Fettes College Guangzhou vs Utahloy International School Zengcheng

	F Fettes College Guangzhou Guangzhou, China	U Utahloy International School Zengcheng Guangzhou, China
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year RMB 100,000 - 150,000	Fees / year RMB 115,000 - 245,000
Age range	Age range 2 - 17 years	Age range 2 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational (boarding)	Type Co-educational, Co-educational (boarding)
Curriculum	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), EYFS (Early years foundation stage), Chinese National Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), IBCP (International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme), IEYC (International Early Years Curriculum), Dutch Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils —	Pupils 200
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language English, Mandarin	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 2020	Opened 2003
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Fettes College Guangzhou is on a large campus in Phoenix City, Nan'an Village, Xintang Town, Zengcheng District, Guangzhou (No. 2 Xinxue Road, postcode 511340). The school is set on a suburban campus about an hour's drive from Guangzhou city centre and Baiyun International Airport, so most families travel to the site by car or school-arranged transport.	Location Utahloy International School Zengcheng (UISZ) is in Xiangshan Community, Zengliang Street, Zengcheng District, Guangzhou — the school's address is No.99 (also shown as No.957 in some older references) Guofeng 1st Street / Tashan Avenue, Zengcheng, postcode 511316. The campus sits in a large, lakeside/botanical setting in Sanjiang Town, about an hour from major cities in Guangdong and roughly two hours to Hong Kong by road, so commuting times can be significant depending on where you live.
Stages	Stages The school is a K–12 provision with an Early Years section plus Primary, Middle and Senior (high school) divisions listed on the school site. Age entry is shown as approximately 2 to 17 years.	Stages UISZ runs a continuous programme from early years / kindergarten through to Year 12 (K–12). The school delivers the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) in primary, the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) in lower secondary, and the IB Diploma Programme (DP) in senior secondary; there is also an option to follow the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) in Years 11–12.
School type	School type FCG is a day and boarding school; the website describes boarding as an integral part of the Fettesian model and details house/boarding staff arrangements. The site presents the school as a full-year K–12 provision (no religious or single‑sex designation is stated).	School type The school is co-educational and offers both day-school places and a residential (boarding) programme; the boarding community is known as Dragon House. UISZ is run by the Utahloy Education Foundation and operates as an international, English-medium school in China.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support The school describes a pastoral ‘humanistic care' system that provides individualised support and wellbeing services; Early Years and other pages note small class sizes and targeted activities (for example sensory-integration work in EY). The website also describes EAL/IELTS support and one-to-one or small-group tutorials for students needing extra help. For specifics about formal SEN assessments or named specialist staff, the school requests enquiries via admissions.	Additional learning support UISZ provides Student Support Services including English-as-an-Additional-Language (EAL/EALL), Special Educational Needs (SEN) support, and counselling; the school describes itself as inclusive and aims to provide individualised support within its resources. The admissions guidance asks parents to declare diagnosed learning needs and supply supporting reports so the school can assess whether it can meet a child's needs.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation Fettes College Guangzhou is a joint venture between Fettes College (UK) and Country Garden (Country Garden Education Group); the partnership and British heritage are stated on the school site.	Country affiliation The school is based in Guangzhou, China, and is part of the Utahloy Education Foundation (UEF) group; it is not affiliated to a foreign government or single-country education system.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation The school site does not list any religious affiliation; its materials present the provision as an international, secular K–12 school.	Religious affiliation UISZ is secular (no religious affiliation).
School day structure	School day structure The website does not publish a standard daily timetable (start/end times or exact break/lunch times) in its public pages. Prospective parents are directed to contact admissions or consult the School Handbook/policies for detailed daily schedules.	School day structure Lesson time generally starts in the early morning (school communications reference activities around 8:15–8:30) and the school day finishes in the mid‑afternoon (third‑party listings typically show finish times around 15:20–15:35). There are the usual morning break(s) and a lunch period; exact start/finish times and daily schedules vary by year group, so check with Admissions for the current term timetable.
