Britannica International School vs Lucton School Shanghai

	B Britannica International School Shanghai, China	L Lucton School Shanghai Shanghai, China
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year RMB 252,300 - 356,700	Fees / year RMB 195,000 - 255,000
Age range	Age range 1½ - 18 years	Age range 12 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational (boarding)
Curriculum	Curriculum British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels, Pearson Edexcel IGCSE	Curriculum British Curriculum, EYFS (Early years foundation stage), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels
Pupils	Pupils —	Pupils —
Typical class size	Typical class size 10	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English, Mandarin
Opened	Opened 2013	Opened 2018
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Britannica International School is in Gubei (Puxi), at 1988 Gubei Road near Wuzhong Road — a centrally located site about 10 minutes from Xujiahui CBD and roughly 15 minutes from the former French Concession. The school is inside the city (easy for downtown accommodation) and is served by multiple school-bus routes and short commute times.	Location Lucton School Shanghai is in Pudong New Area, at 90 Puhong West Road (上海浦东新区浦红西路90号) on a dedicated boarding campus. The school site and contact page list this postal address and campus location. For practical commuting or public-transport details the website does not give a full schedule — contact admissions for current travel advice.
Stages	Stages The school covers Early Years through Sixth Form: Early Years (18 months–5 years), Primary (Key Stage 1: ages 5–7; Key Stage 2: 7–11) and Secondary (Key Stage 3: 11–13; Key Stage 4 / IGCSE: 14–16; Sixth Form / A-Level: 16–18).	Stages Lucton is an upper‑school (Year 10–13) serving students aged about 14–18: Years 10–11 follow two‑year IGCSE courses and Years 12–13 follow two‑year A Level courses. The admissions booklet and curriculum pages set out the IGCSE and A Level structure.
School type	School type Britannica is a British international day school delivering the English National Curriculum; students are educated together (co-educational). The school's materials and handbooks describe a day-school model (no boarding provision is listed on the school website).	School type The school is an independent, full‑boarding, mixed‑gender (boys and girls) British‑curriculum school. The admissions material and the boarding pages describe Lucton as a 100% boarding school for its student cohort.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support The school runs a dedicated English as an Additional Language (EAL) programme and reports specialist EAL teachers and withdrawal sessions where needed. For additional learning needs the Primary handbook describes an inclusive approach: pupils are supported in mainstream classes by qualified teachers and teaching assistants and, where necessary, follow individualised programmes. Pastoral care and regular assessment are used to identify and plan support.	Additional learning support The school offers ESL (English as a Second Language) support and an academic/pastoral team (academic tutors, house staff and a school nurse) with supervised study and evening prep. The school's public materials do not describe extended special‑needs provision, and an independent school directory notes the school is not currently able to recruit students with significant special learning needs — parents with specific SEN requirements should contact admissions to discuss individual cases.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation The school is British in curriculum and ownership: it delivers the English National Curriculum, prepares students for IGCSE and A Level, and states it is British‑owned and British‑managed.	Country affiliation Lucton School Shanghai follows a British curriculum and is presented as an extension of the Lucton (UK) tradition; the school materials link the Shanghai campus to Lucton's UK history and curriculum model.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation No religious affiliation is listed on the school's public pages; the school presents itself as a secular British international school.	Religious affiliation The school's published materials do not indicate any religious affiliation; Lucton Shanghai presents itself as a secular British‑curriculum boarding school.
School day structure	School day structure The published school hours list the day school as 08:20–15:00 with After School Activities 15:00–16:00; the FAQs note buses start arriving from about 08:00, a registration period around 08:20, and formal lessons beginning at 08:40, with a morning break and lunch.	School day structure A typical weekday timetable (example from the school booklet) shows breakfast 07:10–08:10, lessons from 08:10 with breaks and staggered lunches, co‑curricular/activity blocks from around 16:40–18:20, supper 18:20–19:00, evening prep 19:00–20:00, free time 20:00–21:30 and lights‑out at about 22:30. The admissions booklet provides this sample timetable and a more detailed school timetable in the handbooks.
