Compare Affordable International Schools in Shenzhen, China

Instructs in English

Ages 4 - 18 years

Fees RMB 107,600 - 145,800

Type Co-educational

Korea International School (KIS) in Shenzhen was founded in 2005 and is located in Nanshan District on Dongbin Road. The school website notes easy public-transport access — it gives walking directions from Lilin (subway) Station Exit A — and lists the full postal address and contact numbers on its Campus/Contact pages. KIS offers early years through Grade 12, runs AP courses and SAT services, and lists semester tuition bands and school-bus routes on its Admissions/Tuition page. The website does not publish a campus latitude/longitude or the total student enrolment; I can look those up on maps or ask the school if you want.

Location

KIS in Shenzhen is located in Nanshan District; the English site lists the address as No. 4357 Dongbin Road, Nanshan Street, Shenzhen. The About page gives simple public-transport directions (walk from Lilin Station Exit A) and a taxi instruction for the address. Office hours for the school office are published as Monday–Friday 08:00–17:00.

Stages

The school operates a full PreK–Grade 12 programme: Preschool (Pre-K and KG), Elementary (Grade 1–6), Middle (Grade 7–9) and High School (Grade 10–12). Each division has its own curriculum page (Preschool, Elementary, Middle, High) on the school website. The public pages include a grade/age listing used for admissions.

Type

KIS is a private international day school serving children from preschool through Grade 12; the school describes itself as a school for students studying abroad and is an AP-authorized school and SAT test centre. The website lists paid school-bus services but does not describe any boarding provision.

Additional learning support

The website describes an English Language Learning (ELL) programme in Elementary and Middle School (ELL runs through Grade 8 in middle school) and says teachers cater to mixed-ability classes and tailor activities to reach all students. The school uses MAP Growth testing for ongoing assessment and notes counselling rooms are available in middle school.

Country affiliation

The school was founded as Korea International School and was established in 2005; it was originally set up to serve Korean expatriate children and the site also notes the student body now includes many nationalities. The Chinese-language site name likewise identifies it as the Korean expatriate children's school in Shenzhen.

Religious affiliation

The school website does not state any religious affiliation; material on the About and Academics pages focuses on academic programmes, language support and school mission rather than religious instruction.

School day structure

The school website publishes office hours (Mon–Fri 08:00–17:00) but does not give a detailed daily timetable (start/end times for lessons, break and lunch times) for each division. For exact start/end times and break/lunch arrangements, the admissions office or the school calendar/PDFs available from the school should be contacted.

Bus service

KIS operates a paid school-bus service with published per‑semester fees for different catchment areas (for example, Shekou/Houhai/Nanyou listed at RMB 5,100 per semester; other zones have different rates). The admissions information notes designated stops must be used, that routes may change slightly each semester depending on demand, and gives a per-area fee table. The website does not name an external bus provider; for route maps, stop locations and current provider details contact Admissions.

Application fees
- No separate application or admissions-test fee is listed on the school's published admissions/tuition page. The page lists required documents and an application form but does not show a standalone application fee amount.

Tuition fees (per semester and per year)
- Preschool (Pre‑K to K): RMB 53,800 per semester — Annual estimate (2 semesters): RMB 107,600.
- Grades 1–6: RMB 63,800 per semester — Annual estimate: RMB 127,600.
- Grades 7–9: RMB 69,800 per semester — Annual estimate: RMB 139,600.
- Grades 10–12: RMB 72,900 per semester — Annual estimate: RMB 145,800.

Entrance / admission fees
- Entrance Fee (one‑time for new students): RMB 18,000.

School bus / transport fees
- Bus fees are charged per semester and vary by route:
- Shekou / Houhai / Nanyou: RMB 5,100 per semester.
- Kejiyuan / Qianhai / Nantou / Huaqiaocheng: RMB 5,300 per semester.
- Baoan / Qiaoxiang / Chegongmiao: RMB 5,700 per semester.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Tuition is published on a per‑semester basis; annual tuition equals two semesters (per‑semester amount × 2). The site states payments must be made “by the specified deadline” but does not publish specific payment dates or installment deadlines on the public tuition page. Additional activity or after‑school charges may be billed separately.

