Compare Premium International Schools in Shenzhen, China

Ages 3 - 18 years

Fees RMB 264,160 - 326,760

Pupils 1000

Type Co-educational

BASIS International School Shenzhen (BISZ) is a co‑educational international day school located in Shekou/Net Valley, Nanshan District, Shenzhen (No. 198 Yanshan Road). The school delivers the BASIS Curriculum / American‑style programme across early years through Grade 12 (ages approximately 3–18) as part of the BASIS International Schools network. Instruction is delivered primarily in English, with Chinese language classes and China studies taught in Chinese. At upper secondary level BISZ offers Advanced Placement (AP) courses and publishes access to PSAT/SAT/AP testing and college‑counselling services; the campus has been identified in network materials as an authorised College Board testing centre. Public summaries describe BISZ as a day school admitting students holding foreign passports and residents of Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, and note network accreditation activity in its early years. Parents should consult the school directly for the current list of on‑site facilities and specific learning‑support provisions.

Location

BASIS International School Shenzhen (BISZ) is located in Shekou Net Valley, Nanshan District — Tower C (Wanlian Building), Yanshan Road, Shenzhen. The campus is in the Shekou/Net Valley area with access to local roads and nearby metro stations (Huaguoshan/Line 12 is the closest metro reference); Shekou and Nanshan residential and expat neighbourhoods are within a short drive.

Stages

The school serves early years through secondary: Pre‑K/early years through Grade 12 (a through‑train international school model). Admissions are for overseas passport holders and residents from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.

Type

BISZ is a co‑educational international day school operating as part of the BASIS International Schools group; it does not advertise boarding facilities. Places are generally offered to students holding foreign passports or residents of Hong Kong/Macau/Taiwan in line with local international‑school regulations.

Additional learning support

There is no detailed, publicly posted Special Educational Needs (SEN) policy available on the school summary pages found during this search; BASIS schools commonly run targeted Learning Support and English‑language support and consider individual needs on a case‑by‑case basis. Parents should contact BISZ admissions directly for the school's specific SEN/learning‑support provisions, screening process and any available external specialist access.

Country affiliation

BISZ is part of the BASIS International Schools network (a U.S.-headquartered education group) rather than being affiliated to a particular national government or national curriculum authority.

Religious affiliation

The school does not present a religious affiliation in publicly available descriptions; BISZ is described as a secular international school.

School day structure

The school's publicly available summaries do not publish a fixed daily bell schedule; timings typically differ by division (early years, primary, secondary). For exact start/end times, break and lunch arrangements by grade, contact BISZ admissions or request the current parent handbook.

Application fee
- One-time, non-refundable application processing fee: RMB 2,000.

Tuition fees (annual and per term)
- Pre-K / Kindergarten 1 (age 3): Annual RMB 264,160 — Per term RMB 132,080.
- Kindergarten 2 (age 4): Annual RMB 264,160 — Per term RMB 132,080.
- Kindergarten 3 (age 5): Annual RMB 282,200 — Per term RMB 141,100.
- Grade 1 – Grade 5: Annual RMB 305,540 — Per term RMB 152,770.
- Grade 6 – Grade 8: Annual RMB 312,970 — Per term RMB 156,485.
- Grade 9 – Grade 12: Annual RMB 326,760 — Per term RMB 163,380.
(Per-term figures shown on the basis of a two‑semester billing model; annual figures are the published yearly tuition).

Billing schedule and payment terms
- The school requires a seat reservation / placement deposit (commonly reported as RMB 50,000) at offer acceptance; balance invoiced by the school. Tuition and ancillary fees are typically collected on the school's invoicing schedule and are paid by parents by the due date on the invoice. Payments and deposits are generally required by bank transfer.

Boarding fees
- BASIS International School Shenzhen operates as a day school; no boarding program or boarding fees are applicable at this campus.

Other costs and typical additional charges
- Uniforms: approximately RMB 2,800 (one‑off purchase estimate).
- School bus: approximately RMB 9,600 per year (often charged across two terms).
- Meals: sample reported prices — breakfast RMB 13, lunch RMB 50 (meal plans and pay-as-you-go options may apply).
- Deposits, exam fees, textbooks, extracurricular activities and optional services (tutoring, trips) are additional and charged as applicable.

Refunds and withdrawal (summary of applicable rules)
- Refund handling follows the standard provincial rules for private schools in Guangdong: where a new student registers but does not attend, partial refunds are required (for example, specified percentages for unutilized fees), and prorated refunds for mid‑year withdrawals are calculated by the school according to the published formulae for semester or annual billing. Specific refund amounts depend on timing of withdrawal and the school's invoice cycle.

Fee payment options
- Reported and commonly used payment method: bank transfer for deposits and tuition payments. The school's processes commonly require transfer reference details and proof of payment; card payments are not typically accepted for tuition at this campus. Parents are responsible for any bank or transfer charges.

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

BASIS International School Shenzhen references a broad programme of student-led clubs, extracurricular activities and competitive sports that the school highlights as part of its student experience, which contribute to pupils' social and emotional development. The school is organised into Early Childhood, Primary, Middle and High School divisions and the Head of School has described the community focus on well-rounded learning. The school's public materials do not, however, publish a specific SEL curriculum, named SEL programme, or a dedicated SEL-team on its website or official pages.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

BISZ has advertised ELL/English Language Learning teacher roles for its Shenzhen campus, indicating the school employs staff for English-language support. However, the school does not publish a detailed, publicly available EAL programme description or policy on its official pages. For precise programme details (levels supported, class models, withdrawal or in-class support), contact the school's admissions or human-resources teams.

Mental Wellbeing

Public‑facing BASIS materials describe network-level health and wellness commitments and BISZ staff posts reference college‑counselling and student support roles, which indicate counselling and student‑support functions within the school. BASIS's network blog has discussed health and wellbeing measures and the Shenzhen campus has named college‑counseling staff in school communications. The school does not publish a detailed, standalone mental‑health programme or the full structure of its counselling team on its public pages, so for specifics you should contact the school directly.

Safeguarding

The school does not publicly disclose a standalone child‑protection or safeguarding policy on its publicly accessible pages that I could locate. BASIS International Schools publish network statements about health and safety, but a separate, published BISZ safeguarding / child‑protection policy or named Designated Safeguarding Lead for the Shenzhen campus was not found in the materials reviewed; please request the school's safeguarding policy directly for full details.

History

BASIS International School Shenzhen opened in 2015 as the first BASIS International School in China and the network's first overseas campus. It began in Shekou (Net Valley, Nanshan) with several hundred students and expanded to a full PreK–12 offering over the following years. The school is part of the BASIS Curriculum Schools network (the BASIS international / overseas operations that trace back to the founders Michael and Olga Block) and operates within that group's international school structure. In 2023 the campus moved to a new, purpose-built facility with additional classrooms, labs, performance spaces, and sports facilities.

Community

The school serves a multicultural student body and participates regularly in network and regional activities such as the BASIS International & Bilingual Schools China Athletic League (BIBS • CAL) and the network's speech & debate events, which bring together students from multiple BASIS campuses. Students also take part in external academic competitions (the network has reported qualifiers for events such as the World Scholar's Cup). The campus facilities (auditorium, theater, gymnasia, observatory and labs) are used for concerts, cultural fairs, athletic meets, and other community events that involve families and visiting schools.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)

BASIS network guidance and school communications indicate an active parent community; early-years guidance notes that parents are engaged in school life while campuses typically maintain a controlled access policy for classroom environments. Parent groups across the BASIS network commonly organize or support family events, classroom volunteering, parent-education workshops, and hospitality for open houses; at Shenzhen, parents have been visible as spectators and volunteers at network tournaments hosted on campus. Examples from the wider BASIS network include family teas and holiday/seasonal celebrations run with parent participation, and parents also assist with grade-level and schoolwide events. The exact PTA structure, elected officers, meeting cadence, and event calendar at the Shenzhen campus can change year to year; for the most current list of officers or to join volunteer efforts, please contact the school office or admissions team.

Admissions

1. Initial enquiry & online application. Expect an application fee and that the school will not process incomplete applications; third‑party directories list a small one‑time application/registration fee in the school's published fee schedule.

2. Gather and submit required documents. Typical documents requested include the student's passport (or ID), recent academic transcripts or school reports (usually the last two years), a copy of the birth certificate, up‑to‑date immunisation/health records, and one or two teacher/ school recommendations when applicable; some specialised scholarships or places also request a portfolio or test scores. Make sure official transcripts are translated and stamped if required by your child's current school because schools commonly require verifiable copies for grade‑placement decisions.

3. Age‑appropriate assessment and interview. BASIS schools typically run entrance assessments and an interview/observation as part of the selection process—early years applicants often have play‑based assessments or classroom observations, while older applicants take academic/English assessments and a face‑to‑face or virtual interview. For the school's scholarship rounds there is a clear two‑round process (document screening followed by student interview and multi‑disciplinary assessments), so expect formal testing for competitive places. Prepare your child by ensuring recent school work and any standardised test results (when requested) are available.

4. Offer, acceptance and seat deposit. If the school issues an offer you will be sent an Offer Letter or Acceptance that sets a deadline to accept and to pay a seat deposit or first‑year invoice; this payment secures the place and is frequently non‑refundable or refundable only under specified conditions. Read the offer package carefully for exact payment deadlines, refund conditions and whether the deposit is applied toward tuition; directories that aggregate BASIS Shenzhen's fees show a first‑year total that includes one‑time fees plus annual tuition, so budget for both.

5. Complete enrolment paperwork and final documentation. After deposit/payment the school will ask for originals (or certified copies) of key documents for verification — typically passport, original transcripts and health records — and will issue the final invoice and student ID/class assignment. If you are an expatriate family, confirm with admissions early about any additional certification or notarisation requirements (some schools require documents translated and notarised prior to acceptance). This step also includes selecting services such as school bus, lunch plans and extracurricular options which often carry separate charges.

6. Grade placement and programme orientation. The school will confirm the student's grade/stream after reviewing assessments and transcripts; BASIS schools often place emphasis on academic readiness and English proficiency when assigning the final class and any additional support classes. The school typically provides orientation materials or an orientation day in late August/early September so families know start dates, timetables and the uniform/kit lists — ask admissions for the exact dates for the intake year you are applying to.

7. If you are applying for a scholarship or selective award. Scholarship applications (when offered) commonly require a separate submission cycle: a scholarship application form, standardised test scores or English proficiency results, a short video or portfolio, two teacher recommendations and formal transcripts; shortlisted students are then assessed in a second round of interviews and tests. If you plan to apply for BASIS global or school scholarships, check the specific scholarship deadline and the list of required test scores (some scholarship rounds list TOEFL/Duolingo or SSAT score expectations).

8. Final confirmation and ongoing communication. After you accept an offer and pay the deposit, keep copies of all receipts and the signed enrolment agreement. If your family's arrival to Shenzhen is subject to visa timing or other logistics, keep admissions informed — schools commonly maintain waiting lists or reassign seats if deposits are not paid by the stated deadline, so confirm any deferral or late‑arrival policies with admissions in writing.

Scholarships

BASIS International School Shenzhen participates in merit‑based scholarship programmes (often branded as Global Excellence or school‑level awards) that are explicitly published in local school announcements and education portals. These scholarship rounds typically follow a two‑stage process: an initial materials submission (application form, official transcripts, standardised/English test scores where required, teacher recommendations, a short video and a portfolio of work) and a second‑round interview plus multi‑disciplinary assessment for shortlisted candidates. Award amounts published in local announcements have varied by year and by campus; examples from recent school announcements show multi‑year upper‑school scholarship packages calculated as the yearly tuition multiplied across the covered years (figures published for previous cycles include total scholarship values in the high‑hundreds of thousands to over one million CNY depending on year and campus). Parents should note that scholarship announcements also specify that recipients are normally responsible for additional charges (school meals, bus, exam fees, and other miscellaneous fees) unless the scholarship statement explicitly includes those items. If you want to pursue scholarship consideration, check the specific scholarship application deadline and required test scores (some rounds request TOEFL or Duolingo thresholds and optional SSAT results), collect the required documents listed above, and submit them to the admissions/scholarship contact by the stated deadline; the local announcements and portals list the exact submission requirements and deadlines for each cycle.

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Harrow International School Shenzhen

Instructs in English

Ages 2 - 18 years

Fees RMB 291,400 - 360,300

Pupils 900

Type Co-educational, Co-educational (boarding)

Harrow International School Shenzhen (Qianhai) is located in the Qianhai Cooperation Zone in Nanshan District and serves pupils aged 2 to 18; the Early Years Centre, Pre-Prep, Prep, Senior School and Sixth Form are all on the Qianhai campus. The school opened in October 2020 and the site is designed for a capacity of over 800 students on a campus of about 14,700 m². English is the language of instruction and the school follows the UK National Curriculum with Early Years Foundation Stage, IGCSE and A‑Level pathways. Fees for 2025/26 range from RMB 291,400 (Pre‑Nursery) to RMB 360,300 (Years 9–13); a facility deposit and assessment fee apply and boarding and bus services are available. Typical class sizes are reported as 16–24 pupils depending on year group (20 used here as a midpoint). The school offers regular and flexi boarding and a programme of co-curricular activities including arts, languages and outdoor awards.

Location

Harrow Shenzhen is located in the Qianhai Cooperation Zone, Nanshan District (No.39 KeChuang 6th St), Shenzhen — a short commute from the Shekou/Qianhai areas and with cross‑border business links toward Hong Kong.

Stages

The school serves pupils aged 2–18, organised as Early Years (2–5), Pre‑Prep (5–11), Prep (11–13), Senior (13–16) and Sixth Form (16–18).

Type

Harrow Shenzhen is a co‑educational day and boarding school offering boarding options (including flexi‑boarding) from upper primary/Year 5 through to Sixth Form.

Additional learning support

The school has a published SEND policy and a SEND Coordinator; support includes EAL programmes, small‑group literacy and maths support, dyslexia intervention, social‑skills work, access to a school psychologist and individual education plans (IEPs) where required.

Country affiliation

Harrow Shenzhen is part of the Harrow/AISL group and follows a British international curriculum linked to Harrow (UK) schools.

Religious affiliation

The school presents a values‑based ethos but does not state a religious affiliation on its website.

School day structure

According to the school FAQs, EYC pupils finish at about 15:00; Pre‑Prep and Upper School pupils finish at about 15:00 and then attend the Harrow Diploma Activities (HDA) programme, with the later day ending around 16:00. Boarding students follow a separate weekday routine with supervised study, activities and set lights‑out times.

Bus service

The school operates a multi‑route student bus service covering many residential areas in Shenzhen; routes (with estimated pickup/drop times) are published and adjusted each term to meet demand. Buses carry an on‑board escort and parents are expected to have children ready at the scheduled stop times.

Assessment fee and facility deposit
- Assessment fee: non-refundable, non-transferable; RMB 3,000 per application.
- Facility deposit: RMB 25,000; the school may use this deposit to offset amounts owed and refund is handled under the school's Terms and Conditions.

