ISA Liwan International School vs Utahloy International School Guangzhou

	I ISA Liwan International School Guangzhou, China	U Utahloy International School Guangzhou Guangzhou, China
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year RMB 204,000 - 222,000	Fees / year RMB 132,300 - 290,800
Age range	Age range 2 - 18 years	Age range 6 months - 17 years
Type	Type Co-educational, Co-educational (boarding)	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels, Advanced Placement (AP), Chinese National Curriculum, EYFS (Early years foundation stage), Singapore Curriculum	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP)
Pupils	Pupils —	Pupils 700
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size 18
Instruction language	Instruction language English, Mandarin	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 2022	Opened 1998
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location ISA Liwan International School is on Hailong Road in Liwan District, Guangzhou — the campus sits on the Guangzhou–Foshan boundary area. The school is reported to be about 800 metres from Longxi Station on the Guangzhou–Foshan metro line, and the campus is described as adjacent to a Foshan waterway and local road links. For precise commuting details from a specific address, contact the school's admissions team.	Location Utahloy International School Guangzhou is at 800 Sha Tai Bei Road in Baiyun District, Guangzhou — a lakeside campus in the north of the city. The school provides pick-up zones across major districts (Tianhe, Zhujiang New Town, Haizhu, Yuexiu, Liwan, Panyu and Zengcheng) via its bus service, which can be useful if you are relocating from those neighbourhoods. For the exact campus address and to arrange a visit, contact the admissions office.
Stages	Stages The school is described as a K–12 provision covering Early Years, Primary (IB PYP/UK EYFS-aligned) and Secondary (Middle and High School) programmes. The website presents pathways for Early Years through to senior grades and indicates international curriculum frameworks (IB).	Stages UISG delivers the full IB continuum: Early Years (nursery/early years), Primary (PYP), and Secondary (MYP and IB Diploma). Program pages on the school site outline age-group provision from early childhood through Year 12.
School type	School type ISA Liwan is an international, co-educational day school and is part of the ISA International Education Group. The school's published material also refers to an immersive international boarding programme available for Primary, Middle and High School students; check admissions for boarding capacity and rules.	School type UISG is a co-educational, secular international day school serving expatriate and eligible Hong Kong/Macau/Taiwan families; it does not offer boarding. The school is operated under the Utahloy Education Foundation (UEF) umbrella.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support The school's public pages do not give a detailed published special educational needs (SEN) or additional learning needs (ALN) policy for ISA Liwan specifically. ISA group schools publish Access & Inclusion frameworks (for example ISA Wuhan's Access & Inclusion policy describing tiered support), so parents should contact ISA Liwan admissions to request the school's current learning‑support policy, assessment process and examples of in‑school provisions.	Additional learning support The school runs a whole-school English as an Additional Language (EAL) programme (using WIDA frameworks and tiered support) and offers targeted small-group and in-class support. Admissions notes and application forms state that families must provide reports if a child has diagnosed learning needs; UISG aims to support English-language learners and students with mild learning support needs while assessing the school's capacity to meet more significant needs.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation ISA Liwan is an international school located in Guangzhou, China, and is operated by the ISA International Education Group; it is not presented as being affiliated to any foreign national government.	Country affiliation The school is not affiliated with a single foreign country; it is an international school in China operated by the Utahloy Education Foundation (UEF).
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation The school does not state any religious affiliation on its public pages; it presents itself as a secular international school.	Religious affiliation UISG is secular and does not have a religious affiliation.
School day structure	School day structure The school's public website does not publish a detailed daily timetable (start/end times or exact break/lunch times) for each age group. For specific start/end times, daily schedules and any before/after‑school care options, contact the admissions team listed on the school's contact page.	School day structure Buses are scheduled to arrive at school between about 7:50–8:15am and regular afternoon buses depart around 3:30–3:40pm; a late bus for after-school activities typically leaves at about 5:15pm. Office hours and admissions availability are listed as Monday–Friday 8:00am–5:00pm; for exact daily bell times, break and lunch schedules for specific year groups, check with Admissions or the division offices.
