Lucton School Shanghai vs Suzhou Singapore International School

	L Lucton School Shanghai Shanghai, China	S Suzhou Singapore International School Shanghai, China
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year RMB 195,000 - 255,000	Fees / year RMB 130,000 - 300,000
Age range	Age range 12 - 18 years	Age range 2 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational (boarding)	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum British Curriculum, EYFS (Early years foundation stage), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels	Curriculum Singapore Curriculum, Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge IGCSE, IB (MYP), IB (DP)
Pupils	Pupils —	Pupils 1,400
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language English, Mandarin	Instruction language English, Mandarin
Opened	Opened 2018	Opened 1996
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Lucton School Shanghai is in Pudong New Area, at 90 Puhong West Road (上海浦东新区浦红西路90号) on a dedicated boarding campus. The school site and contact page list this postal address and campus location. For practical commuting or public-transport details the website does not give a full schedule — contact admissions for current travel advice.	Location The URL you gave (ssis.asia) is the website for Shanghai Singapore International School (SSIS), not a Suzhou campus. SSIS's main campus is in Minhang District, Shanghai, with on-site directions and contact details on the site; it's reachable by road and is near established residential areas and transport links in southwestern Shanghai.
Stages	Stages Lucton is an upper‑school (Year 10–13) serving students aged about 14–18: Years 10–11 follow two‑year IGCSE courses and Years 12–13 follow two‑year A Level courses. The admissions booklet and curriculum pages set out the IGCSE and A Level structure.	Stages SSIS runs a continuous K–12 programme from Preschool (Pre‑Nursery/Kindergarten) through Primary (Grade 1–6) to Senior School (Grade 7–12). Senior School includes Cambridge Lower Secondary, IGCSE (Grades 9–10) and the IB Diploma Programme (Grades 11–12).
School type	School type The school is an independent, full‑boarding, mixed‑gender (boys and girls) British‑curriculum school. The admissions material and the boarding pages describe Lucton as a 100% boarding school for its student cohort.	School type SSIS is a co-educational international day school (K–12). The school does not advertise boarding facilities on its main site pages.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support The school offers ESL (English as a Second Language) support and an academic/pastoral team (academic tutors, house staff and a school nurse) with supervised study and evening prep. The school's public materials do not describe extended special‑needs provision, and an independent school directory notes the school is not currently able to recruit students with significant special learning needs — parents with specific SEN requirements should contact admissions to discuss individual cases.	Additional learning support SSIS publishes an English Language Acquisition (ELA) programme for Primary students to support learners needing additional English instruction; the school also describes personalised learning approaches and school-based support but specific SEN caseload or detailed specialist services are described in admissions/downloadable registration materials. For specific individual needs it's best to contact the school's admissions or learning-support team.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation Lucton School Shanghai follows a British curriculum and is presented as an extension of the Lucton (UK) tradition; the school materials link the Shanghai campus to Lucton's UK history and curriculum model.	Country affiliation The school is named Shanghai Singapore International School and references Singaporean education influences in its curriculum, but it operates as an international school in China rather than being a government school of Singapore.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation The school's published materials do not indicate any religious affiliation; Lucton Shanghai presents itself as a secular British‑curriculum boarding school.	Religious affiliation SSIS does not list any religious affiliation on its public pages; it operates as a non-denominational international school.
School day structure	School day structure A typical weekday timetable (example from the school booklet) shows breakfast 07:10–08:10, lessons from 08:10 with breaks and staggered lunches, co‑curricular/activity blocks from around 16:40–18:20, supper 18:20–19:00, evening prep 19:00–20:00, free time 20:00–21:30 and lights‑out at about 22:30. The admissions booklet provides this sample timetable and a more detailed school timetable in the handbooks.	School day structure The school's website describes standard K–12 timetabled days with breaks and a lunch period but does not publish a single fixed start/end time on the public overview pages; these times are typically provided to admitted families or in the registration pack. Contact admissions for exact daily timings for specific year groups.
