Merchiston International School Shenzhen vs Recognise International Academy

	M Merchiston International School Shenzhen Shenzhen, China	R Recognise International Academy Shenzhen, China
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year RMB 138,000 - 148,000	Fees / year RMB 141,000
Age range	Age range 4 - 18 years	Age range 4 - 16 years
Type	Type Co-educational (boarding)	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum EYFS (Early years foundation stage), British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels, Advanced Placement (AP)	Curriculum EYFS (Early years foundation stage), British Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils —	Pupils —
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 2018	Opened 2009
Bus service	Bus service Yes	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Longhua campus: No.12 Shilongzai Road, Dalang Sub-district, Longhua District, Shenzhen; Qianhai/Shekou campus: No.1009 Nanhai Blvd, Shekou, Nanshan, Shenzhen. Both campuses are in Shenzhen city; Longhua is inland (Dalang) while the Qianhai/Shekou site is in the Nanshan/Shekou area near the coast. The website lists full contact numbers and postcodes for each campus.	Location Recognise International Academy is located in the Shekou area of Shenzhen (Nanshan district); the school's postal address is 4–6 Bi Yu Lu, Bi Tao Yuan Villas, Tai Zi Road, Shenzhen 518067. Shekou is an established expatriate neighbourhood with ferry links and metro connections to other parts of Shenzhen and amenities such as Sea World nearby, so the area is commonly used by internationally mobile families.
Stages	Stages MIS is an all-through school serving Early Years through Year 13 (ages 4–18). The Longhua campus is the main all-through site; the Qianhai/Shekou campus is noted for Early Years and Junior provision.	Stages RIA teaches children aged about 4 to 16 (Reception/Year 1 through Year 11, often shown as KG–Grade 10). The school's published curriculum pages describe Lower and Upper Primary (Years 1–6) and Lower and Upper Secondary (Years 7–11), with IGCSE study typically taken in Years 10–11.
School type	School type Merchiston International School is a co-educational British international school and an overseas branch of Merchiston Castle School (UK). The school operates boarding provision across age-appropriate houses (boarders are organised in houses covering junior through senior year groups).	School type Recognise is an independent, small-scale international school that teaches in English and uses the UK National Curriculum as its basis; class sizes are kept small. The school is mixed-gender (co‑educational) and serves the expatriate community in Shekou.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support Parents are asked to declare any additional support needs at application; all students are screened for additional support needs at entry and the school says it will make reasonable adjustments where appropriate. The site also refers to a Student Success Centre / support team for helping students with learning needs.	Additional learning support The school runs a dedicated Cognition (additional‑needs) class of around four to five students staffed by a specialist teacher plus a support teacher; pupils in that class follow tailored programmes and may join mainstream classes for some subjects and activities. RIA says it works with parents and external specialists to assess needs and plan pathways.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation MIS is the authorised overseas branch of Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh, Scotland; the school follows British-style provision and offers British pathways (IGCSE/A Level) alongside other options for senior years.	Country affiliation The school has no stated national/ governmental affiliation; its curriculum is based on the National Curriculum of England (adapted for an international context).
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation The school website does not list a religious affiliation for MIS; the founding school in Edinburgh (Merchiston Castle School) is described in public sources as non‑denominational.	Religious affiliation There is no religious affiliation stated on the school website; RIA presents itself as a secular, international school.
School day structure	School day structure Typical school routines shown on the site indicate a morning registration/form time around 07:45–08:00, lessons during the day, a school finish in the mid‑afternoon (~15:30) followed by co‑curricular activities/CCAs (often 15:45–17:00) and supervised study/evening programmes for boarders (evening study/homework and set bedtimes vary by year group). Exact start/end times differ slightly by phase and boarding house.	School day structure Morning arrival is between 8:30–8:45am and lessons begin at 8:50am. The published day runs with a morning break (around 10:15am), lunch about 12:00pm, an afternoon break at about 2:15pm and the normal end of day at 3:45pm (after‑school activities extend to 4:45pm).