Bus service details	Bus service details The school describes an organised school‑bus service operated through a school bus centre; the site notes routes are designed so individual journeys take under an hour. The bus service is presented as a school‑managed transport option — parents should contact admissions for route maps, stop locations, costs, pick‑up/drop‑off times and safety arrangements.	Bus service details UISG operates an optional two-way school bus service using licensed, government-authorised yellow school buses with licensed drivers and assistants; parents register during the admissions process or by contacting the Busing Office. Routes cover two main zones (Zone 1: Tianhe, Zhujiang New Town, Haizhu, Baiyun, Yuexiu, Liwan; Zone 2: Panyu, Zengcheng); route management and daily changes are handled through the SchoolsBuddy app and the school provides WeChat groups and QR codes for route communication. If your area is not currently covered the school asks families to contact the transportation team to investigate feasibility.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application fee - A one-off application/enrolment fee is reported as RMB 1,000. Tuition fees (full detail by year group) - Nursery 2 (age 2): Annual tuition RMB 208,000 (per-term equivalent RMB 104,000 if divided into two equal terms). - Kindergarten 1 (age 3): Annual tuition RMB 208,000 (per-term equivalent RMB 104,000). - Kindergarten 2 (age 4): Annual tuition RMB 238,000 (per-term equivalent RMB 119,000). - Kindergarten 3 (age 5): Annual tuition RMB 238,000 (per-term equivalent RMB 119,000). - Grade 1 – Grade 3 (primary lower years): Annual tuition RMB 258,000 (per-term equivalent RMB 129,000). - Grade 4 – Grade 5 (primary upper years): Annual tuition RMB 268,000 (per-term equivalent RMB 134,000). - Grade 6 – Grade 8 (lower secondary/MYP): Annual tuition RMB 288,000 (per-term equivalent RMB 144,000). - Grade 9 – Grade 10 (IGCSE/early upper secondary): Annual tuition RMB 298,000 (per-term equivalent RMB 149,000). - Grade 11 – Grade 12 (IB Diploma/A-levels): Annual tuition RMB 308,000 (per-term equivalent RMB 154,000). Billing schedule and payment terms - For the ISA Wenhua (domestic) track, official approvals list tuition on a per-semester basis (for example: primary RMB 102,000 per semester; lower secondary RMB 111,000 per semester). This same local approval also specifies semester-based boarding charges where applicable. - For the international (foreign-children) school, published materials show annual tuition figures by grade; the school's published fees are presented as annual amounts and parents are directed to the school for billing arrangements (many international schools offer semester or instalment options, but the school's published fee list provides annual totals). Boarding fees - Boarding is available. Reported figures indicate an optional boarding charge equivalent to RMB 50,000 per year (reported as RMB 25,000 per semester in some official notices for the Wenhua/domestic school). Other costs and common additional fees - Additional variable charges commonly applied: meals, school bus, uniforms, textbooks and learning materials, external examination fees, extracurricular activities, and one-off enrolment deposits or assurance fees. Local public notices state that ancillary/service charges follow public-school management rules. Specific amounts for these items are not listed in the school's public fee summary. Refund information - No detailed public refund policy for tuition or deposits was found in the school's public fee disclosures. The school's charging framework is subject to Guangzhou municipal fee approval and ancillary charges are governed by local regulations. Parents should expect refund and cancellation handling to follow those regulatory and contractual terms. Fee payment options - The school's public fee listings do not explicitly publish a full list of accepted payment methods. Typical channels for international schools in China include international bank transfer (SWIFT), domestic bank transfer, and local digital payments (Alipay/WeChat) or card payments; however, no definitive public statement of accepted methods for ISA Liwan was located in the published fee pages. For precise payment instructions and available instalment plans, the school's admissions office is the listed point of contact. Summary of sources and limits of public information - Published fee amounts by grade and boarding levels are available in the school-fee summaries and education directories; local government approvals specify semester fees for the Wenhua/domestic track. Public materials do not provide a complete public schedule of application/registration timing, the school's formal refund policy text, or a definitive public list of accepted payment methods.	Fee details Application fees - Application fee: RMB 2,000. Non-refundable, non-transferable, one-time payment submitted with the application (valid for one school year). Tuition fees (per semester and per year group) - K (Half day): RMB 66,150 per semester; Total RMB 132,300 (2 semesters); Annual payment with 4% discount RMB 127,008. - K (Full day): RMB 94,500 per semester; Total RMB 189,000; Annual payment with 4% discount RMB 181,440. - K1 (Half day): RMB 68,250 per semester; Total RMB 136,500; Annual payment with 4% discount RMB 131,040. - K1 (Full day): RMB 97,500 per semester; Total RMB 195,000; Annual payment with 4% discount RMB 187,200. - K2: RMB 102,500 per semester; Total RMB 205,000; Annual payment with 4% discount RMB 196,800. - K3: RMB 111,000 per semester; Total RMB 222,000; Annual payment with 4% discount RMB 213,120. - G1: RMB 118,400 per semester; Total RMB 236,800; Annual payment with 4% discount RMB 227,328. - G2: RMB 117,400 per semester; Total RMB 234,800; Annual payment with 4% discount RMB 225,408. - G3: RMB 117,400 per semester; Total RMB 234,800; Annual payment with 4% discount RMB 225,408. - G4: RMB 117,400 per semester; Total RMB 234,800; Annual payment with 4% discount RMB 225,408. - G5: RMB 117,400 per semester; Total RMB 234,800; Annual payment