Bus service details	Bus service details The school notes shuttle/coach transport is used for off‑campus activities such as sports and trips, and the boarding handbook sets out arrival/drop‑off procedures for return days. The website and handbooks do not list a regular daily commuter bus route for day pupils (the school is 100% boarding), so parents should contact the admissions office for specific transport arrangements, schedules or third‑party providers.	Bus service details SSIS offers a regular school bus service for families; the site lists a transportation email and notes an annual transport fee (with distance-based rates quoted in the tuition page). For route details, pickup points and booking deadlines the school asks parents to contact the transportation office directly. }
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application fees - Admission deposit (入学意向金): RMB 20,000. This deposit is non‑refundable and is credited against the first year's tuition once the student enrolls. Tuition fees (annual and per‑term equivalents) - Annual tuition: RMB 195,000 per academic year. The school's published fee schedule shows a single annual tuition for its secondary/IGCSE–A Level programme rather than different tariffs by year group. - Termly equivalent: the school requires full‑year payment and does not publish termly billing; as an arithmetic equivalent (not published by the school), RMB 195,000 divided into three equal terms would be RMB 65,000 per term. (The school's published policy is to collect the full annual tuition.) Billing schedule and payment terms - The school states that parents are required to pay one year's tuition in a single payment (one‑off annual payment). The admission deposit is payable to secure a place and is non‑refundable. No separate termly billing schedule is published. Boarding and catering fees - Boarding fee (annual): RMB 34,700 per year. - Meals / catering fee (annual): RMB 25,300 per year. Other costs and charges - The following are explicitly stated as not included in the published tuition and are charged separately as applicable: private music tuition, school uniform, personal sports equipment, textbooks, external examination fees, and school trips or activities outside the published teaching programme. The school issues bills or separate notices for these items and charges according to the student's actual participation. A sibling discount of 20% on annual tuition for direct siblings is listed. Refund information - The admission deposit of RMB 20,000 is non‑refundable (it is offset against the first year's tuition after enrollment). No further published general refund schedule for tuition or boarding is provided on the school's fee page. Fee payment options - The school's published fee page does not specify accepted payment methods (for example, bank transfer, credit card or other channels) or detailed invoicing instructions. Payment method details are not listed on the published fee page.	Fee details Application and Matriculation Fees - Application Fee: non-refundable, non-transferable — RMB 2,500. Payment is due within five working days of issuance. - Matriculation Fee: non-refundable, non-transferable — RMB 20,000. This fee cannot be applied to tuition. Tuition fees (annual and per-term amounts by year group) Note: the school offers either a single annual payment or termly (trimester) payments. Per-term figures below are calculated as the published annual fee divided by three (annual ÷ 3) to reflect the trimester payment option. This per-term breakdown is a calculated figure. - Toddler / Pre-N (Half Day) - Annual: RMB 130,000. - Approx. per term (annual ÷ 3): RMB 43,333. - Pre-Nursery to Kindergarten 2 - Annual: RMB 200,000. - Approx. per term: RMB 66,667. - Primary School (Grade 1 to Grade 6) - Annual: RMB 260,000. - Approx. per term: RMB 86,667. - Senior School (Grade 7 to Grade 8) - Annual: RMB 280,000. - Approx. per term: RMB 93,333. - Senior School (Grade 9 to Grade 10) - Annual: RMB 290,000. - Approx. per term: RMB 96,667. - Senior School (Grade 11 to Grade 12) - Annual: RMB 300,000. - Approx. per term: RMB 100,000. Optional / additional fees and typical ranges - English Language Acquisition (ELA) Programme (Grade 1–6 only): RMB 25,000 per academic year (payment required in full before service starts). - Transportation (regular school bus) per academic year: - Below 5 km: RMB 18,500 per year. - 5 km and above: RMB 20,000 per year. - The transportation fee must be paid in full before the school commencement date; refunds for transportation are pro‑rata per school day less a RMB 400 handling fee. - Paid After‑School Programmes (ASP): most ASPs are complimentary, but paid ASP sessions (8-week session) typically range RMB 1,400–3,800. Paid ASPs must be paid in full before the session; refund rules depend on timing and minimum enrolment. - External examination/test fees (IGCSE, IB, AP, SAT, HSK, Cambridge English, etc.) are not included in the tuition and will be charged separately when applicable. Daily school lunch is included in the tuition. - Uniforms: uniforms are ordered through the school's approved vendor; specific item prices are set by the vendor. The school offers an early‑re‑enrolment complimentary uniform credit for eligible returning students. The on‑site Sabres Store allows try‑ons. Billing schedule and payment terms - Payment frequency options: - Annual (one-time payment), or - Termly (trimester) payments. - Application Fee and Matriculation Fee: timing requirements — Application Fee due within five working days of issuance; Matriculation Fee payment after offer is normally required within five working days. - Late payment charge: RMB 300 per day applied to overdue tuition fees for up to 7 days; after this period the school may suspend the student, withhold reports/transcripts, or offer the place to applicants on the waitlist. Refund and withdrawal terms - Withdrawal notice: parents must submit written notice to the divisional principal at least 30 days before the student's last day of school; otherwise days will be counted as absence and may affect refunds. - Late Withdrawal Notice Surcharge: if less than 30 days' notice is given, 10% of the annual tuition fee is deemed payable in lieu of notice. - Full‑term non-attendance: if a student does not attend any school days in a term, that term's tuition will be refunded in full. Partial attendance: if the student attends any day in a term, the full term's tuition is payable and non‑refundable. Annual payment discounts will be forfeited if the student withdraws mid‑year. - Optional services refund examples: - Transportation: pro‑rata refund per school day (1/180 of annual fee) less RMB 400 handling fee. - ELA Programme: fees are non‑refundable and non‑transferable. - Paid ASPs: full refund if withdrawn before the ASP start; no refunds once the ASP has started (unless minimum numbers not met). - Matriculation fee and other specified non‑tuition fees are non‑refundable. Refunds are processed after the student's last day; overseas transaction fees for refunds are borne by parents and refunds are made to the original payer. A VAT e‑fapiao (tax receipt) will be issued upon payment confirmation. Boarding - No boarding fees are listed; the fees schedule and enrolment materials describe day services and