Bus service details	Bus service details The school runs an optional bus/shuttle service for day students; parents are asked to book routes in advance and the service carries an additional fee (the school notes optional bus fees and that fees are non‑refundable once a term begins). Routes are organised to meet local requirements and parent demand. For specifics on routes, stops and fees you should contact Admissions.	Bus service details The school website does not list a school bus service; third‑party directory listings also indicate there is no school bus provided. If you will need transport from a particular neighbourhood, contact the admissions office to confirm current arrangements or recommended local transport options.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application fees and deposits - Application fee: RMB 2,000 (non‑refundable, non‑transferable; payable at time of application). - Security / enrolment deposit: RMB 18,000 (refundable as stated by the school's fee policy). Tuition fees by year group (annual and per‑term amounts) - Early Years / K2 (age 4): Annual tuition RMB 200,000 — Per term (calculated as annual ÷ 3) RMB 66,667 (rounded). (Per‑term value is derived by dividing the published annual fee by three; the school's fee policy uses the term as the billing period.) - Kindergarten 3 and Years 1–5 (age 5–10): Annual tuition RMB 235,000 — Per term RMB 78,333 (rounded). - Years 6–11 (age 11–15): Annual tuition RMB 335,000 — Per term RMB 111,667 (rounded). - Years 12–13 (age 16–17): Annual tuition RMB 370,000 — Per term RMB 123,333 (rounded). Boarding fees - Boarding arrangements and costs vary by year group. For younger junior years boarding is offered as an optional extra (reported example: RMB 70,000 per year where boarding is optional); in higher secondary years boarding is included in the published senior tuition totals. Parents should note the published annual figures above reflect whether boarding is included for that year group. Other costs and recurring extras - Additional fees that may apply include: school lunch (for day students), exam fees for IGCSE/A‑Level, textbooks, fee‑paying co‑curricular activities (CCAs), individual music lessons, optional bus service and uniform shop purchases. Bus fees and other term‑based services have the school's stated no‑refund rule once a term commences. Billing schedule and payment terms - Fees are billed in RMB. The school issues invoices and requires payment by the due date stated on each invoice. The school refers to fees and adjustments on a term basis and calculates pro‑rata charges for students joining after a term starts. Late payments incur a monthly penalty (1.5% as stated). Refund and withdrawal information - If a registered student fails to enrol, 90% of the tuition will be refunded. For withdrawals after starting, the school's refund formula is: Actual tuition fee ÷ 184 (instruction days) × (184 − days actually attended). Refunds will be processed within 15 working days after the academic year end; the original tax receipt (Fapiao) must be returned as part of the refund process. Fee payment options and surcharges - Primary payment method: the school's online portal (School Pal). The school accepts in‑person credit card payments at the Finance Office (surcharges apply: 1% for domestic cards; 3% for foreign‑issued cards). Employer payments are accepted by bank transfer; all bank charges are the payer's responsibility. Discounts and sibling policy - A sibling discount is applied to tuition and boarding fees for second and subsequent children (commonly reported as 5%). Note: The school's published fee chart and the school's fee policy set the formal terms, billing dates and any grade‑specific boarding inclusions; the payment, refund and surcharge rules above are taken from the school's fee policy.	Fee details Application / Registration Fee - Registration fee (initial enrolment): RMB 6,500. Payable upon confirmation of a place. Tuition fees (by year group and per term) - Annual tuition (all ages / Reception–Year 11): RMB 141,000 per year. Payable in three termly instalments. This implies an approximate term amount of RMB 47,000 (141,000 ÷ 3). Billing schedule and payment terms - Annual tuition is billed as three termly instalments; each instalment is due per term. The registration fee is due on confirmation of initial enrolment. School lunch charges are billed termly. Specific invoice dates or late-payment penalties are not listed on the published fees page. Boarding fees - Boarding is not listed as part of the school offering and no boarding fees are published; Recognise International Academy operates as a day school for ages 4–16. No boarding charges apply. Other costs and optional charges - School lunches (optional): RMB 30 per day, billed termly. - School excursions: variable; charged as applicable for each trip. - Uniform: the school does not require a full uniform; school T‑shirts and polos are available and commonly worn by students. Any costs for optional school T‑shirts/polos are additional and not specified on the fees page. Refund information - The publicly posted fees page and the parent-handbook link do not publish a specific refund or cancellation policy for tuition or the registration fee. The registration fee is shown as payable on confirmation; explicit refund terms for that fee are not stated on the published pages. Fee payment options - The school's published fees page and parent-handbook link do not list accepted payment methods (for example, bank transfer, credit card or online payment). Payment method details are not specified on the publicly available fee information. (Fees and notes above are taken from the school's published Fees page and associated admissions/handbook links.)
