Britannia International School Guangzhou vs Guangdong Country Garden School

	B Britannia International School Guangzhou Guangzhou, China	G Guangdong Country Garden School Guangzhou, China
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year RMB 127,000 - 186,000	Fees / year RMB 173,920 - 176,350
Age range	Age range 2 - 18 years	Age range 6 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational (boarding)
Curriculum	Curriculum EYFS (Early years foundation stage), Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge (Secondary), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels, Advanced Placement (AP), Chinese National Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils 225	Pupils 4,800
Typical class size	Typical class size 20	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English, Mandarin
Opened	Opened 2017	Opened 1994
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location No.4 Chuangjia Road, Jinshazhou (Jinshazhou Island), Baiyun District, Guangzhou. The campus address and contact details are listed on the school website; Jinshazhou is a residential area of Baiyun District so most families reach the school by car, taxi or the school's transport service—check routes with admissions.	Location Guangdong Country Garden School (广东碧桂园学校) is in Beijiao Town, Shunde District, Foshan City — in the Pearl River Delta just south of Guangzhou. The campus sits inside the Country Garden residential area and is accessible to major transport links in the region; it is commonly referenced as being within easy reach of Guangzhou and the Greater Bay Area transport network.
Stages	Stages BIS follows a British/Cambridge pathway: Early Years (Pre‑Nursery to Reception, ages ~2–5), Cambridge Primary (Year 1–6, ages 5–11), Cambridge Lower Secondary (Year 7–9, ages 11–14), Cambridge Upper Secondary (Year 10–11, ages 14–16), and Cambridge AS/A‑Level (Year 12–13). The school website lists these sections and age ranges.	Stages The school is a continuous K–12 (kindergarten through senior high) provision covering roughly ages 2–18 and describes itself as a 15-year one-stream school. It runs international routes (IB PYP, MYP, DP) alongside other international programmes (IGCSE/A-level/AP) and a bilingual Chinese stream.
School type	School type Non‑profit, co‑educational international day school that teaches in English and follows the Cambridge/British curriculum. BIS is explicitly a day school with no boarding facilities—students must live with a parent or legal guardian while enrolled.	School type Guangdong Country Garden School is a private, co-educational school with a long-standing boarding programme (whole‑school boarding is reported in public profiles). Campus size and student numbers are large for the region (several thousand students on site).
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support BIS operates Learning Services and assesses incoming students to determine if English or mathematics support is needed; English language support is offered (a fee may apply). The admissions information says these Learning Services teachers arrange additional help where required.	Additional learning support Public information highlights on‑campus student services such as a dedicated international-student unit (留学生部) and counselling/psychological support; the school also reports 24‑hour dorm staff for boarding life. There is limited publicly available detail online about formal SEN (special educational needs) pathways, so families with specific additional‑learning needs should contact admissions to discuss individual provision and assessments.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation The school describes itself as a member of the Canadian International Educational Organization (CIEO) while delivering a British/Cambridge curriculum; it does not operate as a state school of any single country.	Country affiliation The school is a Chinese private school (广东) and is not presented as being affiliated to another country; it is associated with the Country Garden education initiative and is referenced in relation to Bright Scholar / Country Garden group coverage.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation BIS is secular and does not have a religious affiliation.	Religious affiliation There is no public indication that the school has a religious affiliation; it is described in official and third‑party profiles as a non‑religious private boarding school.
School day structure	School day structure Typical start times are around 08:20 for Early Years and Primary and around 08:35 for Secondary; lessons finish in the mid‑afternoon (generally between about 15:30 and 16:00 depending on age group). The school also provides supervised before‑ and after‑school care and runs extra‑curricular sessions—confirm exact daily times for your child's year group with admissions.	School day structure The school operates as a full boarding campus with on‑site supervision and organised student routines; public profiles note 24‑hour dorm staff and closed‑campus management for boarders. Exact daily start/end times, break and meal schedules are not published in detail on third‑party sites, so expect times to vary by age group and contact the school directly for current timetables.