Tuition fees (per year and per term — RMB)
- Pre‑Nursery: Per year RMB 291,400. Term 1 RMB 116,560; Term 2 RMB 87,420; Term 3 RMB 87,420.
- Nursery: Per year RMB 301,300. Term 1 RMB 120,520; Term 2 RMB 90,390; Term 3 RMB 90,390.
- Reception: Per year RMB 301,300. Term 1 RMB 120,520; Term 2 RMB 90,390; Term 3 RMB 90,390.
- Year 1: Per year RMB 342,100. Term 1 RMB 136,840; Term 2 RMB 102,630; Term 3 RMB 102,630.
- Year 2: Per year RMB 342,100. Term 1 RMB 136,840; Term 2 RMB 102,630; Term 3 RMB 102,630.
- Year 3: Per year RMB 342,100. Term 1 RMB 136,840; Term 2 RMB 102,630; Term 3 RMB 102,630.
- Year 4: Per year RMB 342,100. Term 1 RMB 136,840; Term 2 RMB 102,630; Term 3 RMB 102,630.
- Year 5: Per year RMB 346,800. Term 1 RMB 138,720; Term 2 RMB 104,040; Term 3 RMB 104,040.
- Year 6: Per year RMB 346,800. Term 1 RMB 138,720; Term 2 RMB 104,040; Term 3 RMB 104,040.
- Year 7: Per year RMB 356,800. Term 1 RMB 142,720; Term 2 RMB 107,040; Term 3 RMB 107,040.
- Year 8: Per year RMB 356,800. Term 1 RMB 142,720; Term 2 RMB 107,040; Term 3 RMB 107,040.
- Year 9: Per year RMB 360,300. Term 1 RMB 144,120; Term 2 RMB 108,090; Term 3 RMB 108,090.
- Year 10: Per year RMB 360,300. Term 1 RMB 144,120; Term 2 RMB 108,090; Term 3 RMB 108,090.
- Year 11: Per year RMB 360,300. Term 1 RMB 144,120; Term 2 RMB 108,090; Term 3 RMB 108,090.
- Year 12: Per year RMB 360,300. Term 1 RMB 144,120; Term 2 RMB 108,090; Term 3 RMB 108,090.
- Year 13: Per year RMB 360,300. Term 1 RMB 144,120; Term 2 RMB 108,090; Term 3 RMB 108,090.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- The school offers payment in two instalments: the first instalment covers Term 1 tuition and applicable fees; the second instalment covers Term 2 and Term 3 tuition and service charges. Specific billing dates and invoices are issued according to the school's billing cycle. Late or outstanding sums are managed through the school's finance processes.

Boarding and other fees
- Boarding: regular full‑boarding fee per academic year RMB 119,800. Flexi‑boarding nights are charged per booked night by prorating the annual boarding fee plus 20% administration charge; amounts are settled no later than the end of each term.
- School bus: RMB 20,100 per school year (including tax).
- Uniform: parents purchase uniforms (school specifies supplier).
- Catering: charged on a consumption basis by vendor.
- Additional potential costs: textbooks, examinations, some extra‑curricular activities, expeditions, and trips.

Withdrawal and refunds
- Notice: one full term's written notice delivered to the Head is required for withdrawal, unless the school's Terms and Conditions state otherwise.
- Assessment fee is non‑refundable. Facility deposit refund and any other refunds are handled under the school's Terms and Conditions; the school may use the facility deposit to offset outstanding balances.

Fee payment contacts and invoicing
- Billing, invoicing and Fapiao are handled by the school Finance Department (accounts@harrowshenzhen.cn). The published fees page does not specify detailed payment channels (credit card, bank transfer) on the same page; the Finance Department can confirm permitted payment methods and required remittance details.

Boarding Arrangements

The school operates boarding in two houses: The Park for boys and The Grove for girls. Flexi Boarding is open to Years 5–13, with spaces allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and bed availability. Boarders receive meals and structured activities: breakfast Monday–Friday 7:00–7:30, dinner Sunday–Thursday 18:00–18:30, and evening activities Monday–Thursday 19:45–21:00, plus prep and academic support 17:00–19:30 and snacks; pastoral care is provided by a dedicated boarding team.

Uniform Requirement

The Uniform Policy is strict; students wear the standard school uniform and Harrow Hat to and from school. Students arriving in non-uniform clothing may be sent home to change; contact the School Operations department at HIS@harrowshenzhen.cn for more information.

Food Options

On-site canteens provide meals with healthy, well-balanced menus, and the menus accommodate dietary preferences. Boarding includes home-cooked style healthy meals with a diverse menu, catering to dietary preferences.

House System

Harrow Shenzhen uses a six-house system: Deng Xiao Ping House (Green), Curie House (Purple), Lyon House (Orange), Attenborough House (Red), Song Qing Ling House (Yellow), and Churchill House (Blue). All students belong to one House. Lower School Houses compete in events such as sports and singing, with pastoral care provided by Class Teachers and Heads of Phase; Upper School Houses form tutor groups led by Housemasters/mistress(es) with support from the Assistant Head and Head of School. The House system fosters a small-school atmosphere and provides a clear link between school and home.

Governance and Ownership

The school is part of AISL Harrow Schools, a group of Harrow-branded international and bilingual schools in Asia. The AISL group preserves the Harrow heritage and values and coordinates relationships among Harrow schools and Harrow London.

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

Harrow Shenzhen describes pastoral care as a structured, school-wide system that uses homerooms in the Lower School and a vertical House system and close personal tutoring in the Upper School to ensure each student is known and supported by staff. The House system creates cross-age “family” units with Housemasters/mistresses and tutors who monitor academic progress and provide pastoral guidance. The school runs focused activities and campaigns (for example Fellowship Week and anti‑bullying initiatives) to promote inclusion, peer support and respectful behaviour. Small class sizes and boarding pastoral routines are cited as part of the personalised support network for students.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Harrow Shenzhen lists staff with learning‑support and special‑education experience on its teacher pages (for example Krista Berry is listed as a Learning Support Teacher and Yaeliz Rabassa's bio notes a Master's in Special Education and prior Head of Inclusion roles). The school's admissions information asks parents of children with SEN to consult the school before applying and states explicitly that Harrow Shenzhen “does not have the facilities or faculty required to educate children with severe learning needs.” The website does not publish a dedicated Special Educational Needs policy or a comprehensive public list of specific conditions the school can support. Therefore, while the school employs staff with SEN experience and offers learning‑support provision, it is not presented as a specialist SEN institution.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

Harrow Shenzhen presents an EAL provision on its site (including a subject video) and lists a dedicated EAL team and leaders — for example an Upper School Head of EAL and several Upper School EAL teachers in the staff directory. Early Years phonics provision (Read Write Inc.) is described on the site and is noted as supporting young learners for whom English is an additional language. The school's pages describe targeted EAL teaching and specialist EAL staff rather than stating a single uniform programme for all year groups. If you need details about levels of support, assessments or class‑by‑class provision the school publishes a subject video and staff list but does not provide a single, detailed public EAL policy on the website.

Mental Wellbeing

The school names a Director of Care, Guidance and Support (Zaynah Lyons) whose profile lists counselling and psychology qualifications and wellbeing specialisms, indicating a senior role for student mental‑health support. Pastoral care, the House system and boarding routines are described as contributing to students' social and emotional support, and some staff hold mental‑health first‑aid training. Harrow Shenzhen also runs parent workshops addressing topics such as bullying and positive parenting, which form part of its wider wellbeing provision. The school materials emphasise pastoral and boarding structures rather than a separate public‑facing mental‑health policy document.

Safeguarding

Harrow Shenzhen states that safeguarding and child protection are central to school operations, with its policy aligned to UK legislation (the Children Acts 1989 and 2004) and international frameworks such as the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The site names the Designated Safeguarding Lead (Zaynah Lyons, Director of Care, Guidance and Support) and lists deputies William Mitchell and Natalie Dirkze, and gives an email contact for concerns (safeguarding@harrowshenzhen.cn). The school says the full Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy is available to parents via the Parent Portal. Visitor and campus safety guidance (photography, adult/child boundaries, ID badges) are published on the safeguarding page.

History

Harrow International School Shenzhen opened in 2020 as part of the AISL Harrow Schools network. It is operated by Asia International School Limited (AISL) and uses Harrow School's name and badge under a sub-licence from Harrow International Schools Limited. The campus was established to extend Harrow's traditions and values into the region and to participate in the group's regional programmes and events. The school's development has been carried out within the AISL governance and partnership framework since its founding.

Community

The Harrow Shenzhen community is active and event-driven: annual traditions such as the Long Ducker charity run bring together students, parents, staff and local participants (recent editions drew close to 1,000 participants). The school also takes part in AISL-wide academic and cultural exchanges, for example the Huasheng Cup Chinese–English debate tournament that involves multiple Harrow campuses. Parents and staff collaborate on seasonal and cultural events (including Christmas and Teacher's Day activities) and the school runs regular open events and community gatherings for families.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)

Harrow Shenzhen's parent organisation is called Friends of Harrow (FoH). FoH describes itself as a bridge for home–school communication and support: representatives work with school leaders, welcome new families, and coordinate parent volunteers. At Harrow Shenzhen FoH parents have supported school events such as the Long Ducker and seasonal performances, and have formed parent groups (a dance group and a choir) that perform alongside students and staff. FoH members also run activities intended to support staff (for example Teacher's Day acknowledgements), deliver parent-led talks or leadership/service sessions, and help organise fundraising and charity initiatives. The school has published FoH leadership names and committee announcements and FoH has been visibly involved in major social events such as the school's community Gala Ball.

Facilities Overview

The school operates as an international day and boarding school in Shenzhen, opened in October 2020. It has approximately 700 pupils from up to 20 countries and class sizes of 16–24. The campus spans about 14,700 square metres and provides facilities for Early Years through Sixth Form, including sports and leisure areas, a library, break-out spaces, canteens and lecture halls. Boarding is available.

Sports Facilities

The campus includes sports facilities as part of its holistic learning environment, with spaces for physical education and recreation integrated into the daily timetable.

Academic Facilities

There are comprehensive academic facilities across the school, including libraries and breakout spaces to support learning from Early Years to Sixth Form.

Extra Curricular Facilities

Enrichment and service activities are part of the Harrow education, anchored by Harrow values such as Courage, Honour, Humility and Fellowship.

Academic & Intellectual

Harrow Shenzhen offers Harrow Diploma Activities (HDA), an after-school program running from 3pm to 4pm daily, with over 210 activities. The program provides academic enrichment through the Super-Curriculum and includes leadership and service opportunities. The HDA features the LSA programme (student-led activities), leadership and service expeditions, the Shaftesbury Enterprise charity committee, community and service projects, the JASS Junior Achievement Award, the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award, house competitions, and student leadership roles.

Arts & Creative

Over 210 activities cover the performing, visual, and musical arts, as well as debate and public speaking, STEM, and the humanities and social sciences. Arts opportunities include music ensembles and theatre-related activities, integrated with the broader HDA. The programme supports creative work across visual and performing arts and public speaking.

Cultural & Language

Expedition Week fosters cross-cultural communication and global perspectives through service and cultural immersion activities. The school also hosts debates and public-speaking events as part of its co-curricular offerings.

Social & Hobbies

House competitions and events form a core part of the activities programme, encouraging teamwork and social engagement. A wide range of clubs and interest-based activities are available through Harrow Diploma Activities.

Community & Service

The activities programme includes the Shaftesbury Enterprise (Charity Committee), community and service projects, and the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award, alongside other service-oriented opportunities.

Leadership & Professional

Students participate in leadership roles through the Student Council and House Leaders, as well as the LSA framework and leadership expeditions. The programme emphasizes developing transferable leadership and service skills.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing

Sports and fitness are integral to the holistic approach, with facilities including an outdoor running track, a 7-a-side football pitch, an indoor sports hall, two fitness areas, a dance studio, a golf simulator, table tennis, a rooftop basketball court, and a 25-meter heated swimming pool. PE and sport are actively offered to nurture lifelong fitness and well-being.

Language Provision

The Early Years Centre adopts the EYFS of the English National Curriculum. Prep Phase includes English and Mandarin as core subjects. Senior Phase includes Languages as a subject. English language acquisition is supported for students whose first language is not English, with an additive approach that uses Mandarin to support English, and the schools are not English-only environments.

Bilingual Teaching

Mandarin is used to support English language learning. In Prep Phase, English and Mandarin are core subjects. An additive language approach strengthens Mandarin to support English learning. AISL Harrow Schools are not English-only environments, and immersive experiences in English and Mandarin are provided.

Immersion Programs

Immersive experiences in L1 and L2 are provided. Native Mandarin speakers scaffold learning and connect L1 concepts with L2 learning. Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) is implemented as a whole-school approach to promote English across the curriculum. A language-rich environment supports language development and classroom practice.

Awards

Harrow Shenzhen — School-level awards listed on the school website (past five years; school-level only)

- Forbes China International School — Top 100 (2025): inclusion in Forbes China's 2025 list of top international schools (ranked among the country's top 100 international schools). This is a school-level recognition appearing on the school's honours page.

- Kinglead China International School rankings (2025): multiple Kinglead rankings shown on the school site — Innovative Competitiveness (Top 9), Research Characteristics (Top 100), Leadership Characteristics (Top 10), and Mathematical Characteristics (Top 10). These are published ranking placements for the school.

- Forbes China — Foreign Passport School (Shenzhen) 2024 — Top 4: ranked by Forbes China among Shenzhen schools in the foreign-passport school category (school-level placement reported on the site).

- China Schools Awards 2023 — New School Award Finalist: the school is listed on the site as a finalist in the China Schools Awards 2023 New School category (finalist status is an institutional recognition).

- Forbes China Outstanding International Schools Awards / 2021 recognition: Harrow Shenzhen's 2021 Forbes China recognition and placement (No.21 in China, 2nd in Shenzhen) is recorded on the school website as an early external ranking/award the school received.

- AISL Harrow Chinese Debate Championship — Best Organization Award (Dec 2024): the school's event/participation page records Harrow Shenzhen winning the Best Organization Award at the AISL Harrow Chinese Debate Championship (an award given to the school for organisational contribution).

Notes and scope limits
- All items above are taken from Harrow Shenzhen's own website pages and news/honours listings; I have included only awards and recognitions that the school (not individual students or individual teachers) is shown as receiving. Where the site lists teacher awards or student competition results, those have been excluded as requested. The primary sources used are the school's accreditations announcement and the Honours/Awards pages.

Accreditations

Harrow Shenzhen — Accreditations (as stated on the school website)

- HMC (The Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference): membership of an association of leading UK independent schools; signifies recognition by a body associated with long-established independent-school standards and peer review.

- FOBISIA (Federation of British International Schools in Asia): regional membership for British-style international schools in Asia; indicates peer recognition, access to FOBISIA events and external review.

- TASS (The Alliance for Sustainable Schools): membership in a network focussing on sustainability in schools; shows the school has engaged with externally-recognised sustainability standards and practices.

- ACAMIS (Association of China and Mongolia International Schools): regional association for international schools in China and Mongolia; provides inter-school activities, benchmarking and professional exchanges.

- Cambridge International Examination Centre (CAIE) accreditation: officially authorised to deliver Cambridge IGCSE and related Cambridge programmes and examinations on site.

- Pearson Edexcel Examination Centre accreditation: authorised as a Pearson Edexcel exam centre to offer International GCSE (IGCSE) and International Advanced Level (IAL) qualifications.

- UCAS registration centre: registered with the UK Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, enabling direct access to UCAS processes and support for UK university applications.

- College Board & Common Application recognition: the school is registered with the College Board and supports applications via the Common App platform for US university admissions.

- SAT examination centre accreditation: authorised to operate SAT test sessions on campus, allowing students to sit the SAT at the school.

- LAMDA examination centre/recognition: authorised to offer LAMDA (speech, drama and communication) graded assessments on site.

- Duke of Edinburgh's Award (DofE) licensed organisation: licensed to run the Duke of Edinburgh's Award programme, allowing students to participate in DofE awards through the school.

- Member of the AISL Harrow family / part of Asia International School Limited (AISL): the school is part of the AISL group that operates Harrow-branded schools in Asia, which provides network support and shared governance.