Bus service details	Bus service details The school operates a comprehensive door‑to‑door bus service with many routes across the city; routes and pick‑up/drop‑off times are updated as families join. Buses meet local safety regulations, and each bus is supervised by a bilingual bus monitor who is also a school teaching assistant; the service is optional and charged separately. Specific route stop lists are published on the school site.	Bus service details The school notes shuttle/coach transport is used for off‑campus activities such as sports and trips, and the boarding handbook sets out arrival/drop‑off procedures for return days. The website and handbooks do not list a regular daily commuter bus route for day pupils (the school is 100% boarding), so parents should contact the admissions office for specific transport arrangements, schedules or third‑party providers.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Tuition fees (Academic Year 2025–26) - Pre-Nursery: Autumn RMB 100,900 • Spring RMB 75,700 • Summer RMB 75,700 • Total (3 instalments) RMB 252,300 • Paid in full (by 1 Aug, 3% discount) RMB 244,700. - Nursery: Autumn RMB 105,700 • Spring RMB 79,300 • Summer RMB 79,300 • Total RMB 264,300 • Paid in full RMB 256,400. - Reception: Autumn RMB 112,700 • Spring RMB 84,600 • Summer RMB 84,600 • Total RMB 281,900 • Paid in full RMB 273,500. - Year 1–2: Autumn RMB 124,000 • Spring RMB 93,200 • Summer RMB 93,200 • Total RMB 310,400 • Paid in full RMB 301,100. - Year 3–4: Autumn RMB 124,000 • Spring RMB 93,200 • Summer RMB 93,200 • Total RMB 310,400 • Paid in full RMB 301,100. - Year 5–6: Autumn RMB 127,600 • Spring RMB 95,800 • Summer RMB 95,800 • Total RMB 319,200 • Paid in full RMB 309,700. - Year 7–9: Autumn RMB 135,700 • Spring RMB 101,800 • Summer RMB 101,800 • Total RMB 339,300 • Paid in full RMB 329,100. - Year 10–11: Autumn RMB 139,100 • Spring RMB 104,400 • Summer RMB 104,400 • Total RMB 347,900 • Paid in full RMB 337,500. - Year 12–13: Autumn RMB 142,700 • Spring RMB 107,000 • Summer RMB 107,000 • Total RMB 356,700 • Paid in full RMB 346,000. Application, registration and deposit - Registration fee (non‑refundable on acceptance): RMB 2,500. - Enrolment deposit payable on acceptance: RMB 20,000. The RMB 20,000 deposit is credited against the next term's tuition; a place is not guaranteed until the deposit is paid. Billing schedule and payment terms - Autumn term and annual fees are due by 1 August. Parents may pay termly in advance or pay the full annual fee by 1 August to receive a 3% discount. - Overdue fees may incur a 2% monthly surcharge, compounded monthly. - If fees are unpaid, the school may withhold attendance and may reallocate the place at latest two weeks before term starts. Boarding fees - No boarding fees are listed. There is no boarding provision indicated in the school fee schedule. Other costs and optional charges - School uniform and PE kit: required and sold at the uniform shop (costs borne by parents). - School lunch (mandatory): RMB 31 per meal and RMB 4 per snack; invoiced by the school caterer and paid directly to the caterer. - School bus (optional): RMB 160 per day — payable termly or annually. - EAL or additional learning support: charged separately as required (dependent on individual needs). - Tuition for Year 10 and above includes public examination entrance fees. Refunds and withdrawal - Before 18 May: full refund. - Before 1 July: tuition refund less the RMB 20,000 deposit. - After 1 July: six weeks' tuition fee from the Autumn term payment is payable (no full refund). - Leaving mid‑year: six weeks' notice is required or six weeks' fees payable in lieu of notice. - Mid‑year refund calculations are based on the standard fee (early‑payment discount not considered). Sibling discounts - Second child: 5% discount; Third child: 5% discount. Payment methods and bank details - Payment is accepted in RMB or USD at the prevailing exchange rate. Parents are responsible for all overseas transfer charges and should ensure the pupil's name is quoted on transfer details. - RMB and USD bank account details and beneficiary/SWIFT information are provided by the school's finance office (see the school fee schedule for the account and SWIFT fields).	Fee details Application fees - Admission deposit (入学意向金): RMB 20,000. This deposit is non‑refundable and is credited against the first year's tuition once the student enrolls. Tuition fees (annual and per‑term equivalents) - Annual tuition: RMB 195,000 per academic year. The school's published fee schedule shows a single annual tuition for its secondary/IGCSE–A Level programme rather than different tariffs by year group. - Termly equivalent: the school requires full‑year payment and does not publish termly billing; as an arithmetic equivalent (not published by the school), RMB 195,000 divided into three equal terms would be RMB 65,000 per term. (The school's published policy is to collect the full annual tuition.) Billing schedule and payment terms - The school states that parents are required to pay one year's tuition in a single payment (one‑off annual payment). The admission deposit is payable to secure a place and is non‑refundable. No separate termly billing schedule is published. Boarding and catering fees - Boarding fee (annual): RMB 34,700 per year. - Meals / catering fee (annual): RMB 25,300 per year. Other costs and charges - The following are explicitly stated as not included in the published tuition and are charged separately as applicable: private music tuition, school uniform, personal sports equipment, textbooks, external examination fees, and school trips or activities outside the published teaching programme. The school issues bills or separate notices for these items and charges according to the student's actual participation. A sibling discount of 20% on annual tuition for direct siblings is listed. Refund information - The admission deposit of RMB 20,000 is non‑refundable (it is offset against the first year's tuition after enrollment). No further published general refund schedule for tuition or boarding is provided on the school's fee page. Fee payment options - The school's published fee page does not specify accepted payment methods (for example, bank transfer, credit card or other channels) or detailed invoicing instructions. Payment method details are not listed on the published fee page.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements The school operates a 7×24-hour fully boarding environment. Students live on campus in a two-storey dormitory with floors designated for male and female housing. Each student has a single-bedroom with a bed, desk, and private storage; bathrooms are located at the end of each floor. A Director of Life and Student Care lives on the dormitory floor and works with resident staff and a health teacher to supervise daily life and wellbeing. Leaving the campus requires consent from the Director of Life and Student Care; the dormitory is guarded by security personnel and dormitory rules are published in the boarding handbook.