Boarding fees
- No boarding or dormitory fees are listed; the published materials do not indicate a boarding option.

Other costs
- School uniform: charged only when an individual elects to purchase extra uniform items (no fixed uniform price listed on the tuition page).
- Additional fees may be charged for outdoor school activities, after‑school programs and similar items (details noted as attached to the application form). Sibling discounts are published: second child 5% off tuition; third child — 50% discount on entrance fee and tuition (when siblings are concurrently enrolled).

Refund information
- The public tuition/ admissions page does not specify refund rules or a refund policy for entrance, tuition or other fees.

Fee payment options
- The school's public admissions/tuition page does not list accepted payment methods (bank transfer, credit card, etc.).

Summary of missing details: The published admissions/tuition page provides per‑semester tuition, entrance fee, bus fees, sibling discounts and notes on additional charges and uniforms, but it does not publish a distinct application/test fee, specific billing deadlines, refund policy language, or the accepted payment methods. The school's application form or admissions office holds further billing and payment‑term details.

Boarding Arrangements

The school provides a school bus service with multiple routes. Bus fees are charged per location per semester (5,100 RMB for Shekou / Houhai / Nanyou; 5,300 RMB for Kejiyuan / Qianhai / Nantou / Huaqiaocheng; 5,700 RMB for Baoan / Qiaoxiang / Chegongmiao). Routes may be adjusted slightly each semester based on boarding applications, and boarding/disembarking at locations not designated by the school bus stops you applied for is not permitted.

Uniform Requirement

The school requires a uniform. PreK–Grade 6 wear a Green Polo; PreK–Grade 12 wear a Grey Polo; Grade 7–12 wear a Navy Polo. PE uniforms are available for summer and autumn; Cadigan; Short/Long Shirt; Short/Long Pants; Skirt; Hoodie; TKD. An extra uniform can be purchased for a fee, and there are no exchanges or refunds after receiving.

Governance and Ownership

The school is led by Chairman JongJin Park. KIS is an AP authorized school and an SAT authorized center.

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

KIS describes a programme of student leadership, clubs and regular school events that contribute to students' social and emotional development; middle and high school students take part in student council activities and school-wide events. The middle-school page also says the curriculum explicitly aims to foster "social maturity," and that counseling rooms are available to assist students. Weekly electives and after-school clubs (sports, music, debate, etc.) are listed as part of school life and opportunities for social development. The school website does not set out a separate, detailed SEL curriculum document or a named SEL team.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)

The school states that teachers cater to mixed-ability classes and that staff tailor activities and learning environments to reach all students. Beyond this statement about mixed-ability teaching, KIS's public pages do not describe specific Special Educational Needs provision, the types of needs supported, specialist staff, or whether the school is a specialist SEN institution. Therefore the school does not publicly disclose detailed information about SEN provision or specialist status.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

KIS operates English Language Learning (ELL) programmes: ELL is described for elementary students and the middle-school page states an ELL programme runs up to Grade 8, with restricted participation in some regular subjects for ELL students. The school uses MAP Growth testing (twice per semester) to assess English and maths achievement and to inform ELL placement. The website therefore documents an organised ELL/ELL assessment approach but does not publish a separate, detailed EAL policy or staffing list.

Mental Wellbeing

The site notes the availability of counseling rooms in middle school and lists a range of extracurricular activities, physical education and taekwondo aimed at physical and social development. These facilities and activities are presented as part of the school's pastoral and co-curricular provision rather than as a named mental-health programme. The dedicated "Consultation" page is a contact form for enquiries but does not describe a formal mental-health team or clinical services on the public site. KIS does not publicly publish details of any dedicated mental-health staff, external counselling providers or a mental-health programme.

Safeguarding

KIS lists contact details and an address on its public pages and, in its Chinese "About" chronology, records a 2024 partnership with Shekou People's Hospital, indicating a formal medical partnership. However, the website does not publish a standalone child-protection or safeguarding policy, nor does it publicly detail safeguarding procedures or named child-protection officers. Therefore the school does not publicly disclose a full child-protection/safeguarding policy on its site.