optional transport but do not include boarding provisions. (No boarding programme/boarding fees are published.) Discounts and concessions - Sibling discount: 10% discount on the total annual tuition fee for families enrolling two or more siblings. - Corporate discount: 10% discount on the total annual tuition fee for companies enrolling and paying for five or more children of their employees. - Note: sibling and corporate discounts cannot be applied to the same student. Accepted currencies and payment methods - Accepted currencies: RMB and USD for payments. - Payment methods accepted: - Point‑of‑Sale (POS): credit or debit cards (local UnionPay cards accepted for RMB payments). - Bank transfer: payment to the school's designated bank account; email proof of payment with student full name and class to invoice@ssis.asia. The exchange rate for overseas remittances is based on the central parity rate set by the People's Bank of China on the first working day of each month; any exchange differences are borne by parents. Other practical notes on fees - Tuition covers textbooks/library use, online resources, basic stationery, school‑sponsored CCAs/complimentary ASP offerings, compulsory Shanghai learning trips (within the city), technology fees, and daily lunch for students. External exam fees, optional off‑Shanghai trips, specialist fee‑based services, and certain optional programmes are charged separately. - VAT e‑fapiao will be issued after payment; you may request specific details (student name, period of study) to be added to the fapiao. If you need any of the numeric figures presented above in another currency or as exact instalment amounts calculated to a specific rounding convention, indicate which currency and rounding you prefer and I will compute them directly.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements The school operates a 7×24-hour fully boarding environment. Students live on campus in a two-storey dormitory with floors designated for male and female housing. Each student has a single-bedroom with a bed, desk, and private storage; bathrooms are located at the end of each floor. A Director of Life and Student Care lives on the dormitory floor and works with resident staff and a health teacher to supervise daily life and wellbeing. Leaving the campus requires consent from the Director of Life and Student Care; the dormitory is guarded by security personnel and dormitory rules are published in the boarding handbook.	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement All students wear a school uniform.	Uniform requirement SSIS has a formal school uniform. Shanghai Xinxinle Dress Co., Ltd is the uniform vendor since March 2019, and uniforms are ordered online with home delivery in about one week. The Sabres Store on campus offers fitting and purchase, with hours 08:00–09:00 and 11:40–14:00; contact sabrestore@ssis.asia or +86 21 6221 9288 ext. 7487.
Food options	Food options The dining hall provides three meals daily, using fresh local ingredients to support growth and health. Menus are varied and regularly updated, with notices posted in the dormitory; themed fixed-menu options are offered to complement the school's Food Science extracurricular course. Boarders are required to eat in the dining hall unless unwell.	Food options Food is sourced from Mahota Farm at Chongming Island and other licensed suppliers. An in-house purchasing department manages the process with no intermediaries and reviews suppliers and products regularly. The weekly menus include Chinese, Western, Japanese, South Korean and Southeast Asian dishes, with vegetarian options and accommodations for dietary restrictions; preschool meals are tailored, and Chinese festival foods are served.
House system	House system —	House system SSIS uses a House System with four houses: Ruby, Amber, Pearl and Sapphire. All students and staff are assigned to a house and remain in the same house throughout their SSIS journey, with younger siblings able to join the same house. The system supports a range of activities and competitions, and house points determine a yearly House Championship.
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership The Shanghai campus is part of Lucton School, a British private school; Shanghai opened in September 2018. The school is a member of accrediting bodies including ISC (Independent Schools Council), BSA (Boarding Schools Association), BAISIS, IAPS, CIE (Cambridge International Examinations), and SofH.	Governance and ownership SSIS was founded and invested by Prime Group International.
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details Lucton School Shanghai follows a British secondary pathway: Years 10–11 study IGCSE and Years 12–13 study two‑year A‑Level programmes, with ESL support for English learners. The IGCSE offer (Years 10–11) includes core academic English, Chinese and Mathematics and a broad range of options such as Additional Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Business, Economics, Computer Science, Design & Technology, Art & Design, Music, PE, Global Perspectives, Psychology, Drama and Japanese. At A Level (Years 12–13) students normally take three to four subjects from options including English, Chinese, Mathematics and Further Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Economics, Business, Computer Science, Design & Technology, Art & Design, Psychology, Music, Drama and modern languages; the school also offers an extended independent research qualification (EPQ/IPQ) and academic English preparation. Examinations are taken through standard UK international exam boards (Cambridge/CAIE, Edexcel and Oxford AQA) and the school is listed as an authorised centre for A‑Level examinations. The academic programme is complemented by STEAM, sports, music and other co‑curricular activities and is delivered in a full‑boarding, small‑cohort secondary setting for Years 10–13.	Curriculum details SSIS's Preschool (Early Years) is bilingual, aligns with Singapore's Nurturing Early Learners (NEL) framework and is organised around seven learning areas (Aesthetics; Discovery of the World; English literacy; Chinese; Motor skills; Numeracy; Social and emotional development). Primary School follows a Singapore‑based curriculum drawing on Singapore Math and Science with Cambridge Primary English and a three‑track Chinese Language and Culture programme (Basic, Singapore system‑based, Advanced integrating Singapore and Shanghai curricula). Senior School is divided into three stages: Grades 7–8 follow the Cambridge Lower Secondary Programme (CLSP) to prepare for IGCSE; Grades 9–10 take Cambridge IGCSE with four compulsory subjects (English, Chinese, Mathematics, Science) plus up to six option subjects designed to enable the Cambridge ICE group award. Grades 11–12 study the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP); SSIS states that 100% of students undertake the IBDP, which comprises six subject groups and the DP core (Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay and CAS). Across all stages the school supplements subject learning with STEAM, sports, arts and co‑curricular activities, Mandarin immersion and technology integration (ICT/Computer Science/Robotics), and uses ManageBac for home‑school communication and personalised learning records.
