Shenzhen American International School vs The King's School Shenzhen International

	S Shenzhen American International School Shenzhen, China	T The King's School Shenzhen International Shenzhen, China
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year RMB 138,000 - 298,000	Fees / year RMB 205,000 - 309,800
Age range	Age range 3 - 18 years	Age range 2 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational (boarding)	Type Co-educational (boarding)
Curriculum	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (DP), Advanced Placement (AP), Cambridge A Levels, Montessori Curriculum	Curriculum EYFS (Early years foundation stage), Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels
Pupils	Pupils 300	Pupils 230
Typical class size	Typical class size 5	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 2005	Opened 2022
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location The Bao'an campus is in Hangcheng (Hangcheng Street), Bao'an District, Shenzhen — address: No.2, Beiqi Road. The campus is a short drive from central Bao'an and is part of a newly opened SAIS campus complex that includes academic buildings, dormitories and a dining hall. Public metro and bus links serve Bao'an generally, but exact route/times for daily commutes will depend on your neighbourhood and are best checked locally.	Location The school's main campus is in Qianhai, Nanshan District — address listed as No.375 Yuewan (月湾街375号), Shenzhen. It sits inside the Qianhai/Month Bay area, a short drive from central Nanshan and within reach of local metro and bus links (nearest metro references list Liyumen/Qianhai area).
Stages	Stages SAIS operates as a K–12 international school overall (preschool through Grade 12), while the Bao'an campus focuses on middle and high school provision. The Bao'an campus offers middle-school foundation (Grades 6–8) and multiple high-school pathways (IBDP, AP, A‑Level, HKDSE).	Stages The King's School Shenzhen serves ages 2–18: a Pre‑Prep/Early Years section (EYFS) for about 2–6 year‑olds, a Prep/Primary and Middle phase (roughly Years 1–8 / ages 6–14) and a Senior/High School for Years 9–12 (ages up to 18). Grade-year groupings and curriculum routes (EYFS, Cambridge IGCSE, A‑Levels) are described on the school site.
School type	School type The school is co-educational and provides both day and boarding options; the Bao'an campus includes an on-site boarding programme for Grade 6 and above. There is no indication that the school is operated by a religious organisation.	School type The school is co‑educational and offers day places across the whole age range. Boarding is available from around Grade 4 upwards (lower‑year rooms are four‑person, older students 2‑person rooms per the school's boarding description).
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support SAIS Bao'an states it provides Special Educational Needs (SEN) support and places emphasis on inclusive admissions procedures and counselling. School counsellors run both group and individual sessions and the school asks parents to work collaboratively with staff on support plans; admissions and the Student Development Center are listed contacts for further detail.	Additional learning support The school publishes a range of pastoral and academic support services: a Health & Well‑Being provision, English support and an academic support / pastoral care structure are mentioned on school materials and news items. For children with specific additional learning needs, the school describes inclusive support and structured academic/pastoral teams — parents are advised to discuss individual needs with admissions to confirm precise provisions.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation The school is an independent international school operating in Shenzhen; it offers multiple international curricula (including American-style AP, A‑Level, IB and HKDSE pathways) and is not presented as formally affiliated to a single foreign government. The school was established with approval from the Chinese education authorities and the Bao'an campus is run in partnership with Tianli Educational Group.	Country affiliation The Shenzhen school is an overseas branch of The King's School, Canterbury (UK) and states an operational link with the UK parent school. It is therefore affiliated with that British foundation rather than to a Chinese national chain.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation The school website does not list any religious affiliation and presents SAIS as a secular international school.	Religious affiliation The Shenzhen campus does not advertise a local religious denomination on its public pages; it operates as the international branch of The King's School Canterbury, a historic UK school with Church of England roots, but the Shenzhen materials focus on academic and pastoral provision rather than explicit religious observance.
School day structure	School day structure The school office hours for the Bao'an campus are Monday–Friday, 08:00–17:00; specific daily timetables (start/end times by grade, lesson blocks, and lunch/break schedules) are not detailed on the public pages and can be confirmed with admissions. Boarding students follow a campus boarding schedule with after‑school activities, enrichment and supervised self-study in the evenings.	School day structure The school publishes an academic calendar and term dates but does not publish a single, fixed daily start/end time for every division on its public pages. Municipal guidance for Shenzhen schools sets typical earliest start times (for reference: primary not earlier than about 08:20, lower secondary not earlier than about 08:00), so exact daily timetables (arrival, break and lunch times) should be confirmed with admissions for the relevant year group.