Admissions

1. Parents should confirm which academic year the form covers (the site lists details for 2025/26) and ask whether any deadlines or intake windows apply for that year. Note that the school posts notices and calendar items on its website, so check those before you apply.

2. Submit application and required documents — Complete and submit the Admission Application Form together with the required documents: the applicant's passport and visa, parent passports and visas, vaccination records, transcripts from the past year, a certificate of enrollment, and a recommendation letter if available. The school states that submitted documents become the property of KIS Shenzhen and will not be returned, so provide copies and keep originals safe. Parents should ensure document dates and translations (if needed) meet the school's expectations before submission.

3. Schedule a visit and meet school leadership — After applying, schedule a school visit and a meeting with the principal or head of the relevant school section (Preschool, Elementary, Middle, High). During this meeting you can confirm curriculum fit, ask about class size, and discuss any special educational or medical needs your child has; bring originals of key documents to the meeting if requested. Visiting also helps families confirm bus routes and campus logistics listed by the school.

4. Admission assessment — Applicants are required to take an admission test; the school's admissions sequence lists “take the admission test” as a formal step. Ask the admissions office what subjects and formats are used for your child's grade (e.g., English literacy, math, or age-appropriate assessments) and whether there is an interview component. If your child needs accommodations for testing, request them in advance from the admissions office.

5. Receive confirmation of admission — If a seat is available and the child meets the admissions requirements, the school will issue an admission confirmation. If no seat is available at the time of application, the website states the student will be added to the waiting list (see waitlist section below). Parents should confirm the timeline for receiving the written confirmation and what information (start date, class assignment) it will include.

6. Payment and enrolment finalisation — Once admitted, make payments by the specified deadline to secure the place. The site lists an entrance fee (RMB 18,000) and per-semester tuition rates for 2025/26 (Preschool RMB 53,800; G1–G6 RMB 63,800; G7–G9 RMB 69,800; G10–G12 RMB 72,900) and notes additional charges may apply for outdoor activities and after-school programmes. Ask the school for an itemised invoice, the accepted payment methods, the deadline for each fee, and whether bus fees (vary by route) or uniform purchases are billed separately.

Scholarships

The Korea International School Shenzhen admissions and tuition pages do not list any scholarships or a financial-aid programme; the site instead notes sibling discounts (second child: 5% off tuition; third child: 50% off admission fee and tuition) and itemises tuition, entrance fee, and bus fees for 2025/26. If you are specifically looking for need- or merit-based scholarships, the Shenzhen site gives no details, so contact the school's admissions office (WeChat: szkis2005 or info@kis.org.cn) to ask whether any discretionary awards, donor-funded scholarships, or external sponsorships are available. For context, other KIS campuses (for example, the Korean International School in Hong Kong) publish scholarship programmes on their own sites, but those programmes apply to their respective campuses and do not imply a scholarship programme in Shenzhen.

Waitlist

The school webpage explicitly states that students who apply for grades where no seats are available will be added to a waiting list. The site does not provide a public, detailed description of the waiting-list order, typical wait times, or whether offers from the waitlist are communicated by date of application, assessment results, or other criteria. Because the site's published information is limited, parents should confirm directly with the admissions office how the waitlist is managed (priority rules, whether deposits are required to hold a waitlist place, and how often the school offers places from the list).

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Merchiston International School Shenzhen

Instructs in English

Ages 4 - 18 years

Fees RMB 138,000 - 148,000

Type Co-educational (boarding)

Merchiston International School (MIS) Shenzhen opened in August 2018 as an overseas branch of Merchiston Castle School (Edinburgh) and serves students aged 4–18 (Early Years to Year 13). The Longhua campus lists facilities that include a library, multimedia classrooms, science laboratories, theatre and recording studio, an indoor swimming pool, basketball and tennis courts, an indoor virtual golf hall, gymnasium and landscaped gardens. MIS delivers a British-based programme (Early Years Foundation Stage and the British National Curriculum), with IGCSE and IAL/GCE AS & A Level pathways and an American AP pathway available for Years 10–13; the school also operates a separate Qianhai campus in Shekou. MIS operates a boarding programme alongside day provision and publishes class-size maxima (Early Years 16; Years 1–11 typically up to 22; Years 12–13 up to 16). Co-curricular offerings include sports, drama, music, debate and outreach/community projects.