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 describes a boarding-based pastoral environment that encourages daily peer communication, mutual support and shared responsibility as part of students' social development. It states that boarding life and house structures foster communication skills and a supportive community. Lucton also operates a tutor/mentor system and housemaster oversight to guide students academically and pastorally. The admissions and ‘why choose us' information specifies that each student is assigned a tutor, a housemaster and receives ongoing mentor support.	Social & emotional learning SSIS describes a whole-division wellbeing and pastoral care programme delivered through form time, wellbeing lessons and assemblies to develop students' social and emotional skills. Counsellors and form tutors lead the programme and the school reports structured pastoral activities such as character and leadership camps and house-based programmes. The Senior School also operates a Mentor Programme that assigns students a teacher mentor for regular guidance on academic and personal matters. The school links pastoral care directly with academic guidance, noting counsellors, form tutors and heads of houses as part of the support structure.
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) The school's official website does not publish a dedicated page describing specialist SEN (special educational needs) provision or a named learning-support department. Lucton's site discusses pastoral care and tutor/house systems but does not detail which types of SEN it can support or list specialist SEN staff. Independent school listings indicate the school currently does not provide dedicated staff/programmes for students with special learning needs. Because the school's own site does not specify SEN provision, further details should be requested directly from admissions.	Special educational needs (SEN) SSIS's Student Services page states the school provides Academic Learning Support including personalised learning plans, one‑to‑one and small‑group interventions, assistive technology, and examination accommodations for students with diagnosed learning needs. The school lists Learning Support staff on its faculty pages, indicating specialist staff are in place to deliver these services. The website does not list specific categories of SEN (for example, dyslexia or autism) that it will or will not support. The school's public pages do not describe SSIS as a specialist SEN institution, instead presenting learning support as part of its broader Student Services.
English as an additional language	English as an additional language Lucton Shanghai publishes an ESL page stating that ESL is a required course for students whose first language is not English and is an integral part of the school's curriculum. The site says ESL provision and hours are decided by the admissions committee with parental agreement and that students with weaker English are offered one-to-one or small-group tuition. The page also notes students are prepared for English proficiency tests such as IELTS and TOEFL as part of university preparation. A downloadable ESL course description is available from the school's academic pages.	English as an additional language SSIS publishes an English Language Acquisition (ELA) programme aimed at Grade 1–6 students who require additional English support, with dedicated ELA staff and integration of language support across the curriculum. The Student Services page describes ELA specialists working with classroom teachers and also references a Cambridge English programme for formal exam preparation. The ELA programme is offered as a year‑long, fee‑based option in the school's tuition schedule for primary grades. Contact details for ELA and student services are provided on the school site for families seeking placement or assessment.
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing The school states it has an on-site medical room with resident medical staff who register students' health on admission and manage medications. Pastoral pages and the school's stated philosophy emphasise proactive pastoral care and a tutor/housemaster system to guide students and respond to needs. Recent news items on the site refer to the school supporting students through exam periods and balancing academic pressure with community activities. The website does not, however, publish a separate, detailed counselling or clinical-psychology service description. For details about specialist mental-health support or external referrals, contact the school directly.	Mental wellbeing The school's counselling team provides individual and group counselling, crisis intervention, and social‑emotional support embedded into the curriculum and pastoral routines. SSIS publishes resources for wellbeing during school closures, including regular Student Wellness Surveys, digital pastoral curriculum content, and remote counselling by appointment. Counsellors are reachable via the published school contact email (counselling@ssis.asia) and the site highlights proactive outreach to students and families identified as needing extra support. These provisions are presented as part of the Student Services and Counselling function on the school website.
Safeguarding	Safeguarding The school's published statements of ethos and pastoral information affirm a commitment to pastoral care and to preventing harassment, bullying (including online) and other unacceptable behaviours. Admissions and pastoral pages describe a tutor/housemaster structure and residential supervision that form part of day-to-day child welfare arrangements. The medical-room policy and registration process are presented as part of student care and safety procedures. The website does not appear to publish a standalone child-protection or safeguarding policy document; for formal policy texts and named safeguarding leads the school directs enquiries to its contact and admissions offices.	Safeguarding SSIS publishes a Child Protection Policy and states it has a Campus Safety Committee that conducts regular checks and enforces safety protocols to protect students' physical and emotional welfare. The school's Campus Safety Measures describe visitor procedures, ID/family card controls, and an Outdoor Activities Response Policy as part of its campus safety framework. The website provides a downloadable Child Protection Policy and directs enquiries to designated campus safety contacts. SSIS explicitly states a zero‑tolerance position on bullying, neglect and abuse and outlines procedures for responding to concerns.