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement Uniform and PE kit are required; sold at the uniform shop.	Uniform requirement All students wear a school uniform.
Food options	Food options Lunch is provided in the dining hall at 31-35 RMB per meal; vegetarian and medical dietary provisions are accommodated.	Food options The dining hall provides three meals daily, using fresh local ingredients to support growth and health. Menus are varied and regularly updated, with notices posted in the dormitory; themed fixed-menu options are offered to complement the school's Food Science extracurricular course. Boarders are required to eat in the dining hall unless unwell.
House system	House system There are four Houses; all pupils are allocated to a House, and Houses compete in sporting, academic and entertainment activities. The school year comprises three termly championships, with a Cup awarded to the winning House; House events use House T-shirts in the corresponding colour, sold via the uniform shop.	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership The school is owned and operated by Orbital Education; a School Board governs Britannica International School, Shanghai.	Governance and ownership The Shanghai campus is part of Lucton School, a British private school; Shanghai opened in September 2018. The school is a member of accrediting bodies including ISC (Independent Schools Council), BSA (Boarding Schools Association), BAISIS, IAPS, CIE (Cambridge International Examinations), and SofH.
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details Britannica International School, Shanghai follows the English National Curriculum from Early Years through Sixth Form; its Early Years programme (18 months–5 years) uses the British Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). In Primary (Key Stage 1–2, Years 1–6) the school delivers the English National Curriculum with specialist teaching beginning in Reception (including languages, swimming and music). Secondary is organised as Key Stage 3 (Years 7–9) and Key Stage 4 (Years 10–11), with Key Stage 4 leading to externally examined IGCSE qualifications. The Sixth Form (ages 16–18) is a two‑year programme preparing students for AS/A2 and A‑Level examinations, typically taken in 3–4 subjects for university entry. Alongside the core curriculum the school provides an extensive World Languages programme (Mandarin, Korean, Japanese, French, Italian, Spanish, Hebrew) and English-as-an-additional-language (EAL) support.	Curriculum details Lucton School Shanghai follows a British secondary pathway: Years 10–11 study IGCSE and Years 12–13 study two‑year A‑Level programmes, with ESL support for English learners. The IGCSE offer (Years 10–11) includes core academic English, Chinese and Mathematics and a broad range of options such as Additional Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Business, Economics, Computer Science, Design & Technology, Art & Design, Music, PE, Global Perspectives, Psychology, Drama and Japanese. At A Level (Years 12–13) students normally take three to four subjects from options including English, Chinese, Mathematics and Further Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Economics, Business, Computer Science, Design & Technology, Art & Design, Psychology, Music, Drama and modern languages; the school also offers an extended independent research qualification (EPQ/IPQ) and academic English preparation. Examinations are taken through standard UK international exam boards (Cambridge/CAIE, Edexcel and Oxford AQA) and the school is listed as an authorised centre for A‑Level examinations. The academic programme is complemented by STEAM, sports, music and other co‑curricular activities and is delivered in a full‑boarding, small‑cohort secondary setting for Years 10–13.
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 Britannica describes personalised pastoral care as central to its approach: pupils are known by every teacher, form teachers act as the daily communication link with parents, and small classes (often with teaching assistants) are used to support individual growth. The school says UK‑qualified staff regularly assess students' needs and progress against UK standards to guide personalised support. The site highlights designated pastoral leadership in both Primary and Secondary (including a Deputy Head of Secondary responsible for Pastoral Care). Recent school news also describes whole‑school wellbeing events (Global Wellbeing Week) that include assemblies, mindfulness activities and reflective workshops.	Social & emotional learning The school describes a boarding-based pastoral environment that encourages daily peer communication, mutual support and shared responsibility as part of students' social development. It states that boarding life and house structures foster communication skills and a supportive community. Lucton also operates a tutor/mentor system and housemaster oversight to guide students academically and pastorally. The admissions and ‘why choose us' information specifies that each student is assigned a tutor, a housemaster and receives ongoing mentor support.