Admissions

1. Harrow Shenzhen will only consider applications if there is space in the requested year group, so parents should confirm availability rather than assume an open place. The school publishes citizenship/residency eligibility rules (foreign passport or HK/Macau/Taiwan ID; for Chinese-passport holders at least one parent must have worked in Qianhai for more than 90 consecutive days and meet specified criteria).

2. Complete the online application and prepare documents: Complete the school's application form (the site links to the online application portal) and assemble required documents such as passports/ID, recent school reports or transcripts, and any certificate of residency/work in Qianhai for Chinese passport families. Parents should note an assessment fee is charged per application (see step 4) and that incomplete applications can delay assessment scheduling. If your child has additional learning needs, the school asks parents to consult Admissions first because the school is not resourced for severe learning needs.

3. Assessment fee and booking: For applicants invited to assessment, Harrow Shenzhen requires payment of an application/assessment fee (the site lists RMB 3,000 for assessments/applications in recent notices). Families should be ready to pay this promptly to confirm a scheduled assessment; any differing fees for specific entry years will be set out by Admissions at invitation. Payment methods are restricted (the school states all fees must be paid by bank remittance; cash is not accepted).

4. Assessment and interview: Once the application and documents are received, the school aims to schedule assessments and interviews within two weeks. Assessment format varies by year group: Pre-Nursery has a parent interview only, Nursery–Year 1 include student observation and parent interview, and Year 2+ include a computer-based assessment, student observation/interview and a parent interview — check the year-by-year table on the Admissions page for exact requirements. Families should prepare appropriate past-school reports, any standardized test results, and (for older applicants) evidence of curricular interests or portfolios where relevant.

5. Admissions outcome and timeframes: The school states that results are usually issued within one week of assessment and interview, though some cases may take longer; Admissions will notify families of the outcome and next steps. If offered a place, parents are required to sign confirmation documents and pay the facility deposit within five working days of the offer or the place may be offered to another applicant. Keep this deadline in mind when planning travel or overseas moves — a delayed response risks losing the offered place.

6. Deposit, fees and billing structure: The published fees page shows a non-refundable facility deposit (listed as RMB 25,000) and gives the tuition schedule for the 2025/26 academic year (tuition ranges by year group; for example, Pre‑Nursery and Reception figures are shown separately from Years 1–13). Harrow Shenzhen offers payment cycles and instalment options (for 2025/26 the school allows two instalments covering Term 1 and then Terms 2+3); confirm the current year's billing schedule with Finance. Additional identifiable charges include school bus, boarding and catering — the fees page lists the school bus and boarding annual charges and notes some charges (textbooks, trips, certain activities) are charged separately.

7. Siblings, discounts and other practicalities: The fees page lists sibling discounts (no discount for second child; 5% for third child, 10% for fourth, 15% for fifth+ when children attend concurrently) — check the exact conditions with Finance. Uniforms are purchased separately through appointed suppliers and the school requires a signed bus agreement before using bus services; boarding uses a separate billing arrangement and flexi-boarding is charged per night. Make arrangements early for bus routes, uniform orders and any boarding requirements to avoid delays at enrolment.

8. Final enrolment and records: After deposit/payment and returned confirmation paperwork, the school completes enrolment and will provide billing/invoice (fapiao) information through the Finance Department. If you later decide to withdraw, the published Terms and Conditions require a term's written notice to the Head; follow the school's specified notice and delivery methods. Keep copies of all bank remittances and the signed confirmation documents for your records.

9. When to contact Admissions: If you need to check vacancies, request special arrangements, or confirm assessment requirements for a particular year group or entry month (for example, Year 10/Year 12 subject-selection deadlines are published for specific intake cycles), contact the Admissions team directly — they run campus tours/Open Days and can add you to event registration or the WeChat admissions channel. The Admissions page lists the email and phone number for direct queries.

Scholarships

Harrow Shenzhen operates a Scholarship Programme and also offers means‑tested bursaries; information and application details are published on the school site. Merit-based scholarships are offered in categories such as Academic Excellence, Sports, Music and Drama; the merit scheme is described as providing targeted curricular enrichment and support rather than direct financial discounts for all merit awards (the school distinguishes merit support from full-cost scholarships). The scholarship application process requires a completed application form, supporting documents (transcripts, test scores, references, portfolios where appropriate), a personal statement (the school's guidance indicates 500–700 words for merit applications), and shortlisted candidates are invited to interview with the scholarship committee. In addition, AISL Harrow Scholarships (for example, the Y2025–27 Harrow scholarship round) have been run at Harrow Shenzhen/AISL Harrow and in at least one cycle included full scholarships covering tuition, boarding and examination fees for the two‑year A‑Level programme; check current availability, deadlines and selection criteria for the year you are applying. For means‑tested support, the school's bursary information indicates that all students may apply and that bursaries are intended to ensure talented students can attend irrespective of parental income. For precise application forms, deadlines and contact points (scholarship enquiries list a contact such as Angela Tai and the Scholarship page provides form downloads), contact the Admissions or Scholarship office and download the school's scholarship brochure from the admissions pages.

Waitlist

Harrow Shenzhen's public admissions pages do not publish a formal waiting‑list policy or a named ‘waiting list' procedure; instead the site emphasises that applications will only be considered where places are available and asks families to contact Admissions to check vacancies. Because the school does not publish a standard waiting‑list mechanism, parents who are willing to be held for a future vacancy should contact admissions@harrowshenzhen.cn to ask whether the school can retain their application or place them in any internal pool when no immediate place exists. If you need a formal waiting‑list placement or a position number for local administrative purposes, request explicit confirmation in writing from Admissions so you have a dated record of any agreement.

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International School of Nanshan Shenzhen

Instructs in English

Ages 2 - 19 years

Fees RMB 209,000 - 249,000

Pupils 750

Type Co-educational

The International School of Nanshan Shenzhen (ISNS) was established in 2002 and is located at 11 Longyuan Road in Nanshan District; the school moved to its current campus on the south side of Tanglang Mountain in 2016 (campus area ~15,000 sqm). ISNS offers the full IB continuum (PYP, MYP and DP) and also operates under New Brunswick (Canada) accreditation so students in senior years may earn a New Brunswick diploma alongside IB options. The early years programme covers ages 2–5 and the Diploma Programme is described for students aged 16–19. The campus lists indoor and outdoor sports facilities, art studios and two libraries, and the school publishes its annual tuition schedule (K3–K5 to G11–G12) on the website. ISNS runs an optional school-bus service with multiple routes across Shenzhen.

Location

ISNS is located in Nanshan District on Longyuan Road in the Taoyuan (Taoyuan Sub‑District) area of Shenzhen; the full address is 11 Longyuan Road, Taoyuan Sub‑District, Nanshan District, Shenzhen 518055. The campus sits on the south side of Tanglang (Tanglangshan) Mountain and is within reach of major Nanshan neighbourhoods and business areas served by the school's bus routes. Traffic and drop‑off rules are detailed by the school and the campus opens at 7:40 each weekday; parents usually use private drop‑off or the school bus routes for connections to Futian, Shekou, Bao'an and Luohu.

Stages

ISNS is an IB continuum school: Early Years (K2–K5), Primary Years Programme (Grade 1–Grade 5), Middle Years Programme (Grade 6–Grade 10) and the IB Diploma Programme (Grades 11–12). The website lists these programme groupings and grade ranges.

Type

ISNS is a co‑educational international day school that delivers an English‑based Canadian curriculum within the IB framework (IB PYP, MYP and DP) and issues a New Brunswick (Canada) high‑school diploma alongside IB options. The campus includes a faculty/residence building but the school does not provide student boarding or on‑campus accommodation.

Additional learning support

ISNS operates a Student Support Team (Head of Student Support, learning‑support teachers, EAL team and counsellors) and provides counselling, EAL and differentiated learning support; it uses an Inclusion Policy and individual support plans when appropriate. The school's Learning Support policy states it cannot accommodate students whose needs require significant full‑time one‑to‑one support and admissions for students with exceptionalities are assessed case‑by‑case.

Country affiliation

ISNS has an official affiliation with Canada: it is accredited by the New Brunswick Department of Education and offers a Canadian (New Brunswick) high‑school diploma in addition to the IB Diploma.

Religious affiliation

The school is secular; there is no religious affiliation listed on the school's official pages.

School day structure

The campus opens at 7:40 each weekday. Primary students must be in homeroom by 8:10 AM (Grades 1–5); middle and high school students must be in homeroom by 8:00 AM; PYP dismissal is 3:20 PM and MYP/DP dismissal is 3:30 PM, with school buses departing about 3:45 PM (Wednesdays have earlier dismissal times). The Early Years timetable is more flexible (snacks, lunch ~11:45 AM, naps for some groups).

Bus service

ISNS operates an optional school bus service with multiple routes across Shenzhen (the site lists routes serving Futian, Shekou, Nantou, OCT, Shenzhen Bay, Civic Center/Huanggang, Luohu, Science Park, Taikoo City and Bao'an CBD). Buses have a monitor on each vehicle; the school posts bus rules, fee and refund procedures, and runs at least one evacuation drill per semester. Parents can contact the bus coordinator at bus@isnsz.com or phone the school for route and registration details.

Application and Registration Fees

- Application fee (one‑time, non‑refundable): RMB 2,500.
- Registration fee for newly admitted students (one‑time, non‑refundable): RMB 50,000. Sibling discount on registration fee: 50% for siblings of currently enrolled students.

Tuition fees (annual) — 2025–2026 academic year

- Early Years / Kindergarten (K3–K5): RMB 212,000 per year.
- Primary (Grades 1–5): RMB 239,000 per year.
- Middle School (Grades 6–10): RMB 259,000 per year.
- Senior School / Diploma (Grades 11–12): RMB 264,000 per year.

Tuition per term (calculation/inference)

- The school states there are two semesters and tuition is paid annually; therefore a single term amount can be calculated as half of the annual tuition. Using that method:
- K3–K5 per term: RMB 106,000.
- G1–G5 per term: RMB 119,500.
- G6–G10 per term: RMB 129,500.
- G11–G12 per term: RMB 132,000.
(These per‑term figures are derived by dividing the annual tuition by two because tuition is invoiced on an annual basis.)

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Number of semesters: two per academic year; tuition is invoiced on an annual basis. Late payment penalty: 1% of total fees per week for overdue payments. Payer is responsible for any bank charges. All payments must be made by the due date shown on the individual student payment details. Students may not be guaranteed placement or allowed to attend classes if fees are not paid in full; reports/transcripts may be withheld.

Bank / payment details and accepted payment methods

- Bank transfer details and the school's Bank of China account information are published by the school for fee remittance. The school requests that bank transfer references include the student number and the student's full English name. Payers should expect to bear bank charges.
- Accepted payment methods noted by the school: bank transfer, debit card, or cash. (Bank transfer is the preferred method for families outside Shenzhen.) Credit‑card acceptance is not specified in the published fee information.

Deposit / re‑enrolment fee

- The school refers to a deposit fee (an annual payment) used to secure placement for current students for the following academic year; this deposit is non‑refundable and, when the remaining tuition is paid, it is included with the tuition invoice. (Exact deposit amounts for 2025–2026 are handled through the school's admissions/finance correspondence.)

Optional / other fees and typical additional costs

- School bus (optional): RMB 14,000 per year (routes include Futian, Nanshan, Luohu and Bao'an—based on availability). Bus registration and refunds are governed by the school bus policy.
- Lunch / cafeteria: Early Years (K3–K5) lunches and snacks are included in tuition. G1–G12 students use a smartcard to pay for cafeteria meals; typical meal cost is around RMB 39 per meal. Families can also provide packed lunches.
- Uniforms: All students are required to wear the school uniform; uniforms are purchased through the school's designated vendor/channel. Costs vary by item and must be purchased before the student's first day.
- Devices / IT: School‑owned iPads/laptops are provided in early primary grades; the school operates a one‑to‑one MacBook programme from Grade 8–12. Families may purchase devices through the school vendor (discounts may be available) or through outside vendors; device costs vary.
- Extra‑curricular activities, trips and course‑specific charges: additional fees may apply for bus, extracurricular clubs, athletics, certain arts/music activities, international trips (EOTC / Week Without Walls) and other optional programmes. Passport/visa requirements apply for international trips.

Boarding

- ISNS does not provide on‑campus boarding accommodation.

Refund policy (high‑level summary)

- The school publishes a refund framework that links refund amounts to the date of written withdrawal notice; typical terms include full refunds (less deposit/registration) if withdrawal is notified by an early deadline, reduced refunds during later pre‑start periods, and no refund after the first day of the school year. Specific percentage reductions and date thresholds are set in the school's published refund policy and on fee schedules. (Please note the school's published fee documents include the detailed refund schedule and the required withdrawal notification email address.)

Discounts and credits

- Sibling discount on the registration fee (50% for siblings of current students) and a loyalty discount (3% for students entering their fifth consecutive year) are specified in the school's fee policy. Scholarship and bursary credits may apply when awarded; scholarships/bursaries are applied as tuition credit for the stated academic year.

Notes on figures and calculation

- Annual tuition figures above are published for the 2025–2026 academic year by the school and in fee‑compilation sources; the school's fee policy indicates tuition is invoiced annually, so per‑term figures shown here are simple halves of the annual totals (calculated for your convenience).

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

ISNS delivers SEL primarily through its Counselling program and the broader Student Support Team, which provide classroom guidance lessons and individual and small-group counselling for social and emotional needs. The school aligns SEL with the IB Learner Profile and Approaches to Learning, embedding social-emotional development into curriculum planning and classroom practice. Counsellors collaborate with teachers and parents and make referrals to other school support services or external resources when needed.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)

ISNS operates a Learning Support (Inclusion) policy managed by a Student Support Team that includes a Head of Student Support and Learning Support teachers who work with teachers and parents to identify and plan for student exceptionalities. The school states it cannot accommodate students who require significant, intensive support and that admissions decisions for students with known needs are made case-by-case with review of professional reports. Support covers a range of learning and social–emotional difficulties through individualized plans, MTSS reviews, classroom differentiation and, when appropriate, external assessments or recommendations. ISNS is not a specialist SEN institution.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

ISNS runs a published EAL programme: non-native English speakers are assessed at admission (MAP or Cambridge ESOL for Grades 2–10) and minimum proficiency thresholds are set for entry to higher grade levels (for example Grade 9 B1, Grade 10 B2). EAL support is provided mainly in the PYP through collaboration/co‑teaching between EAL and homeroom teachers, and levels of support vary by need. The school notes it can provide basic to moderate EAL support but may not be able to meet intensive EAL or highly specialised language intervention needs; students in Grade 6 and above are expected to function in mainstream classes with limited additional support.

Mental Wellbeing

ISNS states it employs a full‑time counsellor for the PYP and a full‑time counsellor for MYP/DP and provides services aimed at social, emotional and academic support. The PYP counselling programme includes classroom guidance lessons plus individual and small‑group counselling for issues such as friendship, anger management and grief. Counsellors consult and collaborate with parents and teachers and refer students to other school support services or community professionals when required.

Safeguarding

ISNS publishes a Child Protection Policy and Code of Conduct that applies to all faculty, staff, volunteers and others interacting with children and sets expectations about maintaining physical, emotional and sexual boundaries. The policy states the school's commitment to student safety and details responsibilities for appropriate conduct and awareness of vulnerability when working alone with children.

History

ISNS was founded in 2002 through a partnership involving the Government of Canada, the Province of New Brunswick and Dr. Francis Pang. The school was established to deliver a Canadian (New Brunswick) curriculum within an international/IB framework and remains affiliated with the New Brunswick Department of Education. ISNS became an IB World School offering the Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma Programmes in August 2016. The school also notes affiliations with UNESCO and ACAMIS and serves as an authorized exam centre for SAT and Cambridge assessments.

