Guangdong Country Garden School vs Utahloy International School Zengcheng

	G Guangdong Country Garden School Guangzhou, China	U Utahloy International School Zengcheng Guangzhou, China
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year RMB 173,920 - 176,350	Fees / year RMB 115,000 - 245,000
Age range	Age range 6 - 18 years	Age range 2 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational (boarding)	Type Co-educational, Co-educational (boarding)
Curriculum	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels, Advanced Placement (AP), Chinese National Curriculum	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 4,800	Pupils 200
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language English, Mandarin	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 1994	Opened 2003
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Guangdong Country Garden School (广东碧桂园学校) is in Beijiao Town, Shunde District, Foshan City — in the Pearl River Delta just south of Guangzhou. The campus sits inside the Country Garden residential area and is accessible to major transport links in the region; it is commonly referenced as being within easy reach of Guangzhou and the Greater Bay Area transport network.	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 continuous K–12 (kindergarten through senior high) provision covering roughly ages 2–18 and describes itself as a 15-year one-stream school. It runs international routes (IB PYP, MYP, DP) alongside other international programmes (IGCSE/A-level/AP) and a bilingual Chinese stream.	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 Guangdong Country Garden School is a private, co-educational school with a long-standing boarding programme (whole‑school boarding is reported in public profiles). Campus size and student numbers are large for the region (several thousand students on site).	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 Public information highlights on‑campus student services such as a dedicated international-student unit (留学生部) and counselling/psychological support; the school also reports 24‑hour dorm staff for boarding life. There is limited publicly available detail online about formal SEN (special educational needs) pathways, so families with specific additional‑learning needs should contact admissions to discuss individual provision and assessments.	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 The school is a Chinese private school (广东) and is not presented as being affiliated to another country; it is associated with the Country Garden education initiative and is referenced in relation to Bright Scholar / Country Garden group coverage.	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 There is no public indication that the school has a religious affiliation; it is described in official and third‑party profiles as a non‑religious private boarding school.	Religious affiliation UISZ is secular (no religious affiliation).
School day structure	School day structure The school operates as a full boarding campus with on‑site supervision and organised student routines; public profiles note 24‑hour dorm staff and closed‑campus management for boarders. Exact daily start/end times, break and meal schedules are not published in detail on third‑party sites, so expect times to vary by age group and contact the school directly for current timetables.	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 The school publishes a large school‑bus network covering many pickup points across the Pearl River Delta; one profile notes 103 pickup points that extend across the region (including routes serving Hong Kong). For families relocating from overseas, this indicates established regional transport links, but specific pickup locations, costs and eligibility should be confirmed with the school's admissions or transport office.	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 fee - No separate application or admission fee amount is published in the school's publicly available admissions pages or standard fee summaries; the school's admissions portal and public pages do not list a standalone “application fee.” Tuition fees (per term and per year) - Kindergarten: RMB 60,000 per term — equals RMB 120,000 per academic year (two terms). - Primary (elementary): RMB 78,000 per term — equals RMB 156,000 per academic year. - Junior high (grades 7–9): RMB 80,000 per term — equals RMB 160,000 per academic year. - Senior high, international curriculum (IB/IGCSE/A‑Level/AP): RMB 90,000–RMB 110,000 per term — equals RMB 180,000–RMB 220,000 per academic year. - Senior high, general/regular (普高) pathway: RMB 37,500 per term — equals RMB 75,000 per academic year. These per‑term figures are reported in the school's current fee summaries and reputable international-school listings; different public sources show the same amounts as per‑term charges. Billing schedule and payment terms - Tuition is billed on a per‑term (学期) basis in the school's public fee notices and associated school fee summaries; the school follows per‑term charging for K–12 grade bands. Provincial rules allow charges by term or by year and set timing and refund calculation rules. Boarding / accommodation fees - Typical boarding fees reported: RMB 1,500 per term for Chinese students and RMB 3,500 per term for overseas/overseas‑status students (amounts for rooms and services vary by room type). Annual boarding totals will be per‑term multiplied by the number of terms paid. Alternative listings show smaller annual accommodation entries for particular grades in aggregate fee tables. Other costs - Meals, uniforms, textbooks, exam/registration fees and certain activity/service charges are additional and charged separately. Example: meal charges appear in some published breakdowns at roughly RMB 5,000 per year (varies by grade and plan). Specific extras (uniforms, instrument hire, international exam fees) are billed as incurred. Refund information - Refunds and fee clearing follow Guangdong provincial rules for private/municipal schools: schools must refund unused fees within the regulatory timeframes; new registrants who pay but do not enrol are eligible for major refunds (rules specify scaled refund percentages and formulae for term/year‑based charges). These provincial rules apply to fee return calculations and timelines. Fee payment options - The school's higher‑education/continuing‑education notices require online payment through the school's payment portal and permit bank transfer; K–12 public listings do not publish a definitive list of accepted consumer payment methods. In practice for Guangdong schools this commonly includes bank transfer and school online payment platforms (WeChat/Alipay integration is commonly used by peer institutions), while explicit credit‑card acceptance is not publicly specified.	