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) The school's admissions information states it is non‑selective but that the admissions team will consider whether the school can meet any specific learning needs when assessing applications. Staff profiles on the site show individual teachers with formal SEN training or experience (for example, a teacher who trained as an SEN teacher and staff with SEN co‑ordinator experience). The website does not publish a detailed list of the specific types of special educational needs it can support. The school's website does not present Britannica as a specialist SEN institution; there is no statement describing it as a specialist SEN school.	Special educational needs (SEN) The school's official website does not publish a dedicated page describing specialist SEN (special educational needs) provision or a named learning-support department. Lucton's site discusses pastoral care and tutor/house systems but does not detail which types of SEN it can support or list specialist SEN staff. Independent school listings indicate the school currently does not provide dedicated staff/programmes for students with special learning needs. Because the school's own site does not specify SEN provision, further details should be requested directly from admissions.
English as an additional language	English as an additional language Britannica states it delivers a comprehensive English as an Additional Language (EAL) programme taught by specialist, experienced teachers and that all students are assessed for reading, writing and speaking on entry and throughout their time at school. Classroom teaching is differentiated and, in Secondary, students are placed in ability groups for English support; the duration and intensity of support vary by individual need. The school's leadership biographies also note staff with formal EAL training and coordination experience. The website emphasises a tailored approach to each student's English development rather than a single uniform programme.	English as an additional language Lucton Shanghai publishes an ESL page stating that ESL is a required course for students whose first language is not English and is an integral part of the school's curriculum. The site says ESL provision and hours are decided by the admissions committee with parental agreement and that students with weaker English are offered one-to-one or small-group tuition. The page also notes students are prepared for English proficiency tests such as IELTS and TOEFL as part of university preparation. A downloadable ESL course description is available from the school's academic pages.
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing The school's published news describes recurring wellbeing initiatives (Global Wellbeing Week) that include mindfulness workshops, assemblies, self‑care activities, physical exercise and reflective projects across Early Years, Primary and Secondary. Pastoral materials state the school aims to create an environment where children feel comfortable discussing worries and where teachers monitor welfare closely. Staff training and the pastoral structure (form teachers, year leads and pastoral leaders) are presented as mechanisms to identify and respond to students' emotional needs. The website therefore documents both curriculum‑linked and extra‑curricular activities aimed at supporting students' mental wellbeing.	Mental wellbeing The school states it has an on-site medical room with resident medical staff who register students' health on admission and manage medications. Pastoral pages and the school's stated philosophy emphasise proactive pastoral care and a tutor/housemaster system to guide students and respond to needs. Recent news items on the site refer to the school supporting students through exam periods and balancing academic pressure with community activities. The website does not, however, publish a separate, detailed counselling or clinical-psychology service description. For details about specialist mental-health support or external referrals, contact the school directly.
Safeguarding	Safeguarding The school's Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy (published on the website) names the Designated Safeguarding Lead (Anthony O'Brien) and Deputy DSL (Katherine Mustoe), requires all staff to complete approved child protection training, and sets out safer‑recruitment checks, reporting procedures and record‑keeping. The policy cites UK safeguarding guidance, requires annual policy review and explicitly describes staff responsibilities for reporting concerns and keeping accurate records. The school requires DBS or equivalent police checks and mandates regular staff training and induction on safeguarding procedures. These elements are documented in the school's published Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy.	Safeguarding The school's published statements of ethos and pastoral information affirm a commitment to pastoral care and to preventing harassment, bullying (including online) and other unacceptable behaviours. Admissions and pastoral pages describe a tutor/housemaster structure and residential supervision that form part of day-to-day child welfare arrangements. The medical-room policy and registration process are presented as part of student care and safety procedures. The website does not appear to publish a standalone child-protection or safeguarding policy document; for formal policy texts and named safeguarding leads the school directs enquiries to its contact and admissions offices.
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview The school operates from a purpose-built campus in the heart of the city. The building features state-of-the-art classrooms, specialist science and technology rooms, a library, ICT suites and a 250-seat theatre. Premier sporting facilities include a swimming pool, a sports hall, astro turf, tennis courts, and basketball and netball courts. The campus is located at 1988 Gubei Road near Wuzhong Road, Shanghai 201103.	Facilities overview Three teaching blocks house 20 classrooms and laboratories plus specialty spaces for creative work. A 303-seat multipurpose hall hosts lectures, music performances and drama. A music center next to the hall provides seven practice rooms and rehearsal spaces. A two-storey open library offers flexible spaces for group work and independent study. The campus includes an indoor gym, a climbing wall, a rooftop basketball court, tennis courts and a central playing field, with design and technology classrooms equipped with advanced equipment and flexible breakout areas. Boarding houses provide 184 single rooms with common areas and teacher accommodation; the dining hall seats over 120 and AV/tech infrastructure supports the whole campus.