Bus service details	Bus service details The school offers a school bus service; parents complete a Bus Policy form as part of registration and should contact admissions for specific routes, pick‑up points and fees. Third‑party listings indicate BIS covers central areas of Guangzhou with air‑conditioned buses and supervised routes, but the school's admissions office is the source for current routes, availability and pricing.	Bus service details The school publishes a large school‑bus network covering many pickup points across the Pearl River Delta; one profile notes 103 pickup points that extend across the region (including routes serving Hong Kong). For families relocating from overseas, this indicates established regional transport links, but specific pickup locations, costs and eligibility should be confirmed with the school's admissions or transport office.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Tuition fees (annual and half-year) - EYFS (Kindergarten): Annual RMB 127,000; Half‑year RMB 63,500. - Year 1–6 (Primary): Annual RMB 139,000; Half‑year RMB 69,500. - Year 7–9 (Lower Secondary): Annual RMB 169,000; Half‑year RMB 84,500. - Year 10–11 (Upper Secondary – IGCSE): Annual RMB 170,500; Half‑year RMB 85,250. - Year 12–13 (Upper Secondary – A Level): Annual RMB 186,000; Half‑year RMB 93,000. Application and other mandatory fees - Application fee: RMB 2,000 (initial application only, non‑refundable). - Resources fee: RMB 4,000 (annual, non‑refundable). - Insurance: RMB 200 (non‑refundable). - Uniform: RMB 2,900 (new students expected to purchase one full set; this fee excludes the House T‑shirt). - Bedding: RMB 500 (only for Pre‑Nursery and Nursery where applicable). - Lunch and snack fee: RMB 7,200 (annual). Bus (transport) fees - Jinshazhou route: Annual RMB 7,000; Semester RMB 4,000. - Under 8 km from school (including 8 km): Annual RMB 9,000; Semester RMB 5,000. - 8–15 km from school (including 15 km): Annual RMB 13,000; Semester RMB 7,000. - Over 15 km from school: Annual RMB 15,000; Semester RMB 8,000. Billing schedule and payment terms (billing structure and discounts shown) - Billing structure reflected in published fees: families may pay on an annual (full‑year) basis or on a half‑year (semester) basis using the shown annual and half‑year figures. - Discount for full payment: an annual tuition discount of RMB 6,000 is applied to families who pay the full tuition in a single payment. - Early enrolment discount: an additional discount of RMB 3,000 is offered for students who enrol before January 31 and pay the tuition in full. Boarding fees - The school operates as a day school and has no boarding facilities; therefore boarding fees are not applicable. Refund information - The following fees are explicitly listed as non‑refundable: Application fee (RMB 2,000), Resources fee (RMB 4,000), and Insurance (RMB 200). - Other items (tuition, lunch, bus, uniform, bedding) do not have a public, detailed refund schedule displayed alongside the fee table. Where a specific fee is labelled non‑refundable it has been noted above; no comprehensive tuition refund policy or detailed withdrawal/refund schedule is provided with the published fee sheet. Fee payment options - The publicly posted fee schedule lists amounts, billing options (annual/half‑year) and discounts but does not list specific payment channels (for example bank account details, accepted card types, or e‑wallet options) on the published fees page. Summary of what is not published on the fee sheet - The published fee materials include amounts, the annual/half‑year billing format, discounts, and which small fees are non‑refundable, but they do not publish a complete tuition refund policy or the school's accepted payment methods/banking details alongside the fee schedule.	Fee details Application fee - No separate application or admission fee amount is published in the school's publicly available admissions pages or standard fee summaries; the school's admissions portal and public pages do not list a standalone “application fee.” Tuition fees (per term and per year) - Kindergarten: RMB 60,000 per term — equals RMB 120,000 per academic year (two terms). - Primary (elementary): RMB 78,000 per term — equals RMB 156,000 per academic year. - Junior high (grades 7–9): RMB 80,000 per term — equals RMB 160,000 per academic year. - Senior high, international curriculum (IB/IGCSE/A‑Level/AP): RMB 90,000–RMB 110,000 per term — equals RMB 180,000–RMB 220,000 per academic year. - Senior high, general/regular (普高) pathway: RMB 37,500 per term — equals RMB 75,000 per academic year. These per‑term figures are reported in the school's current fee summaries and reputable international-school listings; different public sources show the same amounts as per‑term charges. Billing schedule and payment terms - Tuition is billed on a per‑term (学期) basis in the school's public fee notices and associated school fee summaries; the school follows per‑term charging for K–12 grade bands. Provincial rules allow charges by term or by year and set timing and refund calculation rules. Boarding / accommodation fees - Typical boarding fees reported: RMB 1,500 per term for Chinese students and RMB 3,500 per term for overseas/overseas‑status students (amounts for rooms and services vary by room type). Annual boarding totals will be per‑term multiplied by the number of terms paid. Alternative listings show smaller annual accommodation entries for particular grades in aggregate fee tables. Other costs - Meals, uniforms, textbooks, exam/registration fees and certain activity/service charges are additional and charged separately. Example: meal charges appear in some published breakdowns at roughly RMB 5,000 per year (varies by grade and plan). Specific extras (uniforms, instrument hire, international exam fees) are billed as incurred. Refund