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements Boarding at MIS Shenzhen follows the traditional British boarding system with an extended day that integrates academics, co-curricular activities and personal development. Boarding students receive additional academic tutoring and supervised homework every evening, and a wide range of after-hours co-curricular activities is offered. Students are placed in one of three age-appropriate boarding houses (Pringle, Chalmers, Rogerson) and are supported by a large boarding team; there is a fully staffed on-site medical centre.	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement The school has a uniform system with a Uniform Shop and a Uniform Guide available for families.	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options School meals are provided in the Dining Hall with attendance at all meals compulsory for all years. On Sundays, breakfast is served in the boarding house common rooms; Sunday lunch is offsite; dinner is served at 18:00–18:45 on Saturdays and Sundays.	Food options School meals are provided by La Maison, a local French restaurant; nearly all students opt for school lunches; snacks may be brought but should be healthy; sweets and fizzy drinks are not allowed.
House system	House system The school uses three boarding houses: Pringle, Chalmers and Rogerson.	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership The MIS Shenzhen campus is the overseas branch of Merchiston Castle School. Governance is provided by the MIS Board of Governors, which makes policy and strategic decisions in collaboration with the leadership team. The school is operated by China-Europe Yishang Culture Development (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd.	Governance and ownership The school is a family-run independent international school founded in 2008, with a maximum enrolment of 78 children. The founder is Ms Kate Rowan and the principal is Mr Ian Taylor.
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details Merchiston International School Shenzhen delivers a British-style programme from Early Years through Key Stage 5; its Early Years provision (age 4–5) is aligned with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Key Stages 1–3 (Years 1–9) follow a broad British curriculum covering core subjects (English, mathematics, science) alongside Chinese, humanities, art, design & technology, computing and physical education. Key Stage 4 (Years 10–11) is based on the IGCSE programme, with core IGCSEs in English, mathematics, Chinese and the sciences and a range of elective options in humanities, languages, creative and technical subjects. Key Stage 5 (Years 12–13) offers Cambridge International A‑Levels or Edexcel A‑Levels across STEM, humanities, creative and language pathways, and students can also undertake an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). Senior phases include dedicated university guidance, personalised support and co‑curricular opportunities to complement the examined qualifications.	Curriculum details Recognise International Academy bases its programme on the UK National Curriculum (2014), adapting content to an international context and a personalised approach for pupils aged 5–14. The school serves Reception–Year 11 (ages 4–16) in small, sometimes mixed‑age classes and monitors attainment using the UK National Curriculum levels. Primary provision is divided into Lower Primary (ages 5–7, Years 1–2) and Upper Primary (ages 7–11, Years 3–6), teaching core literacy and numeracy alongside science, humanities, the arts, computing, technology, PE and well‑being. Secondary is split into Lower Secondary (Years 7–9, ages 11–14) which maintains broad UK‑based subject coverage, and Upper Secondary (Years 10–11, ages 15–16) when most students study for Cambridge IGCSEs; the school also supports US High School Diploma credit routes. Across the school pupils study English, mathematics and science as core subjects; foundation areas include art, music, design & technology, computing, humanities, Mandarin (taught several times weekly), PSHE/well‑being and regular PE, with a programme of after‑school activities and excursions.
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 Merchiston describes pastoral care and boarding provision as central to students' social and emotional development, stating that its boarding practice aims to “encourage physical, social and emotional development” and to develop a sense of identity within a community. The school cites tutors, houseparents and a boarding team who live on site and work alongside teachers to provide day-to-day pastoral support. The Leadership Team page identifies senior staff with pastoral responsibilities (for example a Deputy Head with pastoral duties), indicating leadership oversight of pastoral provision. The school also emphasises home–school partnerships as part of its approach to student wellbeing.	Social & emotional learning Recognise teaches explicit PSHE (called “Well‑being”) and a weekly ‘Habits of the Mind' (HOM) session to develop pupils' social skills, attitudes and resilience; Student Council activities form part of this programme. The school emphasises small classes and close teacher–student relationships so teachers have time to address emotional or behavioural issues and to discuss concerns with parents. The Parent Handbook and the school's features page describe these curriculum elements and the school's approach to emotional wellbeing.
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) The school's Admissions and Application Information states that children with certain learning needs may be considered for learning support only after submission of an educational psychologist's report and that such applicants are assessed on an individual basis. The website also refers to a “Learning Support Center” as part of the school's student‑centred framework and lists vacancies for Learning Support Teachers, indicating in‑school provision for differentiated learning. The admissions page explains the school seeks information on additional support needs at application to determine reasonable adjustments. The school does not state on its website that it is a specialist SEN institution; admissions decisions for applicants with SEN are handled case‑by‑case.	Special educational needs (SEN) The Parent Handbook states RIA offers targeted, individualised support for students with additional academic, social‑emotional or physical needs and that the school partners with experts and parents to assess needs and plan support. The admissions information also describes RIA as an inclusive, non‑selective school and says it has successfully supported children who struggled elsewhere. The handbook does not describe RIA as a specialist SEN institution; support is provided within the school's mainstream, small‑class context.