Bus service details	Bus service details There is no detailed information about a daily school-bus network or external provider on the public website. If a dedicated bus service or route information is important for your move, contact the admissions team (phone numbers and contact page are on the site) to request current bus routes, pick‑up points and costs.	Bus service details Utahloy operates an optional two‑way school-bus service that covers routes for Guangzhou and the surrounding districts (zones that include parts of Zengcheng), with licensed buses, drivers and bus assistants reported in school information. UISZ posts about regular bus safety drills, and the broader Utahloy schools use a bookings/management system (SchoolsBuddy) for routes and late‑bus arrangements — contact admissions/transport if your compound or neighbourhood is not listed, as new routes are sometimes added.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application fees - The school's public admissions pages do not publish a specific application or non‑refundable registration fee; no application fee is listed on the school's admissions information. Tuition fees (per term and per year group) - Early Years (EY): commonly reported around RMB 120,000 per year (equivalent to approximately RMB 60,000 per semester) in recent school listings. - Primary (compulsory stage): RMB 120,000 per semester — therefore RMB 240,000 per academic year (two semesters). This level is set as a government‑approved semester rate. - Middle / Junior secondary (compulsory stage): RMB 135,000 per semester — therefore RMB 270,000 per academic year. This level is set as a government‑approved semester rate. - Senior / High school: published market‑rate semester ranges are RMB 132,500 to RMB 162,500 per semester; this corresponds to RMB 265,000 to RMB 325,000 per academic year (two semesters). Where applicable, differentiation is reported between day and boarding arrangements. Billing schedule and payment terms - Tuition for the compulsory stages (primary and middle) is charged per semester (semester billing). Several school notices and the official local fee approval state semester billing is the basis for fee collection. Boarding fees (where applicable) - Officially approved boarding charges for the compulsory levels are: Primary boarding RMB 9,000 per semester; Middle boarding RMB 14,000 per semester. - For Senior School there are reported options and different boarding packages: examples published for senior students include day student vs 5‑day and 7‑day boarding differentials (e.g., RMB 132,500 per semester for day; RMB 152,500 for 5‑day boarding; RMB 162,500 for 7‑day boarding in recent reports). Other costs and typical extras - Meal / catering fees are reported per semester as approximately: Primary RMB 9,000; Middle RMB 10,000; Senior RMB 11,000. - Typical one‑off or periodic extras reported in market summaries include: activity / enrichment / international examination or expedition fees (examples around RMB 2,000), and school uniform kit charges (reported examples: Primary ~RMB 3,000 per set; Middle/High ~RMB 3,800 per set in past published lists). Refund information - Refunds and charge‑back calculations for the compulsory (义务教育) stages are governed by Guangdong provincial rules on private school charging and refunding. The provincial rules set out clear refund methodology (for example, pro‑rata refunds based on months in attendance and defined percentages for students who register but do not attend) and require schools to process refunds within statutory timelines. These provincial rules apply to the school's compulsory stages. Fee payment options - The school's public admissions pages and policy pages do not list specific accepted payment channels (for example, named bank accounts, online payment gateways or card acceptance) in the materials available online. Parents are typically expected to observe the school's published invoice / payment instructions at registration. Note: figures above are drawn from the school's admissions information and recent local fee approvals and market summaries; compulsory‑stage semester rates are recorded in the local government fee approval. The entries above present per‑term amounts followed by the corresponding per‑year totals where applicable.	Fee details Application fee - Application fee: RMB 2,000 (one-time, non-refundable / non-transferable when submitted with the application). Tuition fees by year group (annual amounts; day-student basis) - Kindergarten 1 (age 3): RMB 115,000 per year (first year total RMB 117,000 including the one‑time application fee). - Kindergarten 2 (age 4): RMB 115,000 per year. - Kindergarten 3 (age 5): RMB 177,000 per year. - Grade 1 (age 6): RMB 182,000 per year. - Grade 2 (age 7): RMB 188,000 per year. - Grade 3 (age 8): RMB 188,000 per year. - Grade 4 (age 9): RMB 188,000 per year. - Grade 5 (age 10): RMB 188,000 per year. - Grade 6 (age 11): RMB 229,000 per year. - Grade 7 (age 12): RMB 229,000 per year. - Grade 8 (age 13): RMB 229,000 per year. - Grade 9 (age 14): RMB 234,000 per year. - Grade 10 (age 15): RMB 234,000 per year. - Grade 11 (age 16): RMB 245,000 per year. - Grade 12 (age 17): RMB 245,000 per year. Per-term / semester information and what tuition includes - The school operates two semesters per year. Tuition may be paid annually or by semester; where semester payments are offered they are billed by semester. A full‑year early payment discount has been published (example: a 5% discount for full‑year payment made by the school's stated deadline for that intake). Day tuition is published as inclusive of meals, textbooks, after‑school activities and a contribution towards field trips. Boarding fees (when applicable) - 5‑day boarding: RMB 18,500 per semester or RMB 37,000 per year. - 7‑day boarding: RMB 23,200 per semester or RMB 46,400 per year. - Flexi‑boarding daily rates (published): RMB 300 per day (weekdays) and RMB 400 per day (weekend) as an indicative rate for flexible boarding. Transportation and additional levies - School bus (optional): Day‑student flat rate RMB 12,500 per seat / year. Five‑day boarders travel home by zone; example zone annual rates: Zone 1 RMB 7,000; Zone 2 RMB 11,300; Zone 3 RMB 13,600. 7‑day boarders have a separate holiday rate listed (example RMB 4,500). The transport service is optional and partially subsidised by the school. Other costs and typical extras - Uniforms, examination fees, some specialist activities and some one‑off items are not included in the published tuition figures and are charged separately. School lists uniforms and certain exam/ancillary charges as additional to the tuition. Sibling bursary / discounts - A sibling bursary is published: a discount on basic tuition fees (excluding transport, boarding and additional fees) is applied to the second and subsequent concurrently enrolled children in the same family, subject to the school's payment and deadline conditions. Refund information - The application fee is stated as non‑refundable. No detailed public refund schedule for tuition or boarding cancellations is published on the fee summaries located by the school-directory sources consulted; parents should check the formal enrolment contract for the school's withdrawal/refund terms. Fee payment options and billing - The school's public fee pages and directory summaries show invoicing options (annual or semester billing) but do not list a detailed, published list of accepted payment channels. The admissions office issues invoices and payment instructions; contact details appear on the school site.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements Boarding is an integral part of FCG and mirrors the boarding ethos of Fettes College UK. Boarding fosters independence and practical life skills such as resilience, timekeeping, self-motivation and tolerance. The Primary School has dedicated boarding houses, Arran and Iona, which host boarders.	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement The uniform features magenta and chocolate stripes; senior pupils wear magenta and chocolate stripes as part of the uniform.	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options —	Food options —