information - Refunds and fee clearing follow Guangdong provincial rules for private/municipal schools: schools must refund unused fees within the regulatory timeframes; new registrants who pay but do not enrol are eligible for major refunds (rules specify scaled refund percentages and formulae for term/year‑based charges). These provincial rules apply to fee return calculations and timelines. Fee payment options - The school's higher‑education/continuing‑education notices require online payment through the school's payment portal and permit bank transfer; K–12 public listings do not publish a definitive list of accepted consumer payment methods. In practice for Guangdong schools this commonly includes bank transfer and school online payment platforms (WeChat/Alipay integration is commonly used by peer institutions), while explicit credit‑card acceptance is not publicly specified.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements The school is a day school with no boarding facilities.	Boarding arrangements The school provides on-campus housing. Boarding per term costs 2,175 yuan for Grade 1 and 1,960 yuan per term for Grade 7.
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement Middle school students can purchase uniforms in the school uniform shop using their student card. Primary students' uniforms are purchased by parents with the school pickup card at the school uniform shop.
Food options	Food options —	Food options There is a canteen on campus. Students can use their student cards to dine in the cafeteria. The per-term meal fee for new admissions includes 5,000 yuan for meals (as part of the first-term breakdown).
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership The school is a non-profit organization and a member school of the Canadian International Educational Organization (CIEO). The BIS is foreign-owned.	Governance and ownership The school is governed and owned by the Country Garden Education Group.
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details Britannia International School Guangzhou follows the Cambridge international pathway from Early Years (EYFS) through Cambridge Primary, Lower Secondary, Upper Secondary (IGCSE) and Cambridge AS/A Level. Early Years covers Pre‑nursery to Reception (age 2–5) using the UK EYFS framework and its seven areas of learning. Cambridge Primary (Years 1–6, age 5–11) and Cambridge Lower Secondary (Years 7–9, age 11–14) deliver Cambridge syllabuses and assessments across a broad programme that includes English, mathematics, science, global perspectives/history/geography, Chinese, STEAM, art, music, PE and ICT. Cambridge Upper Secondary (Years 10–11, age 14–16) prepares students for Cambridge IGCSEs with core subjects (English, maths, science, PE) and a range of optional subjects such as English Literature, history, additional maths, Chinese, drama, music, art, physics, ICT and global perspectives. Post‑Year 11 (Years 12–13, age 16–19) students may study Cambridge AS and A Levels; the school lists example A‑level options (e.g., Chinese, history, further maths, geography, biology, physics, English language/literature, business, art, music, maths, chemistry, computer science) and describes standard AS/A‑level assessment routes and exam sessions.	Curriculum details Guangdong Country Garden School operates a 15‑year integrated curriculum that combines the Chinese national syllabus with major international programmes (IB PYP/MYP/DP, Cambridge IGCSE/A‑Level and AP), providing flexible pathways from kindergarten through Grade 12. Early years and primary education use the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) alongside the national primary curriculum (PYP typically through primary Year 5). The middle‑school phase implements the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) while meeting national junior‑middle requirements (generally Grades 6–10). In senior secondary, the school runs Cambridge IGCSE in Years 9–10 and offers multiple Year 11–12 options including the IB Diploma Programme (DP), A‑Level, AP or the national senior high track. The whole‑school curriculum is organised into integrated strands—融通课程 (academic integration), 行知课程 (inquiry/leadership), STEAM, arts, physical education and life education—framed around core competencies of cultural foundation, self‑development and social participation.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression —	Higher education progression —
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning BIS describes a “holistic education” focused on whole-child development and publishes learner attributes (Confident, Responsible, Reflective, Innovative, Engaged) that underpin social and emotional learning in its curriculum and extra‑curricular programme. The school says it combines strong academics, a STEAM programme and ECAs to support personal and social development. The Cambridge Primary/KS curriculum offered at BIS includes Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) as part of the programme. BIS also uses ClassDojo and regular parent–teacher communications to keep families involved in students' social and emotional progress, and an active PTA supports community engagement. These elements are described on the school website.	Social & emotional learning The school's published mission and development goals emphasise whole‑person development, wellbeing, community and life education as part of its curriculum framework. Its curriculum pages list “Life Education” and experiential/leadership programmes (行知课程/CAS‑style activities) intended to develop social and emotional skills. The school also states it seeks to “build an open, harmonious and friendly learning community” and to promote members' wellbeing. The site further notes a dedicated safety and mental‑health education centre that intervenes across teaching and student life.