with 4% discount RMB 225,408. - G6: RMB 125,900 per semester; Total RMB 251,800; Annual payment with 4% discount RMB 241,728. - G7: RMB 126,400 per semester; Total RMB 252,800; Annual payment with 4% discount RMB 242,688. - G8: RMB 126,400 per semester; Total RMB 252,800; Annual payment with 4% discount RMB 242,688. - G9: RMB 139,900 per semester; Total RMB 279,800; Annual payment with 4% discount RMB 268,608. - G10: RMB 139,900 per semester; Total RMB 279,800; Annual payment with 4% discount RMB 268,608. - G11: RMB 145,400 per semester; Total RMB 290,800; Annual payment with 4% discount RMB 279,168. - G12: RMB 145,400 per semester; Total RMB 290,800; Annual payment with 4% discount RMB 279,168. (Per-semester and annual figures as published by the school.) Billing schedule and payment terms - Tuition may be paid by semester or annually; an annual payment attracts the stated 4% discount on tuition. The school issues an enrollment letter and a debit note with payment deadlines required to secure a place. Payments must meet the stipulated due dates to qualify for sibling bursaries and other conditional discounts. Mid-term admissions (after the first two weeks of the school year) are adjusted pro rata, weekly. Boarding fees - UISG is a day school and does not offer boarding facilities; there are no boarding fees at this campus. (A separate Utahloy campus offers boarding.) Other costs and fees - School and P.E. uniforms are compulsory for K to Year 10; uniform items are purchased through the school uniform shop (prices for individual items are listed in the uniform price list). Examination fees for external standard tests (IB, SAT, TOEFL, etc.) are additional and are not covered by tuition. The school notes an LSA fee and optional bus fees; bus fees are optional, partially subsidised by the school, and payable by semester or annually. Canteen/cafeteria meals have been included in the semester and annual fee structure for the published year. Refund information - Application fee: non-refundable. - ECAs and externally run activities: published ECA terms include limited refund rules (e.g., one-week grace period per term, refunds of missed lessons only in specified prolonged closure scenarios). The school's public pages do not publish a single, detailed general tuition refund/withdrawal policy; the enrollment letter/debit note and the school's Admissions Procedures and Policies brochure reference payment deadlines and conditions. For specific withdrawal or refund cases, the school's finance or admissions office provides the governing details. Fee payment options - Application fee: WeChat Pay is presented as the simplest option; bank transfer is available on request and the school requests a copy of remittance to admissions@uisgz.org and finance@uisgz.org. For scheduled tuition and other school fees, the school issues a debit note with payment instructions (finance contact available for bank details and queries). No public page lists credit-card acceptance as a standard method. Notes: the figures above are taken from the school's published 2025–2026 tuition and fees materials. Where the school's public pages give conditional or procedural statements (for example, sibling bursary conditions, bus fees, LSA charges, and ECA refund rules), those statements are reflected above; a general tuition withdrawal/refund schedule was not located on the publicly available pages cited.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements ISA Liwan offers an International Boarding Community for students from primary to high school. Boarding facilities include a study area and a student lounge on each floor, with two house parents per floor to guide and support boarders. A UK-based Head of Boarding oversees the programme; security includes curfews and Wellbeing Center support, with ongoing communication with parents.	Boarding arrangements Boarding is launching at UISG with Dragon House for the start of the 2026-27 academic year. The boarding program supports holistic student development with academic support, pastoral care, and independent living in brand-new, purpose-built facilities. A dedicated residential staff provides 24/7 guidance and a safe, inclusive home. UISG is a member of the Australian Boarding Schools Association (ABSA).
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement The school has a uniform. Uniforms are designed from washable materials for comfort and practicality, suitable for each season, and include formal wear, sportswear, swimwear, ties, and shoes.	Uniform requirement The UISG uniform is worn by all students from Kindergarten until Grade 10. Senior students in Grades 11 and 12 follow a smart/casual business dress code to prepare for tertiary study.
Food options	Food options The cafeteria serves Chinese, Western, vegetarian, bakery, and pastry meals, along with global cuisine. It can support events such as parties and baking and non-baking lessons.	Food options The UISG canteen provides high-quality, nutritious food with a daily menu featuring a mix of Asian and Western cuisines. The kitchen prepares meals daily, and a range of snacks is available in the campus cafe; in-house baking is done on-site.
House system	House system ISA Liwan has a four-house system. The four houses are 弘毅、博学、求真、至善, and the system supports pastoral care, cross-age collaboration, competitions, and student leadership, with house points contributing to a sense of belonging.	House system Dragon House is UISG's boarding community and fosters belonging; it is described as a community to grow, learn, and belong.
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership The school is part of the ISA International Education Group (ISAIEG), a network of international schools that provides diverse pathways such as IB, CNC, A Level, AP, HKDSE and other programmes.	Governance and ownership UISG is part of the Utahloy International School Guangzhou network and is associated with Utahloy organizations including the Utahloy Education Foundation (UEF), Utahloy Alumni Association (UAA), and Utahloy Parent Teacher Association (UPTA).