Sports facilities	Sports facilities The school provides premier sporting facilities including a swimming pool, a sports hall, astro turf, tennis courts, and basketball and netball courts.	Sports facilities The indoor gym, a dedicated fitness center and a climbing wall provide indoor physical activity options. A rooftop basketball court and on-site tennis courts extend outdoor play. A central playing field supports team sports and PE programs.
Academic facilities	Academic facilities The school provides state-of-the-art classrooms, specialist science and technology rooms, a library, ICT suites and a 250-seat theatre.	Academic facilities Three teaching blocks include 20 classrooms and laboratories. Design and technology classrooms are equipped with advanced equipment and flexible breakout spaces. A two-storey open library offers spaces for group work and independent study.
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities The school offers a broad programme of after-school activities, with over 100 co-curricular activities available weekly, including sports, arts, languages and expeditions.	Extra curricular facilities The on-site facilities support a broad program of extracurriculars across music, drama and the arts. There are dedicated spaces for music practice, performances and drama productions. STEAM labs and other flexible spaces support extended project work and clubs. The Shanghai Lucton School Equestrian Centre provides equestrian activities. Sports facilities support on-site activities, including the gym, climbing wall, rooftop court, tennis courts and central field.
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History Britannica International School, Shanghai opened in 2013 and is part of the Orbital Education group, a UK-headquartered organisation that owns and operates a network of British-style international schools. Orbital Education — founded by Kevin McNeany — established Britannica as a British-owned and managed school and provides governance and operational support from its UK office. In its first year the school registered as a Cambridge International School and soon thereafter began graduating its first IGCSE cohort (milestones and early accreditations are recorded on the school site). The school's public materials note a sequence of curriculum and accreditation developments in the years after opening that shaped its early history.	History Lucton's roots trace back to the original Lucton School in Herefordshire, England, which was founded in 1708; the Shanghai campus presents itself as an overseas branch of that historic school. The Shanghai campus was planned from 2016 and opened in September 2018 as Lucton School Shanghai. Since opening it has maintained formal links with the UK school—UK governors and senior staff took part in the 2018 opening and leaders from the UK have visited the Shanghai campus. These points are described on the school's history and news pages and in coverage of the 2018 opening.
Community	Community The school describes a multicultural student body and emphasizes language and cultural programmes as part of school life; recent communications highlight an expanding World Languages programme, language fairs and cultural celebrations that involve students and families. Termly events and seasonal occasions — for example concerts and end-of-term celebrations cited in the school's news archive — are used as community gatherings where families and staff interact. Britannica's parent-facing pages and news posts also point to open days and family-facing activities as regular opportunities for community engagement.	Community Lucton Shanghai is structured as a full‑boarding secondary community and the school's website and news feed show regular campus news, term events and celebration days. The school marks an annual Founders'/Founding Day tied to the opening date (early September) and publishes weekly campus updates and event reports; visits from staff of the UK school have been recorded in the school's news coverage. Boarding life, scheduled weekends and co‑curricular programmes are recurring features of the community calendar described in the school's news and activities pages.
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association The school's publicly available website does not publish a dedicated Parent Teacher Association page or a named PTA committee with officer contacts; instead it provides a Parent Zone with resources for families and an admissions/contact route for parent enquiries. Parent involvement appears in practice through participation in open days, concerts, language and cultural events and other school-wide activities described in the news and events sections. News items and programme descriptions indicate parents are invited to attend term concerts, seasonal celebrations and language/cultural showcases, and the Parent Zone is the primary online resource the school lists for family information. For specific details about a formal PTA (committee structure, meeting schedules, volunteering roles or fundraising groups) the school directs parents to contact the admissions or school office; the Contact Us page gives the school's admissions email and phone number. In short: public web materials show active family engagement via events and the Parent Zone but do not provide a public PTA constitution or committee list — you may want to contact admissions to request current PTA details or to learn how to join parent groups.	Parent teacher association There is no publicly accessible page on Lucton School Shanghai's website that describes a formal, named Parent‑Teacher Association (PTA). Parent engagement that is publicly documented includes open days and "校长见面会" (principal meetings) for families, the school's Founders'/Founding Day celebrations, and regular parent communications through the school newsfeed and announcements. These parent‑facing events (open days/principal meetings) are described in the school's admissions and news material, and the school's principal has addressed parents in posted messages. For confirmation about an organised PTA, parent committees, volunteer groups or a calendar of parent activities, the most direct route is to contact the school's admissions/admin office (email and phone are listed on the site). If you'd like, I can draft an email or phone script to request specific PTA details from the school.