Bus service details	Bus service details The Bao'an campus website does not publish a dedicated school-bus schedule; SAIS's Shekou main campus operates a paid school-bus service covering Nanshan, Futian and parts of Bao'an, with fees and routes set by service area — for Bao'an-specific transport you should confirm directly with admissions.	Bus service details The school operates a paid school‑bus service for both the Early Years and the Main School; the admissions information and FAQ note that routes are arranged according to demand and currently cover parts of Nanshan, Bao'an and Futian. Specific stops, route maps, pick‑up/drop‑off times and fees are managed by the school and are provided to families when places are offered. }
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application / Enrolment fees - One‑time application/registration fee: RMB 2,000 (approx.). - One‑time capital levy / building fee for new students: RMB 20,000 (approx.). Tuition fees by year group (annual and approximate per‑semester) - Early education / Pre‑K: Annual RMB 168,000 — per semester ≈ RMB 84,000. - Kindergarten: Annual RMB 188,000 — per semester ≈ RMB 94,000. - Grades 1–3: Annual RMB 208,000 — per semester ≈ RMB 104,000. - Grades 4–5: Annual RMB 228,000 — per semester ≈ RMB 114,000. - Grades 6–8: Annual RMB 258,000 — per semester ≈ RMB 129,000. - Grade 9: Annual RMB 278,000 — per semester ≈ RMB 139,000. - Grades 10–12 (A‑Level / AP / IB pathways): Annual RMB 278,000 — per semester ≈ RMB 139,000. (There are alternate DSE fee levels for DSE stream students — see next line.) - Grades 10–12 (DSE pathway): Annual RMB 138,000 (non‑Hong Kong ID) / RMB 98,000 (Hong Kong ID) — per semester ≈ RMB 69,000 / RMB 49,000 respectively. Boarding / boarding fees - Full‑year boarding fee (where available): RMB 80,000 per year (covers supervised boarding, three daily meals and dormitory services during normal teaching days). Other recurring or one‑off costs - School bus: Annual zone rates (examples) — RMB 12,000 (Shekou within 3 km), RMB 13,500 (Nanshan 3–10 km), RMB 15,000 (other 10+ km). Bus fees are charged by semester or year and are non‑refundable. - Lunch and catering: Paid separately through the school lunch program (menu and pricing set by the provider). - Uniforms: Parents order uniform sets via the school's online uniform store; costs vary by size/season. - Technology / device charges, exam fees (AP/IB/Cambridge), optional ASA and field trip costs may apply depending on grade and programme; these are additional to tuition. Billing schedule and payment terms - Enrollment and invoicing: the school requires payment of applicable application/one‑time fees before assessment and requires full payment by the published due date to secure a place after acceptance. Specific invoice due dates and accepted instalment options are set in the school's tuition schedule and enrolment documents. Refunds and withdrawal - The school has a formal Withdrawal & Refund Policy that parents must read and sign as part of admission; some one‑time fees and selected service fees (e.g., certain deposits, bus fees) are non‑refundable as stated in school documents. See the school's Withdrawal & Refund Policy for precise conditions. Fee payment options (typical for Shenzhen international schools / practice noted at similar schools) - Common accepted methods for international schools in Shenzhen include RMB bank transfer (wire), in‑person cash or over‑the‑counter payments; some schools also offer card/online payment channels with processing surcharges. Parents are required to follow the payment instructions shown on invoices. Notes: amounts above reflect published fee schedules and widely reported school fee summaries; one‑time entry charges and optional programme fees should be expected in addition to the annual tuition figures cited.	