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details ISA Liwan operates a continuous K–12 programme (ages 2–18) that integrates IB frameworks with UK, Singapore and Chinese national standards and delivers bilingual English–Chinese instruction. Early Years and Primary (EY–G5) follow the IB PYP candidate framework alongside UK/EYFS and referenced UK/Singapore standards for literacy and mathematics, with immersive English plus regular Chinese/mother‑tongue lessons. Middle school is built around the IB MYP framework and a Cambridge pathway, with Singapore math/science benchmarks and elements of the Chinese national curriculum. Upper secondary provides multiple external pathways and qualifications—IGCSE for lower secondary assessment and post‑16 options including IBDP, A‑Level, AP electives and HKDSE—alongside specialist arts and elective programmes. The school also notes small class sizes, a mentor system and an extensive co‑curricular offer (60–100+ clubs/CCAs) to support pastoral and skills development.	Curriculum details Utahloy International School Guangzhou delivers the International Baccalaureate (IB) continuum across its Early Years, Primary and Secondary stages. The Primary Years Programme (PYP) runs from Early Years through Year/Grade 6 and is an inquiry‑based, transdisciplinary curriculum integrating language (English and Chinese), mathematics, science, social studies, arts, design and specialist PE/music, with a PYP exhibition at the upper primary level. The Middle Years Programme (MYP) covers Grades/Years 6–10; students take eight subject groups (Language and Literature, Language Acquisition, Individuals & Societies, Science, Mathematics, The Arts, Physical & Health Education, and Design), complete a Personal Project, and may sit Grade 10 eAssessments leading to an IB MYP certificate. The Diploma Programme (DP) is offered in the final two years (typically Years 11–12) and requires study across six subject groups (three Higher Level, three Standard Level) plus the core components—Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay and Creativity, Activity, Service—culminating in the IB Diploma. Across the school there is whole‑school EAL support, a Mother Tongue programme (Chinese, English, Korean, Japanese, French, German, Spanish), and provision for technology, arts and extensive extracurricular activities.
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 ISA Liwan states that “Student Support” is integral to school life and lists specific pastoral systems including mentorship programmes, a house system, boarding services, parent–school communication and student management to promote a positive, inclusive community and students' wellbeing. The school says these systems are designed to nurture students' personal and social development and to provide personalised care through higher adult-to-student ratios in houses. The site also notes a Learning Support Centre that works with pastoral teams to support individual learners. These provisions are described on the school's Pastoral Care page.	Social & emotional learning UISG provides confidential individual and group counselling delivered by a Primary Counselor (Sharon Lun) and a Secondary Counselor (Julie Mullen); counsellors work with parents, teachers and leaders to support academic, personal/social and career development. The counselling service lists common areas of support such as adjusting to a new culture, anxiety, friendships, time management and examination stress. The school also runs whole-school programmes that promote belonging and student agency, including a House system, student council, student leadership roles and regular experiential learning (camps and field trips). These leadership and community activities are described as part of classroom and student experience provision.
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) The school's website describes a Learning Support Centre and a Student Support Centre that provide learning support integrated with teaching, pastoral and psychological services. ISA Liwan says these centres aim to create a positive environment and offer academic and learning support for students with different abilities. The website does not specify which particular categories of special educational needs (for example, specific learning difficulties, autism spectrum, or physical disabilities) it can support. The site also does not present itself as a specialist SEN institution; it describes mainstream student support rather than specialist special-education provision.	Special educational needs (SEN) UISG describes itself as an inclusive school and states it aims to offer appropriate services for English language learners and students with mild Learning Support needs; the admissions information asks families to provide detailed reports if a child has a diagnosed learning need or has received learning support previously. School communications and newsletters reference Learning Support Assistants and list a Secondary Learning Support Coordinator among staff/vacancy roles, indicating in-school learning support capacity. The website does not publish a detailed list of specific SEN categories it can support, nor does it describe itself as a specialist SEN institution. For specific diagnoses, placement or detailed provision the school requests prior documentation and conducts assessment during admissions.
English as an additional language	English as an additional language Early Years and primary information shows an immersive bilingual approach with English-language lessons and specific EAL provision listed in timetables, and the school describes differentiated language teaching from early years. Boarding and pastoral information also states the school runs targeted language and English-improvement courses (including TOEFL/IELTS preparation and small-group English classes) as part of its boarding learning support. These pages indicate curricular and extra-curricular English support rather than a standalone external EAL certification programme. Details about staff numbers or named EAL specialists are not published on the site.	English as an additional language UISG runs a whole-school EAL programme that uses the WIDA framework and specific resources (for example Read Write Inc, Comprehension and Fresh Start in Primary) to scaffold students' English development. Primary EAL uses collaborative push-in support and WIDA screening on admission; Secondary offers an “EAL Enhanced” pathway with small-group instruction, push-in/pull-out options and six-week cycles framed by WIDA assessments, with students exiting the programme once they can work independently in mainstream classes. EAL teachers monitor progress, provide standards-referenced feedback to families, and collaborate with classroom teachers and subject departments. Assessment and placement are based on admission data, prior evidence of proficiency and the school's WIDA screener.