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 The school provides on-campus housing. Boarding per term costs 2,175 yuan for Grade 1 and 1,960 yuan per term for Grade 7.	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement Middle school students can purchase uniforms in the school uniform shop using their student card. Primary students' uniforms are purchased by parents with the school pickup card at the school uniform shop.	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options There is a canteen on campus. Students can use their student cards to dine in the cafeteria. The per-term meal fee for new admissions includes 5,000 yuan for meals (as part of the first-term breakdown).	Food options —
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership The school is governed and owned by the Country Garden Education Group.	Governance and ownership —
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details Guangdong Country Garden School operates a 15‑year integrated curriculum that combines the Chinese national syllabus with major international programmes (IB PYP/MYP/DP, Cambridge IGCSE/A‑Level and AP), providing flexible pathways from kindergarten through Grade 12. Early years and primary education use the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) alongside the national primary curriculum (PYP typically through primary Year 5). The middle‑school phase implements the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) while meeting national junior‑middle requirements (generally Grades 6–10). In senior secondary, the school runs Cambridge IGCSE in Years 9–10 and offers multiple Year 11–12 options including the IB Diploma Programme (DP), A‑Level, AP or the national senior high track. The whole‑school curriculum is organised into integrated strands—融通课程 (academic integration), 行知课程 (inquiry/leadership), STEAM, arts, physical education and life education—framed around core competencies of cultural foundation, self‑development and social participation.	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 The school's published mission and development goals emphasise whole‑person development, wellbeing, community and life education as part of its curriculum framework. Its curriculum pages list “Life Education” and experiential/leadership programmes (行知课程/CAS‑style activities) intended to develop social and emotional skills. The school also states it seeks to “build an open, harmonious and friendly learning community” and to promote members' wellbeing. The site further notes a dedicated safety and mental‑health education centre that intervenes across teaching and student life.	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 materials state a commitment to respecting student differences and attending to individual needs, but do not publish detailed information about formal Special Educational Needs (SEN) provision, specific types of needs supported, specialist staff or whether it operates as a specialist SEN institution. There is no SEN policy or SEN coordinator role described on the pages reviewed. Therefore, the school does not publicly disclose specifics about SEN provision.	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 The school publishes a Language Development Centre and a large international teaching team, and it operates a ‘留学生部' that provides Mandarin (Chinese as a foreign language) for international students. These elements indicate institutional language support and international staffing, but the website does not set out a named English‑as‑an‑Additional‑Language (EAL) programme, EAL curriculum, or specialist EAL staff details. In short, the school does not publicly disclose specific EAL programme information.	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 states it has established a Safety and Mental‑Health Education Centre that is intended to be deeply involved in the whole teaching process to safeguard students' psychological environment. The published materials describe the centre as part of the school's measures to ensure students' healthy, happy development, but the site does not publish detailed staffing numbers, counselling services, or session formats. The school's ethos pages also emphasise promoting members' wellbeing as part of its school culture.	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 The website presents concrete safety measures such as student ID cards with controlled campus access and a parent notification system (校讯通) linked to those cards, indicating operational steps for everyday campus security. The school also names a Safety and Mental‑Health Education Centre and repeatedly refers to providing a safe learning environment in its published mission statements. However, the site does not publish a standalone child‑protection or safeguarding policy (for example, a designated safeguarding lead, reporting procedures, or external safeguarding contacts) on the pages reviewed.	