Community

ISNS describes a deliberately international community that, as noted on the school site, includes students from more than 30 nationalities. The school promotes parent, student and faculty involvement through school-wide events, service opportunities and academic workshops and publishes local news and stories about community life. ISNS has hosted and supported cultural and music events—its site references activities such as the Shenzhen Bay Music Festival alongside regular school festivals and fairs.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)

Every ISNS parent is a member of the Parent Association (PA), and the school notes that PA volunteers organise activities, events and fundraisers throughout the year. The PA's stated goals include supporting students' development, providing channels of communication between parents and the school, offering social and educational activities beyond the classroom, building positive parent–teacher relationships, and assisting new families. Typical PA-supported events listed on the site include Halloween and Christmas decorating, Chinese Culture Week activities and food, the International Fair, support for music and arts events, Children's Day gifts, graduation ceremonies and a teacher appreciation breakfast. The PA raises funds in part by selling ISNS PA merchandise and is organised with a Board of Directors and grade-level parent representatives. Parents are invited to contribute at varying levels of involvement; the school explicitly welcomes both small and larger contributions of time and talent.

Facilities Overview

The campus consists of a separate early years building, a main school building, and a residence building. All classrooms have wireless connectivity and interactive learning resources. The campus includes a 300-seat auditorium, a VR lab, design workshops, and multiple science laboratories. There are indoor and outdoor sports facilities, two independent libraries, as well as theatre, performance and chorus rehearsal rooms, visual arts classrooms, a photography darkroom and an art gallery for student works. Students in K2 to Grade 3 use iPads in the classroom; students in Grades 4 and 5 have one-to-one MacBooks; students in Grade 6 and 7 are provided with an Apple laptop for use during school and at home.

Sports Facilities

The athletics facilities include a 200-meter outdoor track, a soccer field, a fitness center, a spacious indoor gymnasium and a multi-purpose outdoor court. An EY gym is available for early years. The campus map highlights the gymnasium and the fitness room as part of the sports facilities.

Academic Facilities

The ISNS campus offers a state-of-the-art environment with a 300-seat auditorium, VR room, design workshop spaces, and multiple science laboratories. There are separate libraries for the early years and the main school, theatre and chorus spaces, a photography darkroom, and visual arts classrooms. Classrooms are wireless-enabled with interactive technology resources to support learning across IB programmes.

Extra Curricular Facilities

ISNS offers more than 150 after-school activities each semester. The program covers hobbies, social services, financial and business courses, English debate, science, programming, drones, chorus, band, Chinese ensemble, art clubs, yearbook, football, volleyball, rugby, basketball and yoga for children.

Language Provision

ISNS is an IB World School delivering the full IB continuum: Early Years (K2–K5), Primary Years Programme (Grade 1–Grade 5), Middle Years Programme (Grade 6–Grade 10), and the Diploma Programme (Grade 11–12). Languages used in the school include English as the language of instruction (with English as an Additional Language, Language A and Language B), Mandarin as the host country language (Language and Literature and Language Acquisition), and French as a Language B option; other languages spoken include Cantonese, Korean, Japanese, Russian, Farsi, Dutch, Hindi, Urdu, Norwegian, Romanian, Italian, German, Malay, and more. ISNS emphasizes language development across all teachers, collects Home Language Survey data at enrollment, supports mother-tongue development, offers EAL support primarily for Grades 1–5, and maintains a multilingual, inclusive environment across the playground, library and social areas. In the Diploma Programme, Grades 11 and 12, ISNS offers the full IB Diploma Programme or the IB Programme with a New Brunswick Diploma, with language requirements including a Language A course and an additional language, and encouragement to study three languages.

Immersion Programs

ISNS emphasizes English immersion with English as the language of instruction. In the Middle Years Programme, English is used as the language of instruction across most classes to provide constant exposure to English, while Mandarin and French are taught as separate languages.

Awards

I searched ISNS's public website for school‑level awards or rankings in the period Jan 1, 2021–Jan 1, 2026 (the past five years). The only school‑level external recognition explicitly posted on the ISNS website during that period is:

1) Forbes China — ISNS named in the 2025 Forbes China International School Rankings (ranked #8 nationwide and #1 in Shenzhen; also noted as Top 10 in Foreign Student Middle School Programs across China). This is a published external ranking reported on ISNS's news section; the school presents it as a recognition of its overall standing in the 2025 Forbes rankings.

Summary of search result and scope limitation: ISNS's website contains many news items, event reports and items about student awards and competition results, but those relate to students or to events hosted by the school; they are not presented on the site as awards conferred on the school as an institution. Within the 2021–2026 window and based on the content publicly posted on ISNS's website, I found only the 2025 Forbes China ranking as a school‑level award/recognition. (If you would like, I can broaden the search to external sources beyond the ISNS site to look for other school awards or recognitions not posted to the school website.)

Accreditations

Below are the accreditations, authorizations and formal memberships ISNS lists on its website, with a one-line explanation of each and its significance.

1) International Baccalaureate (IB) — Authorization for PYP, MYP and DP: ISNS is an IB World School offering the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP). The IB authorization means the school has completed the IB's authorization process and is subject to regular IB evaluation to confirm it meets the IB's programme standards and practices.

2) New Brunswick (Canada) affiliation / New Brunswick high‑school diploma: ISNS states it is accredited by the New Brunswick Department of Education (through Atlantic Education International), which allows ISNS to deliver the New Brunswick curriculum and award a New Brunswick high‑school diploma to students who meet the provincial requirements. This affiliation means the school follows a recognized Canadian provincial curriculum and its graduates may receive a Canadian provincial diploma.

3) Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) — Candidate School status: ISNS's FAQ and other pages say the school holds WASC candidate status. Candidate status indicates the school is in the WASC accreditation process; WASC accreditation (or candidacy) is a multi‑step peer review that validates a school's quality and supports continuous improvement.

4) Council of International Schools (CIS) — membership: ISNS describes itself as a CIS member (the site's homepage references CIS). CIS membership (and, for some schools, CIS accreditation) connects schools to an international membership and, where accreditation is achieved, represents a rigorous school‑wide evaluation against international standards of practice. (ISNS's site describes CIS membership rather than explicitly stating a completed CIS accreditation process.)

5) Cambridge Assessment — exam centre designation (Cambridge Assessment/ Cambridge English/Cambridge International): ISNS identifies itself as a Cambridge Assessment centre (an examining site for Cambridge exams) and an SAT exam site. Being an approved Cambridge exam centre means the school is authorized to administer Cambridge assessments on site; it is not the same as curricular accreditation but does allow students to sit Cambridge/English examinations at the school.

Notes on wording and scope: all items above are taken from ISNS's own website; where the site uses terms such as “accredited,” “candidate” or “member,” I have noted whether that indicates full accreditation, candidacy, or membership and provided an authoritative one‑line description of what that status generally means (linked to the relevant issuing organisation).

Admissions

1. Before you start the online form you should prepare electronic copies of required documents: the student's birth certificate, student passport with visa or HK/Macau/Taiwan ID, parents' passports, a recent passport photo, health/vaccination records, and school transcripts/report cards for the last three years (G1–G12). If your child has learning or medical needs, gather any psycho‑educational reports or medical records now, because ISNS requires these at application and will assess support needs on an individual basis.

2. Complete the online application (OpenApply) — All applications must be submitted through ISNS's OpenApply system (isns.openapply.cn); paper applications are not accepted. Upload the files listed above and follow the OpenApply guidance (the school notes admissions files cannot be processed and students cannot be placed on waiting lists until all required materials are uploaded). If you are unsure of the correct year level, use the school's age/year equivalency guidance before submitting.

3. Admissions review — After submission the Admissions Committee reviews the application against ISNS criteria: age, space availability, English proficiency, prior school records, extracurricular/community involvement, and any IB experience. The committee may request confidential references, further documentation, or decide whether the student should proceed to assessment/interview. The review time varies by time of year and class availability; applications received after April 1 are usually considered for the following academic year.

4. Pay the application fee — A non‑refundable application fee of RMB 2,500 is required; payment can usually be made by bank transfer, debit card or cash and is typically paid at the time of assessment/screening (families outside Shenzhen can pay by bank transfer). The school will not proceed with assessments or confirm placement until the fee and required documents are received. Keep the payment confirmation and include the student's full English name and student number on transfer notes.

5. Assessment and interview — Candidates may be invited for an English language assessment (Grades 2–10 must meet minimum score thresholds appropriate to the grade), and ISNS may also administer mathematics and Mandarin assessments for placement. Interviews are scheduled after assessments and usually take place in person with Admissions, the Head of School, Principal, or relevant IB coordinator; assessments/interviews may be conducted online when needed. ISNS treats assessment materials as school property (parents are not entitled to originals or copies), and placement decisions follow the interview/assessment results.

6. Offer and enrolment — If a place is offered, the family will be notified and given a limited period to accept; certain fees (registration/deposit) become payable at acceptance and secure the student's place. ISNS charges a non‑refundable registration fee (one‑time) that secures the seat — the school's published schedule shows the registration fee and the tuition levels by grade. Note that acceptance does not guarantee enrollment beyond the initial year; continued enrollment depends on satisfactory progress, behaviour and space. For any offer-related questions, confirm specifics and payment deadlines directly with Admissions.

Scholarships

ISNS offers scholarships and bursaries for both current students and prospective applicants; selection is by a Scholarship Committee and may include student interviews. The school states it has up to RMB 3,000,000 available across its bursary and scholarship programs; awards are applied as credits to tuition for the stated academic year and are not cash payments. For 2025–2026 ISNS has (a) Primary scholarships (examples listed on the site include Learner Profile, Growth in Approaches to Learning, and Action scholarships — each RMB 10,000), (b) Secondary scholarships, (c) full‑ride scholarships for Grades 9–12 (the site notes internal and external applicants can apply), and (d) bursaries for families demonstrating financial need with supporting documents and interview. The school's site shows the 2025–2026 scholarship and bursary application window as 19 January to 1 March 2026; the full‑ride awards for 2025–2026 were reported as filled, and families are advised to monitor the ISNS website or contact Admissions for the next cycle and for application guides. Applications for scholarships/bursaries are submitted via the OpenApply system; contact admissions@isnsz.com or +86 755 2666 1000 for questions.

Waitlist

ISNS operates a rolling admissions model and maintains waiting lists when classes are full. Class size limits are stated (K3–K5: 18 students; Grade 1: 20; Grade 2 and above: 24). If a student is accepted but there is no space in the requested class, the child is placed on a waiting list in chronological order by date of completed application; priority on the list is given to returning ISNS students (alumni), siblings of currently enrolled students, and children of ISNS employees. Because placement is both space‑ and timing‑dependent, parents should confirm the student's position with Admissions and keep documentation current.

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King's Kindergarten Shenzhen Futian

Instructs in English, Mandarin

Ages 2 - 6 years

Fees RMB 273,600

Type Co-educational

King's Kindergarten Shenzhen Futian is a bilingual international kindergarten serving 2- to 6-year-olds. The campus is located in Xiangmihu, Futian District, Shenzhen, on Jingtian North 5th Street. The school delivers the IB PYP curriculum through immersion in Chinese and English, with One Teacher One Language guiding language development. Learning is organized around six transdisciplinary themes, including knowing ourselves, expressing ourselves, and organizing ourselves, and is aligned with local education content to LEAD culture. The approach is child-centered, encouraging independent thinking, curiosity, and cross-cultural communication. Curriculum areas include language development, mathematical thinking, science, health, art, and social-emotional growth. Facilities cover a 4000-square-meter site with a 2500-square-meter outdoor playground and a modern indoor building exceeding 8000 square meters. Specialized spaces include a library, Children's Theatre, Creative Art World, STEAM Science Museum and Fun Food Studio, supporting inquiry, creativity, and hands-on discovery. The campus also emphasizes safety, outdoor exploration, and collaborative learning everyday.

Location

Jingtian North 5th Street, Futian District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China. The campus is in the Xiangmihu area, a quiet district surrounded by high-end residential buildings, on a 4,000-square-meter site with a 2,500-square-meter outdoor playground.

Stages

2 to 6-year-old preschool children

Type

bilingual international kindergarten

School day structure

Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:10 p.m.; after-care after 4:10 p.m.; winter and summer holidays in accordance with local education bureau regulations.

Application fee
- The school does not publish a separately listed non‑refundable application fee amount on its public admissions pages; online applications are submitted via the school's OpenApply registration system.

Tuition fees (by year group and per term)
- The school's registered full‑day tuition (保教费) is charged on a per‑month basis: RMB 22,800 per month (full‑day tuition rate as filed). This monthly figure is the school's recorded full‑day tuition charge.
- There is no separate published breakdown by individual age group (金宝班/小小班/小班/中班/大班) or by academic term available in the school's public fee filings; the recorded fee appears as a single full‑day monthly rate.

Other recorded tuition‑related charges and one‑off items
- Historical fee filing entries for the school list additional items that are commonly charged (these items have appeared in the school's official fee filing records):
- Service‑type (optional) charges: RMB 1,200.
- Meal (伙食费): RMB 680 per month.
- After‑care /托管 fee: RMB 200 per hour.
- One‑off costs for clothing and bedding: uniform, bedding and backpack combined reported as RMB 3,046 (one‑off package).
- Extracurricular/outings and special‑event fees are recorded as charged “按实结算” (charged as‑incurred and settled), and may be billed separately from the保教费.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- The school's official fee filing records present the保教费 as a monthly charge (RMB 22,800 per month), which indicates a monthly tuition unit is used in official documentation. Specific published term‑level or annual invoices, payment deadlines, early‑payment discounts, or precise penalty terms are not published in the school's public fee filing entries. Parents should expect billing to reference the monthly保教费 amount.

Boarding fees
- Boarding is not applicable. The school is a full‑time day kindergarten (no boarding program is offered).

Other costs or fees (summary)
- Meals: listed historically at RMB 680 per month (may be included or invoiced separately depending on the service arrangement).
- After‑care (托管) / extended‑hours fees: listed historically at RMB 200 per hour.
- Service‑type optional fees: listed historically at RMB 1,200.
- One‑off starter package (uniform, bedding, backpack): RMB 3,046 (one‑off).
- Outings, external providers' activities, trips and special programmes: charged as incurred (按实结算).

Refund information
- No detailed public fee‑refund policy or itemized refund schedule is available in the school's public fee filings. Applicable national and local regulations govern kindergarten fee collection and refund practices; specific refund rules for deposits, pro‑rata term refunds, or cancellation penalties are not published in the school's publicly posted fee entries.

Fee payment options
- The school's public admissions pages direct families to apply via the OpenApply registration system; the school has not published a definitive list of accepted payment methods (for example, which credit cards are accepted, or whether the school accepts direct international card payments). No explicit bank account, card or online‑payment instructions are published in the school's public fee filing summaries.

Service hours (context for billing/meal items)
- The school operates full‑day sessions; published service hours reference a full‑day timetable (for example, standard day service hours are shown for the school). Specific after‑care fees are indicated as available by inquiry.

Summary of available fee figures and limitations found
- The clearest published fee figure is the official full‑day tuition filing presented as RMB 22,800 per month (保教费元/月).
- A prior detailed filing (2020) recorded a different monthly保教费 level and provided line items for service fees, meal fees, after‑care hourly rates and one‑off starter package costs; those line items remain useful as examples of fee types charged by the school, but the most recent official monthly保教费 filing shows RMB 22,800 per month.
- Specific per‑age‑group, per‑term or per‑semester published fee tables for the 2026/27 academic year are not available in the school's public fee filings; the official filings present the保教费 as a monthly rate.

Uniform Requirement

Monday: uniform; Tue-Thu: sportswear; Friday: casual dress.