House system	House system Arran and Iona are the Primary School boarding houses.	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership FCG is a joint venture between Bright Scholar Education Group and Fettes College. It is a 15-year all-through private school. The school uses bilingual instruction in English and Chinese, with about 40% of curriculum taught in English.	Governance and ownership —
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details Fettes College Guangzhou operates a K–12, China–international blended curriculum that integrates the Chinese national curriculum with British and IB frameworks and delivers much of its teaching bilingually. In the kindergarten the programme is EYFS‑informed within the IB Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) framework and includes a wide range of enrichment activities and CCAs. The primary school explicitly combines the Chinese national curriculum with the IB PYP framework and elements of the Fettes (UK) programme to deliver cross‑curricular, inquiry‑based learning. The middle school teaches the national compulsory curriculum while drawing on the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) framework to structure bilingual, inquiry‑led study and project work. The senior school offers externally assessed international qualifications—Cambridge IGCSE followed by A‑Level courses—providing multiple academic pathways and university preparation.	Curriculum details Utahloy International School Zengcheng delivers a full International Baccalaureate (IB) continuum—IB Early Years, the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP)—and also offers a two‑year Hong Kong DSE senior route. The PYP is taught from Early Years (K3) through Year 5 with a transdisciplinary Programme of Inquiry (K3–Year 5: four units in Kindergarten, six units in other years). The MYP is provided through Years 6–10 (students study eight subject areas including languages, sciences, maths, arts and design) and culminates in Year‑10 eAssessments for the IB MYP Certificate. The DP is offered in Years 11–12 with the standard six subject groups, three Higher/three Standard Level courses and the core components (Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay and CAS) for university preparation. As an alternative senior pathway, the HKDSE programme runs two years of full‑time senior secondary study with a 4+2+1 structure (four core subjects, two electives from specified options, plus Physical Education). The wider curriculum scope includes English as an Additional Language (EAL), modern languages and mother‑tongue support, technology and learning support services.
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 Fettes College Guangzhou describes a formal pastoral system that places students into Houses and uses boarding tutors, house parents and boarding carers to provide day-to-day pastoral support and to develop social skills, resilience and a sense of belonging. The school's website explains a named “humanistic mind‑care” (pastoral) approach that monitors both learning and physical/mental health and aims to help students with individual difficulties. House competitions, age‑appropriate boarding activities and a high staff‑to‑student ratio are highlighted as mechanisms to promote social and emotional development. The school also publishes a Pastoral Care and Student Behaviour policy as part of its policies list.	Social & emotional learning Utahloy Zengcheng describes Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) as part of its Student Support Services and says the school's counsellor delivers SEL content and life-skills education in the curriculum. The site refers to PSPE (personal, social, and physical education) lessons in primary and life-skills programmes in secondary that cover safeguarding and student awareness. The school states counselling is used to help students develop strategies to manage social and emotional challenges. Parents, teachers and specialists are described as collaborating through regular meetings to monitor social-emotional progress. (Sources: school Student Support Services and Counselling pages).
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) The school's public website and published policies (language policy, safeguarding, pastoral care) describe pastoral, medical and language support but do not set out specific provision, staff roles or named programmes for Special Educational Needs (SEN). Fettes College Guangzhou does not publicly specify which kinds of SEN it can support or that it is a specialist SEN institution in the materials available online. For SEN details and any individual arrangements the school would make, families should contact the Admissions or Pastoral teams directly.	Special educational needs (SEN) The school states it is an inclusive school and that its Learning Support provision supports students with social, emotional, behavioural or physical/medical needs. UISZ reports having an SEN coordinator who develops targeted interventions and uses measures such as small-group interventions and Behaviour Support Plans (BSPs) where needed. The site describes a multi-tiered Student Support Services model and collaboration with external experts when additional expertise is required. The school does not present itself as a specialist SEN institution; its materials describe mainstream inclusion within school resources rather than specialist-only provision. (Sources: Student Support Services and Counselling pages).
English as an additional language	English as an additional language FCG publishes a detailed Language Policy stating it provides English Language Acquisition / EAL (and Chinese as an additional language) and that provision is made “wherever possible” for students without English or Chinese as a mother tongue. The school describes co‑teaching with expatriate teachers and dedicated EAL teaching in Senior, Middle and Primary phases, and recent news articles describe interactive EAL classes and Cambridge/IELTS preparation. The website also references EAL/IELTS courses using digital platforms and exam preparation for Cambridge English qualifications.	English as an additional language UISZ publishes an EAL programme that uses an internationally recognised placement test on entry and organises English Language Acquisition into six phases (students may enter at any phase based on placement). The school provides three hours per week of Academic Skills classes to support academic language development and embeds grammar, vocabulary and cultural content in contextualised units. To maintain inclusion, the school combines differentiated instruction across subjects with a Structured English Immersion (SEI) model in Sciences and Humanities and focused small-group EAL lessons. The site also notes an EAL coordinator who designs immersive language programmes. (Source: EAL programme page; Student Support Services news).