Safeguarding 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 Guangdong Bright Scholar School is located in Beijiao Town, Shunde District, Foshan, inside the Bright Garden community. The campus covers nearly 200,000 square meters. Teaching buildings, an experimental building, a Youth Palace, and an opera house are arranged around Star Moon Hill, in a setting described as beautiful with first‑class facilities. It is designated as a Guangdong Province First‑Class School and as a Guangdong Green School.	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 campus has a 400‑meter and a 200‑meter plastic running track. There are standard PU basketball courts, volleyball courts, and badminton courts with a combined area of about 20,000 square meters. A 2,400 square meter comprehensive gymnasium serves indoor activities, and two indoor heated swimming pools (25 by 50 meters and 25 by 10 meters) are available.	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities Academic facilities include teaching buildings and an experimental building, plus a dedicated laboratory building. The school provides a library and a digital library platform that enables library information search and access to digital resources via partnership networks and national/local library resources.	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 high school division runs five international programs—IGCSE/A‑level, IB (MYP/DP), AP, and domestic tracks including Gaokao, Art Gaokao, and Hong Kong/Macau/Taiwan/overseas student admissions—encompassing more than 200 elective subjects. The school develops a series of Xingzhi courses, including Belt and Road Silk Road cycling (14 days from Xi'an to Urumqi, about 3,000 km with 600 km of cycling) and World Cultural Heritage cycling through the Netherlands/Belgium/France, plus rural service and community projects. Additional activities include China Week with activities across many provinces, social practice, and an International Youth Achievement Award program. Graduates have gained admission to top universities worldwide, with sustained high results in recent years, and a strong emphasis on well‑rounded development through clubs, competitions, and service. These programs and activities are supported by a large, experienced faculty and a long‑standing focus on holistic student growth.	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 Guangdong Country Garden School was established in 1994; construction began in the early 1990s and the school opened to students later that year. It was set up as part of the Country Garden community development and has been described in several profiles as founded by the local Country Garden investment entity. Over the 2000s the school added international curricula stepwise (the IB Diploma in 2001 and later IGCSE/A‑Level programmes). The school has also been referenced in filings and profiles that note an operational relationship with larger education groups (for example, Bright Scholar/BGY-related entities).	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 campus is a boarding-style school with several thousand students and several hundred staff; public profiles list roughly 3,500–4,000+ students and multiple hundred faculty. The site and school descriptions highlight a range of on‑campus cultural and learning facilities—an observatory, performing‑arts spaces, pottery and maker facilities and small museums—that support arts, science and community activities. The school runs regular public events such as scheduled open days and family/visitor tours alongside termly cultural and sports activities that bring students, parents and local community members together.	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 The school organizes parent participation through multi‑level family committees (school‑level, division/department, grade and class levels) and maintains dedicated offices to support parent representatives and alumni engagement. These family‑committee structures are used to coordinate parent meetings, volunteer support, in‑school classroom visits and joint home‑school initiatives. School communications and news items describe regular school‑level and division‑level family‑committee meetings that review topics such as student welfare, dining services and activity planning. The committees also help recruit and nominate parent representatives each year and act as a bridge for parent feedback into school planning. Specific reports from the school describe this ‘‘four‑level family committee + two offices'' arrangement and show the committees taking part in program‑level events and operational working groups.	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 —	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	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 —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	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 —	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 —	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 —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations - International Baccalaureate (IB) — Authorized to deliver the three IB programmes: MYP and DP (authorized in 2001) and PYP (authorized in 2011). Significance: IB authorization means the school met the International Baccalaureate Organization's standards and is permitted to deliver these internationally recognised curricula and assessments. - Cambridge International (IGCSE / A‑Level) — IGCSE and A‑Level programmes authorized (school reports initial authorization in 2007) and listed as a regional Cambridge partner/executive committee member in subsequent years. Significance: Cambridge authorization allows the school to deliver Cambridge examinations and follow Cambridge curricula for secondary education. - Advanced Placement (AP) / AP Capstone — AP program authorization (2014) and AP Capstone authorization (2018). Significance: College Board authorization permits the school to offer AP courses and the AP Capstone diploma, which are widely recognised by U.S. and other universities. - Education Ministry / research designations — The school is described on its site as an Education Ministry (基础教育) course‑reform research base / experimental site for the school's “中外融通课程” research (the project is reported as having been accepted by the Education Ministry's curriculum centre). Significance: this indicates the school is participating in nationally‑recognised curriculum research or pilot work. - STEAM / Maker (创客) experimental school (Education Ministry) and municipal demonstration designation for labour education — The site states the school is an Education Ministry STEAM/创客教育 experimental school and a 佛山市劳动教育示范学校. Significance: these are official designations indicating the school is a designated pilot or demonstration site for those education initiatives at national/municipal level. (Date of designation is not shown on the site.) - Provincial recognitions — The school's basic information page lists it as a 广东省一级学校 and 广东省绿色学校. Significance: these are provincial‑level recognitions for school quality and environmental/green campus standards. (The site does not attach a specific award date on that page.) - Kindergarten / early‑years recognitions — The kindergarten pages state the kindergarten has been listed as 全国优秀民办幼儿园, 广东省首届“十佳民办幼儿园”, 广东省一级幼儿园, included in the Education Ministry's “中国名园之旅/培训基地” and identified historically as part of an Education Ministry '15'重点课题 (幼儿双语教育) experimental project. Significance: these are institutional recognitions and project designations for the school's early‑years programme.	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. Prepare and attend an Open Day / initial enquiry. Guangdong Country Garden School runs regular open‑day sessions and campus visits for prospective families; in recent years these were advertised in the spring (for example the 2025 spring open day schedule was published). Parents should bring the child (where possible) to sit in on a sample lesson, ask to see boarding and health facilities, and confirm whether the place they intend to apply for is part of the school's municipal (compulsory‑education) intake or the school's international/fee‑paying programme. 2. Register online / submit initial application. For compulsory‑education grades the school normally requires families to register on the local municipal admissions platform within the published city window; for international or private tracks the school publishes its own application form and timetable. Parents should be ready to upload or present identity documents (child's birth certificate, family ID/hukou or residence permit, copies of recent school reports, and parents' contact/residence evidence) and to note the registration deadlines—the municipal window is strictly timed and late online registrations are usually not accepted. 3. Assessment: written tests, interviews and language checks. After registration, applicants for initial entry (especially into junior and senior secondary international streams) are typically asked to attend a school assessment day that includes a short written test (math/Chinese/English depending on grade), a one‑to‑one or small‑group interview, and a language screening for non‑native English applicants. Parents should prepare the child for short subject tests, bring previous school reports/certificates, and expect a separate interview or meeting for parents where school expectations, boarding rules and fee schedules are explained. 4. Offer, acceptance and deposit. Successful applicants are issued a conditional or unconditional offer; schools usually require families to sign an enrolment agreement and pay a deposit or first term fees to secure the place by a stated deadline. Make sure you obtain a written offer showing the exact programme (e.g., national curriculum vs. IB/IGCSE/AP track), the amount and deadline for any deposit, what the deposit covers (tuition vs. holding fee), and the refund conditions if you later decide not to enrol. 5. Complete enrolment: paperwork, medical & boarding arrangements. Before the start of term parents must submit final documentation (originals of identity documents, recent health/medical certificates, vaccination records where required), complete fee payment as agreed, and confirm boarding, transport and meal arrangements if relevant. Expect the school to request a student health check and to confirm dormitory allocation and wardrobe/uniform lists during this stage. 6. If you are not offered a place: next steps and reapplication. If a child is not initially admitted, families can ask whether the school maintains an internal waiting list or whether they should register for the municipal “补录/征集志愿” (supplementary enrolment) process that runs after first offers are accepted. Parents should keep copies of all application materials, check deadlines for supplementary rounds, and enquire with the admissions office about chances for mid‑year entry or transfer (“插班”) into the grade if places open.	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 —	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 Guangdong Country Garden School's intake process differs by programme: for municipal (compulsory) grades the citywide admissions platform handles the main offers and any subsequent ‘补录' or ‘征集志愿' (supplementary rounds) when places are vacated; families must follow the municipal timetable and rules for those rounds. For the school's international/fee‑paying tracks the school commonly operates its own screening, maintains waiting lists for oversubscribed grades, and admits students on a rolling or “插班” basis when vacancies occur. Public, year‑to‑year details about waitlist ranking, application retention period, or whether the school publishes a ranked waiting list are not routinely published on third‑party listings; parents should ask the admissions office directly for the current policy, how the school notifies waitlisted families, and any deadlines to accept/decline an offer during the supplementary rounds.	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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