Fee details Application and enrolment fees - Application fee: RMB 2,000 (one‑time, non‑refundable). - Placement / enrolment deposit: RMB 25,000 (paid on acceptance; held against future charges and refundable according to the school's terms and conditions). Tuition fees (annual and typical term structure) - Kindergarten (K1–K3): RMB 205,000 per year. - Grades 1–3: RMB 236,500 per year. - Grades 4–6: RMB 262,000 per year. - Grades 7–10: RMB 288,800 per year. - Grades 11–12: RMB 309,800 per year. (Note: the school issues fee notices and offers payment in installments; historical practice shows a larger first installment followed by a second installment for the remaining balance, and an incentive for a single annual payment.) Billing schedule and payment terms - The school issues a formal fee notice with specific due dates. Families who pay the full year by the first deadline historically receive a discount (commonly a 2% annual‑payment discount). Installment schedules (for example a larger first payment followed by a second payment) have been used in prior years. Exact instalment amounts and deadlines are set in each year's fee notice. Boarding / accommodation fees (where applicable) - Boarding (weekday accommodation) is published at approximately RMB 100,000 per year (weekday: Sun–Thu); schools may invoice by semester (about RMB 50,000 per semester in past notices). Weekend boarding or additional nights is charged separately. Other costs - School uniform: charged separately (one‑off purchase on enrolment; prices vary by year group). Textbooks, exam fees, optional trips, certain extracurricular providers, lunch and transport are additional and charged as incurred. School lunch and other ancillary charges are commonly invoiced separately (monthly or per term). Refunds and withdrawal - The placement deposit is described as refundable subject to the school's published terms and conditions; withdrawal and refund adjustments follow the school's fee and refund policy as set out in the acceptance paperwork and fee notice. Payment methods - The school has required bank transfer for major payments in prior years (annual payments and first‑installment deadlines are often fulfilled by bank transfer); exact accepted payment channels and account details are provided on the school's fee notice. Other online or card options are not publicly detailed in the available fee notices. Summary of gaps: public sources publish annual tuition, application fee and placement deposit and indicate installment arrangements, a discount for full‑year payment, and boarding charges; however, a definitive per‑term split for every year group for the current academic year was not found in openly published fee tables and is set each year in the school's formal fee notice.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements The Bao'an Campus offers a boarding program for Grade 6 and above. Boarding provides dormitory living spaces with comfortable accommodations and nutritious meals, with 24/7 supervision by boarding parents. The program includes student-led after-school activities, enrichment classes, and self-study support to promote holistic development.	Boarding arrangements The King's School Shenzhen International operates a boarding program at the Qianhai campus. Junior boarders live in four-person dorm rooms and senior boarders in two-person dorm rooms. A dedicated boarding team of four classroom teachers and three boarding tutors oversees daily life, with tutors residing on the same floors as boarders. Boarding life follows a structured routine with after-dinner activities, access to study spaces and library resources, and an evening study period supervised by teachers; the canteen provides three meals and three snacks daily.
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options The culinary team includes chefs from star-rated hotels to offer a diverse range of Chinese and Western dishes for students and staff. Meals are nutritionally balanced and reflect an international palate. Staff and students dine in the same canteen to enable interaction and timely feedback on dining needs.	Food options The in-house canteen is run by the school's catering team. It serves three meals and three snacks daily (breakfast, lunch, dinner, morning snack, afternoon snack, and evening snack), prepared to be delicious and nutritious.
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership The Bao'an campus is governed through a strategic partnership between Shenzhen American International School and Tianli Educational Group (01773.HK). It operates independently from the Shekou campus, with governance strengthened by this partnership to support sustainable educational growth. Tianli Group aims to explore multiple opportunities within the educational sector.	Governance and ownership The school is part of The King's School network and has a sister-school relationship with The King's School Canterbury in the United Kingdom. The visit of The King's School Canterbury's Head and International Director to announce the Incoming Executive Principal signals ongoing cooperation and alignment between the Shenzhen and Canterbury campuses.