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview Three teaching blocks house 20 classrooms and laboratories plus specialty spaces for creative work. A 303-seat multipurpose hall hosts lectures, music performances and drama. A music center next to the hall provides seven practice rooms and rehearsal spaces. A two-storey open library offers flexible spaces for group work and independent study. The campus includes an indoor gym, a climbing wall, a rooftop basketball court, tennis courts and a central playing field, with design and technology classrooms equipped with advanced equipment and flexible breakout areas. Boarding houses provide 184 single rooms with common areas and teacher accommodation; the dining hall seats over 120 and AV/tech infrastructure supports the whole campus.	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities The indoor gym, a dedicated fitness center and a climbing wall provide indoor physical activity options. A rooftop basketball court and on-site tennis courts extend outdoor play. A central playing field supports team sports and PE programs.	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities Three teaching blocks include 20 classrooms and laboratories. Design and technology classrooms are equipped with advanced equipment and flexible breakout spaces. A two-storey open library offers spaces for group work and independent study.	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities The on-site facilities support a broad program of extracurriculars across music, drama and the arts. There are dedicated spaces for music practice, performances and drama productions. STEAM labs and other flexible spaces support extended project work and clubs. The Shanghai Lucton School Equestrian Centre provides equestrian activities. Sports facilities support on-site activities, including the gym, climbing wall, rooftop court, tennis courts and central field.	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History Lucton's roots trace back to the original Lucton School in Herefordshire, England, which was founded in 1708; the Shanghai campus presents itself as an overseas branch of that historic school. The Shanghai campus was planned from 2016 and opened in September 2018 as Lucton School Shanghai. Since opening it has maintained formal links with the UK school—UK governors and senior staff took part in the 2018 opening and leaders from the UK have visited the Shanghai campus. These points are described on the school's history and news pages and in coverage of the 2018 opening.	History Suzhou Singapore International School (operating as Shanghai Singapore International School on its website) was founded and invested in by Prime Group International and opened with the approval of the Ministry of Education, PRC on 3 September 1996. The school began with 18 students and nine teachers and expanded over the following decades with additional campuses and programmes. SSIS obtained authorisations for the IB Middle Years Programme (2003), the IB Diploma Programme (2005), Cambridge IGCSE (2011) and the IB Career-related Programme (2014), and continued campus and facilities development through the 2010s. In 2025 the school lists WASC accreditation among its credentials.
Community	Community Lucton Shanghai is structured as a full‑boarding secondary community and the school's website and news feed show regular campus news, term events and celebration days. The school marks an annual Founders'/Founding Day tied to the opening date (early September) and publishes weekly campus updates and event reports; visits from staff of the UK school have been recorded in the school's news coverage. Boarding life, scheduled weekends and co‑curricular programmes are recurring features of the community calendar described in the school's news and activities pages.	Community The school serves an international student and family community and runs recurring community events that invite broad participation, such as the annual International Family Bazaar and preschool NatureFest. School-wide occasions including sports days and arts exhibitions bring students, staff and families together across grade levels. SSIS has also co‑organised external cultural events that engage the wider Singaporean and expatriate communities in Shanghai, for example Chingay@Shanghai.
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association There is no publicly accessible page on Lucton School Shanghai's website that describes a formal, named Parent‑Teacher Association (PTA). Parent engagement that is publicly documented includes open days and "校长见面会" (principal meetings) for families, the school's Founders'/Founding Day celebrations, and regular parent communications through the school newsfeed and announcements. These parent‑facing events (open days/principal meetings) are described in the school's admissions and news material, and the school's principal has addressed parents in posted messages. For confirmation about an organised PTA, parent committees, volunteer groups or a calendar of parent activities, the most direct route is to contact the school's admissions/admin office (email and phone are listed on the site). If you'd like, I can draft an email or phone script to request specific PTA details from the school.	Parent teacher association SSIS's parent organisation is called the Parent Support Group (PSG); an elected PSG Executive Committee organises volunteer efforts and events across the school. Regular PSG activities listed on the school site include Book Week, Santa's Workshop, Chinese New Year celebrations, International Friendship Day, a Teacher Appreciation lunch and contributions to the International Family Bazaar. The PSG also coordinates parent volunteers who support classroom activities and extracurricular events, and it arranges workshops for parents delivered by staff, parent volunteers and external providers on parenting and academic topics. The PSG uses a dedicated contact address (psg@ssis.asia) for parents who wish to volunteer or participate. Overall, the PSG frames its role as a platform for parent involvement and for enriching students' learning experiences through organised events and workshops.