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual Britannica Shanghai follows the English National Curriculum for students aged 18 months to 18 years and is part of the Orbital Education group. It offers an A-Level Programme that follows the English National Curriculum, with students typically studying three to four subjects during a two-year A-Level course, supporting progression to higher education. The school emphasises small class sizes to identify, nurture, and celebrate excellence in each child.	Academic & intellectual The school follows English-style teaching and offers small class sizes with a flexible learning approach. It continues the British teaching tradition and emphasizes strong student participation and autonomy.
Arts & creative	Arts & creative The Co-curricular Programme provides a broad range of activities, with over 140 after-school options including robotics, cooking club, and drama.	Arts & creative The school provides facilities for drama, music, arts, and other creative pursuits, including an on-site cinema and dedicated music practice rooms.
Cultural & language	Cultural & language The World Language Programme offers native language lessons in Mandarin, Korean, French, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Hebrew and Portuguese, delivered by specialist native-speaking teachers.	Cultural & language The school runs ESL English courses for non-native speakers as part of the curriculum, with additional IELTS/TOEFL preparation to support university applications.
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies Over 140 after-school activities enable students to explore interests outside the classroom, including robotics, cooking, and drama.	Social & hobbies The campus offers a wide range of co-curricular activities under its extended program, including sports and arts, with access to facilities like a university-style campus environment.
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service The school articulates a pastoral framework with dormitory life and a mentor system to support students beyond academics.
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional The school assigns a dedicated course teacher, a dorm supervisor, and a mentor to each student to guide balanced study and activities.
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing Yoga is among the co-curricular activities, supporting student wellbeing.	Lifestyle & wellbeing The school operates a 100% boarding environment with dormitory management and a family-like school culture intended to support student well-being.
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision The school uses English as the language of instruction and places English fluency at the centre of learning, with English as an Additional Language support for non-native speakers. Mandarin is a mandatory subject for Early Years through KS3 and is offered as an option for IGCSE and A Level; in Early Years, Primary and KS3 Mandarin is taught daily, and Secondary students have four Mandarin lessons per week for examination courses. The World Languages Programme provides native-language lessons in Mandarin, Korean, French, Italian, Spanish, Japanese and Hebrew, taught by specialist native-speaking teachers. A Native Language Programme supports native Mandarin, Korean, Japanese, French, Italian, Spanish, Hebrew or Portuguese speakers from Reception onward.	Language provision The school teaches in English with dedicated ESL support for non-native speakers and offers additional language study through its extension program.
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching The school uses a bilingual holistic education with an immersion model blending British and Chinese pedagogies.
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs The school employs an immersion model of education.
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards For the five-year period covering 31 December 2021–31 December 2025 the school website does not list conventional standalone "school award" wins (for example "School of the Year" style awards) other than external accreditations/quality marks and one-off recognitions reported in its news posts. I searched the school site's news and accreditations pages and found the following external recognitions given to the school during that period (these are awarded to the school, not individual students): - COBIS re-accreditation (18 November 2025) — re‑accreditation by the Council of British International Schools, reported as the outcome of a 2025 inspection (this is an external accreditation/re-accreditation reported in the school's news). - Primary Geography Quality Mark (reaccreditation, September 2023) — the Geographical Association's Primary Geography Quality Mark was reaccredited to the school, recognising the quality and impact of its primary geography curriculum. - ALFRI / Bell Foundation EAL accreditation (March 2022) — Language for Results International (ALFRI/Bell Foundation) accreditation for the school's EAL provision; reported on the school site as an external accreditation/quality mark. - SAT testing centre accreditation (18 November 2022) — the school reports it became an accredited SAT test centre, enabling on‑site administration of the SAT for students applying to US universities. Other recognitions on the school site in that time window: the school was shortlisted for the TES International School Awards 2025 (Curriculum Initiative of the Year) — that item is a shortlisting/nomination reported in November 2025, not a winning award on the school site, so I have not listed it as a win. If you would like, I can: - extract the exact dates and full text of each news item or accreditation report; or - check external organisation sites (COBIS, CIS, Geographical Association, Bell Foundation, College Board) for their official statements/reports about the school (useful if you want independent verification beyond the school site).	