shenzhen.

      At that time, the school organized interviews, which lasted about three hours, including student exams and parent interviews. Some children did not perform as expected. After seeing the looks in the eyes of the children and their parents, the former headmaster told me that at Merchiston Edinburgh, they followed the principle that Education is for All Children. As long as children want to study there, we have to give them an opportunity. This really touched me. We indeed need a school that not only excels academically but also does not solely focus on grades and can provide a warm and nurturing education.

      Therefore, from the first year, MIS Shenzhen has accepted children who identify with the school's values, prioritize moral education, and strive for comprehensive development in virtue, intelligence, physical education, aesthetics, a hard-working spirit, and skills. We need to fully tap into their potential and design detailed schedules based on their characteristics.

For example, in the classroom, we adopt stratified teaching. Some children are stronger in English, so they are placed in Class A with more in-depth courses. Some children are new to the school and need time to settle ibn, so we place them in Class B, where they receive guidance and training from bilingual teachers.

3

The Integration of Special Talents with Academics

South Plus: In recent years, the university admission results of MIS Shenzhen have been particularly impressive, demonstrating not only the school's pursuit of academic excellence but also the students' passion for various industries. How did the school achieve that?


Mr. Lyv: MIS Shenzhen has always adhered to the educational philosophy of "Academic Excellence with Warmth," enabling students to excel academically while also finding their own development path based on their inner passions. This has been fully demonstrated in the majors that our graduates have chosen to pursue in university.

      Over the past five years, our graduates have made diverse choices in their university majors, such as finance, biochemistry, astrophysics, and global humanitarian studies. As for art majors, we have students choose interior design and illustration, showcasing a wide range of interests and outstanding comprehensive qualities. Every year, many MIS students with a passion for music or art go on to pursue their dreams at prestigious institutions like the University of the Arts London.

    At MIS Shenzhen, we offer academic scholarships and sports/arts scholarships. The aim is to let outstanding students see their own growth and value through these scholarships, gaining recognition and serving as role models for their peers and parents. At the same time, for students from less affluent families who aspire to pursue international education and study abroad, we provide support through scholarships and financial aid policies, enabling them to join our school and exceed their own expectations through our internationally integrated curricula.

      Currently, we offer scholarship programs at the elementary, lower seniors, and upper seniors. Particularly in golf program, we have provided full and half scholarships to outstanding Chinese youth golfers for three consecutive years, and tailored individual schedules based on each student's specialized course characteristics, integrating professional training, international competitions, and academic courses.

Through seven years of teaching, we have found that students with strong athletic abilities also excel academically. They are determined and resilient, with great potential for future development. Therefore, we design customized schedules for them, nurturing their sportsmanship through MIS's four academies: Golf Academy, Fencing Academy, Basketball Academy, and the Academy of Water Sports and Winter Sports, which help them enter their dream universities empowered by their athletic talents.

4

Vocational Education Offered by Our New Campus Completes the Loop of Our Education System

South Plus: You emphasized that the school adheres to the principle of cultivating students in "Virtue, intelligence, physical education, aesthetics, a hard-working spirit, and skills." In terms of skills, is Dongguan Xingzhi School a new exploration by Lighthouse Group?


Mr. Lyu: Dongguan Xingzhi School is a new type of international vocational high school entrusted with the mission of vocational education reform. Lighthouse Group places MIS Shenzhen and Dongguan Xingzhi School different positions, enjoying harmony in diversity, each contributing to the common good.

        For example, MIS Shenzhen aims to highlight its characteristics as a British boarding international school that emphasizes happiness, soul and character building, academic excellence, warmth, understanding of China, and a global outlook embracing the future, with the British curriculum system as its foundation.

Dongguan Songshan Lake Campus, on the other hand, is exploring the path of international vocational education, attempting to integrate international curricula with professional courses to empower students, focusing on skill development. It precisely positions its faculty, curricula, and empowerment from Lighthouse Group based on the specific conditions of different regions. Here, there are education centers, competence centers, service centers, and the International Education Research Institute of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, promoting the organic integration of teaching, research, and teacher training.