Food Options

Two meals are provided, including breakfast, fruit refreshments, lunch and afternoon tea. A scientifically healthy and nutritious diet is provided with food safety prioritized, with standardized processes from procurement to serving.

Governance and Ownership

G30 Project Ltd is the global parent entity.

Curriculum

World-renowned international curriculum with immersive bilingual interaction and interdisciplinary inquiry. One Teacher One Language provides immersion learning with Chinese and English teachers guiding language development. Learning is organized around six transdisciplinary themes (knowing ourselves, expressing ourselves, organizing ourselves, etc.) and integrated with local government education content to LEAD culture. A child-centred approach encourages independent thinking, curiosity and cross-cultural communication, with learning focusing on language development, mathematical thinking, scientific education, health education, art education, and social-emotional growth.

Student Teacher Ratio

King's Baby and Pre-K classes have a T-S ratio of 1:3 (with five teachers per class). K1, K2, and K3 classes have a T-S ratio of 1:5 (with four teachers per class).

Gifted and Talented

Enrichment Curriculum provides opportunities for self-exploration and leadership beyond regular courses, including Community Practice, Special Events, Let's Play, and Dietary and Nutritional Education.

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

The school respects the differences of each child, tailors teaching to each child's aptitude, and supports healthy growth.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

The school uses immersive bilingual interaction as part of its teaching approach.

Safeguarding

The school provides 24-hour HD monitoring, 24-hour professional security, and a facial recognition control system.

History

King's kindergarten, Futian District, Shenzhen, is located in the quiet and unique area of Xiangmihu. Covering 4000 square meters, it has an outdoor playground of 2500 square meters and an indoor building area of more than 8000 square meters. The kindergarten serves 2- to 6-year-old preschool children and is planned to officially open in September 2020, delivering a bilingual international curriculum through immersive bilingual interaction and interdisciplinary inquiry.

Community

King's Kindergarten aims to build an equal, open, diverse and enthusiastic learning community where the interaction of learning and teaching nurtures children to grow into creative, happy, intercultural communicators who are understanding and cooperative lifelong learners. The school seeks strategic partnerships with parents and emphasizes a learning environment rooted in Chinese local culture while integrating international courses and multicultural values. It supports inquiry-based learning and collaborative relationships within the school community.

Facilities Overview

Outdoor playground integrated with the adjacent park landscape features a slide, climbing rope and net, a natural sand area, hills and a changing wall. The playground equipment is TÜV-certified and meets high safety standards. Bright, warm classrooms have large windows and clearly defined learning areas. There are specialized spaces for reading, theatre, art, science and culinary education, including a library, Children's Theatre, Creative Art World, STEAM Science Museum and Fun Food Studio.

Sports Facilities

Outdoor playground provides opportunities to develop sports skills, balance and coordination, with a semi-enclosed design that connects to the surrounding park landscape. Equipment safety is ensured by TÜV certification and ongoing safety standards.

Academic Facilities

Bright, elegant classrooms with large windows and defined learning zones support active exploration. The school offers dedicated spaces for learning beyond the classroom, including a Library, Children's Theatre, Creative Art World, STEAM Science Museum and Fun Food Studio.

Extra Curricular Facilities

Children's Theatre serves as a platform for performance, with various forms of performance held. The Fun Food Studio supports culinary education, offering interdisciplinary activities. The STEAM Science Museum provides hands-on science exploration for young learners.

Academic & Intellectual

The school uses an internationally renowned education curriculum that centers on inquiry-based, child-centered learning. It integrates six transdisciplinary themes, including knowing ourselves, expressing ourselves, and organizing ourselves, with local curriculum requirements to guide development. It fosters cross-cultural communicative ability, cooperative spirit, and lifelong learning.

Arts & Creative

Art Education uses a full immersion art atmosphere to develop appreciation of beauty and artistic expression in the learning space. It supports children in exploring creativity as part of their learning experience. Art is integrated into the learning environment to foster creative thinking.

Cultural & Language

One Teacher One Language creates a natural immersion environment with separate language instruction for Chinese and English. Chinese and English teachers collaborate to guide language learning and integrate language into daily learning. Language Development emphasizes bilingual interactions, listening, communication, and expressing opinions.

Social & Hobbies

The enrichment curriculum emphasizes children's self-exploration and leadership as part of growth beyond regular courses. Community Practice offers visits to community organizations to understand social labor divisions and cultivate social service awareness. Special Events foster cultural awareness through festivals, games, music, and creation. Let's Play provides unlimited free exploration opportunities during which children can choose activities and spaces to explore.

Community & Service

Community Practice provides opportunities to visit community organizations such as banks, supermarkets, fire control centers, and museums to understand social labor divisions and cultivate social service awareness. The program emphasizes real-world learning by exposing children to local institutions and civic contexts. Through these experiences, children begin to connect classroom learning with their communities.

Leadership & Professional

The enrichment curriculum enables children to demonstrate leadership, innovation, and cooperative spirit beyond regular courses. These experiences occur through community practice, special events, and collaborative activities that build teamwork and problem-solving skills. The program encourages students to take initiative and collaborate with peers to develop practical skills.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing

Health Education promotes a healthy lifestyle, personal hygiene, self-protection, and active participation in physical activity. Dietary and Nutritional Education teaches life skills through planting, baking, sharing meals, and exploring different food cultures to develop healthy eating habits. The program supports wellbeing through structured health activities and mindful routines.

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Shenzhen College of International Education

Instructs in English

Ages 14 - 18 years

Fees RMB 273,000 - 303,000

Pupils 1800

Type Co-educational (boarding)

Shenzhen College of International Education (SCIE) is an international four‑year high school founded in 2003 and now located at a purpose‑built Antuoshan (Antuo Hill) campus in Futian. SCIE delivers Cambridge IGCSE in the first two years (G1–G2) and A‑level (with an AP pathway option) in the final two years (A1–A2). The Antuoshan campus (opened in 2020) includes teaching blocks, science laboratories, an arts theatre and dedicated arts spaces, sports facilities and boarding houses; the school also publishes extensive university admissions results for graduating cohorts. Admissions and course information, subject lists (including Chinese, English, French, Japanese and Spanish), and current tuition figures are published on the school website.

Location

SCIE is on a purpose-built campus at No. 3 Antuoshan 6th Road, Futian District, Shenzhen (postcode shown on the school site). The campus moved to Antuo Hill in 2020 and sits in central Futian, close to the city's business district; local public transport options include Shenzhen's metro (Longhua Line to Fumin Station) and several city bus routes near Huanggang Park.

Stages

SCIE is a four‑year international high school: G1 and G2 follow the IGCSE programme, and A1 and A2 are the final two years when students study A‑Levels or AP.

Type

Co‑educational; SCIE operates as a day school with boarding facilities on campus (the website describes dormitories and residential support).

Additional learning support

The school describes a pastoral and wellbeing structure (form tutors, Heads of Year, a wellbeing centre with counsellors and on‑site nurses) and mandatory safeguarding procedures. The website does not publish a detailed public 'SEN/Additional Learning Needs' policy; parents with specific ALN/SEN questions should contact admissions or the pastoral team for case‑by‑case detail.

Country affiliation

SCIE teaches a UK curriculum (IGCSE and A‑Level pathways) but is an international college rather than formally affiliated to a national church or foreign government.

Religious affiliation

The school does not state any religious affiliation on its public pages; its materials present SCIE as a secular international college.

School day structure

Published staff timetables indicate a typical weekday start around 07:50 (with some earlier Monday starts) and lessons finishing mid‑ to late‑afternoon, followed by a one‑hour after‑school ECA slot (commonly 16:30–17:30). The campus provides a canteen for lunch.

Bus service

The school website does not publish a dedicated school‑bus/provider timetable. For daily travel many families use public buses and the metro (nearby Fumin Station and Huanggang Park area are the closest public links cited by local guides). If you need a school‑run service, contact SCIE Admissions (info@scie.com.cn or the telephone number on the site) to confirm whether the college currently operates routes or recommends external providers.

Application / registration fee
- Registration (application) fee: RMB 600 (paid at time of registration). This registration fee is non‑refundable. Payment for registration is accepted online via WeChat Pay or Alipay.

Tuition — annual amounts and scope
- Standard academic stream (annual tuition): RMB 273,000 per academic year. This amount is stated as an annual fee and is described as covering the physical examination fee, campus insurance fee, and extracurricular activity fees; it does not include international examination fees, off‑campus trips or internships, or summer camps/programmes.
- Arts/Music Academy (annual tuition): RMB 303,000 per academic year (scope noted as above).

Per‑term / year‑group detail
- The school publishes the annual tuition figures above. A public per‑term breakdown or different published rates by specific year group (G1, G2, A1, etc.) is not provided in the school's public admissions material; the published figures above are the stated annual charges.

Boarding / accommodation fees
- Room and board (annual): RMB 16,800 per academic year for boarding that excludes weekend stays, or RMB 19,800 per academic year for boarding that includes weekend stays. These are presented as the annual accommodation fees.

Other costs and typical exclusions
- International examination fees (e.g., Cambridge/A‑level/AP/other external exam fees) are not included in the annual tuition and are charged separately. Off‑campus trips, internships, and summer programmes are also excluded and billed separately. The school's published fee notes list these exclusions.
- Specific line items such as uniform cost, daily meal top‑ups, transport (school bus) fees, and textbook charges are not published in the school's publicly posted admissions fee summary.

Billing schedule, payment terms, refunds
- The school's public admissions information specifies the registration fee payment at registration and annual tuition/accommodation amounts but does not publish a detailed public billing schedule or full payment‑term policy in the admissions summary. The registration/entrance exam fee is described as non‑refundable. No other specific refund terms are published in the same public admissions content.

Fee payment options for items shown
- Registration payment method: WeChat Pay or Alipay for the registration fee. The school's public admissions notices do not list a comprehensive set of payment methods for annual tuition in the posted admissions summary.

Boarding Arrangements

Boarding houses provide modern, well-equipped dormitories with personal study areas and shared common rooms, supported by attentive dorm teachers and psychological counselors.

Uniform Requirement

The school uses a four-house system: Water, Metal, Wood, and Fire. Students wear house uniforms in color-coded designs.

Food Options

A wide choice of meals and refreshments is available in the canteen and café.

House System

There are four houses (Water, Metal, Wood, Fire). House events include sports and non-sport activities, with weekly gatherings on Wednesday afternoons. A Student Leadership Body oversees the House division and related events.

Governance and Ownership

SCIE is affiliated with the Council of International Schools (CIS), FOBISIA, and ACT, and offers College Board–audited AP courses since 2016. SCIE has undergone accreditation with CIS and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

SCIE describes a structured pastoral programme in which most teachers act as Form Teachers who deliver a weekly PSHE lesson and mentor a cohort of roughly 14 students. Each year group is overseen by a Head of Year and the Pastoral Deputy Principal has overall responsibility for the pastoral team. The college says it takes a preventative approach to student welfare and identifies the form teacher as the first point of contact for students and parents. SCIE also runs a student-led Peer Support Division that provides peer tutoring, mentoring and a decompression space used during events such as Mental Health Week. Job and recruitment pages further describe mandatory pastoral/safeguarding CPD for staff and the form-tutor role.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)

SCIE's staff listings include a named SENCO coordinator (Adam Romano), indicating a designated staff role for special educational needs coordination. The site also records that the school has previously had staff in Learning Support coordinator roles, showing historic learning-support provision in some faculties. The public website describes pastoral, counselling and medical services but does not set out a detailed list of the specific categories of SEN the college can support (for example specific learning difficulties, autism spectrum conditions, or physical disabilities). SCIE's website presents the college as a mainstream international sixth-form college and does not describe itself as a specialist SEN institution.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

The school does not publicly disclose information regarding EAL provision on its website. Individual staff CVs note experience teaching EAL or holding EAL-coordinator roles elsewhere, but SCIE's public pages do not present a dedicated EAL programme or a named EAL coordinator. For specific details about English-language support the school's published contact information is available on its website.

Mental Wellbeing

SCIE operates a Wellbeing Centre and the Wellbeing Center page names two wellbeing counsellors (Maria Acosta and Joel Wang) and a school medic/health-and-safety officer. The Pastoral Care page states the wellbeing centre is staffed by two counsellors and supported by a medical team of nurses for day and residential students. The counsellors' profiles on the Wellbeing Centre page list relevant counselling and crisis-intervention qualifications. The school also describes peer-based programmes (peer mentoring and peer tutoring) and student-run wellbeing initiatives used in Mental Health Week. The website provides staff and programme descriptions rather than a standalone, detailed mental-health policy for public download.

Safeguarding

SCIE's Safeguarding page sets out child-protection requirements for applicants (including an ICPC or equivalent and phone contact with the applicant's current or most recent Head of School) as part of background checks. The page lists a Statement of Principles that references compliance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and international best practice while also noting the college will abide by PRC law. The college names specific safeguarding roles (Child Protection Officer and Designated Safeguarding Lead) and states that all staff, including non-teaching staff, receive child-safeguarding training. The safeguarding statement emphasises staff have a mandatory duty to report suspicions of abuse and that student well‑being is the paramount concern in decision-making. Contact details for the college are published on the site for reporting or enquiries.

History

SCIE was founded in 2003 with approval from the Shenzhen Education Bureau and early authorization to deliver Cambridge international examinations; within two years it established its first permanent Futian campus and began sending graduates to top universities. Over the following decade the college expanded its programmes and extracurricular offer, with student clubs growing to over 100 and international memberships and accreditations achieved (CIS, FOBISIA and Cambridge partnerships). In 2020 SCIE opened its purpose-built Antuoshan campus and continued to develop its academic and arts provision, later adding the SCIE Arts Academy. The school gained WASC accreditation in 2021 and cites ongoing accreditation and review processes as part of its governance and quality-assurance work.

Community

SCIE presents an active, calendar-driven community with a long list of annual events — Week Zero and Year‑start ceremonies, House competitions (e.g. tug‑of‑war), G1 camping, SCIE Got Talent, Halloween and Christmas concerts, Chinese New Year performances, Charity Week, Food Fair and Graduation Day — that involve students across grades. The college highlights more than 100 student clubs and a structured House system to support teamwork, leadership and extracurricular engagement. Parents, staff and alumni regularly participate in community activities such as the Charity Food Fair and Alumni Day, and the school's reporting emphasizes student leadership and service-learning as core elements of campus life.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)

SCIE's public website does not show a dedicated, named Parent‑Teacher Association page; instead parental engagement is visible through parent representatives, volunteer roles and parent contributions to major events. Parents are explicitly represented at graduations and ceremonial occasions (for example, class parent speeches are published on the school site), and parents commonly help organise and staff community events such as the annual Charity Food Fair where parents, students and staff run international food stalls and raise funds for charity. The school also reports that parents took part in accreditation and review activities (speaking with visiting teams during CIS/WASC reviews), indicating formal opportunities for parental input in whole‑school reviews. In practice parental involvement appears to be channelled through event volunteering, parent representatives for cohorts, and ad‑hoc committees around charity, food fairs and similar community activities rather than a single public PTA structure. If you would like, I can contact the school's admissions or communications office (email listed on the site) to request clarification about any formal PTA committee or membership process.

Facilities Overview

SCIE is located at No. 3 Antuoshan 6th Rd., Futian District, Shenzhen 518048. In 2020, SCIE moved to a brand-new Antuo Hill Campus, which is about twice the size of the former ShuiWei Campus. The campus features cutting-edge teaching technologies and extensive supporting infrastructure. It hosts academic, arts, sports, and campus-life facilities to support learning and wellbeing. The campus sits on a large platform designed to support teaching and student life.