Location

Longhua campus: No.12 Shilongzai Road, Dalang Sub-district, Longhua District, Shenzhen; Qianhai/Shekou campus: No.1009 Nanhai Blvd, Shekou, Nanshan, Shenzhen. Both campuses are in Shenzhen city; Longhua is inland (Dalang) while the Qianhai/Shekou site is in the Nanshan/Shekou area near the coast. The website lists full contact numbers and postcodes for each campus.

Stages

MIS is an all-through school serving Early Years through Year 13 (ages 4–18). The Longhua campus is the main all-through site; the Qianhai/Shekou campus is noted for Early Years and Junior provision.

Type

Merchiston International School is a co-educational British international school and an overseas branch of Merchiston Castle School (UK). The school operates boarding provision across age-appropriate houses (boarders are organised in houses covering junior through senior year groups).

Additional learning support

Parents are asked to declare any additional support needs at application; all students are screened for additional support needs at entry and the school says it will make reasonable adjustments where appropriate. The site also refers to a Student Success Centre / support team for helping students with learning needs.

Country affiliation

MIS is the authorised overseas branch of Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh, Scotland; the school follows British-style provision and offers British pathways (IGCSE/A Level) alongside other options for senior years.

Religious affiliation

The school website does not list a religious affiliation for MIS; the founding school in Edinburgh (Merchiston Castle School) is described in public sources as non‑denominational.

School day structure

Typical school routines shown on the site indicate a morning registration/form time around 07:45–08:00, lessons during the day, a school finish in the mid‑afternoon (~15:30) followed by co‑curricular activities/CCAs (often 15:45–17:00) and supervised study/evening programmes for boarders (evening study/homework and set bedtimes vary by year group). Exact start/end times differ slightly by phase and boarding house.

Bus service

The school runs an optional bus/shuttle service for day students; parents are asked to book routes in advance and the service carries an additional fee (the school notes optional bus fees and that fees are non‑refundable once a term begins). Routes are organised to meet local requirements and parent demand. For specifics on routes, stops and fees you should contact Admissions.

Application fees and deposits
- Application fee: RMB 2,000 (non‑refundable, non‑transferable; payable at time of application).
- Security / enrolment deposit: RMB 18,000 (refundable as stated by the school's fee policy).

Tuition fees by year group (annual and per‑term amounts)
- Early Years / K2 (age 4): Annual tuition RMB 200,000 — Per term (calculated as annual ÷ 3) RMB 66,667 (rounded). (Per‑term value is derived by dividing the published annual fee by three; the school's fee policy uses the term as the billing period.)
- Kindergarten 3 and Years 1–5 (age 5–10): Annual tuition RMB 235,000 — Per term RMB 78,333 (rounded).
- Years 6–11 (age 11–15): Annual tuition RMB 335,000 — Per term RMB 111,667 (rounded).
- Years 12–13 (age 16–17): Annual tuition RMB 370,000 — Per term RMB 123,333 (rounded).

Boarding fees
- Boarding arrangements and costs vary by year group. For younger junior years boarding is offered as an optional extra (reported example: RMB 70,000 per year where boarding is optional); in higher secondary years boarding is included in the published senior tuition totals. Parents should note the published annual figures above reflect whether boarding is included for that year group.

Other costs and recurring extras
- Additional fees that may apply include: school lunch (for day students), exam fees for IGCSE/A‑Level, textbooks, fee‑paying co‑curricular activities (CCAs), individual music lessons, optional bus service and uniform shop purchases. Bus fees and other term‑based services have the school's stated no‑refund rule once a term commences.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Fees are billed in RMB. The school issues invoices and requires payment by the due date stated on each invoice. The school refers to fees and adjustments on a term basis and calculates pro‑rata charges for students joining after a term starts. Late payments incur a monthly penalty (1.5% as stated).