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing The website describes a Wellbeing/Student Support Centre that provides group activities, group and individual counselling and preventive and intervention services, and it says boarding staff must hold a mental-health education certificate to better support boarders. The school also notes that experienced psychological experts and teachers will provide psychological counselling and wellbeing lectures. The Health Clinic page indicates on-campus medical provision and CPR/AED training that support student health and emergency response. The site therefore presents a combination of counselling, boarding-focused pastoral care and on-site health services as its mental-wellbeing provision.	Mental wellbeing Mental wellbeing support at UISG includes confidential counselling for individual and group needs, with counsellors explicitly addressing anxiety, depression, family or personal crises, and strategies for balanced lifestyles and resilience. The school operates two on-campus clinics staffed by nurses who log clinic visits, attend sporting and school events, and can access doctor support when needed. Wellbeing is further supported through curricular and co-curricular activities (life-skills/PSPE lessons in primary and secondary) and student leadership/house systems that build community and social skills. For medical or severe incidents the nurse will contact parents and, where necessary, accompany students to external medical care.
Safeguarding	Safeguarding ISA Liwan's website describes campus security measures (an ‘advanced intelligent campus system', 24-hour security and surveillance), boarding safeguards such as house parents, curfew and regular roll-calls, and an on-site Health Clinic with nursing cover and emergency preparedness (CPR/AED training). The boarding page states house parents are “ever present” for counselling and safety, and the Pastoral Care page describes the house system and home–school communication as part of student protection. The site sets out these operational safeguarding measures but does not publish a clearly labelled, standalone child-protection or safeguarding policy document that is publicly accessible from the pages reviewed.	Safeguarding UISG publishes a Child Protection & Safeguarding policy aligned with PRC law and referencing the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and WHO definitions of abuse and neglect. The school lists safeguarding measures including a clear child protection policy, annual child protection training for staff and volunteers, designated Child Protection Officers and a Child Safeguarding Team (named staff), a Staff Code of Conduct, criminal background checks for all staff/regular volunteers, and procedures for reporting and following up suspected abuse. The site states the Child Safeguarding Team trains teachers, parents and students and manages confidential child protection documentation. The school also says it cooperates with relevant authorities as part of its safeguarding procedures.
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview The school's campus is lakeside, located along Golden Lake and bordered by forested hillsides. The campus spans nearly a kilometre along the lake, with learning spaces and classrooms offering views of the natural surroundings. Classrooms and learning spaces are modern, comfortable, purposefully designed, and suitably equipped. Cutting-edge technology is integrated into every classroom, and Primary and Secondary buildings include innovation and design spaces where students can develop solutions to real-world problems. An online campus tour is available to glimpse UISG's facilities.
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities Classrooms and specialized buildings are modern, comfortable, purposefully designed, and suitably equipped. Cutting-edge technology is a core feature of every classroom environment. Specialized innovation and design classrooms exist in both the Primary and Secondary buildings, enabling students to design solutions to real-world problems.
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities The school highlights engaging extracurricular activities as part of the student experience.
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History ISA Liwan was developed by the ISA International Education Group (ISAIEG) as a single K–12 campus that includes ISA Wenhua Liwan School (dual pathways) and ISA Liwan International School. The project was built with independent property rights under ISAIEG and an investment reported at about US$180 million. The campus was planned to open in the autumn of 2022 and operates both international and domestic pathways, with an international boarding programme. The campus build and services have been recognised with a WELL Gold certification for its built environment.	History Utahloy International School Guangzhou (UISG) was established in 1998 by the Utahloy Education Foundation Ltd (UEF); UEF is an education company supported by the Guangzhou Municipal Government and Guangzhou University and created UISG as its first school. The school's Chinese name has changed since its founding (an earlier registered name dates to July 14, 1998). UEF later expanded its network with a second Utahloy campus in Zeng Cheng in 2003.
Community	Community The school presents itself as a multicultural boarding and day community that runs regular family-facing and cultural events. Recent school news lists activities such as an IPY Curriculum Night (19 Sept 2024), a Mid‑Autumn Festival celebration, and visits from university representatives (for example, an admissions visit from the University of Wisconsin–Madison). The school also describes ongoing student support structures and a wide range of co‑curricular offerings including house and mentor programmes.	Community UISG describes a multinational student body with multiple mother-tongue programmes and a range of student activities that reflect its cultural diversity. The school's news and events pages show recurring cultural and community events such as an International Festival of Light, primary school talent shows, and seasonal athletics and arts activities. The broader Utahloy community includes an alumni association and the Utahloy Education Foundation, which connect current families, graduates and local partners.
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association ISA Liwan's parent organisation is run as a Parent Support Group (PSG) that was established in 2022 with elected representatives and an executive committee. The PSG is described as a bridge between families and the school, intended to deepen home–school collaboration and advise on school activities. School reporting notes a formal PSG launch with elected officers and a special reception for representatives, and more recently a Home‑School Partnership meeting held on 23 October 2024. Mr. Li Haihong is reported as the PSG chair, and senior school leaders (including the campus head and the international school head) have participated in PSG meetings. Published accounts of PSG work cite practical activities such as planning festival booths, advising on Curriculum Night and other events, and coordinating communication between families and the school for both domestic and international pathways.	Parent teacher association The Utahloy Parent Teacher Association (UPTA) was founded in 2006 and all parents and teachers at UISG are automatically members. UPTA serves as a regular communication channel between parents and the school and represents major language groups within the school community. UPTA plans and coordinates fundraising events where parents meet teachers and other families; funds raised are partly donated to charity and partly used to improve the school environment and support future activities. Meetings are held four times a year (dates appear on the school calendar) and all parents and teachers are welcome to attend. UPTA also supports school-organized workshops intended to help parents better understand the curriculum and school programmes.