English as an additional language	English as an additional language Merchiston lists staff with specific EAL roles (for example named English & EAL teachers on the staff pages) and advertises EAL teaching posts, indicating dedicated EAL staffing. The Admissions information notes that, where applicable, the Head of Section can require a student to enter an intensive English programme, showing an established pathway for additional English support. Job listings for Juniors EAL and school staff profiles further confirm EAL provision is part of the school's staffing and admissions arrangements. The school therefore documents EAL support but does not publish a detailed EAL curriculum on the pages cited.	English as an additional language The school website and Parent Handbook note an English‑speaking environment and describe Chinese language lessons, but they do not publish a specific EAL/ESL programme or detailed EAL provision. Therefore, the school does not publicly disclose dedicated EAL support or a named EAL policy on its website. For language provision the handbook describes four Chinese lessons per week and grouping by home language where appropriate.
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing The school runs a published “Mental Health Week” and reports activities led by a named school counsellor (Jenny Jiang) including sessions on resilience, mindfulness and communication, indicating organised whole‑school mental wellbeing initiatives. Boarding and pastoral pages also emphasise promoting health and welfare and note a fully staffed medical centre for students in boarding, showing operational health and welfare support. The school's wider materials reference a Student Growth Centre focused on learning and wellbeing as part of its educational framework. These pages together show both scheduled wellbeing events and structural pastoral/medical provisions rather than a single counselling policy document.	Mental wellbeing Recognise integrates well‑being (PSHE) and HOM into the curriculum with weekly sessions that teach topics about growing up, managing oneself and positive learning attitudes, and the Student Council contributes to this strand. The school's aims include fostering resilience and positive self‑esteem, and small class sizes are presented as enabling teachers to identify and address emotional needs quickly. The Parent Handbook also outlines medical/health procedures and specialist help routes for pupils who require additional support.
Safeguarding	Safeguarding Merchiston publishes a dedicated “Child Protection and Safeguarding Principles” page that describes measures such as trained site security, visitor challenge procedures and alignment of site security with the school's pastoral systems. The page sets out operational expectations for security staff and links safeguarding to everyday site management. Leadership and governance pages further state that pastoral care and safeguarding are priorities for the Leadership Team and Board. The website therefore provides an explicit safeguarding statement and describes specific on‑site practices to support child protection.	Safeguarding The Parent Handbook sets out practical safety and child‑care measures: drop‑off and collection rules (children must be brought to and collected by a responsible adult), emergency contact and medical/accident procedures, playground supervision and a complaints/concerns process. These operational rules and procedures are the school's published measures relating to pupil safety; however, the website does not show a separately titled, published ‘safeguarding' or ‘child protection' policy page. For definitive details or named safeguarding contacts, the school's office and principal contact details are provided on the site.
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview The school is a British international boarding school in Shenzhen. It opened in August 2018 and serves students aged 4-18, from Early Years to Year 13. The Longhua campus features a well-stocked library, multimedia audio-visual classrooms, and advanced science laboratories, as well as a theatre, a recording studio, an indoor swimming pool, basketball and tennis courts, an indoor virtual golf hall, a gymnasium, and landscaped gardens. These facilities support the British curriculum and a broad range of co-curricular activities.	Facilities overview The school operates on a small campus in Shekou, Shenzhen, China. It serves students aged 4 to 16 years and maintains small class sizes with a maximum of ten students per class. PE uses a local outdoor sports field, and a swimming pool is located about 100 metres from the back gate; indoor and specialist venues are used for activities. There are after-school activities and regular school events, and two annual excursions are offered. The school emphasises an international environment and personalised learning.
Sports facilities	Sports facilities Facilities include an indoor swimming pool, basketball and tennis courts, an indoor virtual golf hall, and a gymnasium.	Sports facilities PE lessons are held twice a week. A local outdoor sports field is used for PE, and a nearby pool is available for swimming; indoor and specialist venues are used for other activities. Activities within the PE programme include archery, rock-climbing, ice-skating, taekwondo, golf, horse-riding, swimming, gym work, ballet, pool, yoga, dance, drone flying, netball, fishing, kayaking, and more.