Refund and withdrawal information
- If a registered student fails to enrol, 90% of the tuition will be refunded. For withdrawals after starting, the school's refund formula is: Actual tuition fee ÷ 184 (instruction days) × (184 − days actually attended). Refunds will be processed within 15 working days after the academic year end; the original tax receipt (Fapiao) must be returned as part of the refund process.

Fee payment options and surcharges
- Primary payment method: the school's online portal (School Pal). The school accepts in‑person credit card payments at the Finance Office (surcharges apply: 1% for domestic cards; 3% for foreign‑issued cards). Employer payments are accepted by bank transfer; all bank charges are the payer's responsibility.

Discounts and sibling policy
- A sibling discount is applied to tuition and boarding fees for second and subsequent children (commonly reported as 5%).

Note: The school's published fee chart and the school's fee policy set the formal terms, billing dates and any grade‑specific boarding inclusions; the payment, refund and surcharge rules above are taken from the school's fee policy.

Boarding Arrangements

Boarding at MIS Shenzhen follows the traditional British boarding system with an extended day that integrates academics, co-curricular activities and personal development. Boarding students receive additional academic tutoring and supervised homework every evening, and a wide range of after-hours co-curricular activities is offered. Students are placed in one of three age-appropriate boarding houses (Pringle, Chalmers, Rogerson) and are supported by a large boarding team; there is a fully staffed on-site medical centre.

Uniform Requirement

The school has a uniform system with a Uniform Shop and a Uniform Guide available for families.

Food Options

School meals are provided in the Dining Hall with attendance at all meals compulsory for all years. On Sundays, breakfast is served in the boarding house common rooms; Sunday lunch is offsite; dinner is served at 18:00–18:45 on Saturdays and Sundays.

House System

The school uses three boarding houses: Pringle, Chalmers and Rogerson.

Governance and Ownership

The MIS Shenzhen campus is the overseas branch of Merchiston Castle School. Governance is provided by the MIS Board of Governors, which makes policy and strategic decisions in collaboration with the leadership team. The school is operated by China-Europe Yishang Culture Development (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd.

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

Merchiston describes pastoral care and boarding provision as central to students' social and emotional development, stating that its boarding practice aims to “encourage physical, social and emotional development” and to develop a sense of identity within a community. The school cites tutors, houseparents and a boarding team who live on site and work alongside teachers to provide day-to-day pastoral support. The Leadership Team page identifies senior staff with pastoral responsibilities (for example a Deputy Head with pastoral duties), indicating leadership oversight of pastoral provision. The school also emphasises home–school partnerships as part of its approach to student wellbeing.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)

The school's Admissions and Application Information states that children with certain learning needs may be considered for learning support only after submission of an educational psychologist's report and that such applicants are assessed on an individual basis. The website also refers to a “Learning Support Center” as part of the school's student‑centred framework and lists vacancies for Learning Support Teachers, indicating in‑school provision for differentiated learning. The admissions page explains the school seeks information on additional support needs at application to determine reasonable adjustments. The school does not state on its website that it is a specialist SEN institution; admissions decisions for applicants with SEN are handled case‑by‑case.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

Merchiston lists staff with specific EAL roles (for example named English & EAL teachers on the staff pages) and advertises EAL teaching posts, indicating dedicated EAL staffing. The Admissions information notes that, where applicable, the Head of Section can require a student to enter an intensive English programme, showing an established pathway for additional English support. Job listings for Juniors EAL and school staff profiles further confirm EAL provision is part of the school's staffing and admissions arrangements. The school therefore documents EAL support but does not publish a detailed EAL curriculum on the pages cited.

Mental Wellbeing

The school runs a published “Mental Health Week” and reports activities led by a named school counsellor (Jenny Jiang) including sessions on resilience, mindfulness and communication, indicating organised whole‑school mental wellbeing initiatives. Boarding and pastoral pages also emphasise promoting health and welfare and note a fully staffed medical centre for students in boarding, showing operational health and welfare support. The school's wider materials reference a Student Growth Centre focused on learning and wellbeing as part of its educational framework. These pages together show both scheduled wellbeing events and structural pastoral/medical provisions rather than a single counselling policy document.