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual The school follows English-style teaching and offers small class sizes with a flexible learning approach. It continues the British teaching tradition and emphasizes strong student participation and autonomy.	Academic & intellectual SSIS offers a Co-Curricular Programme (CCA) and an After School Programme (ASP). The CCA for Grades 1–6 develops leadership, social skills and interactions with teachers beyond academics. CCAs span sports (Floor Hockey, Gymnastics, Softball, Soccer, Basketball, Rock Climbing, Badminton), aesthetics (Dance, Creative Drama, Gu Zheng, Singing, Xylophone, Orchestra) and special-interest clubs (STEAM Club, Knitting Club, Lego Building Club, Origami, Scrapbooking). ASP runs three eight-week sessions for K1 to Grade 12; activities are organized by teachers and external vendors, with signups on the SchoolsBuddy platform.
Arts & creative	Arts & creative The school provides facilities for drama, music, arts, and other creative pursuits, including an on-site cinema and dedicated music practice rooms.	Arts & creative The Aesthetics Programme provides opportunities in art, dance, drama and music. Visual arts are showcased in campus exhibitions and students may participate in external art competitions. The Performing Arts Programme covers music, drama and dance, with platforms such as musical productions, festival celebrations, International Family Days, student talent competitions, summer concerts and external performances. The Music Programme offers instrument study in small groups, with vocal work, theory and music appreciation; SSIS is an ABRSM exam centre and has a dedicated Performing Arts Centre with a 646-seat auditorium.
Cultural & language	Cultural & language The school runs ESL English courses for non-native speakers as part of the curriculum, with additional IELTS/TOEFL preparation to support university applications.	Cultural & language The Chinese Language and Culture Programme combines the national Chinese and Singaporean curriculums. Chinese language classes are differentiated to accommodate diverse abilities: daily Advanced Chinese, Standard Chinese and Foundation Chinese; from Grade 9, students can study Chinese as Language and Literature, another language, or start Chinese as a new language during IGCSE and IB. An Immersive Chinese Culture Class covers traditional culture, poetry, calligraphy and geography. The programme provides platforms for student language expression, including the International Schools Chinese Debating Competition, the Footprint anthology, Chinese Culture Week and Sabres Broadcasting.
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies The campus offers a wide range of co-curricular activities under its extended program, including sports and arts, with access to facilities like a university-style campus environment.	Social & hobbies Sports, aesthetics and clubs are integral to SSIS's holistic education, with opportunities outside the classroom. The school offers a broad range of clubs and after-school activities across athletics, arts and special-interest groups; signups occur on the SchoolsBuddy platform. The SSIS Weekend Programme provides paid activities by external vendors to develop skills and progress. Learning Outdoors offers farm-to-school experiences, excursions and camps to broaden horizons and connect learning to the real world.
Community & service	Community & service The school articulates a pastoral framework with dormitory life and a mentor system to support students beyond academics.	Community & service SSIS is a Duke of Edinburgh International Award Centre; Senior School students aged 13 and above can pursue the DoE Award at Bronze, Silver or Gold levels with teacher mentors. The DoE sections include Voluntary Service, Skills, Physical Recreation, Adventurous Journey and, for Gold, a Residential Project. The programme emphasizes learning beyond the classroom, resilience, independence, goal setting and community involvement.
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional The school assigns a dedicated course teacher, a dorm supervisor, and a mentor to each student to guide balanced study and activities.	Leadership & professional The DoE Award fosters leadership, independence and self-management through student-led learning with guided support. Sabres Broadcasting develops bilingual public speaking and media communication skills, offering opportunities to speak in English and Chinese and to participate in live broadcasts. SSIS provides additional avenues for student leadership through school events and projects showcased in SSIS publications and events.
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing The school operates a 100% boarding environment with dormitory management and a family-like school culture intended to support student well-being.	Lifestyle & wellbeing Sports form a core part of SSIS's program, with facilities including four indoor basketball courts, three all-purpose soccer fields, a competition swimming pool, an athletic track, tennis courts and spaces for fitness and dance. The school runs specialized programs such as the SSIS Golf Programme and the SSIS Go Swim Programme. Learning Outdoors supports wellbeing through field trips, excursions and the farm-to-school project to connect physical activity with environmental awareness.
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision The school teaches in English with dedicated ESL support for non-native speakers and offers additional language study through its extension program.	Language provision The curriculum is Singapore-based and international, with Preschool and Primary taught to the Singapore Curriculum and then progression to IGCSE and IB Diploma Programmes. The Chinese Language Programme aggregates the national Chinese and Singapore curricula; from Grade 1, students are placed into Advanced Chinese, Standard Chinese, or Foundation Chinese; from Grade 9, Chinese can be studied as Language and Literature, as an additional Language, or as a new language within IGCSE and IB Diploma.
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching The school uses a bilingual holistic education with an immersion model blending British and Chinese pedagogies.	Bilingual teaching SSIS uses a bilingual education model combining English instruction with Chinese language learning through a Cambridge English Programme and a Chinese Language Programme (CLASS Model).
Immersion programs	Immersion programs The school employs an immersion model of education.	Immersion programs The Chinese Language and Culture Programme includes an Immersive Chinese Culture Class, with a learning approach that blends language study with hands-on experiences. Platforms include the International Schools Chinese Debating Competition, the Footprint anthology, Chinese Culture Week, and Sabres Broadcasting.