Academic facilities	Academic facilities Academic facilities include a well-stocked library, multimedia audio-visual classrooms, and advanced science laboratories; a theatre and a recording studio are on site, alongside landscaped gardens.	Academic facilities The RIA curriculum is grounded in the National Curriculum for England (2014). It guides work with children aged 5 to 14 and attainment is monitored using the National Curriculum Levels. At 15 years old, most students start to study towards Cambridge IGCSEs. Seven classes of ten children cover the age range of 5–16, with some mixed-age arrangements and a class for students with additional learning needs. Mandarin lessons occur four times a week, and Well-being is included in the curriculum.
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities Co-curricular activities cover sports such as football, basketball, swimming and golf; arts and performance options include drama, music, choir and art CCAs. Academic CCAs such as debate exist, with opportunities to participate in international competitions. Outreach and community-service initiatives foster global citizenship.	Extra curricular facilities There are After School Activities (ASAs) and two school excursion opportunities per year, one overseas and one local. There are two weekly Art lessons for all students, and the school hosts twice-yearly performances. The calendar includes Recognise Week, Sleepover, Bingo Night, Welcome Night, and two concerts.
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History Merchiston International School Shenzhen opened in August 2018 as the overseas branch of Merchiston Castle School (the Edinburgh school was founded in 1833). The Shenzhen school was established to operate a British-style boarding and day-school model for pupils aged 4–18 and later expanded to a second (Qianhai/Shekou) campus. The school was developed through a local education group led by Lighthouse International Education Group and operates under local corporate entities referenced on the school site. Governance is delegated to a Board of Governors working with the school leadership to set policy and strategic direction.	History Recognise International Academy began as a one-child home schooling arrangement started by Kate Rowan in 2009; the school's own history page describes that first pupil as “Aiden” and traces growth from home lessons to a villa-based school. In early 2013 Ian Taylor joined as Principal and co‑director and helped expand the site, introduce a dedicated cognition/learning‑support strand, and increase enrolment. The school describes itself as a family‑run, small-scale international school that now accepts children across a broad age range and from many national backgrounds. (Note: an employment page on the school site also references a founding date of 2008; the school's narrative and timeline on the history page emphasise 2009).
Community	Community The school maintains a clan (house) system—Edinburgh, Lomond, Nevis and Balmoral—that groups students across year levels and provides opportunities for inter‑clan competitions, leadership roles and pastoral support. Regular community and cultural events on the school calendar include Founders' Day (Merchiston Day), St Andrew's Day, Halloween activities, Chinese New Year celebrations and a Christmas Winter Market; the school also runs summer MIS camps. Recent anniversary and Merchiston Day celebrations have combined performances, campus tours and student-led cultural or charity stalls.	Community The school presents itself as a genuinely international community with students from more than 30 countries, small class sizes (typically capped at around ten) and an age range roughly from early years through mid‑teens. School life includes frequent community and cultural events—examples shown on the site include Summer Concerts, Chinese New Year celebrations, Halloween activities, charity runs, Model United Nations, and community service events such as beach clean‑ups. Many of these activities involve parents and local partners and are used to bring together families, staff and students across the year.
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association The school's Parent Association (MISPA) states a mission to build an active, supportive community that benefits students, parents and staff and publishes an organisation chart and photo record of activities on the school site. MISPA works with the school to run community events and volunteer activities; for example, the Parents Association took a leading role in organising the school Christmas Market, where parents, teachers and students staffed stalls and ran activities. MISPA materials on the site show committees and member roles (an organisation chart) and a visual “MISPA Moments” record of past activities, indicating ongoing coordination between parents and school staff. The association also supports charitable or community-facing elements of larger events (such as cultural and creative charity sales held during Merchiston Day).	Parent teacher association The school website does not publish a formal, named PTA or a committee list; the published Parent Handbook and other pages emphasise close collaboration between staff and families rather than a single parent‑body governance page. Parents are shown participating in and supporting a wide range of events (for example charity runs, concerts, seasonal celebrations and adult social events), and the site describes regular communication and partnership between teachers and parents. Where volunteer roles or fundraising committees exist, they are presented as event‑specific or informal rather than as a permanently constituted PTA on the public site. For prospective parents who need clarity about formal parent groups or volunteer opportunities, the site's contact details and Parent Handbook are the listed entry points to discuss involvement.
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual The school offers a British international curriculum with a progression from Early Years to Year 13. The Key Stage 1 programme covers Years 1–2, and Key Stage 3 covers Years 7–9. In Key Stage 5, students pursue Cambridge International A-Levels or Edexcel A-Levels.	Academic & intellectual The curriculum is grounded in the National Curriculum for England (2014) and uses its standards to inform core content. Attainment is monitored using the UK National Curriculum levels. There are seven classes of ten children each, covering the age range 5–16, with one small class for students with additional learning needs. At around age 15, most students study Cambridge IGCSEs, which can lead to UK A Levels, the IB Diploma, or US/Canadian upper-secondary programs.