Sports Facilities

The main gymnasium houses basketball courts and can be configured for volleyball and handball. Outdoor facilities include basketball courts, a climbing wall, and a pickleball court. A football pitch, student and staff gyms, a table tennis room, and an elevated running track complete the facilities. These spaces support athletic development, teamwork, and a balanced student lifestyle.

Academic Facilities

SCIE's academic facilities include specialized classrooms for Humanities, Mathematics, Languages, Economics and Computer Science, plus state-of-the-art laboratories for Chemistry, Biology, and Physics. A well-equipped library offers books, magazines, computers and self-service equipment, while tutorial rooms and open garden study areas provide flexible spaces for focused and collaborative learning. These facilities empower academic achievement and independent inquiry.

Extra Curricular Facilities

Boarding houses provide modern dormitories with personal study areas and shared common rooms, supported by dorm teachers and psychological counselors. The Hill Canteen and Ann Cafe offer meal options, and landscaped garden areas surround the campus to support social and recreational activities. SCIE also features a range of ECAs and a House System, with opportunities for student leadership through prefect and student leadership programs. The arts spaces include a professional theater, a lecture hall, art classrooms, drama studios, dance and music rooms, and piano practice rooms to support arts-related ECAs.

Academic & Intellectual

The school runs more than 250 active ECAs across 13 subcategories, organized under three main categories: academic, social, and sports. An ECA Fair is held at the start of every semester to introduce clubs and answer inquiries. An ECA club can be started by a teacher or by a student with a teacher sponsor, and students select clubs that fit their interests with supervision from a teacher.

Social & Hobbies

Clubs cover social activities and hobbies within three main categories: academic, social, and sports, which are divided into 13 subcategories with over 250 active clubs. Most clubs operate with the support of a supervising teacher. An ECA Fair is held at the beginning of each semester to introduce clubs and engage interested students.

Community & Service

ECAs cultivate students' sense of social responsibility and offer opportunities for community and service initiatives. An ECA Fair introduces clubs, and clubs can be started by a teacher or by a student with a teacher sponsor.

Leadership & Professional

The ECA program emphasizes leadership, teamwork, and initiative. Students can initiate clubs with a teacher sponsor, and most clubs operate under teacher supervision. An ECA Fair showcases clubs at the start of each semester.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing

Sports clubs are a major component of ECAs, providing opportunities for physical activity and teamwork. The Extracurricular Activities Division oversees activities to enrich student life beyond academics, with supervision from teachers guiding club participation.

Awards

(Only school-level awards and rankings shown on SCIE's website are listed below; student awards such as Cambridge Outstanding Learner Awards or competition medals are excluded.)

• Ranked 2nd in the 2021 "China Top 100 International Schools" (XINHUANET / INSIGHT report) — SCIE's website records that the school placed second in the 2021 national Top‑100 listing; the report's methodology emphasised university admissions and other indicators of school performance. (Posted 9 December 2021 on SCIE site.)

• Hurun Education Top International Schools in China 2022 — SCIE's site records that Hurun Education's 2022 ranking placed SCIE 2nd in China and 1st in Shenzhen; the same Hurun release also placed SCIE in the Top‑10 list for best school campuses in 2022. (Posted June 2022 on SCIE site.)

• KingLead / China International School Top‑100 / Brand‑Value rankings (2022) — SCIE's site shows the school ranked in the top positions in KingLead's 2022 China International School Top‑100 listings (SCIE reported as Top‑2). (Posted January 2022 on SCIE site.)

• KingLead China International School Brand Value Top 100 (2023) — SCIE's site records the KingLead 2023 brand‑value listing (published 30 January 2023) in which SCIE is again presented among the top ranked schools in that Top‑100 brand evaluation.

Note: these items are taken directly from SCIE's public news/affiliations pages. If you'd like, I can (a) check for any additional school‑level recognitions on other public sources, or (b) extract the exact quoted wording and publication dates from each SCIE news page for recordkeeping.

Accreditations

• Council of International Schools (CIS) — SCIE is a CIS member school and has undergone CIS accreditation / re-accreditation; CIS carries out a whole-school self-study and international peer review process and is widely used as a benchmark of international-school quality and continuous improvement.

• Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) — SCIE received full accreditation from WASC (Accrediting Commission for Schools) in 2021; WASC is a U.S.-based regional accrediting body whose school accreditation signals that a school meets defined standards for governance, curriculum and student learning.

• Cambridge International, Edexcel and Oxford AQA (exam centre status) — SCIE is a registered centre for these international examination boards, which lets students sit IGCSE and A‑level examinations on campus and receive qualifications recognised by universities around the world. (This is the school's recognised examination‑centre status rather than an external school‑accreditation process.)

• The College Board (member school qualification / AP) — SCIE is a College Board member school and offers College Board‑audited AP courses; membership provides access to College Board resources and allows the school to deliver AP coursework and exams.

• UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) — SCIE is a registered UCAS member school, which the school notes gives its graduates the same rights as UK sixth‑form applicants when applying to UK higher‑education institutions.

• ACT (registered test centre) — SCIE is a registered ACT testing centre, enabling students to take the ACT on campus; ACT scores are used by US colleges and many international universities.

• FOBISIA (member) — SCIE is a member of the Federation of British International Schools in Asia; FOBISIA membership indicates participation in a regional network that holds member schools to entry/inspection standards and organises events and professional development.

• EARCOS (member) — SCIE is a member of the East Asia Regional Council of Schools, a regional association that supports cooperation, professional development and best practice among member schools in East Asia.

Admissions

1. Check eligibility and timelines. Before you apply, confirm which Grade Group you are targeting (G1/IGCSE Year 1 or A1/AS Level) and check SCIE's published quotas and age limits (for example, G1 applicants must be born after January 1, 2009; A1 applicants must be born after January 1, 2007). Parents should note registration opening dates (registration for 2025 opened Jan 6, 2025) and that places are limited; the school states registration runs “until full.”

2. Prepare documents and digital materials for registration. SCIE requires a government-issued ID (mainland ID card, Mainland Travel Permit for HK/Macau/Taiwan residents, or passport for foreign students) and a passport-style electronic photo for upload; parents should have scanned copies ready before starting the online application. The admissions pages also point to specialist streams (Arts/Music) that require additional materials (portfolios or performance recordings) if applying to the Arts Academy.

3. Register online and pay the registration fee. Registration is completed through the SCIE application platform or by following the school's official WeChat account; the published registration fee for 2025 was RMB 600 (non‑refundable) and payment is made online (WeChat/Alipay). Parents should double-check the exact fee and accepted payment methods at the time they apply because the school notes registrations close when seats are full.

4. Prepare for the written entrance examination (subjects and format). For the regular stream the written test in 2025 included English and Mathematics (example dates listed: March 16 and June 1, 2025); the school runs two rounds and candidates unsuccessful in the first round can reapply for the second. Parents should check the published test format (offline/online), bring the ID used at registration on test day, and follow any test‑day instructions released by the school (the school posts software/monitoring requirements and a candidate instruction page when online testing applies).

5. Specialist (Arts/Music) application steps, if relevant. Applicants to the Arts Academy follow an additional specialist process: there is a prescreening of submitted portfolios/recordings, a specialist audition or practical test (music performance or art drawing/painting tasks), and then the standard English written test; prescreening and audition dates are published separately. Parents of specialist applicants should confirm the portfolio/video formatting instructions, any minimum competency requirements (for example, music applicants are asked to demonstrate certain grade/level equivalence), and whether a prescreen outcome automatically transfers candidates into the regular stream if they do not meet specialist requirements.

6. Shortlist and interview scheduling. Candidates who are shortlisted after the written examination are assigned an interview appointment; SCIE typically schedules interviews within 1–2 weeks after the written exam and will notify candidates via the applicant portal, official WeChat, or the website. Parents should monitor the school's communication channels closely (the site and WeChat are used to announce results and interview times) and ensure contact details in the application are current.

7. Results, offers and next steps. Admission results are posted on SCIE's official WeChat account and the school website; the admissions notices specify exact release dates for each round and for specialist streams. If an offer is made, families should read the offer letter carefully for any stated deadlines and fee/registration instructions, and be prepared that tuition does not include some costs (for example, international exam fees and off‑campus trips).

8. Fees, accommodation and other costs to plan for. Published 2025–2026 figures list annual tuition (regular stream) at RMB 273,000, Arts Academy tuition at RMB 303,000, and boarding costs of RMB 16,800 (excluding weekends) or RMB 19,800 (including weekends); these published figures also note they exclude international examination fees, field trips, internships and some summer programs. Parents should budget for examination fees (e.g., CAIE/Edexcel/AP/IB/ACT/SAT where applicable), school trips, uniforms, and any additional services (guardianship, airport transfers), and confirm the current year's fees with the Admissions or Finance Office before accepting an offer.

9. If you don't get a place right away. Because SCIE runs multiple rounds of exams and registration is stated to run until full, unsuccessful candidates may register for a later round if one is offered; check the admissions calendar and registration closing notes for each year. If you are considering other options, keep copies of transcripts and test scores ready to speed new applications elsewhere and contact SCIE's Admissions Office for clarification about future recruitment rounds.

Scholarships

SCIE's official admissions and programme pages (as published in the school's 2025 admissions materials) do not advertise a general scholarship or means‑tested financial aid programme for incoming students on the public site. The published pages focus on application steps, exam schedules, and fee schedules (tuition and boarding) without describing entrance scholarships or ongoing bursaries. Because some schools operate internal or case‑by‑case support (or may offer occasional merit awards), if you are seeking fee assistance or scholarship possibilities you should contact SCIE's Admissions or Finance Office directly to ask whether any scholarships, fee reductions, or limited awards are available in the year you intend to apply; the Admissions contact information and instructions are provided on the school's admissions page.

Waitlist

SCIE's publicly posted admissions materials do not describe a formal, named waitlist or “holding‑pool” process; instead, the school runs at least two rounds of entrance examinations each intake year and states that registration is open until capacity is reached. The admissions notices advise that test seats are limited and that registration may close when full, which suggests the school manages demand by additional exam rounds or re‑opening registration rather than by publishing a standing waitlist for offered places. If you need a definitive answer about whether the school keeps a waiting list for a particular year or grade, contact the Admissions Office directly (the school publishes contact details on its Admissions page).

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Shenzhen International Foundation College

Instructs in English, English, English

Ages 14 - 18 years

Fees RMB 268,000 - 308,000

Pupils 300

Type Co-educational

Shenzhen International Foundation College (SIFC / 深圳国际预科书院) is located in Bao'an District at the Shenzhen International Art Exhibition Centre (艺展中心). The school website describes SIFC as an international senior/high-school–level institution founded in 2004 that operates American-style, British-style and art/music programmes (including AP and A‑Level/IGCSE pathways) and a range of specialist centres (STEM/MIT FabLab, music, sports training centres). Boarding is provided in hotel-style student apartments and the campus is presented as an "open art campus" connected to the International Art Exhibition Centre, emphasising art and cross-disciplinary learning spaces.

Location

SIFC (also known as Shenzhen International Foundation College / 深国预) is located in Shenzhen's Bao'an district at the International Arts Exhibition Center / IADC (listed on some directories as No. 8, Yizhan 4th Road or at the International Art Exhibition Centre complex). The campus is in the Songgang/松岗 area of Bao'an and is served by local buses and the nearby Shenzhen Metro lines (access typically requires a short bus or taxi transfer from the nearest metro station). Parents relocating from overseas will usually travel to the campus from Shenzhen Bao'an Airport or major metro interchange stations; confirm exact campus address and directions with the school before you travel.

Stages

SIFC is primarily a secondary/college-preparatory school (the school operates international high‑school programs and directories list intake roughly around middle-to-high school grades, e.g. Grade 7 or Grade 9 through Grade 12). The school is organised into two main divisions: an International High School and an Art High School, offering AP, A‑Level and international foundation/"3+1" programmes.

Type

A private, co‑educational international school. Publicly available school profiles and international‑school directories indicate SIFC operates both day and boarding provision (boarding available for some year groups), though exact boarding arrangements and eligibility should be confirmed with admissions.

Additional learning support

There is no detailed public description found in the school's published admissions summaries about a dedicated Special Educational Needs (SEN) department or specific learning‑support facilities. If your child has diagnosed additional learning needs, contact the school's admissions or student‑support office directly to discuss available accommodations and assessment procedures.

Country affiliation

SIFC is a Chinese private international school approved by the Shenzhen Education Bureau and registered with provincial education authorities and the China Scholarship Council; it is not listed as being affiliated to a foreign government or national school system.

Religious affiliation

No religious affiliation is indicated in the school's public materials or directory profiles; SIFC is presented as a secular international college.

School day structure

A specific published daily timetable (start/end times, exact break and lunch periods) was not found on public admissions or school‑profile pages. For precise school‑day times, term dates and weekend/boarding routines, ask admissions or request the school's current parent information pack.

Bus service

Multiple school directories and international‑school profiles list a school bus service for SIFC (school‑operated or contracted routes are commonly provided by schools of this type), but they do not publish route maps or provider names publicly. Families should request route coverage, pick‑up/drop‑off points, cost, vehicle safety checks and any live‑tracking/GPS arrangements from the school's admissions or transport office before enrolling.

Application / Admission Fees
- Application / entrance test fee: reported as either RMB 500 (one‑time application fee) or RMB 800 (entrance/exam fee paid at registration). Both figures are reported by third‑party school listings; the exam/registration fee is frequently described as non‑refundable.

Tuition — annual and per term
- Standard academic programmes (American / British pathway, G9–G12): RMB 268,000 per academic year (charged as an annual tuition fee).
- Arts / Music specialised programmes: RMB 308,000 per academic year (charged as an annual tuition fee).
- Note on per‑term charging: the school's published figures are presented as annual tuition rates; third‑party school listings present the tuition as an annual fee (the one‑time application/entrance fee is separate). Where an annual fee is shown, it is customary for schools to issue invoices for the full academic year or for semesters/terms according to the school finance office schedule.

What these tuition figures normally include and exclude
- Typical inclusions (reported): study materials/administration fees, certain campus insurance and the school's standard one‑set uniform ("first set" of school uniform), basic campus activities and standard in‑school services.
- Typical exclusions (reported): meals, accommodation (boarding), school bus/transport, international examination fees (SAT/TOEFL/AP/IELTS/other exam fees), off‑campus field trips, external competition or portfolio costs and other third‑party charges.

Boarding / accommodation fees (where applicable)
- Boarding is not included in the standard tuition. Third‑party listings for Shenzhen international secondary schools (including listings that cover SIFC) report typical boarding/accommodation ranges of about RMB 16,800 per year (weekday only) or about RMB 19,800 per year (including weekends); actual SIFC boarding charges are reported as a separate item and are not rolled into the published tuition figure.

Other costs and one‑off charges
- Uniform: the school's standard “first set” uniform is commonly listed as covered by tuition; replacement sets and additional uniform purchases are charged separately.
- Textbooks / materials: some listings show a separate annual materials/book charge (examples across similar Shenzhen schools show around RMB 4,800 per year as a separate item).
- Transport: school bus routes and fees are charged separately.
- International exam and application costs: fees for external tests (SAT/AP/IELTS/TOEFL) and overseas university application/portfolio costs are not included and are additional.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Published tuition figures are quoted as annual amounts for the stated academic year. Third‑party school listings report the tuition as an annual charge and list the application/entrance fee as a separate one‑time charge for first‑year enrolment. Families should expect an invoice cycle tied to the academic year (annual invoice or semester/term instalments as arranged with the school finance office).

Refund information
- Entrance/registration exam fees are regularly reported as non‑refundable. For tuition and other refunds, public summaries of Shenzhen international schools point to refund handling in accordance with Guangdong provincial rules for private non‑degree education institutions; third‑party listings note that refund arrangements follow the applicable Guangdong refund management regulations for private education institutions.