Safeguarding

Merchiston publishes a dedicated “Child Protection and Safeguarding Principles” page that describes measures such as trained site security, visitor challenge procedures and alignment of site security with the school's pastoral systems. The page sets out operational expectations for security staff and links safeguarding to everyday site management. Leadership and governance pages further state that pastoral care and safeguarding are priorities for the Leadership Team and Board. The website therefore provides an explicit safeguarding statement and describes specific on‑site practices to support child protection.

Admissions

1. Enquiry and initial application — Contact Admissions, complete the school's application form and submit it with the required supporting documents and proof of payment of the non‑refundable application fee. Parents should include current passport/ID details, recent school reports, any assessments or Individual Education Plans, and a completed medical declaration so the school can identify support needs early. The school provides downloadable application material and specific contact emails for Longhua and Shekou admissions.

2. Admissions checks and entry assessment — After the application is accepted, the Admissions Department schedules the appropriate assessments. All applicants from Year 3 (age 7) and above take an online entrance assessment; Juniors (Years 1–2) are normally assessed by a meeting with the Head of Juniors and often by a morning or day in class, while Senior applicants sit CAT4 (cognitive) plus an English test and an interview. Parents should ask which specific test their child will sit, whether the assessment can be arranged at the current school (for overseas candidates), and whether EAL or SEN screening applies.

3. Interviews and trial visits — For many junior applicants the school recommends, and sometimes requires, a classroom trial or in‑person meeting; for senior applicants an interview with the Head of Seniors (and Head of Sixth Form for Years 12–13) forms part of the decision. Parents should prepare recent school reports and be ready to discuss any English‑as‑an‑additional‑language (EAL) needs or learning support so the school can assess whether it can provide appropriate support. The Head of Section has discretion to request additional evidence or a Student Support review if additional learning support is suspected.

4. Decision and acceptance — The Head of the admitting section (supported by Admissions and the Head of School) informs parents whether an offer is approved. To secure an offered place parents must confirm acceptance and pay the placement/security deposit (stated on the school invoice as RMB 18,000); the offer may be withdrawn if the deposit is not paid by the invoice deadline. Parents should note the school's invoicing currency (RMB), payment channels, and the credit‑card surcharges and deadlines set out in the fee policy.

5. Waiting list, refusal and re‑application — If places are full the school will place an approved applicant on a waiting list (placement is generally by date application + fee received, with some priority categories). If an application is denied, parents may reapply after six months and should follow any remedial recommendations given in the decline letter. Parents are advised to apply early and to keep their application documentation and contact details up to date while on the waiting list.

6. Pre‑entry requirements and ongoing obligations — Before attendance begins the school typically requests up‑to‑date medical checks and may take a confidential report from the applicant's current school; all students are screened for additional support needs on entry. Parents should understand the school's withdrawal and refund rules (for example, one‑term notice for withdrawal and the stated refund calculations) and the expectation that fees are paid by the due date to avoid late penalties or withheld reports. The school places students in year groups by age as of 1 September and will consider out‑of‑year placements case‑by‑case.

Scholarships

Merchiston publishes a formal Scholarship Policy and runs a scholarship programme that applies to tuition fees only; other costs (boarding, application fees, lunches, extracurricular fees, uniforms, textbooks, etc.) remain payable by the family. Scholarship awards are tiered (examples published include full, 75%, 50%, 25% and smaller discounts) and are normally time‑limited and subject to renewal criteria (academic standards, conduct, attendance and participation), with specific durations varying by year group. The school runs multiple scholarship categories (academic, music, sport, leadership/service/global citizenship, and specific programmes such as a golf scholarship) and evaluates candidates using a mix of tests (e.g., standardised tests/CEM), interviews, written statements, references, and evidence of achievement; sporting scholarships use performance evidence and may require tournament rankings. Application windows and exact eligibility/award levels are published on the school site for specific cycles (for example the school has recent public scholarship campaigns and separate calls for particular programmes), so parents should check the current Scholarship Criteria page and contact Admissions for the latest timelines and the documents required.