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing The school's Safeguarding page lists a counselling policy and a Student Psychological Crisis Screening and Intervention guideline among downloadable documents, and the Pastoral Care page describes pastoral staff (house parents, tutors and boarding carers) who support students' personal matters. FCG states that staff receive child‑protection training and that the pastoral system monitors students' wellbeing and helps resolve individual difficulties. These published policies indicate the school has formal counselling and crisis‑intervention documents, although the downloadable PDFs require access for the full details.	Mental wellbeing The school states it offers confidential individual and group counselling delivered by a trained counsellor who consults with parents, teachers and administrators to support students' personal and social development. Counselling is presented as part of broader Student Support Services and is used to help students develop coping strategies and resilience. Year-level guidance and university/career counselling are also described for older students as part of pastoral provision. The school notes collaboration with external specialists when extra support is needed. (Sources: Counsellor & Learning Support Services page; Student Support Services news).
Safeguarding	Safeguarding Fettes College Guangzhou publishes a Safeguarding page explaining its child‑protection responsibilities, staff training, site security, DBS/international police checks for adults who work with students, anti‑bullying procedures, and first‑aid/medical arrangements. The page lists a Safeguarding Handbook, Child Protection Policy and other related documents (including the Safe‑Touch policy) as downloadable attachments. The school states that safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and sets out the types of abuse it addresses and how staff should respond to concerns.	Safeguarding UISZ publishes a Child Protection & Safeguarding page that says child welfare is the school's first priority and that its policy is aligned with PRC laws and international definitions (WHO, UNCRC referenced). The school lists safeguarding measures including a clear child protection policy, designated Child Protection Officers, a staff Code of Conduct, criminal background checks for staff and volunteers, a designated teacher response team, and annual staff training on child protection procedures. The site also describes PSPE and life-skills lessons aimed at helping students understand safeguarding issues and school procedures. Reporting procedures and cooperation with relevant authorities are cited as part of the school's responsibilities. (Source: Child Protection & Safeguarding page).
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview The campus is designed by a world‑class design firm to blend Eastern and Lingnan cultural elements with China's educational requirements. The international campus is green and tranquil, with a layout that integrates education and technology in a smart learning environment. It offers modern learning spaces that support independent study, exploration, and holistic development in a natural setting. The school has three libraries, more than fifty independent piano practice rooms, two heated swimming pools, two large theatres (including a professional black‑box theatre), a climbing wall, a squash court, tennis courts, a gym, a FIFA‑certified football pitch, and a FIBA‑certified basketball hall. The arts and performing spaces include dedicated studios and buildings for art, music, and drama, with spaces for instrument practice and performances.	Facilities overview UISZ Zengcheng is located in Zengcheng, Guangzhou, near Guangzhou and Hong Kong. The campus offers modern, well-equipped classrooms and specialized innovation spaces where students tackle real-world problems using cutting-edge technology. An online campus tour is available to explore these facilities, and in-person visits are encouraged. The campus supports an international IB Continuum and associated programmes.
Sports facilities	Sports facilities The school supports nearly twenty sports facilities and venues to support physical development. Facilities include equestrian facilities, field hockey, tennis, indoor golf, squash, swimming, basketball, football, badminton courts, and more. There are a 50‑meter heated swimming pool and a 25‑meter pool, along with a fencing room, multiple tennis courts, a volleyball court, and indoor golf facilities. The football pitch is FIFA-standard and the basketball hall is FIBA-standard. The school's sports staff includes national‑level athletes and internationally certified coaches.	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities The school houses multiple academic and specialized spaces. It includes three libraries and more than fifty independent piano practice rooms, biology labs, computer classrooms, and dedicated spaces for arts and design—visual arts, ceramics, fashion design—as well as instrument rooms and a dedicated building for instrument performance and drama. The campus provides 3D printing rooms and other technology-enabled learning spaces to support project work.	Academic facilities UISZ Zengcheng offers an IB Continuum from Early Years through Diploma and a Hong Kong DSE Programme. English as an Additional Language (EAL) supports students. Technology, Innovation & Design and Modern Languages are part of the academic program. The campus provides modern classrooms and specialized innovation spaces to support inquiry-based learning.
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities The co-curricular program centers on arts, sport and practical experiences to complement academics. Art education is a core component with extensive courses, master‑level instructors, and comprehensive art facilities, including spaces for painting, design, ceramics and fashion design, plus dedicated rooms for instrument study and rehearsals. A purpose-built performing arts complex supports instrumental performance and drama, and private music lessons (piano and clarinet) are offered, along with online master classes.	Extra curricular facilities Athletics, Visual Arts, and Music are part of Student Life. A library is available on campus to support independent study and reading. The Student Life section includes safeguarding and health services. These offerings provide opportunities for personal development outside the classroom.