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual The Extra Curricular Activities Programme offers over 160 activities annually for Grade 1–12, including sports, performing arts, virtual design, STEAM, academics, and community engagements/initiatives. The programme provides Primary ECAs and Secondary ECAs, with a detailed catalogue released before each session. Secondary ECAs include service opportunities that empower students to impact broader communities positively. The programme is designed to help students pursue interests and contribute to a well-rounded education.
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative Arts at UISG are identified as Visual Arts and Performing Arts. Arts education is integrated into the Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme, and is an integral part of the IB Diploma Programme Visual Arts course. Performing Arts offers curricular and extra-curricular opportunities in Music and Theatre, while Visual Arts covers media such as drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, and digital art. UISG is a founding member of the International Schools Music Association of Guangzhou (ISMAG) and a member of ACAMIS, linking students to regional arts events.
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language The Mother Tongue Programme is embedded in the school day. The school's medium of instruction is English, and it promotes bilingualism and strengthening home languages. In Secondary, the Mother Tongue Programme continues through Language and Literature in seven languages: Chinese, English, Korean, Japanese, French, Spanish, and German. In Primary, the Mother Tongue Programme is based on the PYP Language Scope and Sequence and AERO standards. The languages offered include Chinese, English, Korean, Japanese, French, Spanish, and German.
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies Over 160 ECAs are offered each year for Grades 1–12, spanning sports, performing arts, virtual design, STEAM, academics, and community engagements/initiatives. Primary ECAs emphasize exploration, creativity, and inclusivity in a non-competitive environment, with a detailed catalogue released before each session. Secondary ECAs include a wide range of options, including staff-led, external provider, or student-led activities, with service opportunities designed to empower students to contribute to broader communities. The ECA programme enables students to pursue interests and develop new skills as part of their well-rounded education.
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service The Extra Curricular Activities programme includes community engagements/initiatives and service opportunities for students, enabling positive impact on broader communities. Secondary ECAs provide service opportunities designed to empower students to contribute to local and global communities. The ECA framework supports student-led and staff-led community projects as part of UISG's approach to holistic development.
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional UISG hosts Model United Nations conferences, including RAMSMUN 2024 and PACKMUN III (2025), offering student leadership and global awareness experiences. The College Counseling programme provides academic advising, a broad college search, applications assistance, university visits, and fairs, with BridgeU used to guide planning. UISG runs the Life After High School career fair (March 26, 2025) to connect students with universities and industry.
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing The Wolves Athletics Programme offers a wide range of primary, middle, and high school sports, with pathways for development from elementary to varsity levels and a focus on character, discipline, and teamwork. UISG participates in local conferences and leagues (e.g., GISSA, GISES, SDRC) and hosts year-round events and live streaming of competitions. The athletic program supports students' physical well-being and social-emotional development through competitive and recreational sport.
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision Languages taught include Chinese and English as core languages, with Additional Languages available. In the Primary Years Programme, Language is Chinese, English, and Additional Languages, with curriculum based on UK and Singapore standards. For IB Programme students, the school provides Chinese and English dual-native language teaching. In the HKDSE track, Other Languages such as French, German and Japanese are offered.	Language provision The school provides a Whole School EAL Programme to support English language learners. It offers extensive Mother Tongue Programmes in Korean, Chinese, Japanese, French, German, and Spanish. These language supports complement academic learning across the IB Continuum.
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching Chinese and English dual-native language teaching is provided for all IB Programme students, designed to help students become Chinese-English international talents.	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards • Forbes China recognitions (June 2025) — the school's website reports that UISG was named in two categories of Forbes China's 2025 Annual International School Rankings: the “Foreign Passport High Schools” selection and the “German Curriculum International Schools” selection; these are recognitions published by Forbes China and presented on the school site as institutional honours. • National Spelling Bee Team — third place in the National Spelling Bee Team Competition (July 2023) as reported on the school website; the report presents this as a team/institutional result in a national competition.