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards (Only school-level awards/recognitions explicitly reported on the SSIS website in the past five years are included below; I did not include student-level prizes or internal student awards.) - Listed in Forbes China: "Forbes China International School Annual Selection" — SSIS was named on Forbes China's 2025 annual list of international schools (post dated June 20, 2025). The school's news item presents this as an external selection/recognition of the school. - China League IB ranking (2024) — SSIS is reported to have secured 8th place in the 2024 China League IB Table (news post dated December 2, 2024). This is an external ranking placed to the school rather than to individual students. - School trophy for International Economics Olympiad (IEO) preliminary round — SSIS reports that all 23 students who took the IEO preliminary test on December 12, 2024 passed and that "the school was awarded a trophy" for that result (reported in the Senior School newsletter, posted February 26, 2025). The school-level trophy is described in the newsletter. Notes and limits: - I reviewed only information published on the SSIS website and included items where the school itself is the named recipient. External recognitions such as rankings and listings are presented as the school reports them on its site. - Items mentioned on the SSIS site that relate to student awards, internal prize ceremonies, or that describe the school as a "finalist" (for example the China Schools Awards 2022 finalist mention) were not counted as school "wins" here because the site either describes them as finalist status or attributes the award to students. Where helpful, I included exact post dates and source links (citations) so you can verify details directly.
Accreditations	Accreditations Below are the accreditations/memberships the school lists on its website (the school's own page is cited first). Each line includes a brief, factual explanation of the organisation and why membership matters. - ISC — Independent Schools Council. The school's site lists ISC membership; ISC is an umbrella body for UK independent school associations that represents and coordinates standards, advocacy and sector services for member schools. - BSA — Boarding Schools' Association. Listed on the school site; the BSA (part of the BSA Group) provides professional development, boarding-sector guidance and best-practice resources for boarding schools. Membership signals engagement with UK boarding standards and CPD. - BAISIS — British Association of Independent Schools with International Students. Listed on the school site; BAISIS focuses on academic and pastoral practice for schools that recruit international students and runs training and peer-support for member schools. Membership indicates the school participates in that network and its international-student-focused CPD. - IAPS — Independent Association of Prep Schools. Listed on the school site; IAPS is an association for independent preparatory schools that provides guidance, inspection and sector support—membership is commonly used as a marker of conformity with its membership criteria and quality monitoring. - CIE — Cambridge (Cambridge Assessment) / Cambridge International. Listed on the school site; Cambridge Assessment International Education (often shown as CIE) is a major international exam and qualification provider (IGCSE, A-Level syllabuses/exams). Association/recognition by Cambridge indicates the school teaches and/or registers students for those externally set assessments. - SoH / SofH — The Society of Heads (often abbreviated S of H). Listed on the school site; the Society of Heads is a UK association of heads of independent schools that provides networking, professional discussion and sector representation. Membership signals association with that heads' network.	Accreditations - International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) — SSIS is authorised to deliver multiple IB programmes: the Middle Years Programme (MYP; authorised May 2003), the Diploma Programme (IBDP; authorised 2005), and the IB Career-related Programme (IBCP; authorised 2014). Authorisation means the IBO has evaluated and approved SSIS to implement those specific IB curricula and related quality standards. - Cambridge International Examinations (Cambridge IGCSE) — SSIS received Cambridge authorisation in 2011 to offer the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE). Cambridge authorisation indicates the school is approved to teach and assess Cambridge programmes and examinations. - Council of International Schools (CIS) — SSIS received full CIS accreditation (first noted in 2010) and has undergone CIS evaluation visits (including a documented accreditation visit/re-accreditation process). CIS accreditation is an external, ongoing quality-assurance process that evaluates a school's governance, curriculum, staffing, and student support against international standards. - National Centre for School Curriculum and Textbook Development (NCCT) — SSIS received full accreditation from NCCT in 2010. This is a China-based accreditation/approval indicating alignment with the national centre's curriculum and textbook standards (as reported by the school). - Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) — SSIS earned initial WASC accreditation on May 13, 2025. WASC is a U.S.-based regional accrediting commission; WASC accreditation indicates the school meets recognised standards in areas such as curriculum, leadership, teaching, and student wellbeing.