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History Fettes College Guangzhou was established as a joint project between Country Garden Education Group and Fettes College (UK), bringing the Fettes name and traditions to a new campus in Guangzhou. The school launched global recruitment and began operating as an overseas extension of Fettes in 2020. Its identity explicitly ties to the historic Fettes College in Edinburgh — founded in 1870 by Sir William Fettes — and draws on that boarding-school heritage as part of its model. The Guangzhou campus and masterplan were developed with international architects (Broadway Malyan) and sit on a purpose-built site in Zengcheng as part of the joint-venture structure.	History Utahloy International School Zengcheng (UISZ) opened as a Zengcheng campus in the early 2000s; school listings and international directories commonly record its opening in 2003. The school is part of the Utahloy Education Foundation (UEF) network, a not-for-profit group that manages multiple Utahloy campuses in the Guangzhou area. Utahloy's broader activities in the region trace back to the founding of the original Utahloy International School in Guangzhou in 1998, and the Zengcheng campus has been developed and rebranded within that foundation over time. The campus and its governance operate within the UEF framework and in accordance with PRC regulations for international schools.
Community	Community The school community combines day and boarding cultures and a mix of Chinese and international staff and families; school life includes regular assemblies, co-curricular programmes, and boarding routines that shape daily student life. Fettes Guangzhou runs a calendar of large, campus-wide events — for example an International Culture Festival, an annual sports carnival/“运动嘉年华”, arts and music festivals, and a technology festival — that bring students, teachers and families together. Parents commonly participate as volunteers and attendees at these events (the International Culture Festival featured parent volunteers and multiple food stalls), and the school promotes student-led activities and exchanges with its UK partner as part of community life.	Community UISZ's school community includes day and boarding families, expatriate and local staff, an alumni association, and an active parent body; the school shares regular news items and community summaries on its website. Community and cultural events reported by the school include International Day, seasonal celebrations such as Festival of Light and a Winter Festival, curriculum-linked awareness weeks (for example, Bullying Awareness Week), and cross-campus UEF events that invite participation from multiple Utahloy campuses. These activities are coordinated between school staff, UPAZ (the parent association) and the Utahloy Education Foundation to provide occasions for family engagement, student displays, and collaborative community programs.
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association Rather than a single publicly described “PTA” page, the school engages parents through structured academic reporting and event-based collaboration. Primary policies describe regular Parent–Teacher Conferences, three‑way conferences (student, parent, teacher), and student‑led conferences as formal opportunities for parent–teacher dialogue and student reflection. Early Years and Primary sections run termly meetings and workshops for parents (for example an EY mid‑term parent meeting and curriculum workshops), and parents are routinely invited to participate or volunteer at major events such as the International Culture Festival and the Spring Carnival. Volunteer roles cited on the school site include supporting food stalls and event logistics at the International Culture Festival; parents also attend open days and curriculum workshops to review progress and school programmes. These touchpoints (conferences, meetings, volunteering at festivals and open days) appear to be the primary mechanisms the school uses to involve families in school life.	Parent teacher association The Utahloy Parent Association Zengcheng (UPAZ) is the school's formal parent group; it operates within guidelines approved by the Utahloy Education Foundation and PRC requirements and aims to support students, parents and staff. UPAZ organizes welcome events for new families and helps run celebrations including International Day, Festival of Light and the Winter Festival, and it also schedules social gatherings such as pool parties, dancing dinners and cooking classes. The association provides parent-facing education sessions on topics like parenting, nutrition and career advice, and it supports classroom activities—for example, by arranging foreign-language reading sessions and volunteer help for teachers. UPAZ also maintains practical supports such as grade-level contact lists, represents parent views through elected representatives on the School Consultative Forum, and contributes volunteers for school-initiated activities and strategic-planning consultations. Parents who want to join UPAZ or learn about upcoming PTA activities are directed to contact the school through the admissions or community pages on the UISZ website.
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual The school provides Comprehensive Development-EY, Primary, Middle, and Senior CCA Courses (Extension Courses). Nearly 70 options across eight curriculum categories promote comprehensive development. Sports options include equestrian, golf, swimming, rock climbing, ultimate Frisbee, baseball, squash, rugby, hockey, tennis, boxing, football, fitness, and fencing; art options include orchestral music, ballet, English drama, dance, chorus, fashion design, floral art, tea, pottery, oil painting, cartoon painting, baking, and hard-pen calligraphy; humanities and social sciences include Spanish, English speech, English debate, Chinese extended reading, and bilingual reading; science and technology include artificial intelligence, young makers, 3D animation programming, 3D printing, and drones; subjects include math competition and chemistry club.	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative Arts Academy is a collaboration with the Cambridge School of Visual and Performing Arts (CSVPA). It features a Performing Arts Centre with a Concert Hall and a Black Box theatre, five art classrooms for 3D design, photography, woodwork, painting, and textile and sewing, and more than 50 independent music practice rooms. CSVPA offers Diploma, Foundation, Undergraduate and Postgraduate courses across Art & Design, Fashion, Music and the Performing Arts; the Extended Diploma and Foundation are quality assured by the University of the Arts London (UAL), and BA and MA courses are quality assured by Falmouth University. An average of 70% of CSVPA students have gained entry to UAL in the last five years.	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language Eight major curriculum categories include languages such as Spanish. In Humanities and social sciences, languages include Spanish, English speech, English debate, and Chinese extended reading; bilingual reading is supported.	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies Co-Curricular Activities (CCA) cover nearly 70 options across eight categories. Sports options include equestrian, golf, swimming, rock climbing, ultimate Frisbee, baseball, squash, rugby, hockey, tennis, boxing, football, fitness, and fencing.	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service The school has community organizations: the Utahloy Alumni Association (UAA), the Utahloy Parent Association Zengcheng (UPAZ), and the Utahloy Education Foundation (UEF).