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative There are two weekly art lessons for every student, with activities including sculpting, painting, fine art, handicrafts and pottery. Younger students focus on songs, dance, basic instrumentation and percussion, while older students study music theory and more advanced instrumentation. Recognise International Academy presents two school performances each year.
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language The school hosts an international student body with students from over 30 countries. Mandarin lessons occur four times a week and are taught by specialist teachers. The curriculum is adapted to reflect an international context and diverse backgrounds.
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies The school offers after-school activities and regular visits, with two school excursions per year. It hosts social events including Recognise Week, Sleepover, Bingo Night and Welcome Night, plus two school concerts. Friday assemblies promote well-being and student involvement through the Student Council.
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional A Student Council provides leadership opportunities for students to contribute to school life.
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing The Well-being programme (PSHE) focuses on personal growth, relationships, health, safety and self-management, with student input through assemblies and the Student Council. Physical education is offered twice weekly, with access to local outdoor facilities and a swimming pool nearby; examples of activities include archery, rock-climbing, ice-skating, taekwondo, golf, horse-riding, swimming, dance, drone flying, netball and kayaking.
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision English is the primary language of instruction; Mandarin Chinese is taught as a core language; senior students study IGCSE and A Levels; languages offered include English, Mandarin Chinese, and Mother Tongue; the Qianhai campus adds French and Spanish as part of its multi-lingual program.	Language provision The curriculum is grounded in the National Curriculum for England (2014) and guides teaching for ages 5–16. Most students study towards Cambridge IGCSEs around age 15. The school operates seven classes of ten students, with some mixed-age groups and a class for students with additional learning needs. Mandarin is taught four times a week. The school serves an international cohort with over 30 nationalities, and English is the primary language of the curriculum.
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching The school teaches in English and includes Mandarin language learning as part of the core curriculum; at the Qianhai campus all-English teaching is maintained while offering multi-lingual features such as French and Spanish.	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs Mandarin language learning is integrated into the core curriculum for Years 1–9; English is the primary language of instruction; the Qianhai campus maintains all-English teaching and provides multi-lingual features including French and Spanish.	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards 1) 2025 "Outstanding Pearson School Award" (also referred to on the site as the "Star‑Chasing Award") — awarded to the school by Pearson Edexcel; the school's news item (November 2025) announces the school received this school‑level award from Pearson, and explains it is given to a small number of centres whose students received outstanding Pearson learner recognitions in the 2024/2025 exam series. One‑line significance: a formal, school‑level recognition from the Pearson Edexcel awarding body of the school's performance and results in Pearson examinations. 2) 2024 Pearson Edexcel "Breakthrough Innovation Award" (site Chinese title: “新锐中心奖”) — announced on the school site (December 19, 2024) as an award given at the Pearson Edexcel China Annual Conference. One‑line significance: a Pearson Edexcel conference award recognising the school's growth, development and influence in the local market (an industry recognition presented to the school itself). Scope and source limitation: these are the school‑level awards and the accreditations/processes that are explicitly documented on Merchiston International School Shenzhen's public website. I did not include student awards or staff honours (the site contains many student achievements) because you asked only for awards given to the school as an institution. If you'd like, I can (a) extract the original Chinese award names and the exact article dates and linkable pages, or (b) check for any posted copies of formal accreditation letters (for example CIS accreditation certificates or College Board AP centre authorization) if you want confirmation of completed authorisations rather than the public statements and news items above.	Awards No awards granted to the school are listed on Recognise International Academy's public website for the past five years (or earlier) as of January 1, 2026. I reviewed the school homepage, curriculum and about/history pages and did not find any pages or announcements naming awards presented to the school as an institution. If you'd like, I can extend the search beyond the school website to directories, local media and education directories to see whether any external recognitions or formal accreditations exist that are not shown on the school's site.