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) The school asks parents to declare any learning difficulties and states that students must be able to function within the regular classroom while working towards BIS academic requirements. BIS says it operates “Learning Services” to provide support where needed but explicitly notes it does not have a specialist unit for more serious needs (examples listed include autism, emotional/behavioural disorders, significant cognitive/developmental delays and certain communication disorders). The admissions information indicates such cases can be discussed individually with the school but are not automatically supported by an onsite specialist unit. BIS therefore is not a specialist SEN institution; support is offered within mainstream provision and subject to individual agreement. All of the above is stated in the school's admissions/learning‑needs guidance.	Special educational needs (SEN) The school's public materials state a commitment to respecting student differences and attending to individual needs, but do not publish detailed information about formal Special Educational Needs (SEN) provision, specific types of needs supported, specialist staff or whether it operates as a specialist SEN institution. There is no SEN policy or SEN coordinator role described on the pages reviewed. Therefore, the school does not publicly disclose specifics about SEN provision.
English as an additional language	English as an additional language BIS is presented as a fully English‑taught Cambridge school and the admissions material states English‑language support is available for students who require extra help to gain admission (a fee may apply). The admissions pages note applicants are assessed for English speaking, reading and writing, and that the school will provide additional English support where required. Other school pages on the site also describe EAL/English support and individualized plans for newcomers. If you need precise details (staffing levels, programme names, or fees) those are not set out in detail on the public pages and should be confirmed with admissions.	English as an additional language The school publishes a Language Development Centre and a large international teaching team, and it operates a ‘留学生部' that provides Mandarin (Chinese as a foreign language) for international students. These elements indicate institutional language support and international staffing, but the website does not set out a named English‑as‑an‑Additional‑Language (EAL) programme, EAL curriculum, or specialist EAL staff details. In short, the school does not publicly disclose specific EAL programme information.
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing BIS's curriculum references PSHE and a holistic approach to learner development, and the school highlights extra‑curricular activities and community events that contribute to student wellbeing. The school also states it has a registered nurse on site and that all staff are first‑aid trained, which the school lists under its services. The public website does not provide a named counselling team or a published, dedicated mental‑health programme for students. For families needing specific counselling or clinical mental‑health support the school does not publish detailed provision online and recommends contacting the school directly to discuss individual needs.	Mental wellbeing The school states it has established a Safety and Mental‑Health Education Centre that is intended to be deeply involved in the whole teaching process to safeguard students' psychological environment. The published materials describe the centre as part of the school's measures to ensure students' healthy, happy development, but the site does not publish detailed staffing numbers, counselling services, or session formats. The school's ethos pages also emphasise promoting members' wellbeing as part of its school culture.
Safeguarding	Safeguarding BIS's mission and values material emphasises a safe, welcoming learning environment and the school states it is registered with the People's Republic of China as a School for Foreign Children. Practical safety/health measures published on the site include a registered nurse on campus, first‑aid‑trained staff and assigned bus monitors on contracted school buses. The school website does not publish a formal child‑protection or safeguarding policy document nor name a designated safeguarding lead on its public pages. For formal policy documents or named safeguarding contacts you will need to request these directly from the school, as they are not available on the public site.	Safeguarding The website presents concrete safety measures such as student ID cards with controlled campus access and a parent notification system (校讯通) linked to those cards, indicating operational steps for everyday campus security. The school also names a Safety and Mental‑Health Education Centre and repeatedly refers to providing a safe learning environment in its published mission statements. However, the site does not publish a standalone child‑protection or safeguarding policy (for example, a designated safeguarding lead, reporting procedures, or external safeguarding contacts) on the pages reviewed.