Fee payment options and school finance contact
- Reported practice for the school is to handle payments through the school finance office and by school‑designated payment channels. For specific payment methods and invoicing (bank transfer details, receipts/invoices, online payment channels, or other accepted methods) contact the school finance office directly via the school contact details listed for SIFC. The school's published contact details appear with the school's fee pages and admissions notices.

Summary (key figures for the current academic year listings)
- Application / entrance test fee: reported as RMB 500 (application) or RMB 800 (exam/registration) — non‑refundable.
- Tuition (standard American / British pathways, G9–G12): RMB 268,000 per year (annual charge).
- Tuition (arts / music specialised programmes): RMB 308,000 per year (annual charge).
- Boarding (separate): typical Shenzhen school ranges reported around RMB 16,800–19,800 per year (charged separately).

If you will place these figures into a public database, use the annual tuition numbers above and record application/entrance fees and the common exclusions (meals, accommodation, transport, international exam fees) as separate line items. The citations given after each paragraph indicate the public fee listings and school‑specific fee pages summarized by independent school information sites.

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

SIFC publicly describes a whole‑school, “whole‑person” education approach and cites project‑based learning and personalised student development as part of that work. Public descriptions list a PBL (project‑based learning) Innovation Education Centre and a “Student Individualised Growth Center” used to support student development and personalised pathways. The school also promotes specialised pathways and the “V‑class/拏云计划” for tailored academic and personal development. Specific staff roles (for example named pastoral leads or dedicated SEL coordinators) are not detailed in the public materials found.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)

The school does not publicly disclose information regarding provision for students with special educational needs (SEN) or whether it is a specialist SEN institution. Publicly available school profiles and news items describe academic, artistic and personalised learning centres but do not publish a SEN policy, lists of supported needs, or dedicated learning‑support staffing. Therefore no verified, sourceable details about SEN provision could be found.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

Public listings for SIFC note provision of English courses for non‑native speakers (described in some profiles as “English non‑native” or EAL‑style classes) and an English‑medium curriculum across grade levels. These sources do not, however, publish a clear EAL programme description, entry/assessment procedures, or named EAL staff on the publicly available pages located. As a result, while non‑native English instruction is referenced, detailed, sourceable information about specific EAL staffing or formal support programmes is not published.

Mental Wellbeing

SIFC's public materials emphasise personalised pastoral development and “whole‑person” education through centres and projects intended to support student growth. Items such as the Student Individualised Growth Center and regular teacher mentoring are described in school profiles and news items as part of the school's approach to student development. The school's public descriptions do not, however, provide a published counselling service structure, named mental‑health staff, or a detailed mental‑wellbeing programme that can be cited.

Safeguarding

SIFC is described in official and major public profiles as an Education Bureau‑approved full‑time international school (registered with Shenzhen authorities), which indicates formal recognition by local education authorities. Those public profiles do not, however, publish a child‑protection or safeguarding policy, a named Designated Safeguarding Lead, or detailed reporting procedures that can be cited from the school's own public materials. Therefore specific, sourceable safeguarding policy text or staff names were not found in the public sources located.

History

Shenzhen International Foundation College (SIFC) was founded in 2004 by a team of educators led by Professor Fu Tengxiao from Shenzhen University; the school was established with approval from local education authorities and registered as a full‑time international school. Over two decades it has developed distinct academic and arts divisions (international high school and art high school) and has sought mainstream international accreditations. SIFC marked its 20th anniversary in June 2024 with a campus celebration that included alumni, staff, parents and local officials. (Sources: school admissions page; school profile summaries; 20th‑anniversary coverage).

Community

The SIFC community includes students, faculty, alumni and an active cohort of parents who take part in regular campus events and cultural programs. Annual activities such as the school's “International Day” bring together students and parent representatives to create country‑focused performances, food stalls and cultural exhibits, with parents organizing and participating in many of the country groups. Larger gatherings—alumni events and milestone celebrations—also involve local partners and serve as focal points for school–community interaction.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)

SIFC maintains a parent committee (家委会) that is refreshed by parent self‑nomination and democratic selection; the committee is described as an active partner in school affairs rather than a purely advisory body. The school has reported expanding the committee in recent years to broaden parent representation, and school leaders (including the founder) regularly meet committee members to review collaboration and community projects. Parent representatives commonly organize or co‑lead events such as International Day, and the committee is credited with supporting volunteer activities, parent education sessions and home‑school coordination. That parent–school partnership is explicitly framed as part of the school's ongoing “home‑school co‑construction” work. For contact or to learn about current parent‑group roles, the school's admissions and contact pages list admissions and parent liaison contacts.

Facilities Overview

The campus includes the Art Department and a network of centers across arts, science, technology, and athletics. It contains the Jeremy Lin-Li Qun International Basketball Training Center and the Modern Pentathlon Center. The school hosts the PBL Innovation Education Center, the STEM Center, the MIT FabLab ACT Center, the Tencent AI Lab, the SiKai Life Sciences Research Center, the Xueersi International Teaching and Research Center, the Weixun Workshop, the YanQu Research Workshop, and the Center for Personalized Student Growth. Tencent Smart Campus System supports campus management and digital learning. The facilities support cross-disciplinary programs that integrate innovative practice with arts and high school curriculum.

Sports Facilities

The campus has comprehensive sports facilities including a swimming pool, gym, and basketball courts. It houses the Jeremy Lin-Li Qun International Basketball Training Center and the Modern Pentathlon Center. Outdoor spaces support PE lessons and sports activities. The facilities emphasize health, fitness, and competitive athletic opportunities for students.

Academic Facilities

The MIT FabLab ACT Center provides fabrication and hands-on invention opportunities. The STEM Center supports science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education and innovation. Tencent AI Lab and Xueersi International Teaching and Research Center support AI education and international teaching research. SiKai Life Sciences Research Center, YanQu Research Workshop, Weixun Workshop, and the PBL Innovation Education Center support project-based learning and practical research. The Center for Personalized Student Growth supports individualized student development.

Extra Curricular Facilities

The school runs four art and sports centers: Art Design Center, International Music Center, Jeremy Lin-Li Qun International Basketball Training Center, and Modern Pentathlon Center. These centers provide extracurricular opportunities in arts, music, and sports. The PBL Innovation Education Center and the MIT FabLab ACT Center support maker and project-based activities beyond regular classes. Weixun Workshop and YanQu Research Workshop offer hands-on exploration and research opportunities outside standard curricula. The Center for Personalized Student Growth supports enrichment and personalized development through after-school programs.

Academic & Intellectual

Shenzhen International Foundation College offers American High School and British High School curricula. The American High School program is Shenzhen's first and promoted the ‘Pathway to Harvard' slogan as early as 2010. Based on the United States Common Core Standards, it follows a US‑style curriculum and provides more than 15 AP courses, plus innovative options such as MIT Digital Manufacturing and Stanford Design Thinking. SIFC is a pioneer in implementing international university foundation programs alongside curricula from the United States and the United Kingdom; it is ranked among the Top 20 International High Schools in China and No. 3 in Shenzhen, with 2024 noting continued top-20 national status and No. 3 in Shenzhen.

Arts & Creative

The Art & Design Center at SIFC provides a modern interdisciplinary curriculum with a distinctive ‘Art + Technology' feature that connects to cutting-edge programs at top international universities. The school launched the International Music Center in 2024–12–23 to reshape modern music education through practical teaching and digital innovation.

Cultural & Language

Campus life includes eight Theme Cultural Months and a range of activities such as International Day, Halloween, and Christmas. The school offers nearly 50 clubs across academics, arts, and sports.

Social & Hobbies

Clubs and activities beyond classwork are a prominent feature, with more than 50 clubs spanning academics, arts, and sports.

Leadership & Professional

College Counseling supports university admissions, and the Study Abroad GPT program is available to assist with study abroad planning.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing

Holistic Education is featured in Campus Life, with Mental Health Service available to students. Physical Education and a range of wellness and development activities are part of the student experience.

Awards

Below are the institutional awards and rankings the school itself lists on its website within the last five years (period considered: Jan 1, 2021–Dec 31, 2025). I used only content posted on the school's website as you requested.

1) 2024 — Forbes China “Internationalized School” recognitions: listed on the school site as (a) Forbes China • Internationalized School annual selection — National Top 20 and Shenzhen No.3, and (b) named “Forbes China Outstanding Internationalized School” and recipient of the “Forbes China Annual Innovative Internationalized School” award. One‑line significance: these are recognitions from Forbes China's annual evaluation of China's international schools; the school presents them as institutional awards/rankings indicating placement among peers in the national and Shenzhen lists.

2) 2023 — HKPEP China “Most Educationally Competitive International Schools” — listed on the school site as included in the HKPEP China Top 100 (“中国最具教育竞争力的国际学校100强”). One‑line significance: placement in this HKPEP list is presented by the school as recognition of its competitiveness among Greater‑China international schools.

Notes and scope limits
- I limited awards to institutional recognitions explicitly stated on the school's website. The site also publishes many student competition results and individual staff honours; per your instruction I did not include awards given to students or staff. Examples of student competition results appear on the school news pages but were excluded here.
- The school's pages used as the source for the above statements are: the school profile/“书院简介” and the admissions/prospectus pages (which list accreditations, rankings and named recognitions). If you'd like, I can (a) pull the exact school page links and dates of the posted items, (b) look up the awarding organisations' published lists to independently verify the Forbes/HKPEP entries, or (c) check whether the school holds any additional formal accreditations (for example, CIS or other bodies) that aren't named on the pages I consulted.

Accreditations

1) Cognia — The school lists Cognia among its international accreditations. Cognia is a U.S.-based non-profit accreditation body for primary and secondary schools; its accreditation indicates an external, standards‑based review of a school's overall quality and continuous‑improvement processes.

2) College Board (Advanced Placement affiliation) — the school lists College Board/AP authorization. The College Board is a U.S. nonprofit that develops and administers the Advanced Placement (AP) program and other standardized programs; AP authorization means the school is approved to offer AP courses and exams, which can support college credit/placement in many higher‑education systems.

3) Pearson Edexcel — the school lists Pearson Edexcel among its examination/qualification partners. Pearson Edexcel is a UK‑based awarding organisation that provides GCSE, A‑level and international qualifications; authorization means the school can deliver Edexcel examination courses and receive externally graded qualifications.

4) OxfordAQA — the school lists OxfordAQA among its international examination partners. OxfordAQA is a partnership between Oxford University Press and AQA that offers internationally recognised IGCSE/International A‑level qualifications; being an OxfordAQA centre/partner lets the school enter students for those externally assessed qualifications.

5) UCAS (linkage/recognition) — the school cites UCAS among its external links/authorities. UCAS is the UK's centralized admissions service for undergraduate study; formal linkage or recognition facilitates the school's support for students applying to UK universities through the UCAS system.

Admissions

1. Initial enquiry and school visit — Contact the admissions office (phone/email or the online enquiry form) to request current materials, ask about open‑day dates, and confirm which programmes (AP / A‑Level / Arts / Music) are accepting students for the intake you want. Parents should bring the student's most recent school report when they visit and note that some programmes (art/music) require a separate portfolio or audition—ask in advance what format the school wants. It's common for the school to schedule on‑campus tours or online information sessions before you complete a formal application; confirm the exact timeframe and available slots with admissions.

2. Submit a formal application — Complete the school's application form (online or in person) and submit the requested documents: a copy of the student's ID (passport, mainland ID or hukou), recent academic transcripts, one‑inch photos, and any specialist materials (art portfolio, music recordings). The application step typically requires payment of an application or registration fee; published amounts vary between sources so ask admissions for the current, exact figure before paying. Keep scanned copies of everything and request a receipt and an application reference number from the school for follow‑up.

3. Test registration and fees — After the application is accepted for assessment, you will be asked to register for the entrance assessment and pay the test fee (many parents report a separate exam/testing fee in addition to the application fee). Expect to be told precise test dates and whether the test is on campus, online, or computer‑based; confirm refund policies (most test fees are non‑refundable). Before you arrive, double‑check what calculator or ID to bring and whether parents are permitted to stay for the test day.

4. Entrance assessment — SIFC uses a formal academic assessment (reported as a 150‑minute MAP or MAP‑style computerised test covering math, English and science for most academic streams) and a one‑to‑one interview (often with a senior leader such as the principal). For arts and music applicants the academic test is combined with a professional exam or portfolio review; portfolios and recordings should meet the school's stated format and length. Parents should prepare the student by reviewing subject areas named by the school and by making sure portfolios are labelled and uploaded according to the school's instructions.

5. Interview and family meeting — If shortlisted, the school will normally schedule a student interview and a parent/guardian meeting (in person or by phone/video). The interview evaluates language ability, academic motivation and fit with the programme; art/music applicants often have a separate subject‑specific audition or interview. Parents should bring original identity documents and be ready to discuss learning support needs, future university plans and logistics (transport, boarding if relevant).

6. Offer, timeline and placement — After assessment the school will issue an outcome (offer, conditional offer, or non‑offer). Some sources report that initial results can be given quickly (reports of decisions within about three working days in some application rounds), but official timelines can vary by intake and cohort—confirm the expected decision date when you apply. If an offer is made, read the offer letter carefully for deadlines to accept, any conditions (e.g., submission of authenticated transcripts), the contract terms and the deadline to pay the deposit or tuition to secure the place.

7. Contract, payment and registration — To secure a place you will typically sign an enrolment agreement and pay the required deposit/full tuition by the stated deadline; the school will provide instructions for invoicing and acceptable payment methods. Be aware of what the tuition covers (some published schedules note that tuition may include core fees but exclude meals, boarding, international exam fees and school bus) and keep copies of the signed contract and payment receipts for visa or school‑record purposes. If you need an invoice for reimbursement or visa applications, ask admissions at the time of payment.

8. Pre‑arrival administrative steps — Once your place is confirmed, the school will advise on start‑of‑term requirements: immunisations or health records, uniform orders, orientation dates and any assessment to place the student in the right subject level. For non‑mainland students, check visa/entry paperwork early; for mainland transfers you may need to follow local education bureau procedures for transfer or new student registration. Keep the admissions contact details handy in case documents or travel plans change.

Scholarships

SIFC publishes a structured scholarship scheme (branded as the “拏云奖学金” in the school's own material) that includes entrance scholarships, university‑entry scholarships and targeted university fee assistance. The entrance scholarships are awarded before enrolment and may reduce tuition directly (the published categories include full‑tuition awards, and tiered awards such as ¥100,000/year, ¥50,000/year, ¥20,000/year, and ¥10,000/year levels); the programme also describes separate university‑entry awards tied to particular destination universities with larger lump sums for top offers. The school's 2025 scholarship materials state a combined potential package of awards and assistance up to a large total (the page cites the overall programme cap), and it notes that scholarship rules and the awarding process are determined by the school—parents should request the specific scholarship application form, eligibility criteria, selection timeline, whether scholarships are renewable year‑to‑year, and any scholarship conditions (e.g., minimum progress or enrolment in particular classes). For full, current details and the official application process, contact SIFC's admissions or scholarship office and ask for the scholarship policy and deadlines.

Waitlist

Publicly available admissions material and the school's published admissions summaries do not set out a formal, detailed waitlist policy on the website; I did not find an explicit statement that SIFC operates a named waiting‑list process in its public admissions pages. That said, many international schools will place qualified applicants on a waiting list if a grade or programme is full and then offer places as spaces open; because SIFC's external admissions guides do not publish a formal waitlist policy, the best practical approach is to ask the admissions office directly whether (a) they maintain a waiting list for the year/grade you need, (b) how candidates are prioritised, and (c) how long the wait typically is. If you want a fallback plan, ask admissions whether they will accept rolling documentation updates and how often you should check in to keep your application active.