Accreditations	Accreditations 1) Authorized overseas branch of Merchiston Castle School (MCS), Edinburgh — The school's About Us page identifies Merchiston International School Shenzhen as the authorized overseas branch of Merchiston Castle School, indicating an institutional affiliation with the original UK school and its educational model. 2) Relationship/recognition by Pearson Edexcel — The school's news pages record multiple formal recognitions from Pearson Edexcel (including the school-level awards listed below), which indicates an established relationship with the UK awarding body and that the school runs Pearson qualifications (A-level/Edexcel pathways are discussed on the site). (Note: the website shows Pearson recognition and the school's participation in Pearson assessments; it does not publish a separate "accreditation certificate" page.) 3) Council of International Schools (CIS) — CIS evaluators visited the campus as part of the school's accreditation process; the site describes this visit as a step toward achieving full CIS accreditation (i.e., the school is in the CIS accreditation process rather than announcing completed accreditation). 4) Curriculum authorisations / pathways shown on site — The school states it offers British (IGCSE & A‑Level) and American (AP) pathways for Years 10–13 on its public pages. The site therefore documents the school's delivery of those recognised international curricula, though it does not publish standalone copies of any external authorisation letters (for example, College Board AP centre approval) in the public pages I checked. Notes: the site's "Accreditations" area is shown with logos/images but without extended textual details; where the website indicates an accreditation process (CIS) or external recognition (Pearson), I cited the specific news or About Us pages above rather than inferring additional formal accreditations not explicitly published on the site.	Accreditations No accreditations are listed on Recognise International Academy's public website as of January 1, 2026. (Notes from the school site that are related to curriculum but are not formal accreditations) - National Curriculum for England — The school states its curriculum is grounded in the National Curriculum for England (2014); this means the school uses the content and standards from that curriculum to set teaching and attainment expectations, but the National Curriculum itself is a curriculum framework rather than an external accreditation for a school. - Cambridge IGCSE (exam preparation) — The school says that at about age 15 most students begin studying towards Cambridge IGCSEs; Cambridge IGCSEs are external subject qualifications awarded by Cambridge Assessment International Education, and preparing students for those exams is different from holding an institutional accreditation. The website does not state that the school holds Cambridge school/center accreditation or any other formal accrediting body membership.
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions 1. Enquiry and initial application — Contact Admissions, complete the school's application form and submit it with the required supporting documents and proof of payment of the non‑refundable application fee. Parents should include current passport/ID details, recent school reports, any assessments or Individual Education Plans, and a completed medical declaration so the school can identify support needs early. The school provides downloadable application material and specific contact emails for Longhua and Shekou admissions. 2. Admissions checks and entry assessment — After the application is accepted, the Admissions Department schedules the appropriate assessments. All applicants from Year 3 (age 7) and above take an online entrance assessment; Juniors (Years 1–2) are normally assessed by a meeting with the Head of Juniors and often by a morning or day in class, while Senior applicants sit CAT4 (cognitive) plus an English test and an interview. Parents should ask which specific test their child will sit, whether the assessment can be arranged at the current school (for overseas candidates), and whether EAL or SEN screening applies. 3. Interviews and trial visits — For many junior applicants the school recommends, and sometimes requires, a classroom trial or in‑person meeting; for senior applicants an interview with the Head of Seniors (and Head of Sixth Form for Years 12–13) forms part of the decision. Parents should prepare recent school reports and be ready to discuss any English‑as‑an‑additional‑language (EAL) needs or learning support so the school can assess whether it can provide appropriate support. The Head of Section has discretion to request additional evidence or a Student Support review if additional learning support is suspected. 4. Decision and acceptance — The Head of the admitting section (supported by Admissions and the Head of School) informs parents whether an offer is approved. To secure an offered place parents must confirm acceptance and pay the placement/security deposit (stated on the school invoice as RMB 18,000); the offer may be withdrawn if the deposit is not paid by the invoice deadline. Parents should note the school's invoicing currency (RMB), payment channels, and the credit‑card surcharges and deadlines set out in the fee policy. 5. Waiting list, refusal and re‑application — If places are full the school will place an approved applicant on a waiting list (placement is generally by date application + fee received, with some priority categories). If an application is denied, parents may reapply after six months and should follow any remedial recommendations given in the decline letter. Parents are advised to apply early and to keep their application documentation and contact details up to date while on the waiting list. 6. Pre‑entry requirements and ongoing obligations — Before attendance begins the school typically requests up‑to‑date medical checks and may take a confidential report from the applicant's current school; all students are screened for additional support needs on entry. Parents should understand the school's withdrawal and refund rules (for example, one‑term notice for withdrawal and the stated refund calculations) and the expectation that fees are paid by the due date to avoid late penalties or withheld reports. The school places students in year groups by age as of 1 September and will consider out‑of‑year placements case‑by‑case.	