Dongguan Songshan Lake Campus

Soon, Lighthouse Group will celebrate its 10th anniversary. We hope that the schools under Lighthouse Group will become innovative international educational institutions in the Greater Bay Area that excel academically, with warmth and caring education, and possess core competitiveness. We aim to enhance the vitality of our schools through interdisciplinary learning and social practice, steadily advancing on the path of international education. Our goal is to make ordinary children extraordinary and excellent children stay excellent.



全球化浪潮的当下,教育的边界正被不断拓宽。这其中,国际教育如同一扇窗,让孩子能够眺望世界的广阔;又似一座桥,搭建起不同文化交流互鉴的通道。


四十余年的发展,不同体系不同理念的国际学校为深圳国际化添上了绚丽的一环。作为深圳第一所提供纯正英式教育和寄宿管理体系的国际学校,深圳曼彻斯通城堡学校已走过7个年头


今年,这所国际学校正式启动质量提升三年行动计划,奋力迈向高质量发展第一个十年。近日,南方+“叹校”系列走进深圳曼校,对话深圳时代灯塔国际教育集团及深圳曼彻斯通城堡学校多位负责人,深入了解这所学校的发展内生动力。

 

谈及深圳第一所纯英式教育和寄宿管理体系的国际学校,绕不开深圳时代灯塔国际教育集团董事局主席、深圳曼彻斯通城堡学校创始人吕建军

深圳时代灯塔国际教育集团董事局主席、深圳曼彻斯通城堡学校创始人


迈进教育领域,吕建军的初心是坚持创办一个既有卓越学术,也不唯分数论,能提供温暖教育的学校。多年来,他持续为学生搭起多元化发展路径,从一名为娃找学校的家长,已转型为更懂国际教育的投资人。


如今,吕建军的时代灯塔国际教育集团已在英国爱丁堡本校外成立深圳曼校龙华主校区东莞松山湖校区曼校前海校区,形成“一校四区”新布局,而“灯塔”二字也在潜移默化中成为这些学校发展的强大内核。

爱丁堡

本校





龙华校区




前海校区




松山湖校区






                         以下是访谈全文:                 

1

成为:根植中国、预见未来、

感受温暖、学术卓越的

现代化国际教育


南方+:您常说用灯塔之光照亮孩子们的美好未来,时代灯塔国际教育集团名字有何美好寓意?透露出哪些使命愿景和目标?


吕建军:灯塔给人光明、目标、希望、力量,特别是在教育领域,我认为“灯塔”它对孩子的成长、对家庭教育的指引非常有价值。


我们时代灯塔国际教育集团的使命是“用爱点亮生命之灯”,在我看来,教育过程中,如果缺少爱和温度,就一定做不出优质的教育,或者说不是真正在做教育。


灯塔国际教育集团的使命、愿景、价值观和目标都很清晰,我们致力于构建国际课程的互联网,架起全球升学立交桥,形成高质量、国际化的教育生态系统,让不同孩子有上学、上好学,有更好的升学目标,孩子们在这里既学到知识,更学会做人,理解和认识面向未来的挑战。


把灯塔教育发展成为大湾区最具竞争力、最懂中国且能链接世界、真正将国际课程本土化、融合中国优质课程体系与优秀文化的教育机构是我们的目标。


灯塔教育在深圳发展的7年,有艰辛历程也有收获感悟,在这样一个节点,我们于2024年底举行了灯塔教育高质量发展大会,总校长和各学校、学部校长共同启动质量提升三年行动计划,在第一个十年中为理念契合的家庭孩子提供优质教育,让更多孩子享受快乐教育,把教育中的内卷、躺平等词变得更积极理性,让在灯塔教育学校的孩子享受到用心教育、学术卓越带来的成长硕果。


2

顺应孩子特质,充分挖掘潜能


南方+:可以说正是“灯塔”精神释放出的能量给予了深圳曼校强大的发展内核、衍生出学校“教育不选择孩子”的坚守,在深圳曼校“教育不选择孩子”体现在哪里?