Waitlist

Merchiston operates a formal waiting list. Placement on the waiting list is generally determined by the date the application and application fee are received, though priority is explicitly given to (1) children of full‑time faculty, (2) qualified siblings of current students who have completed the application process, and (3) children transferring from another Merchiston Castle school. Positions on the waiting list are not disclosed to parents; if an applicant does not obtain a place for the term applied for they are automatically carried forward to the waiting list for the following term and, at the end of the academic year, to the appropriate year level for the new school year. The school advises early application because waiting‑list position and available spaces can change; for operational details parents should contact Admissions.

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Recognise International Academy

Instructs in English

Ages 4 - 16 years

Fees RMB 141,000

Type Co-educational

Recognise International Academy (RIA) is a small international school in the Shekou area of Shenzhen that describes itself as serving the expatriate community and offering places for children from Reception up to Year 11 (ages 4–16). The school states its curriculum is based on the National Curriculum of England and that English is the language of instruction. RIA emphasises small classes (maximum ten pupils) and a deliberately limited total enrolment to allow personalised teaching; a school page notes a maximum enrolment of 78. The school runs regular art and music lessons and twice-yearly performances, and lists Mandarin among the taught subjects. Contact details and the campus address are published on the school website.

Location

Recognise International Academy is located in the Shekou area of Shenzhen (Nanshan district); the school's postal address is 4–6 Bi Yu Lu, Bi Tao Yuan Villas, Tai Zi Road, Shenzhen 518067. Shekou is an established expatriate neighbourhood with ferry links and metro connections to other parts of Shenzhen and amenities such as Sea World nearby, so the area is commonly used by internationally mobile families.

Stages

RIA teaches children aged about 4 to 16 (Reception/Year 1 through Year 11, often shown as KG–Grade 10). The school's published curriculum pages describe Lower and Upper Primary (Years 1–6) and Lower and Upper Secondary (Years 7–11), with IGCSE study typically taken in Years 10–11.

Type

Recognise is an independent, small-scale international school that teaches in English and uses the UK National Curriculum as its basis; class sizes are kept small. The school is mixed-gender (co‑educational) and serves the expatriate community in Shekou.

Additional learning support

The school runs a dedicated Cognition (additional‑needs) class of around four to five students staffed by a specialist teacher plus a support teacher; pupils in that class follow tailored programmes and may join mainstream classes for some subjects and activities. RIA says it works with parents and external specialists to assess needs and plan pathways.

Country affiliation

The school has no stated national/ governmental affiliation; its curriculum is based on the National Curriculum of England (adapted for an international context).

Religious affiliation

There is no religious affiliation stated on the school website; RIA presents itself as a secular, international school.

School day structure

Morning arrival is between 8:30–8:45am and lessons begin at 8:50am. The published day runs with a morning break (around 10:15am), lunch about 12:00pm, an afternoon break at about 2:15pm and the normal end of day at 3:45pm (after‑school activities extend to 4:45pm).

Bus service

The school website does not list a school bus service; third‑party directory listings also indicate there is no school bus provided. If you will need transport from a particular neighbourhood, contact the admissions office to confirm current arrangements or recommended local transport options.

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

Recognise teaches explicit PSHE (called “Well‑being”) and a weekly ‘Habits of the Mind' (HOM) session to develop pupils' social skills, attitudes and resilience; Student Council activities form part of this programme. The school emphasises small classes and close teacher–student relationships so teachers have time to address emotional or behavioural issues and to discuss concerns with parents. The Parent Handbook and the school's features page describe these curriculum elements and the school's approach to emotional wellbeing.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)

The Parent Handbook states RIA offers targeted, individualised support for students with additional academic, social‑emotional or physical needs and that the school partners with experts and parents to assess needs and plan support. The admissions information also describes RIA as an inclusive, non‑selective school and says it has successfully supported children who struggled elsewhere. The handbook does not describe RIA as a specialist SEN institution; support is provided within the school's mainstream, small‑class context.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

The school website and Parent Handbook note an English‑speaking environment and describe Chinese language lessons, but they do not publish a specific EAL/ESL programme or detailed EAL provision. Therefore, the school does not publicly disclose dedicated EAL support or a named EAL policy on its website. For language provision the handbook describes four Chinese lessons per week and grouping by home language where appropriate.