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional College guidance is provided by Country Garden College Guidance Center, serving middle and senior levels and rooted in primary education. The service includes professional counseling and practical opportunities to access top universities; Country Garden has admitted 94.3% of the world's top 50 universities for five consecutive years, and offers programs such as Ivy League + Elite Camp and Oxsword + Sprints Camp to support university access. In senior school, students focus on their own development with guided planning for next steps.	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing Boarding life is inspired by Fettes College UK and combines British traditions with Chinese culture. The pastoral care framework supports student well-being, and safeguarding policies guide safety and welfare. Boarding is led by a mix of Chinese and foreign staff, and the school emphasizes a caring, community-focused environment.	Lifestyle & wellbeing UISZ has an athletics programme as part of student life. The programme emphasizes teamwork, sportsmanship, and holistic fitness. UISZ participates in athletic conferences, including the Association of China and Mongolia International Schools (ACAMIS), the Pearl River Conference, the Dongguan Conference, and the Guangzhou Cup. The Secondary School athletics program extends opportunities to develop physical, social, spiritual, and emotional well-being.
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision The curriculum combines Chinese and Western education through a joint venture. The Early Years School uses the IBPYP framework with elements from EYFS, and bilingual reading is available as part of activities. A dual-homeroom system supports an immersive English-language environment.	Language provision The school's medium of instruction is English. In secondary school, French is offered as an additional language, and language and literature courses are available in Chinese, English, and Korean to support mother tongue development. The school promotes translanguaging to strengthen intercultural understanding.
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching The school uses a co-teaching model with Chinese and expat teachers who work together to plan lessons and differentiate materials. This cross-cultural approach blends Chinese and Western education.	Bilingual teaching The school uses English as the medium of instruction. The school promotes bilingualism and home-language development. French is offered as an additional language, and mother-tongue development is supported in Chinese, English, and Korean.
Immersion programs	Immersion programs Boarding is an integral part of the education, providing a truly immersive experience. A dual homeroom system creates an immersive English-language environment.	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards (Only awards shown on the school website and awarded to the school in the past five years.) • “Special Contributing School” — awarded at the IB China Education Forum for the IBMYP Curriculum Integration Guide (2023). Significance: a formal recognition from the International Baccalaureate (IB) and the Chinese IB Schools Association (CISA) for the school's contribution to curriculum‑integration work; the school's site records it as one of five schools to receive this honour in 2023. • Forbes China — placement on the Forbes China “Internationalised Schools” lists (listed on the school site for multiple recent years; the site cites a 2024 national ranking of 18 and earlier placements in 2022/2023). Significance: these are external rankings reported on the school's site that identify the school among a group of China schools featured by Forbes China in those years. (The school's website text and pages reference its consecutive appearances and the 2024 ranking.) • Hurun list — listed on the school site as one of “Hurun China: Top 20 Most Beautiful International School Campuses” (2022). Significance: Hurun's 2022 recognition for campus aesthetics appears on the school site as an institutional honour.	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations • International Baccalaureate (IB) — Fettes College Guangzhou is listed as an IB World School; the school's IB authorisations and programme coordinators are shown on the official IB directory (school code 062034). Significance: IB authorisation means the school has met IB standards for delivering IB programmes (PYP/MYP as shown on the IB directory). • Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) authorisation — the school's website states it is authorised by CAIE and lists a centre number (School Number CX162). Significance: CAIE authorisation allows the school to offer Cambridge examinations (e.g., IGCSE/A‑level pathways) and indicates compliance with Cambridge's centre requirements. • Boarding Schools Association (BSA) membership — the school's site states it is a member of the BSA (described there as the global boarding‑school association). Significance: BSA membership indicates the school is connected to an international network of boarding institutions and follows related professional/boarding best practices promoted by the association. • “Child‑Safe School” / Safeguarding designation on the school site — the school's pages present a formal safeguarding/child‑protection policy and describe FCG as a Child‑Safe School. Significance: this is an explicit, public school commitment to meet safeguarding standards and to train designated safeguarding leads and staff. (This is a designation and policy published by the school on its site rather than an external accreditation body's certificate.)	Accreditations Utahloy International School Zengcheng (UISZ) — accreditations listed on the school website (with significance): - International Baccalaureate (IB) World School — authorised to deliver the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP). Significance: IB authorization means the school has met IB standards for curriculum, teacher training and programme delivery across the specified age ranges; it indicates the school can award IB programmes and is subject to IB evaluation cycles. - Council of International Schools (CIS) accreditation — listed as an accreditation on the school site. Significance: CIS accreditation is an international school-quality review that assesses governance, teaching and learning, student welfare and continuous improvement; it is widely used as an external quality assurance mark for international schools. - Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) / ACS WASC accreditation — listed on the site. Significance: WASC accreditation (through the Accrediting Commission for Schools, ACS WASC) is a regional/international accreditation that evaluates overall school effectiveness, leadership, programme quality and student outcomes; it helps ensure that credits and diplomas are recognised by other schools and universities.