Admissions 1. Make an initial enquiry and get the application form. Be prepared to provide basic facts about your child (name, date of birth, current year group) so the school can advise which year group is appropriate. 2. Complete and return the application paperwork. Include scanned passport pages (the school only accepts students with expatriate/non-Chinese passports), recent school reports if you have them, and any learning-support information that affects your child. 3. Wait for an acknowledgement and a proposed meeting. The school will contact you to acknowledge receipt of the application and to arrange a meeting with you and your child; this is the formal next step after submission. Plan to bring originals of any documents (passports, previous school reports) to the meeting or be ready to show them via video call if you are overseas. 4. School visit / trial day for the child (if appropriate). RIA may set aside time for your child to spend at the school so staff can meet them and observe how they settle; this is commonly used to confirm the best class placement. Parents should note visits may include informal classroom observations and short activities rather than long formal testing. 5. Assessments and references (when appropriate). The school says it may carry out some gentle assessments and/or contact referees to establish current academic level and needs; these are used to inform placement and any individual support. If your child has special educational needs, bring relevant records and be ready to discuss support history, since RIA tailors placements to individual circumstances. 6. Overseas applicants: remote correspondence and interviews. If you are applying from outside China, the school conducts correspondence and interviews by email, Skype, FaceTime or WeChat where needed; be ready to arrange a convenient time across time zones. Have digital copies of passports, reports and any assessment documents available for the remote discussion. 7. Decision and timing. RIA describes itself as a small school with limited places and says decisions are at the discretion of the School Directors; for applications received before 30 March the school aims to confirm places before the end of the second week of April. Parents should be aware of the limited capacity (the school highlights small maximum class sizes) and plan alternative options in case a place is not available. 8. Confirm enrolment and fees. If offered a place, confirmation normally requires payment of the registration fee and completion of enrolment paperwork; tuition and payment terms are published on the Fees page (see Fees section). Keep a record of payment deadlines and the school's stated instalment schedule so you can meet the enrolment conditions promptly.
Scholarships	Scholarships Merchiston publishes a formal Scholarship Policy and runs a scholarship programme that applies to tuition fees only; other costs (boarding, application fees, lunches, extracurricular fees, uniforms, textbooks, etc.) remain payable by the family. Scholarship awards are tiered (examples published include full, 75%, 50%, 25% and smaller discounts) and are normally time‑limited and subject to renewal criteria (academic standards, conduct, attendance and participation), with specific durations varying by year group. The school runs multiple scholarship categories (academic, music, sport, leadership/service/global citizenship, and specific programmes such as a golf scholarship) and evaluates candidates using a mix of tests (e.g., standardised tests/CEM), interviews, written statements, references, and evidence of achievement; sporting scholarships use performance evidence and may require tournament rankings. Application windows and exact eligibility/award levels are published on the school site for specific cycles (for example the school has recent public scholarship campaigns and separate calls for particular programmes), so parents should check the current Scholarship Criteria page and contact Admissions for the latest timelines and the documents required.	Scholarships There are no scholarships, bursaries or financial-aid programmes described on the school's public admissions or fees pages. The Fees page lists tuition (141,000 RMB per year for 2023–24), a registration fee (6,500 RMB) and optional costs such as school lunches, but does not reference discounts, sibling concessions, or scholarship schemes. If you need fee assistance or want to check for any unpublished discounts or concessions (for example sibling discounts, staff-rate fees, or ad hoc awards), contact the school directly to ask — the admissions contact and principal's email addresses are available on the site.
Waitlist	Waitlist Merchiston operates a formal waiting list. Placement on the waiting list is generally determined by the date the application and application fee are received, though priority is explicitly given to (1) children of full‑time faculty, (2) qualified siblings of current students who have completed the application process, and (3) children transferring from another Merchiston Castle school. Positions on the waiting list are not disclosed to parents; if an applicant does not obtain a place for the term applied for they are automatically carried forward to the waiting list for the following term and, at the end of the academic year, to the appropriate year level for the new school year. The school advises early application because waiting‑list position and available spaces can change; for operational details parents should contact Admissions.	Waitlist The school does not publish a formal waitlist or 'pool' system on its website; instead the site explains that RIA has limited places that are in high demand and that enrolment decisions are made at the Directors' discretion. Parents who cannot secure an immediate place should contact the school (office.recognize@gmail.com or the admissions contact) to ask whether the school maintains an informal list or can notify them if a place becomes available. Because the site emphasises small class sizes and limited capacity, it is advisable to ask the school directly about expected timings for any vacancy notifications and whether the school will hold a place pending paperwork or fees.
	View full profile →	View full profile →