Mental Wellbeing

Recognise integrates well‑being (PSHE) and HOM into the curriculum with weekly sessions that teach topics about growing up, managing oneself and positive learning attitudes, and the Student Council contributes to this strand. The school's aims include fostering resilience and positive self‑esteem, and small class sizes are presented as enabling teachers to identify and address emotional needs quickly. The Parent Handbook also outlines medical/health procedures and specialist help routes for pupils who require additional support.

Safeguarding

The Parent Handbook sets out practical safety and child‑care measures: drop‑off and collection rules (children must be brought to and collected by a responsible adult), emergency contact and medical/accident procedures, playground supervision and a complaints/concerns process. These operational rules and procedures are the school's published measures relating to pupil safety; however, the website does not show a separately titled, published ‘safeguarding' or ‘child protection' policy page. For definitive details or named safeguarding contacts, the school's office and principal contact details are provided on the site.

Admissions

1. Make an initial enquiry and get the application form. Be prepared to provide basic facts about your child (name, date of birth, current year group) so the school can advise which year group is appropriate.

2. Complete and return the application paperwork. Include scanned passport pages (the school only accepts students with expatriate/non-Chinese passports), recent school reports if you have them, and any learning-support information that affects your child.

3. Wait for an acknowledgement and a proposed meeting. The school will contact you to acknowledge receipt of the application and to arrange a meeting with you and your child; this is the formal next step after submission. Plan to bring originals of any documents (passports, previous school reports) to the meeting or be ready to show them via video call if you are overseas.

4. School visit / trial day for the child (if appropriate). RIA may set aside time for your child to spend at the school so staff can meet them and observe how they settle; this is commonly used to confirm the best class placement. Parents should note visits may include informal classroom observations and short activities rather than long formal testing.

5. Assessments and references (when appropriate). The school says it may carry out some gentle assessments and/or contact referees to establish current academic level and needs; these are used to inform placement and any individual support. If your child has special educational needs, bring relevant records and be ready to discuss support history, since RIA tailors placements to individual circumstances.

6. Overseas applicants: remote correspondence and interviews. If you are applying from outside China, the school conducts correspondence and interviews by email, Skype, FaceTime or WeChat where needed; be ready to arrange a convenient time across time zones. Have digital copies of passports, reports and any assessment documents available for the remote discussion.

7. Decision and timing. RIA describes itself as a small school with limited places and says decisions are at the discretion of the School Directors; for applications received before 30 March the school aims to confirm places before the end of the second week of April. Parents should be aware of the limited capacity (the school highlights small maximum class sizes) and plan alternative options in case a place is not available.

8. Confirm enrolment and fees. If offered a place, confirmation normally requires payment of the registration fee and completion of enrolment paperwork; tuition and payment terms are published on the Fees page (see Fees section). Keep a record of payment deadlines and the school's stated instalment schedule so you can meet the enrolment conditions promptly.

Scholarships

There are no scholarships, bursaries or financial-aid programmes described on the school's public admissions or fees pages. The Fees page lists tuition (141,000 RMB per year for 2023–24), a registration fee (6,500 RMB) and optional costs such as school lunches, but does not reference discounts, sibling concessions, or scholarship schemes. If you need fee assistance or want to check for any unpublished discounts or concessions (for example sibling discounts, staff-rate fees, or ad hoc awards), contact the school directly to ask — the admissions contact and principal's email addresses are available on the site.

Waitlist

The school does not publish a formal waitlist or 'pool' system on its website; instead the site explains that RIA has limited places that are in high demand and that enrolment decisions are made at the Directors' discretion. Parents who cannot secure an immediate place should contact the school (office.recognize@gmail.com or the admissions contact) to ask whether the school maintains an informal list or can notify them if a place becomes available. Because the site emphasises small class sizes and limited capacity, it is advisable to ask the school directly about expected timings for any vacancy notifications and whether the school will hold a place pending paperwork or fees.

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