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions 1. Pre-registration and first contact. Start by completing the school's online pre‑registration (the site asks families to scan the QR code or fill the registration form) so the admissions office can record your interest and assign a dedicated admissions officer. Parents should expect the school to use that officer as their main point of contact for scheduling visits, tests and next steps—keep their contact details and any reference/registration number the school gives. Refer to the school's admissions page for the QR/registration instruction and to ask about current vacancies. 2. Visit / open day (recommended before formal application). The school explicitly asks families to visit campus with the child so you can see curriculum, facilities and pastoral arrangements in person; visits are arranged through the admissions officer. When you book, confirm whether the child should bring school reports, portfolios, or evidence of special talents (art/sport/music) because those can matter for assessment in some years. Bring photo ID for both child and parent to present if requested on arrival. 3. Formal application and documents. After pre‑registration and/or a visit, complete the Student Information Registration Form online and upload the required documents: child's ID (household register, birth certificate or passport), guardian ID/passport, a clear recent photo of the child, and a medical/physical examination report. The admissions page lists those exact document types—prepare certified copies where applicable and check whether originals are needed for verification on registration day. Missing or incomplete documents are a common cause of delay, so confirm the file formats and any translation/notarisation requirements with your admissions officer. 4. Assessment: tests, interview and portfolio. For most entry years the school will invite the child to an assessment that typically includes age‑appropriate testing and an interview or teacher observation; in some cases the school will also request a portfolio or evidence of extracurricular achievement. Ask the admissions officer in advance what the assessment includes for your child's year group (Early Years assessments differ from Year 7 or Year 10 entry). If English is a second language for your child, check whether there is an EAL/ESL assessment stream or additional language support options. 5. Offers, acceptance and deposit. If the assessment and documentation are satisfactory the school will issue an offer (places may be limited by year group). Ask the admissions officer exactly what the offer letter includes—start date, tuition and boarding fees, deposit or payment schedule, and any conditions (for example submission of original documents or medical clearance). Confirm payment methods, deadlines and whether the deposit is refundable or applied to first‑term fees. (The admissions pages recommend communicating with your assigned admissions officer for these details.) 6. Registering and enrolment checklist. On acceptance you will need to complete the final enrolment/registration process (the school lists the same identity and medical documents required at application) and pay the fees required before the start of term. If you are requesting any special arrangements (boarding, dietary needs, medical care, international student paperwork), submit those requests early to the admissions office so the school can make placements and arrangements. If your child holds Chinese school registration (学籍), note the school's national‑exam policy (students with Chinese school registration are in principle required to take the local high school entrance exam unless a waiver is filed). 7. Boarding placement and pastoral induction (if applicable). If you plan boarding, confirm whether places are offered immediately with the academic offer or require a separate application—board placement, house allocation and levies are managed by the boarding office and should be confirmed early. Ask about the boarding ratio of staff to students, whether there are expatriate houseparents, arrival/adaptation schedules and any additional boarding fees or deposits. The school's public pages describe boarding as integral to their model; contact the admissions officer for the boarding‑specific checklist. 8. Transfers and mid‑year entry. The school accepts in‑year transfers/插班生; for transfer students you will be asked for recent school reports and to complete the same assessments to determine placement. If you are moving mid‑year, ask about catch‑up support, course equivalencies (IGCSE/A‑Level/IB alignment) and whether there are any termly intakes with available places. Confirm with admissions what fees are prorated for mid‑term starts and whether waiting lists exist for the requested year group.	Admissions 1. Prepare to apply — Confirm eligibility and gather documents. UISZ accepts only students holding valid foreign passports or residents of Hong Kong, Macau, or Taiwan; children holding PRC passports are not eligible to enrol. Parents should assemble the required documents before starting the online application: passports and residency documentation for parents and the student, the student's birth certificate, a passport photo, at least two years of school reports (with verified English translations if needed), a recent vaccination record, and any learning‑support or medical reports if applicable. Having these ready avoids delays, because the Admissions Office requires uploads during the application and may not process incomplete submissions. 2. Submit the online application (OpenApply) and pay the application fee. Applications are submitted through the school's OpenApply portal; within the portal you will upload the documents listed above and request a confidential reference from the student's most recent teacher or principal (for Years 1–12). The non‑refundable application fee is RMB 2,000 and the school will not process the application without this payment; families who are currently outside mainland China may submit passport copies first and supply visa/residence permits later. Depending on the student's age and prior English experience, the school may require an English assessment as part of the application; after submission the Admissions Office schedules an interview with the Head of Division. 3. Admissions review — school assesses fit and capacity. Admission decisions are made by school leaders (Head of Division, Head of Admissions, and Head of School) based on whether the student can benefit from UISZ's programmes, the school's capacity to meet the student's needs, results of any assessments, references, and the availability of places. The school is inclusive and aims to support English Language Learners and students with mild learning needs, but may decline admission where it judges enrolment would not be in the best interests of the student or school (for example serious past disciplinary expulsions or lack of appropriate documentation). Parents should be prepared to provide clear academic records and, when relevant, detailed learning‑support documentation so the school can evaluate capacity to meet needs. 