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview Britannia International School Guangzhou operates on an 8,000 m2 campus located at No.4 Chuangjia Road, Jinshazhou, Baiyun District, Guangzhou, 510168. The school is a non-profit organization and a member school of the Canadian International Educational Organization (CIEO). It provides Cambridge International education fully taught in English for students aged 2 to 18. The student body includes more than 45 nationalities. Nursery and Reception classes have about 18 students per section; Year 1 and above have about 25 students per section.	Facilities overview The Guangdong Bright Scholar School is located in Beijiao Town, Shunde District, Foshan, inside the Bright Garden community. The campus covers nearly 200,000 square meters. Teaching buildings, an experimental building, a Youth Palace, and an opera house are arranged around Star Moon Hill, in a setting described as beautiful with first‑class facilities. It is designated as a Guangdong Province First‑Class School and as a Guangdong Green School.
Sports facilities	Sports facilities Extracurricular sports-related activities include swimming and Cross-fit offered through the After School Programme.	Sports facilities The campus has a 400‑meter and a 200‑meter plastic running track. There are standard PU basketball courts, volleyball courts, and badminton courts with a combined area of about 20,000 square meters. A 2,400 square meter comprehensive gymnasium serves indoor activities, and two indoor heated swimming pools (25 by 50 meters and 25 by 10 meters) are available.
Academic facilities	Academic facilities The school follows the Cambridge International curriculum path: Kindergarten/ EYFS, Cambridge Primary, Cambridge Lower Secondary, Cambridge Upper Secondary, and Cambridge AS & A Level. The learning environment is conducted in English and is designed to prepare students for admission to top universities worldwide.	Academic facilities Academic facilities include teaching buildings and an experimental building, plus a dedicated laboratory building. The school provides a library and a digital library platform that enables library information search and access to digital resources via partnership networks and national/local library resources.
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities Extracurricular activities include violin, ukulele, pottery, swimming, cross-fit, LEGO, and AI.	Extra curricular facilities The high school division runs five international programs—IGCSE/A‑level, IB (MYP/DP), AP, and domestic tracks including Gaokao, Art Gaokao, and Hong Kong/Macau/Taiwan/overseas student admissions—encompassing more than 200 elective subjects. The school develops a series of Xingzhi courses, including Belt and Road Silk Road cycling (14 days from Xi'an to Urumqi, about 3,000 km with 600 km of cycling) and World Cultural Heritage cycling through the Netherlands/Belgium/France, plus rural service and community projects. Additional activities include China Week with activities across many provinces, social practice, and an International Youth Achievement Award program. Graduates have gained admission to top universities worldwide, with sustained high results in recent years, and a strong emphasis on well‑rounded development through clubs, competitions, and service. These programs and activities are supported by a large, experienced faculty and a long‑standing focus on holistic student growth.
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History Britannia International School Guangzhou was founded in 2017 by Winnie Chen as a non‑profit international school within the Canadian International Education Organization (CIEO). CIEO is described on the school site as the group that oversees BIS and a number of other member schools in the region. The school's website notes its establishment as part of CIEO's wider network and frames BIS as a non‑profit member school.	History Guangdong Country Garden School was established in 1994; construction began in the early 1990s and the school opened to students later that year. It was set up as part of the Country Garden community development and has been described in several profiles as founded by the local Country Garden investment entity. Over the 2000s the school added international curricula stepwise (the IB Diploma in 2001 and later IGCSE/A‑Level programmes). The school has also been referenced in filings and profiles that note an operational relationship with larger education groups (for example, Bright Scholar/BGY-related entities).
Community	Community BIS describes itself as a multicultural campus with students from 45+ nationalities. The school calendar includes regular large events — for example a month‑long sports program and arts opening ceremonies — which the school highlights on its events pages. Daily and weekly life at the school is supplemented by after‑school activities (ASA) such as football, dance, robotics/AI and other clubs that are open to students across age ranges.	Community The campus is a boarding-style school with several thousand students and several hundred staff; public profiles list roughly 3,500–4,000+ students and multiple hundred faculty. The site and school descriptions highlight a range of on‑campus cultural and learning facilities—an observatory, performing‑arts spaces, pottery and maker facilities and small museums—that support arts, science and community activities. The school runs regular public events such as scheduled open days and family/visitor tours alongside termly cultural and sports activities that bring students, parents and local community members together.