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations Below are the accreditations and external quality marks listed on the school's website, each with a one-line explanation of what it is and why it matters (source: Britannica International School – Accreditations and related news pages). - COBIS (Council of British International Schools) — COBIS membership/accreditation indicates the school meets standards of British international schooling and is part of a UK-based quality-assurance and professional network for British international schools. - BSO (British Schools Overseas) — BSO is an inspection scheme run via the UK Department for Education for British-style schools abroad; a BSO inspection confirms the school meets standards comparable to independent schools in England. - CIS (Council of International Schools) — CIS accreditation is an international quality-assurance process showing the school meets recognised standards for international education, global citizenship and continuous improvement. - Cambridge Assessment International Education (Cambridge International) — recognition/approval to deliver Cambridge qualifications (IGCSEs etc.), which are widely recognised international academic qualifications. - Pearson Edexcel — approval to deliver Pearson/Edexcel qualifications (GCSEs/A‑levels), indicating the school is authorised to offer these internationally recognised exam programmes. - ALFRI / Bell Foundation accreditation for EAL (Language for Results International) — an external accreditation that evaluates and recognises the quality of provision for learners who use English as an additional language (EAL). - Primary Geography Quality Mark (Geographical Association) — an external quality mark recognising high standards in geography leadership, curriculum development and teaching in the primary phase. - The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award (DofE) — the school is registered to deliver the DofE programme, indicating it runs the internationally recognised youth development programme for Bronze/Silver/Gold participation. - SAT testing centre accreditation (College Board/SAT) — the school is an accredited on‑campus SAT test centre, meaning students can take the SAT at the school site for US university admissions. Note: these entries are taken from the school's official accreditations page and related news items on the Britannica International School (Shanghai) website. The accreditations page lists BSO, COBIS, Cambridge, Edexcel, DofE, ALFRI (Bell Foundation) and the Geographical Association quality mark; separate news posts confirm LFRI/ALFRI (March 2022), SAT testing centre status (Nov 18, 2022), the Primary Geography Quality Mark reaccreditation (Sep 2023) and a COBIS re-accreditation news item (Nov 18, 2025).	Accreditations Below are the accreditations/memberships the school lists on its website (the school's own page is cited first). Each line includes a brief, factual explanation of the organisation and why membership matters. - ISC — Independent Schools Council. The school's site lists ISC membership; ISC is an umbrella body for UK independent school associations that represents and coordinates standards, advocacy and sector services for member schools. - BSA — Boarding Schools' Association. Listed on the school site; the BSA (part of the BSA Group) provides professional development, boarding-sector guidance and best-practice resources for boarding schools. Membership signals engagement with UK boarding standards and CPD. - BAISIS — British Association of Independent Schools with International Students. Listed on the school site; BAISIS focuses on academic and pastoral practice for schools that recruit international students and runs training and peer-support for member schools. Membership indicates the school participates in that network and its international-student-focused CPD. - IAPS — Independent Association of Prep Schools. Listed on the school site; IAPS is an association for independent preparatory schools that provides guidance, inspection and sector support—membership is commonly used as a marker of conformity with its membership criteria and quality monitoring. - CIE — Cambridge (Cambridge Assessment) / Cambridge International. Listed on the school site; Cambridge Assessment International Education (often shown as CIE) is a major international exam and qualification provider (IGCSE, A-Level syllabuses/exams). Association/recognition by Cambridge indicates the school teaches and/or registers students for those externally set assessments. - SoH / SofH — The Society of Heads (often abbreviated S of H). Listed on the school site; the Society of Heads is a UK association of heads of independent schools that provides networking, professional discussion and sector representation. Membership signals association with that heads' network.
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions 1. Enquiry and school tour — Start by contacting the Admissions team to request an enquiry, book a tour or join an open day so you and your child can see the campus and meet staff. During this visit the admissions staff will discuss your child's needs, explain the curriculum, transport and routines, and introduce you to the Principal or Head of Phase; use the visit to check whether the school's organisation and timetables fit your family logistics. If you are overseas the school can arrange a virtual tour and a meeting with the relevant head of phase. 2. Complete the online application and upload documents — When you decide to apply you must submit the online application form and upload the specified documents: child's birth certificate, child and parent passports, child and parent residence permits/work permits, recent school report, immunisation record, medical insurance card and a passport photo. The admissions portal stays open for your admissions journey so you can upload documents and track progress, but you cannot edit submitted forms after signing. Note: if a year group is already full and you meet entry requirements, the school will place the child on the waiting list only once the registration fee has been paid. 3. Assessment and second visit — After the application and paperwork are received the school arranges a formal assessment and usually a meeting with the Principal (or relevant Head) to evaluate academic readiness, communication and social interaction. Assessment format depends on age: EYFS children have informal observations (and sometimes a trial day), Years 1–9 typically sit a non-verbal reasoning (NVR) test (with additional drawing assessments in early primary), Years 10–11 have NVR plus English and Maths assessments, and Years 12–13 require evidence of prior externally accredited results (IGCSE equivalence). The Admissions Policy says assessment outcomes and any observed support needs will be discussed with parents; if further evidence is needed the school may invite a trial day or ask for more school reports. 