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions 1. Submit the online application and documents. Parents should complete the school's application form and upload required documents through the school's application portal (the site links to luctonstaff.schoolis.cn). Prepare scanned copies of current school reports, passport/ID and any English-language evidence (transcripts, certificates) before you start so the upload step is smooth. 2. Testing and interviews arranged by the admissions office. After you submit the application the school arranges the UKiset online test (the school references the official UKiset site for details), a student oral test and a parent interview; the school lists the test/interview location as Lucton School Shanghai (Pudong). Expect the admissions office to notify you of test dates and the materials the student should prepare (e.g., reading/writing tasks, short presentation or portfolio for arts candidates). 3. Admissions committee review and decision. The school's admissions committee evaluates the application, test results and interview; successful applicants receive either conditional or unconditional offers. If offered a place parents must sign the admissions agreement and pay the non-refundable RMB 20,000 enrollment intention deposit by the specified date — that deposit is credited against the first year's tuition once the student enrolls. 4. Waitlist or non‑acceptance outcomes. The school states that if intake is full applicants will be placed on a waiting list; applicants who do not meet the entrance standard will be informed that they are not accepted. Parents should note the school's wording that placement on the waiting list occurs when places are full, and should keep the admissions office informed of any change in the child's circumstances (e.g., updated reports or test results) while waiting. 5. Final enrolment steps before term starts. Once the tuition payment deadline is met and documents/forms are returned, the school will confirm enrolment and invite the family to the school's orientation/enrolment guidance day; the site also notes that tuition for the year is normally collected in a single payment. Parents should check the school's invoice and receipts carefully, and be ready to pay additional out-of-fee items (books, private music lessons, extracurricular trips) which are billed separately.	Admissions 1. Create an OpenApply account. Parents must register at SSIS's OpenApply portal before they can submit an application or sign up for open days; this account is the school's primary channel for application notifications and next-step instructions, so use a reliable email address you check regularly. (Make the account at https://ssis-sh.openapply.cn and keep the login details safe.) 2. Complete and submit application documents via OpenApply. All required documents must be uploaded to OpenApply and any non-English/Chinese documents must be translated by an authorised translation company; bring original documents to the Admissions Office for verification on the day of the Admissions Assessment. Required paperwork varies by nationality—examples include the SSIS Registration Kit, signed Code of Conduct and Confidential School Recommendation (for Grade 1+), the child's birth certificate and vaccination record, the family's passport pages, and Shanghai residence/permit or property/tenancy proof—so check the list that applies to your family and prepare certified copies before applying. 3. Pay the application fee (and follow payment timing). After you submit documents, SSIS issues a proforma invoice; the non-refundable application fee (RMB 2,500 for AY2025/2026) must be paid at least five working days before the Admissions Assessment date using bank transfer or on-site card/cash as instructed by SSIS Finance. Keep proof of payment and email any bank-transfer receipts to the school when requested—missing payment deadlines can delay or invalidate your booking for an assessment. 4. Attend the Admissions Assessment. All applicants are required to complete an Admissions Assessment; SSIS Admissions will contact you with the assessment schedule and details once they have a complete application. After the assessment SSIS will notify you of the outcome. 5. Complete the application by paying the matriculation fee and confirming enrolment. If your child is offered a place you are asked to pay the non-refundable matriculation fee (RMB 20,000 for AY2025/2026) within five working days to secure the place; tuition choices (annual or termly) and optional services (school bus, ELA programme at RMB 25,000/yr for Grades 1–6, paid ASPs) are detailed in the Registration Pack and on the Tuition & Fees page. Read the Registration Pack's payment schedule, discount rules (10% sibling or corporate discount conditions), and refund and late-payment policies carefully—late-payment penalties and enrolment consequences are explicitly stated.
Scholarships	Scholarships The school publishes a formal scholarship programme with several named categories and clear percentage reductions of tuition. Awards are described as requiring selection by exam and interview and applicants must meet entrance requirements; the main categories listed are: the Peirpont (皮尔蓬特) all-round scholarship (100% tuition reduction), an academic scholarship (50% tuition reduction), and a set of specialist scholarships — arts, music, sports and equestrian — each described as giving 20% off annual tuition. For many categories the page lists required supporting materials for the selection process (examples include transcripts and competition certificates for academic awards; portfolios and recommendation letters for arts; multiple instrument certificates and performance for music; competition records and a recommendation for sports; training videos, certificates and a recommendation for equestrian candidates). All scholarships are awarded as a percentage reduction of tuition (the page states they apply to the tuition component) and the school says awards are reviewed annually — continuation into subsequent years depends on meeting the school's performance expectations. For application deadlines, the scholarship application form and any current availability, the school asks families to contact the admissions office directly.	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist Lucton School Shanghai operates a waiting list when admissions are full. The school's published process states that when the intake is full an applicant will be placed on a candidate/WAITLIST rather than being offered immediate admission; the site does not publish details such as waitlist order, typical wait times or explicit prioritisation rules. Because the public page gives only this high-level statement, parents who want to understand their child's current position, expected wait time, or whether any deposit is required if/when a place becomes available should contact the admissions office directly (the site lists phone +86 21 5809 3060 and admin@luctonsh.com).	Waitlist SSIS's published enrolment materials reference a waitlist: the Registration Pack and fee policy state that if a student is suspended or leaves for non-payment the school may “offer the student's seat to new applicants on the waitlist.” That language indicates SSIS maintains a pool of applicants it can draw on when places become available, but the website and Registration Pack do not publish a detailed public waitlist protocol (for example: ranking criteria, how long applicants remain on the list, or automatic expiry of a position). Therefore, if you want to know how the waitlist would apply to your child (how places are prioritised, expected waiting times, or whether acceptance requires immediate matriculation-fee payment), contact the Admissions Office directly (admission@ssis.asia / +86 21 6221 9288) for current practice and your applicant's position. Note: the statement about offering seats to waitlisted applicants appears in the school's refund/late-payment section and is the basis for the above summary; the rest is an informed inference because the school does not publish a full waitlist procedure.
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