Merchiston International School, (MIS) Shenzhen is owned by Lighthouse (Shenzhen) Education and Culture Co Ltd. MIS is governed by a Board of Governors.
Fiduciary responsibility rests with the Board of Governors as they are responsible for the overall stewardship of the School, including establishing the School’s direction and priorities, overseeing its financial and administrative functions and ensuring the smooth running of its business needs.  The Board of Governors works closely with the Heads of School to ensure the overall success of the School. The Board provides advice and guidance to the Heads of School who maintain responsibility for all operational matters within the school.
Meeting six times per year for official decision making meetings, the Board members communicate throughout the year to provide guidance and advice on direction, strategy and policy. Between meetings governors may spend time working on individual projects that contribute to the strategic objectives of the School.
The Articles of Association/Board’s Constitution  allows for nine members from a range of backgrounds and professions whose skills, knowledge and expertise greatly benefit the work of the Board in meeting its aims and objectives and contribute to the future development of the School. At present, the Board has four representatives from Lighthouse Shenzhen Ltd and two representing Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh one being the present Head of Merchiston Castle School and the second being the Deputy Chair of the Board of Governors of Merchiston Castle School. 
This Board is acting as an advisory Board in accordance with the agreements between Merchiston International School (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd, Merchiston International Ltd and Lighthouse (Shenzhen) Education and Culture Co Ltd. 

Merchiston International School, (MIS) Shenzhen is owned by Lighthouse (Shenzhen) Education and Culture Co Ltd  . MIS is governed by a Board of Governors. As a fee-charging, international school, Merchiston International School (MIS), Shenzhen is governed by a Board of Governors whose activities are prescribed by China law and good practice guidelines set by COBIS (Council of British International Schools) and CIS (Council of International Schools).
National and international publications, and almost all the training available, describe the role of the school governor as being that of ‘critical friend’. A critical friend offers support, constructive advice, a sounding board for ideas, a second opinion on proposals, and help where needed. But a critical friend may also challenge, ask questions, seek information, improve proposals, and so seek to arrive at the best solution.
The main roles of the governing body are to:
• Provide a strategic direction for the work and improvement of the school
• Support, monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the school
• Ensure alignment with national and international directives
• Oversee the School’s finances and decide actions in managing Merchiston International School from a business perspective
The Governors of the School meet no less than six times a year and holds special meetings as required. Governors are also invited into school from time to time for individual visits (an important part of the monitoring process), for governor training sessions, or for special events like open day, concerts, or festivals.  
The role of the governing body is a strategic one; school governors do not become involved in day-to-day management issues. The International Head and Executive Head who both attend the Board meetings, are responsible for the internal organisation, management and control of the school; and for advising on and implementing the governing body’s strategic framework. In particular, the two Heads formulate aims and objectives, policies and targets for the governing body to consider adopting; and must report to the governing body on progress at least six times every school year. Other members of staff may also attend aspects of Board Meetings to report on the areas of school for which they are responsible.   
Governors are responsible for setting up a strategic framework for the school, which means setting the school’s aims and objectives, agreeing policies, targets and priorities, and monitoring and reviewing aims, objectives, and whether the policies, targets, and priorities are being followed and achieved. The governing body takes advice on all this from the Heads before making its own decisions. We are particularly anxious in our school to ensure that our governing body considers education in the widest sense, which includes but is not limited to academic education. We are all committed to the school’s international ethos within the culture, ethos and guidelines of China.
The Articles of Association/Board’s Constitution  allows for nine members from a range of backgrounds and professions whose skills, knowledge and expertise greatly benefit the work of the Board in meeting its aims and objectives and contribute to the future development of the School. At present, the Board has four representatives from Lighthouse Shenzhen Ltd and two representing Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh one being the present Head of Merchiston Castle School and the second being the Deputy Chair of the Board of Governors of Merchiston Castle School. 
This Board is acting as an advisory Board in accordance with the agreements between Merchiston International School(Shenzhen) Co. Ltd, Merchiston International Ltd and Lighthouse (Shenzhen) Education and Culture Co Ltd.