Accreditations	Accreditations 1) IB Diploma Programme — ISA Liwan states it achieved authorization to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in December 2023 (school IB code 062751). Significance: IB DP authorization means the school is officially permitted by the International Baccalaureate Organization to deliver the two‑year pre‑university DP curriculum and have students assessed within the IB system. 2) IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) — the school reports it received IBO authorisation for the MYP in June 2024. Significance: MYP authorization indicates the school may implement the IB framework for students roughly aged 11–16 and use the MYP's interdisciplinary, concept‑based approach. 3) IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) — the school's Early Years / Primary pages list ISA Liwan as an IB PYP Candidate School (pursuing PYP authorization). Significance: Candidate status means the school is actively working toward full PYP authorization and follows the IB's candidate procedures while preparing for evaluation. 4) College Board (AP) authorization / CEEB code — the school page states ISA Liwan has received authorization from the College Board to offer Advanced Placement (AP) courses and lists a CEEB code (428848). Significance: College Board authorization permits the school to offer AP courses and register students for AP exams; the CEEB code is used in US college application processes.	Accreditations • International Baccalaureate (IB) — Utahloy International School Guangzhou is an IB World School authorized to deliver the full IB continuum: Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP); this indicates the school meets the IB Organisation's authorization standards for those programmes. • Council of International Schools (CIS) — UISG was re‑accredited by CIS in 2025; CIS accreditation is an institutional accreditation that reviews whole‑school quality in international education, governance and student welfare. • Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACS WASC) — UISG was awarded full ACS WASC accreditation (stated as valid through June 2029 on the school site); WASC accreditation is an external quality review used by many international schools to signal alignment with recognised standards for academic programmes, leadership and continuous improvement. • UNESCO Hong Kong affiliation — the school's website notes an affiliation with UNESCO Hong Kong as part of its institutional recognitions; such an affiliation indicates a formal link to UNESCO‑related programmes or networks focused on global citizenship and sustainable development.
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions 1. Initial enquiry and application: Start by submitting the school's online admission inquiry or application form (the school publishes an enquiry form for grade intention and contact details). The school's published process asks parents to provide the application form plus “supporting materials” and to indicate the intended grade; the site's enquiry form shows the EY1–G11 grade choices and basic contact fields. Because the school's site does not list every required document, parents should be prepared to provide recent school reports, passport/ID and any residency paperwork the family holds and confirm exact document requirements with admissions. 2. Admissions office review: After you submit the application and supporting materials the Admissions Office reviews the file to confirm the candidate's eligibility and the appropriate entry level. The school's published outline states that this review is an early gate before arranging assessments and helps determine whether an entrance assessment or interview is needed. Expect the review to consider the age cutoff (the school uses a September 1 cut‑off for age placement) and the published approximate class sizes (around 20 pupils for EY and ~24 for primary classes). 3. Entrance assessment or interview: The school arranges an entrance examination, assessment or interview as part of the process to place the child at the correct level; this applies across age ranges listed in the admissions plan. Parents should ask admissions in advance what format the assessment will take for their child's grade (group activities for early years, literacy/math tasks for primary, subject tests for older grades). Bring originals of school reports or samples of recent work if requested — these often speed up the placement decision. 4. Placement confirmation: Following assessment, the school confirms the recommended enrollment level and class allocation; this is the point when you will know whether there is a place available for the intended intake. Because class sizes are capped (the school publishes approximate sizes), availability for a particular grade can vary and places may fill quickly for popular year groups. If you need a specific start date or have constraints (boarding, transport, bilingual needs), mention these early so they can be considered in placement. 5. Offer letter and invoice: The school issues an Admissions Offer Letter together with an invoice if a place is offered; the published procedure explicitly lists issuing an offer and invoice as the next step. Parents should review the offer package carefully for the payment deadline, whether the fee quoted is annual or first‑year only, and any non‑refundable registration charges. The school's admissions materials make clear that payment by the stated deadline is required to secure the place. 6. Tuition and fees: The school's publicly reported annual tuition range for the international stream is in the region of CNY 208,000–308,000 (figures published for the 2025/2026 academic year show per‑grade totals that vary by year). Parents should confirm which extras are not included (for example, some schools exclude transport, uniforms, exam or activity fees) and request an itemised invoice so they know what is covered by the published amount. Fees are subject to change and the published figures should be verified directly with the school before making a payment. 7. Payment and enrolment finalisation: Pay the invoice by the deadline stated on the Offer Letter; the school's procedure states “Pay fees before specific deadline” as the final step before enrolment. Keep proof of payment and request written confirmation of enrolment and start date. If your child requires a visa, boarding place or other administrative support, confirm those arrangements as payments are completed so the school can prepare arrival and orientation. 8. Practical points and follow up: Note the school's age cut‑off (September 1) and class capacity when planning application timing; late applications may require waiting for a vacancy or joining via the school's intake windows. Keep a copy of all exchanged correspondence and the Offer Letter for your records.	Admissions 1. Check eligibility and read placement guidance. Before you start an application, confirm your child is eligible: UISG only admits students holding a valid foreign passport or those from Hong Kong, Macau, or Taiwan — children with a People's Republic of China passport are not eligible. Review the school's Year Level Placement guide so you apply for the correct year level; applying for the wrong year level can delay review or change placement outcomes. If you are unsure about eligibility or the right year level, contact the Admissions Office first. 