吕建军:曼彻斯通城堡学校是一所有着近200年历史的私立名校,2018年8月,曼彻斯通城堡学校深圳分校正式成为曼彻斯通城堡学校全球首所海外分校。令我印象深刻的是,曼校老校长在深圳第一场招生发布会时说“教育不选择孩子”这句话深深地感染了我。


彼时,学校组织面试,从学生考试到家长面试大概3个小时,有些孩子表现未达预期,老校长看到孩子和家长的眼神后,同我说在爱丁堡母校,他们遵循教育不选择孩子的原则,只要孩子对入学有高期望和渴望,就一定要给他们接受教育的机会。这让我很受触动,我们的的确确需要一个既有卓越学术,也不唯分数论,能提供温暖教育的学校。


为此,从第一年开始,深圳曼校就接收认同曼校、以德育为先,且德智体美劳技全面发展的孩子。从孩子入学学习,到社会实践等,均结合孩子特点充分挖掘潜能,精细化设计课表等。



比如,课堂上我们分层教学,有的孩子英语强,就让孩子在A班,课程更深度,有的孩子刚到学校,需要有一个适应的过程,我们便会将其分在B班,由双语老师进行辅导和培训。


3

特长与学术有机融合


南方+:近年来,深圳曼校的升学格外亮眼,录取结果不仅展现出追求学术卓越的实力,更是展现出学生们对不同行业的热爱。学校是如何做到这一点的?


吕建军:一直以来,深圳曼校秉持着“学术卓越、最具温暖”的办学理念,让学生不仅赢在学术,更能凭借内心的热爱找到适合自身的发展路径。而这一点,也在毕业生大学报考的专业上得到了充分印证。


五年来,毕业生们在大学的专业选择上多元。学术方向涵盖金融、生物化学、天体物理、全球人道主义研究等专业;艺术方向涵盖家居设计、插画等专业,展示出广泛的兴趣与出色的综合素养,且每年均有不少对音乐或艺术心怀热爱的学子去往伦敦艺术大学等艺术殿堂追逐梦想。



在深圳曼校学习,我们提供学术奖学金体育艺术奖学金,目的是让优秀孩子在学校通过奖学金看到自身成长价值,被家长和同学认可、学习,成为榜样。同时,对于家庭条件不好但想走国际教育且出国发展的孩子,通过奖学金和助学金政策给予支持,让他们进入曼校,借助科学化国际融合课程超越自我、实现梦想。


目前,学校在小学、初中、高中都设奖学金项目,尤其在高尔夫项目上,已连续三年为中国青少年高尔夫优秀学生提供全额奖学金及半奖支持,并且结合孩子专业课特点定制一人一课表,将专业训练、国际竞赛与学术课程有机融合。



我们通过7年教学经验发现,体育特长好的孩子学术也较强,他们目标坚定、意志坚毅,未来发展潜力大。所以我们为他们设计定制化时间课表,通过曼校卓越学术和高尔夫学院、击剑学院、篮球学院、水上运动和冰雪运动学院等四个学院,培养他们的体育精神,助力他们凭借体育特长进入理想全球大学。


4

新校区补齐职业教育一


南方+:您强调学校坚持“德智体美劳技”育人,在技能上,东莞行知学校是否是灯塔教育的全新探索?


吕建军:东莞行知学校一所被赋予职业教育改革使命的新型国际化职业高中,灯塔教育对深圳曼校和行知的定位是和而不同、美美与共。


比如曼校深圳龙华校区要彰显其快乐、塑造灵魂与品格、学术卓越温暖、懂中国且面向世界拥抱未来的英式寄宿制国际学校特色,以英国课程体系为本。


东莞松山湖校区则在国际化职业教育方面走出探索之路,尝试融合国际课程专业课程赋能,注重孩子技能培养,根据不同地区情况精准定位师资、课程和集团赋能。在这里,有教育中心、能力中心、服务中心和粤港澳大湾区国际教育研究院,推动教学教研教师培养有机结合。

东莞松山湖校区


很快,灯塔教育即将迎来十周年,我们希望灯塔教育旗下的学校成为大湾区学术卓越、最具温暖,且具备核心竞争力的创新型国际教育机构,通过跨学科学习和社会实践增强学校生命力,在国际教育道路上稳步前行。让普通孩子不普通,优秀孩子更优秀。



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