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association The school's Parent Teacher Association (家委会) is presented on the BIS site as a parent‑staff community group whose stated goal is to bring families together to promote and improve the learning environment and to celebrate school culture. According to the school's information on family‑school services, the PTA works alongside established communication and engagement mechanisms such as ClassDojo, scheduled parent–teacher conferences (PTCs) at the ends of terms, and open days. The PTA page describes the group as a bridge between home and school, acting to foster parent involvement and to represent parent perspectives to staff. In practice, the school asks parents to use the regular channels (ClassDojo, email, WeChat and arranged meetings) to raise items the PTA may help coordinate or bring to school leadership. The school site frames PTA activity as collaborative and practical rather than ceremonial — focused on parent meetings, supporting open days and facilitating volunteer and liaison opportunities rather than running academic programmes.	Parent teacher association The school organizes parent participation through multi‑level family committees (school‑level, division/department, grade and class levels) and maintains dedicated offices to support parent representatives and alumni engagement. These family‑committee structures are used to coordinate parent meetings, volunteer support, in‑school classroom visits and joint home‑school initiatives. School communications and news items describe regular school‑level and division‑level family‑committee meetings that review topics such as student welfare, dining services and activity planning. The committees also help recruit and nominate parent representatives each year and act as a bridge for parent feedback into school planning. Specific reports from the school describe this ‘‘four‑level family committee + two offices'' arrangement and show the committees taking part in program‑level events and operational working groups.
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual The Britannia International School Guangzhou is a Cambridge International Curriculum school taught entirely in English. The school serves students aged 2 to 18 years. The curriculum path includes EYFS, Cambridge Primary, Cambridge Lower Secondary, Cambridge Upper Secondary, and Cambridge AS & A Level. The school prepares students for admission to leading universities worldwide.	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language The student body represents 45 countries and regions. The Cambridge curriculum is taught in English. The school fosters global citizenship.	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision English is the language of instruction. Chinese is taught as a subject within the Cambridge Primary curriculum. A dedicated Chinese Studies (Language Education) course is available. Cambridge AS & A Level is offered for Years 12-13.	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching The school teaches in English.	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs The school provides a fully immersive English environment.	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations Listed accreditations (as shown on the school's website) with a one-line explanation of each and its significance: - Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE): BIS states it is an officially Cambridge-accredited school and that it obtained CAIE accreditation in March 2021. CAIE is the University of Cambridge's international examinations and qualifications body; its authorisation means the school is approved to deliver Cambridge programmes and to register students for Cambridge IGCSE and A‑Level qualifications. - Council of International Schools (CIS): BIS's website lists CIS accreditation. CIS is a global membership and accreditation organisation for international schools; CIS accreditation signifies the school has undertaken a multi‑stage self-review and peer evaluation against internationally agreed standards (covering leadership, teaching, wellbeing and governance) and is committed to ongoing improvement. - Pearson Edexcel (培生·爱德思): The site lists Pearson Edexcel among its certifications. Pearson Edexcel is a major UK awarding organisation and exam board (GCSEs, A‑levels and international variants); authorisation indicates the school can offer/enter students for Pearson‑awarded academic qualifications. - International Curriculum Association (ICA): BIS's site lists the ICA (国际课程组织). ICA (International Curriculum Association / International Curriculum Association services) provides international curricula (IEYC/IPC/IMYC), professional development and a recognition/accreditation pathway for schools; ICA recognition or accreditation indicates the school has met ICA standards to implement ICA curriculum frameworks and associated quality processes. - Registration as an expatriate-children school (中华人民共和国登记为“外籍人员子女学校”): The admissions page states BIS is registered in the People's Republic of China as a school for children of foreign passport holders (and certain other eligible groups). This registration is the local regulatory authorisation that determines which categories of students the school may lawfully enrol in China.	