4. Offer, registration and deposit — If the child meets the school's entry criteria and passes the assessment, the Principal issues an offer. To accept a place you will be asked to pay a non-refundable registration fee and an enrolment deposit; the standard registration fee and the deposit amounts and terms are published in the school fees schedule (the 2025–26 fees document shows a RMB 2,500 registration fee and a RMB 20,000 enrolment deposit that is credited against the next term's tuition). The admissions documents and the school's admissions policy explain timing: registration and deposit secure the place, the deposit is refundable subject to the school's refund and notice conditions, and full fee payment deadlines are specified in the fees schedule.	Admissions 1. Submit the online application and documents. Parents should complete the school's application form and upload required documents through the school's application portal (the site links to luctonstaff.schoolis.cn). Prepare scanned copies of current school reports, passport/ID and any English-language evidence (transcripts, certificates) before you start so the upload step is smooth. 2. Testing and interviews arranged by the admissions office. After you submit the application the school arranges the UKiset online test (the school references the official UKiset site for details), a student oral test and a parent interview; the school lists the test/interview location as Lucton School Shanghai (Pudong). Expect the admissions office to notify you of test dates and the materials the student should prepare (e.g., reading/writing tasks, short presentation or portfolio for arts candidates). 3. Admissions committee review and decision. The school's admissions committee evaluates the application, test results and interview; successful applicants receive either conditional or unconditional offers. If offered a place parents must sign the admissions agreement and pay the non-refundable RMB 20,000 enrollment intention deposit by the specified date — that deposit is credited against the first year's tuition once the student enrolls. 4. Waitlist or non‑acceptance outcomes. The school states that if intake is full applicants will be placed on a waiting list; applicants who do not meet the entrance standard will be informed that they are not accepted. Parents should note the school's wording that placement on the waiting list occurs when places are full, and should keep the admissions office informed of any change in the child's circumstances (e.g., updated reports or test results) while waiting. 5. Final enrolment steps before term starts. Once the tuition payment deadline is met and documents/forms are returned, the school will confirm enrolment and invite the family to the school's orientation/enrolment guidance day; the site also notes that tuition for the year is normally collected in a single payment. Parents should check the school's invoice and receipts carefully, and be ready to pay additional out-of-fee items (books, private music lessons, extracurricular trips) which are billed separately.
Scholarships	Scholarships The school has run scholarship opportunities in the past (examples published on the school website include a 2019 Secondary Scholarship Day offering up to 100% scholarships for some secondary entry years and a 2019 announcement of a 50% tuition scholarship for certain Year 10 and Year 12 entrants). Those items are event/news postings from 2019 and describe specific, time‑limited scholarship campaigns rather than a standing, published scholarship programme. The current Admissions and Fees pages do not present an ongoing, school‑wide scholarship scheme, and there is no separate, regularly updated scholarships page on the site; therefore, if you are interested in any scholarship or fee‑assistance options you should contact the Admissions office directly (admissions@britannicashanghai.com or +86 21 6402 7889) to request the latest information and to ask whether any assessments or scholarship days are being offered at the moment.	Scholarships The school publishes a formal scholarship programme with several named categories and clear percentage reductions of tuition. Awards are described as requiring selection by exam and interview and applicants must meet entrance requirements; the main categories listed are: the Peirpont (皮尔蓬特) all-round scholarship (100% tuition reduction), an academic scholarship (50% tuition reduction), and a set of specialist scholarships — arts, music, sports and equestrian — each described as giving 20% off annual tuition. For many categories the page lists required supporting materials for the selection process (examples include transcripts and competition certificates for academic awards; portfolios and recommendation letters for arts; multiple instrument certificates and performance for music; competition records and a recommendation for sports; training videos, certificates and a recommendation for equestrian candidates). All scholarships are awarded as a percentage reduction of tuition (the page states they apply to the tuition component) and the school says awards are reviewed annually — continuation into subsequent years depends on meeting the school's performance expectations. For application deadlines, the scholarship application form and any current availability, the school asks families to contact the admissions office directly.
Waitlist	Waitlist Britannica operates a waiting list if a year group is full: applicants who meet the entry requirements are placed on the waiting list provided the registration fee has been paid. Priority on the waiting list is explicitly set out in the Admissions Policy: siblings of current students, returning students, sister‑school children, staff children and native first‑language English speakers receive priority, followed by other applicants based on completion of the admission process. The Admissions Policy and fees documents also state that an enrolment deposit (paid on acceptance) guarantees a place once paid and that families may register up to a year in advance subject to completing the full admissions process. For exact position on the list and timing you should confirm with the Admissions team, as places are reallocated if fees are unpaid before term start.	Waitlist Lucton School Shanghai operates a waiting list when admissions are full. The school's published process states that when the intake is full an applicant will be placed on a candidate/WAITLIST rather than being offered immediate admission; the site does not publish details such as waitlist order, typical wait times or explicit prioritisation rules. Because the public page gives only this high-level statement, parents who want to understand their child's current position, expected wait time, or whether any deposit is required if/when a place becomes available should contact the admissions office directly (the site lists phone +86 21 5809 3060 and admin@luctonsh.com).
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