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The King's School Shenzhen International

Instructs in English

Ages 2 - 18 years

Fees RMB 205,000 - 309,800

Pupils 230

Type Co-educational (boarding)

The King's School Shenzhen (Qianhai campus) opened for the first cohort in late October 2022 and is sited in Shenzhen's Qianhai Shenzhen–Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone. The school operates a 12-year Cambridge-based programme (including A-levels for senior students) and runs a separate King's kindergarten that uses the UK Early Years Foundation Stage framework. The campus was planned as a full boarding prep/senior school (boarding capacity cited by the school) and includes specialist rooms, sports provision and a dormitory building; it also runs robotics and drone/technology activity programmes and UK exchange links with the Canterbury school. The school's published recruitment/launch materials state an initial planned intake of about 200 students across 13 classes in its first year. All items above are taken from the school's official website.

Location

The school's main campus is in Qianhai, Nanshan District — address listed as No.375 Yuewan (月湾街375号), Shenzhen. It sits inside the Qianhai/Month Bay area, a short drive from central Nanshan and within reach of local metro and bus links (nearest metro references list Liyumen/Qianhai area).

Stages

The King's School Shenzhen serves ages 2–18: a Pre‑Prep/Early Years section (EYFS) for about 2–6 year‑olds, a Prep/Primary and Middle phase (roughly Years 1–8 / ages 6–14) and a Senior/High School for Years 9–12 (ages up to 18). Grade-year groupings and curriculum routes (EYFS, Cambridge IGCSE, A‑Levels) are described on the school site.

Type

The school is co‑educational and offers day places across the whole age range. Boarding is available from around Grade 4 upwards (lower‑year rooms are four‑person, older students 2‑person rooms per the school's boarding description).

Additional learning support

The school publishes a range of pastoral and academic support services: a Health & Well‑Being provision, English support and an academic support / pastoral care structure are mentioned on school materials and news items. For children with specific additional learning needs, the school describes inclusive support and structured academic/pastoral teams — parents are advised to discuss individual needs with admissions to confirm precise provisions.

Country affiliation

The Shenzhen school is an overseas branch of The King's School, Canterbury (UK) and states an operational link with the UK parent school. It is therefore affiliated with that British foundation rather than to a Chinese national chain.

Religious affiliation

The Shenzhen campus does not advertise a local religious denomination on its public pages; it operates as the international branch of The King's School Canterbury, a historic UK school with Church of England roots, but the Shenzhen materials focus on academic and pastoral provision rather than explicit religious observance.

School day structure

The school publishes an academic calendar and term dates but does not publish a single, fixed daily start/end time for every division on its public pages. Municipal guidance for Shenzhen schools sets typical earliest start times (for reference: primary not earlier than about 08:20, lower secondary not earlier than about 08:00), so exact daily timetables (arrival, break and lunch times) should be confirmed with admissions for the relevant year group.

Bus service

The school operates a paid school‑bus service for both the Early Years and the Main School; the admissions information and FAQ note that routes are arranged according to demand and currently cover parts of Nanshan, Bao'an and Futian. Specific stops, route maps, pick‑up/drop‑off times and fees are managed by the school and are provided to families when places are offered. }

Application and enrolment fees
- Application fee: RMB 2,000 (one‑time, non‑refundable).
- Placement / enrolment deposit: RMB 25,000 (paid on acceptance; held against future charges and refundable according to the school's terms and conditions).

Tuition fees (annual and typical term structure)
- Kindergarten (K1–K3): RMB 205,000 per year.
- Grades 1–3: RMB 236,500 per year.
- Grades 4–6: RMB 262,000 per year.
- Grades 7–10: RMB 288,800 per year.
- Grades 11–12: RMB 309,800 per year.

(Note: the school issues fee notices and offers payment in installments; historical practice shows a larger first installment followed by a second installment for the remaining balance, and an incentive for a single annual payment.)

Billing schedule and payment terms
- The school issues a formal fee notice with specific due dates. Families who pay the full year by the first deadline historically receive a discount (commonly a 2% annual‑payment discount). Installment schedules (for example a larger first payment followed by a second payment) have been used in prior years. Exact instalment amounts and deadlines are set in each year's fee notice.

Boarding / accommodation fees (where applicable)
- Boarding (weekday accommodation) is published at approximately RMB 100,000 per year (weekday: Sun–Thu); schools may invoice by semester (about RMB 50,000 per semester in past notices). Weekend boarding or additional nights is charged separately.

Other costs
- School uniform: charged separately (one‑off purchase on enrolment; prices vary by year group). Textbooks, exam fees, optional trips, certain extracurricular providers, lunch and transport are additional and charged as incurred. School lunch and other ancillary charges are commonly invoiced separately (monthly or per term).

Refunds and withdrawal
- The placement deposit is described as refundable subject to the school's published terms and conditions; withdrawal and refund adjustments follow the school's fee and refund policy as set out in the acceptance paperwork and fee notice.

Payment methods
- The school has required bank transfer for major payments in prior years (annual payments and first‑installment deadlines are often fulfilled by bank transfer); exact accepted payment channels and account details are provided on the school's fee notice. Other online or card options are not publicly detailed in the available fee notices.

Summary of gaps: public sources publish annual tuition, application fee and placement deposit and indicate installment arrangements, a discount for full‑year payment, and boarding charges; however, a definitive per‑term split for every year group for the current academic year was not found in openly published fee tables and is set each year in the school's formal fee notice.

Boarding Arrangements

The King's School Shenzhen International operates a boarding program at the Qianhai campus. Junior boarders live in four-person dorm rooms and senior boarders in two-person dorm rooms. A dedicated boarding team of four classroom teachers and three boarding tutors oversees daily life, with tutors residing on the same floors as boarders. Boarding life follows a structured routine with after-dinner activities, access to study spaces and library resources, and an evening study period supervised by teachers; the canteen provides three meals and three snacks daily.

Food Options

The in-house canteen is run by the school's catering team. It serves three meals and three snacks daily (breakfast, lunch, dinner, morning snack, afternoon snack, and evening snack), prepared to be delicious and nutritious.

Governance and Ownership

The school is part of The King's School network and has a sister-school relationship with The King's School Canterbury in the United Kingdom. The visit of The King's School Canterbury's Head and International Director to announce the Incoming Executive Principal signals ongoing cooperation and alignment between the Shenzhen and Canterbury campuses.

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

The school presents a structured pastoral-care model adapted from The King's School, Canterbury and identifies pastoral care and wellbeing as a core element of school life. The Deputy Head for Pastoral Care (Mrs Carrie Cameron) leads homeroom teachers, tutors and the House system that are described as central to day-to-day student support. Co-curricular activities are explicitly linked to health and wellbeing in the school's programme. Boarding provision includes dedicated boarding tutors and supervised evening study to support students outside lesson time. (Sources: school pastoral pages and staff/news items).

Special Educational Needs (SEN)

The school states it operates an inclusive policy and has a Learning Support department that advises teachers and parents on additional learning needs. On entry pupils undertake baseline testing to help identify learning difficulties, and the school describes use of differentiation in class and, where appropriate, individual learning plans (ILPs). The school says it will refer students to external specialists (for example an educational psychologist) if needed and that interventions are discussed with parents. The website does not list specific categories of special educational needs it can support nor does it describe operating as a specialist SEN institution. (All points taken from the school's Q&A and learning-support descriptions).

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

The school publishes staff profiles and articles describing staff experience teaching pupils for whom English is an additional language and explains classroom approaches used to support language learners. Senior students are also given electronic materials to preview and review lessons to assist comprehension and language acquisition. The school's published information indicates in-class differentiation and learning-support input are used to help non-native English speakers. The website does not, however, show a separately named EAL department or a detailed, standalone EAL policy. (Information from staff/profile articles and the school's admissions/learning-support Q&A).

Mental Wellbeing

The school frames mental wellbeing within its pastoral-care provision and describes systems intended to ensure students feel safe and supported emotionally. Leadership states an aim to manage workload so pupils are “stretched not stressed,” and pastoral leaders oversee houses, tutors and boarding to support students' social and emotional needs. Boarding routines and co-curricular activities are described as offering structured opportunities to decompress and build resilience. Teachers and boarding tutors are presented as first-line contacts for students needing support; more formal referrals are handled through the Learning Support team and external specialists where necessary. (Sources: pastoral pages, news/Q&A and boarding article).

History

The King's School Shenzhen International began as the school's first overseas kindergarten, which opened in Shenzhen in 2019 as an overseas branch of The King's School Canterbury. In January 2022 the school announced plans to expand into a full 1–12 campus in the Qianhai/Front Sea area, with middle and senior phases planned to open in the 2022 academic year. The Shenzhen campus has been led by senior staff seconded from the UK and announced its founding executive principal at the time of the expansion. The project is backed by a single listed investor identified in reporting as Hengyu Capital, which has been described as the school's sole investor.

Community

The school describes an active school community made up of international and local families and publishes regular newsletters and event calendars for parents. Typical community activities reported by the school and local press include regular campus open days, pastoral coffee mornings, seasonal cultural celebrations (for example Mid‑Autumn Festival), and student club activities such as a debate society. The school has used public information sessions and on‑campus open houses to involve families in curriculum and pastoral briefings.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)

The school established its first Parent‑Teacher Association (家委会 / PTA) in the 2023–24 year; the school newsletter announced that the inaugural PTA meeting was scheduled for 25 September 2023 and invited parent applications. The newsletter describes the PTA as a channel to improve home–school communication and to involve parents in the school's ongoing development. The PTA invitation included a contact route (email to the school pastoral lead) for parents wishing to apply or participate. Early school calendars show the PTA working alongside the school calendar (open houses, pastoral coffee mornings and other parent events), indicating its role in coordinating parent engagement around those activities. The school's public posts and newsletters are the primary sources for these details.

Facilities Overview

The King's School Shenzhen International comprises Pre-PreP, Prep School, and Senior School. The Pre-Prep School has over 3,000 square meters of outdoor space, one of the city's largest outdoor areas among international early years schools. The Pre-Prep includes Pre-K, K1, K2, and K3. The Pre-Prep classrooms are bright and airy with plenty of natural light and fresh air. The outdoor spaces include a sandpit, climbing frame, slide, swings, a football field, and a forest area, with weekly forest classes. The Pre-Prep campus was designed by architect Cindy Walters.

Sports Facilities

The co-curricular program includes a broad range of sports as part of the overall activities. The Pre-Prep outdoor space includes a football field. Outdoor spaces support active play and physical education, including a football field and other play installations.

Academic Facilities

The Pre-Prep provides a library, creator spaces, and art and physical exercise areas. The Pre-Prep classrooms are sunlit and airy with fresh air. The Prep and Senior School pages indicate Teaching and Learning arrangements and a Curriculum page for the Senior School. The school presents Curriculum information for its Senior School in the Curriculum section.

Extra Curricular Facilities

The co-curricular program includes sports, music, drama, art, debating, chess, and community work, with many clubs. The program offers trips and Summer Schools. Music opportunities include public performances, ensembles, orchestras, and choirs.

Awards

• Red Dot Design Award (2023) — the school's website states the Qianhai campus won a 2023 Red Dot Design Award in Germany for its campus design; the Red Dot is an international design prize recognising product and communication design.

• The Plan (Italy) award — the school's website refers to The Plan Award (2023) in two places: one page says the campus was shortlisted for the Italian THE PLAN Award, and another page refers to a The Plan Award in 2023. Because the school's own pages use both “shortlisted” and wording that implies a win, the site's information about The Plan Award is inconsistent; I have listed it here because it appears on the school website, but the site does not present an unambiguous single statement of a win.

Note: I have included only awards and accreditations explicitly reported on the school's official website. The site also mentions items such as being a finalist in the 2022 China School Awards (Pastoral Care) and various student competition results, but those are either finalist/student-level recognitions rather than school wins or are awarded to students rather than to the school itself, so I did not include them in the list above.

Accreditations

• Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) — The school states it received official certification from Cambridge Assessment International Education in June 2023; this means KSS is authorised to deliver Cambridge curricula and assessments (e.g., Cambridge Pathway/A Levels) and to register students for CAIE examinations.

• Council of British International Schools (COBIS) — the school reports that it was awarded COBIS Compliance Status (a formal recognition following inspection) in November 2023; COBIS is a UK-based membership and quality-assurance organisation for British international schools and Compliance Status indicates the school met COBIS's inspection criteria.

Admissions

1. Book a campus visit or virtual tour and create an admissions account. The school uses OpenApply for event booking and the application portal; parents should choose the correct campus (Pre‑Prep or Main School), pick the exact year group they are applying for, and use an email address they will keep because that login will be used for the whole application. (See booking fields and campus list on the OpenApply portal.)

2. Complete the online application form in OpenApply and upload required documents. Typical items the system asks for are the applicant's legal name and date of birth, parent/guardian details, current school reports, passport/ID copies, and immunisation/health records — make sure scanned documents match the form field requirements and that names match legal ID. Allow time to translate or certify any documents not in English or Chinese before upload.

3. Pay the application fee (if required) and submit the application for processing. The school's published fee schedule shows a one‑time application fee and a refundable deposit as part of first‑year charges for new intakes; expect to be invoiced after an initial application is accepted. Parents should confirm the current amounts and refund terms with admissions before payment because fees and refund conditions can change year to year.

4. Assessments and interviews are scheduled once the application and documents are complete. For entry to Years 1–6 the school's FAQ says the admissions assessments include CAT4 testing plus an interview; for Years 7–8 the school lists CAT4, a writing test and an interview. For kindergarten/early years there is usually an observational session or parent‑child meeting — read the specific test guidance so you can prepare the right ID, school reports and any required samples of work.

5. Wait for the admissions decision and, if offered, review the acceptance paperwork. If an offer is made you will normally receive an acceptance letter or offer and an invoice for the enrolment deposit/first term fee — check the acceptance deadline carefully, the exact deposit amount shown on the invoice, and the school's refund policy before you pay to secure the place. Keep correspondence and payment receipts in case you need them later.

6. Complete registration tasks and prepare for transition. After payment of the deposit and any required enrolment forms, the school may ask you to complete health forms, bus enrolment, uniform orders and other pre‑start checklists in the portal; you should also confirm start‑of‑term dates and induction/transition visits for your child. If your child needs learning support, disclose this early and upload any assessment reports so the school can plan support measures before term starts.

7. Practical items to be ready: legal ID (passport or national ID), recent school reports and transcripts, immunisation records, proof of residence for the correct campus, and any educational/psychological reports where relevant. If you are applying from overseas, check visa/guardian requirements for the relevant year group (the school may also offer boarding from Year 4 and above; confirm the boarding eligibility process separately). These specifics are referenced in the school's admissions pages and FAQs.

Scholarships

The King's School Shenzhen's senior‑school navigation includes a Scholarship Programme section, which indicates the school runs some form of scholarships at the senior level; however the detailed official scholarship terms (eligibility windows, application deadlines, selection criteria and award levels) are not fully published in a single detailed page that I could retrieve. Third‑party coverage and local school reports indicate the Shenzhen campus has offered senior‑school scholarships in recent years (academic scholarships and performing‑arts/specialist awards have been referenced) and that award levels reported in local media range from partial awards (for example 10% of fees) up to full tuition awards for outstanding candidates. Because third‑party articles summarise past programmes and the school's own scholarship page does not publish full application rules in the public HTML I could access, I recommend contacting admissions to request the current scholarship policy, application form and deadlines (and to ask whether awards are means‑tested, merit‑based, renewable, or limited to particular year groups).

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