Accreditations - International Baccalaureate (IB) — Authorized to deliver the three IB programmes: MYP and DP (authorized in 2001) and PYP (authorized in 2011). Significance: IB authorization means the school met the International Baccalaureate Organization's standards and is permitted to deliver these internationally recognised curricula and assessments. - Cambridge International (IGCSE / A‑Level) — IGCSE and A‑Level programmes authorized (school reports initial authorization in 2007) and listed as a regional Cambridge partner/executive committee member in subsequent years. Significance: Cambridge authorization allows the school to deliver Cambridge examinations and follow Cambridge curricula for secondary education. - Advanced Placement (AP) / AP Capstone — AP program authorization (2014) and AP Capstone authorization (2018). Significance: College Board authorization permits the school to offer AP courses and the AP Capstone diploma, which are widely recognised by U.S. and other universities. - Education Ministry / research designations — The school is described on its site as an Education Ministry (基础教育) course‑reform research base / experimental site for the school's “中外融通课程” research (the project is reported as having been accepted by the Education Ministry's curriculum centre). Significance: this indicates the school is participating in nationally‑recognised curriculum research or pilot work. - STEAM / Maker (创客) experimental school (Education Ministry) and municipal demonstration designation for labour education — The site states the school is an Education Ministry STEAM/创客教育 experimental school and a 佛山市劳动教育示范学校. Significance: these are official designations indicating the school is a designated pilot or demonstration site for those education initiatives at national/municipal level. (Date of designation is not shown on the site.) - Provincial recognitions — The school's basic information page lists it as a 广东省一级学校 and 广东省绿色学校. Significance: these are provincial‑level recognitions for school quality and environmental/green campus standards. (The site does not attach a specific award date on that page.) - Kindergarten / early‑years recognitions — The kindergarten pages state the kindergarten has been listed as 全国优秀民办幼儿园, 广东省首届“十佳民办幼儿园”, 广东省一级幼儿园, included in the Education Ministry's “中国名园之旅/培训基地” and identified historically as part of an Education Ministry '15'重点课题 (幼儿双语教育) experimental project. Significance: these are institutional recognitions and project designations for the school's early‑years programme.
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions 1. Request information and initial enquiry. Begin by completing the online inquiry/visit-request form so the admissions team can send the school handbook and basic information; the website says they will contact families (for visit requests) within 24 hours. Parents should use the inquiry form to state the child's current year group, nationality/visa status and whether they need transport or lunch services — this helps admissions give accurate next steps. 2. Schedule a meeting with the admissions office. After the initial enquiry, arrange a meeting (virtual or on-campus) with BIS Admissions to discuss year placement, curriculum pathway (EYFS / Cambridge Primary / IGCSE / AS & A Level) and any learning-support needs. Bring questions about class size limits, bus routes and school-day times so the team can confirm availability for your child's age and address. 3. Complete the application and gather required documents. Read the school's admissions policy, then fill in the BIS Student Application Form and any service forms (for example the Bus Policy if you need transport). BIS publishes a specific list of documents: official previous school records in English, passport pages and visa/residence stamps (or HK/Macau/Taiwan documents where relevant), birth certificate, immunization record, medical report from an international clinic (the site suggests Guangdong Int'l Travel Health Care Center as an example), passport-sized photos (for student and parents) and any standardized-test or recommendation letters requested for older children. Parents should prepare certified English translations and notarised copies where required by Chinese administration rules; incomplete documentation will delay processing. 4. Assessment testing and interview scheduling. BIS requires age-appropriate assessment: children aged 3–7 (Early Years up to Year 2) usually attend a half‑ or full‑day classroom session for teacher assessment, while applicants aged 7 and above (Year 3+) sit written English and Mathematics tests at their level; all new students are interviewed by the Principal or COO. These assessments are used to determine learning support needs and correct class placement (they are not solely used to exclude applicants). Expect the school to advise if English-language support is recommended and to explain associated fees for that support. 5. Offer, fee payment and confirmation of place. If BIS offers a place, you will be sent the offer and fee schedule. The published 2025–2026 fee sheet shows the application fee and other charges (see the fees section below); parents should note which fees are non‑refundable (for example the application fee) and the school's stated discounts for full/early payment. Confirm the payment deadlines and the method the school uses to hold a place (some schools require completed acceptance forms and payment of fees to secure a spot). If you need a payment plan or have questions about deadlines/discounts, raise these with admissions at the offer stage. 6. Final enrolment steps and arrival. After payment and acceptance, complete any remaining enrolment paperwork (bus registration if required, medical/insurance forms), purchase or order the initial uniform set and bedding where required, and confirm the child's first‑day logistics (start date, class teacher, supply lists, lunch arrangements). BIS provides parent communication and uses PowerSchool for ongoing records; ask admissions for login details and for any orientation or family‑welcome events. Keep copies of all submitted documents and translations as the school and local authorities may ask for originals at a later date.	