2. Prepare required documents. UISG asks that you gather and prepare the Required Documents before submitting an application: these commonly include parents' and student passport copies and any Chinese residency/visa documentation, the student's birth certificate, a passport-sized photo, at least two years of official school reports plus a Certificate of Attendance/Enrollment, an up-to-date vaccination record, and (for Grade 1–12 applicants) a confidential reference requested through the online portal. If your child has a diagnosed learning need or has previously received learning support, you must provide detailed reports and history of support as part of the application. Documents should be in English or provided with an official translation to avoid processing delays. 3. Submit the application through the online portal and pay the application fee. Complete the online application via UISG's OpenApply admissions portal and upload the required supporting documents; the school will not process an application without the application fee. The application fee is RMB 2,000 (non-refundable and non-transferable) — parents are asked to include the student's full name on remittance and may remit via WeChat Pay or bank transfer (contact admissions for bank details). 4. Assessments and interview. Depending on age and prior English-medium schooling, applicants (especially Grades 4–12 without at least three years in an English-language school) may be asked to complete an English assessment or other subject/language assessments; these can be on campus or proctored online. The school requests a student and family interview (usually with the relevant Head of Division); the interview is used to understand the child and family, answer questions, and assess fit rather than to ‘‘test'' the child on the spot. Heads of Division may also request a trial class or additional assessments in some cases; budget time for these steps when planning a mid-year move. 5. Admissions review and decision. Admissions decisions are made after the Admissions Office, Heads of Division, and Head of School review the file, assessment results, references, and interview feedback; the school evaluates both the potential for the student to benefit from UISG and the school's capacity to meet the student's needs. After the process is complete you should receive a formal admissions response: an official enrollment letter (if accepted) plus a debit note listing payment deadlines required to secure the place. UISG aims to issue a decision quickly (the FAQ notes a typical decision within five working days after all steps are complete), though processing can be slower during holidays. If your child is denied, the school will issue a letter explaining the reasons. 6. If accepted — secure the place and note fee/payment policies. To secure an offered place you will be given payment instructions and deadlines; UISG offers an annual-payment 4% discount (shown on the published fee schedule) and applies sibling bursaries for second and subsequent concurrently enrolled children (bursary applies to basic tuition only). The school accepts mid-year enrollments when space is available; note the tuition policy: no basic tuition reduction is given for students admitted during the first two weeks of term, and students admitted after the first two weeks will have tuition adjusted pro rata by week. For transport, bus fees are optional and payable by semester or annually; meals are included in the 2025–26 fee structure. Keep the tuition & fees page and the Admissions Procedures & Policies brochure handy for the detailed financial terms referenced in your debit note.
Scholarships	Scholarships ISA Liwan publishes a scholarship programme for its international school students covering several categories (academic, arts, sports, science, environment, public service, entrepreneurship and business). The school states scholarship waivers range from 30% up to 100% of annual tuition and can be awarded for up to a maximum of three years; the published sections also list grade bands for eligibility (for example: academic scholarships for Grades 6–12; arts/science/sports for Grades 1–10; environment/public welfare/entrepreneurship for Grades 7–10). The school's scholarship page also indicates the programme is open to both incoming and current students and notes a large aggregate scholarship fund cited on the site; parents should request the scholarship application form, the specific eligibility criteria and deadlines (separate application and supporting evidence are normally required) and confirm whether awards are renewable and conditional on academic or co‑curricular performance.	Scholarships UISG does offer scholarship opportunities and runs specific scholarship programmes with published criteria and application procedures. Recent school announcements (April–May 2025) describe a RMB 1,000,000 scholarship programme for the 2025–26 year that is open to new students (Years 1–12) and existing students (Years 6–12), with awards ranging from full tuition to tiered cash awards; categories include academic, artistic, athletic, creativity, community service, and multilingual/cultural diversity scholarships. The school also runs targeted scholarships for specific year groups (for example Year 10 and Year 12 awards and UEF recognition awards) with stated application criteria and deadlines. Scholarship applications typically require completion of the admissions process first (payment of the non-refundable application fee where applicable), a completed scholarship application form, supporting documents (PDFs), required essays, and submission by the published deadline; for at least some internal scholarships the school asks applicants to email materials to secondaryoffice@uisgz.org. Deadlines and exact award amounts vary by programme and year — consult the UISG Scholarships page and the specific scholarship news posts for the current application windows and instructions, and contact admissions or the Secondary Office for clarifications.
Waitlist	Waitlist The school's published admissions procedure (application → review → assessment → offer → invoice → payment) does not publicly describe a formal, ranked waiting‑list or pool on the pages examined. The admissions pages set out the standard steps for assessment and offer but do not state whether unfilled applications are placed on a waitlist or how such a list would be managed. Because waitlist policies and vacancy management can be handled case‑by‑case, parents should assume there may be limited immediate availability for some grades and contact the Admissions Office to ask whether they operate a waitlist, how it is ranked (if at all), and whether any preferences (siblings, entry date) affect priority. For direct confirmation, use the school's admissions contact listed by ISA International Education Group (admissions@isalwis.com).	Waitlist UISG operates a wait pool (waitlist) system when a requested year level has reached capacity. If a year level is full at the time of application, the school will notify you that your child has been placed in the wait pool and will contact you if and when an appropriate space becomes available. Offers are generally made on a first-come, first-served basis for available places, and the Admissions Office will follow up with an enrollment timeline and next steps if a space opens. The FAQ and Admissions Procedures both explicitly describe this wait-pool arrangement and advise families to apply early if they need a place at the start of a semester.
	View full profile →	View full profile →