4. Admissions response and wait pool. After review you will receive a formal admissions response: an offer will be accompanied by an official enrolment letter and a debit note listing payment deadlines required to secure the place. If the year level applied for is full, UISZ may place the child in a wait pool (referred to on the site as a “wait pool”); if a space becomes available the Admissions Office will contact parents to discuss the enrollment timeline. If denied, the school will issue a formal letter explaining the reasons for refusal. Parents should act promptly on any debit note to secure a place and confirm timelines for deposit and tuition payment. 5. Confirm enrolment and pay tuition (timing, inclusions, and discounts). Tuition is charged either annually or by semester; day tuition is stated as inclusive of meals, textbooks, after‑school activities and a contribution towards field trips. UISZ's published tuition schedule includes specific per‑year/grade fees for the 2025–26 academic year and the school offers a 5% discount for full‑year payments made in advance before the specified deadline (May 1, 2025 for the 2025–26 schedule). Parents should review the exact annual or semester amounts for their child's year group (these are listed in the school's tuition charts) and check the payment deadlines on the enrolment debit note. 6. Boarding, transport, sibling bursary and other levies. Boarding is charged separately (rates shown for 5‑day and 7‑day boarding, plus daily flexi options); transportation is optional and charged by zone for day and 5‑day boarders (the transport levy is subsidised by the school). UISZ also publishes a sibling bursary that applies to the second and subsequent concurrently enrolled children (the bursary applies to basic tuition only and excludes boarding, transport and other fees). Parents planning boarding, school transport or multiple children at UISZ should budget for these additional fees and confirm exact amounts and payment schedules on the school's fee tables and the enrolment documents.
Scholarships	Scholarships The school operates a scholarship programme but the public web pages give only a high‑level description; they state that Fettes has a scholarship system intended to encourage well‑rounded, academically‑strong students. The admissions page notes the existence of scholarships but does not publish detailed eligibility categories, award levels, or the formal application/timetable on that page—families should ask their admissions officer for the current scholarship prospectus, application deadlines and assessment criteria. Independent reporting and school announcements indicate named scholarship categories and significant awards in recent years: for example, a school report published in 2024–2025 records about 60 scholarship recipients whose combined awards totalled close to RMB 7,000,000; the report also describes multiple named scholarships (different tiers and talent‑based awards) and a scholarship review committee that evaluates candidates on academics, conduct, co‑curricular participation and competition results. The school has also publicly described a further‑education scholarship for students who enter certain top global universities, linked to more substantial financial support for university tuition (reported examples appear in school news coverage). These third‑party reports and school news items show scholarships are active and awarded annually, but amounts and specific criteria can change year to year—confirm current programmes and any application dates with the admissions office.	Scholarships UISZ operates a time‑limited scholarship programme (published for the 2025–2026 academic year) with separate application windows and award types for current students and new starters. For current students the application period shown is May 1–May 31, 2025; for new starters it is May 1–July 31, 2025. Awards are given in categories such as Academic Excellence, Artistic Excellence, Athletic Excellence and Community Engagement; prize levels and quantities are published for IB (MYP/DP/PYP) and DSE programmes — examples from the 2025–26 announcement include first, second and third prizes with amounts such as RMB 60,000 (first prize for selected MYP/DP students), RMB 30,000 (second prize), and RMB 20,000 (third prize) for current students, and for new starters awards that can include half or full tuition fee awards or cash amounts depending on programme and prize ranking (the scholarship posters list programme‑specific prizes for IB and DSE). Applications require academic evidence (transcripts from the past two years), a personal statement, and shortlisted applicants will have a final student interview conducted in English; DP and MYP eligibility minimum averages are specified on the announcement (for example minimum average DP 4.5, MYP 5.0 as shown for the 2025–26 cycle). All awards published for 2025–26 are single‑year awards and subject to the school's interview and selection process. Parents should refer to the scholarship announcement and contact admissions@uiszc.org with questions or to confirm current scholarship availability and application deadlines in future years.
Waitlist	Waitlist Public information on the school's admissions page refers to a pre‑registration system for families but does not publish a formal waitlist or ‘pool' policy on the website. The site advises families to pre‑register and to contact the admissions officer to arrange visits and assessments; it therefore appears the admissions office manages place availability and any internal waiting arrangements directly rather than publishing a standard public waitlist process. Parents who need clarity about whether a specific year group has a waitlist or how places are prioritised should contact the admissions office and ask for the school's current availability, the procedure for holding a place, and whether a formal waitlist will be used for their child.	Waitlist Yes — UISZ uses a wait pool system (the website refers to a “wait pool” rather than a formal numbered waitlist). When a year level has reached capacity, students who meet the admissions criteria may be placed in the wait pool for future consideration; the Admissions Office will contact parents if a space becomes available and discuss the enrolment timeline. Parents should note that placement in the wait pool does not guarantee a later offer, and the school's decision to offer a place will depend on capacity and the school's assessment of fit at the time a vacancy arises. For precise position or timing questions, contact admissions@uiszc.org or the Admissions Office directly.
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