Admissions 1. Prepare and attend an Open Day / initial enquiry. Guangdong Country Garden School runs regular open‑day sessions and campus visits for prospective families; in recent years these were advertised in the spring (for example the 2025 spring open day schedule was published). Parents should bring the child (where possible) to sit in on a sample lesson, ask to see boarding and health facilities, and confirm whether the place they intend to apply for is part of the school's municipal (compulsory‑education) intake or the school's international/fee‑paying programme. 2. Register online / submit initial application. For compulsory‑education grades the school normally requires families to register on the local municipal admissions platform within the published city window; for international or private tracks the school publishes its own application form and timetable. Parents should be ready to upload or present identity documents (child's birth certificate, family ID/hukou or residence permit, copies of recent school reports, and parents' contact/residence evidence) and to note the registration deadlines—the municipal window is strictly timed and late online registrations are usually not accepted. 3. Assessment: written tests, interviews and language checks. After registration, applicants for initial entry (especially into junior and senior secondary international streams) are typically asked to attend a school assessment day that includes a short written test (math/Chinese/English depending on grade), a one‑to‑one or small‑group interview, and a language screening for non‑native English applicants. Parents should prepare the child for short subject tests, bring previous school reports/certificates, and expect a separate interview or meeting for parents where school expectations, boarding rules and fee schedules are explained. 4. Offer, acceptance and deposit. Successful applicants are issued a conditional or unconditional offer; schools usually require families to sign an enrolment agreement and pay a deposit or first term fees to secure the place by a stated deadline. Make sure you obtain a written offer showing the exact programme (e.g., national curriculum vs. IB/IGCSE/AP track), the amount and deadline for any deposit, what the deposit covers (tuition vs. holding fee), and the refund conditions if you later decide not to enrol. 5. Complete enrolment: paperwork, medical & boarding arrangements. Before the start of term parents must submit final documentation (originals of identity documents, recent health/medical certificates, vaccination records where required), complete fee payment as agreed, and confirm boarding, transport and meal arrangements if relevant. Expect the school to request a student health check and to confirm dormitory allocation and wardrobe/uniform lists during this stage. 6. If you are not offered a place: next steps and reapplication. If a child is not initially admitted, families can ask whether the school maintains an internal waiting list or whether they should register for the municipal “补录/征集志愿” (supplementary enrolment) process that runs after first offers are accepted. Parents should keep copies of all application materials, check deadlines for supplementary rounds, and enquire with the admissions office about chances for mid‑year entry or transfer (“插班”) into the grade if places open.
Scholarships	Scholarships The BIS website and its published 2025–2026 tuition sheet do not advertise a scholarship or formal bursary programme. The school's published fees page shows tuition levels, an application fee and a small set of published discounts: an annual tuition discount of RMB 6,000 for families who pay the full tuition amount and an early‑enrolment discount of RMB 3,000 for families who enrol and pay in full before January 31st. Other routine charges shown on the fee sheet include a resources fee, insurance, uniform, bedding (for very young children), lunch/snack fees and bus charges — but no merit or need‑based scholarship schemes are listed. If you are looking for financial assistance, sibling/family discounts, or exceptional-case support, contact the admissions office to ask if any unpublished arrangements exist (admissions@bisgz.com).	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist BIS states that admissions are open during the school year and that places are allocated with respect to class size limits (Nursery/Reception and Year 1 usually smaller sections). The school website's admissions information notes open intake and class-size constraints but does not provide a formal ‘waitlist' policy on the BIS site itself. Independent listings (International Schools Database) report that a waiting list has been used at times — specifically they note a waiting list for Pre‑Nursery because of high demand and they recommend early registration (they also say families are encouraged to register before July 31st for a new academic year). Because waiting‑list practice can change quickly, I recommend contacting admissions directly (admissions@bisgz.com) to confirm whether a waitlist is operating for the year group you need and what steps (deposit, application form) secure a place on the list.	Waitlist Guangdong Country Garden School's intake process differs by programme: for municipal (compulsory) grades the citywide admissions platform handles the main offers and any subsequent ‘补录' or ‘征集志愿' (supplementary rounds) when places are vacated; families must follow the municipal timetable and rules for those rounds. For the school's international/fee‑paying tracks the school commonly operates its own screening, maintains waiting lists for oversubscribed grades, and admits students on a rolling or “插班” basis when vacancies occur. Public, year‑to‑year details about waitlist ranking, application retention period, or whether the school publishes a ranked waiting list are not routinely published on third‑party listings; parents should ask the admissions office directly for the current policy, how the school notifies waitlisted families, and any deadlines to accept/decline an offer during the supplementary rounds.
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