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details Shenzhen American International School offers a K–12 international programme: IB‑PYP in early years/elementary, a Middle Years/Foundation bridge in middle school, and multiple Grade 10–12 pathways (IBDP, AP, A‑Level (Edexcel/AQA) and HKDSE). Grades 6–8 follow a Middle Year Foundation Program (MYFP) with core subjects in English, Chinese, mathematics, science, individuals & societies, arts, music, ICT, physical health education, Service as Action (SAS) and after‑school activities. Grade 9 is a High School Foundation Year (Pre‑DP) that prepares students for pathway selection (Pre‑DP into IBDP, AP, A‑Levels or HKDSE) and includes TOK and PHE in the programme. The American Placement (AP) pathway (Grades 10–12) lets students choose AP subjects across languages, humanities, sciences and maths and sit external AP exams (students typically take 2–3 exams and may earn university credits). The A‑Level route includes a Grade 10 Pre‑DP year and Pearson Edexcel IAL / AQA Oxford International qualifications in Grades 11–12 (students usually select three specialist subjects alongside mandatory English/Chinese, PHE and ASAs); the HKDSE pathway (Grades 10–12) follows Hong Kong Diploma requirements with compulsory Chinese, English, mathematics and liberal studies plus elective sciences, humanities, Applied Learning options and mathematics extension modules. The IBDP option comprises a Grade 10 Pre‑DP transition and the two‑year Diploma Programme (Grades 11–12) with the six subject groups, Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay and CAS; students can follow HL/SL subject choices across languages, individuals & societies, sciences, mathematics and the arts.	Curriculum details The King's School Shenzhen teaches ages 2–18 (kindergarten 2–6; primary/ prep approximately 6–14/Grades 1–8; senior/high school 15–18/Grades 9–12). Early years (2–6) follow the UK Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework with bilingual staffing. The primary/Prep phase combines elements of the Cambridge/ Cambridge Global curriculum with aspects of the Chinese national curriculum and school‑developed courses across maths, English, science and foundation subjects. Senior school (Grades 9–10) delivers Cambridge IGCSE (offered as the standard two‑year programme or an intensive one‑year pathway), and Grades 11–12 proceed to AS/A‑Level study; students may also undertake an extended research project (EPQ/IPQ) and receive university‑entry guidance. Instruction is primarily in English (Chinese language and China studies are taught in Chinese) and the school supplements the academic programme with co‑curricular activities and subject specialist teaching.
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 SAIS describes a range of student-led after‑school activities (ASA) that the school says develop teamwork, leadership, resilience and confidence through clubs and sports. The SEN/Student Development information also states school counselors run general, age‑group sessions on mental‑health topics as well as individual counselling. The Student Development Center is led by a named director (Ms Aleezer Li), who is presented as a life mentor involved in student support. The school website frames these elements as part of a broader “holistic education” approach on the main site.	Social & emotional learning The school presents a structured pastoral-care model adapted from The King's School, Canterbury and identifies pastoral care and wellbeing as a core element of school life. The Deputy Head for Pastoral Care (Mrs Carrie Cameron) leads homeroom teachers, tutors and the House system that are described as central to day-to-day student support. Co-curricular activities are explicitly linked to health and wellbeing in the school's programme. Boarding provision includes dedicated boarding tutors and supervised evening study to support students outside lesson time. (Sources: school pastoral pages and staff/news items).
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) The school's SEN page states SAIS offers Special Educational Needs support and says inclusivity and gathering information through the admissions process are part of that provision. The page describes dedicated school counselors providing general and individual counselling tailored to students' needs. The site invites parents to cooperate with the school's SEN work and provides contact emails for further enquiries. The school does not publicly specify on its website which specific categories of SEN it can support, nor does it describe itself as a specialist SEN institution.	Special educational needs (SEN) The school states it operates an inclusive policy and has a Learning Support department that advises teachers and parents on additional learning needs. On entry pupils undertake baseline testing to help identify learning difficulties, and the school describes use of differentiation in class and, where appropriate, individual learning plans (ILPs). The school says it will refer students to external specialists (for example an educational psychologist) if needed and that interventions are discussed with parents. The website does not list specific categories of special educational needs it can support nor does it describe operating as a specialist SEN institution. (All points taken from the school's Q&A and learning-support descriptions).
English as an additional language	English as an additional language SAIS states it offers English language support through English as a Second Language (ESL) and English as an Additional Language (EAL) programmes and lists TOEFL and IELTS preparatory courses. The Language Programs page also notes additional instruction in Chinese, French and Japanese to enrich language learning. The school says its language teaching team includes native and experienced non‑native English teachers to support students transitioning to an English‑language environment. For more detail (levels, entry criteria or class sizes) the site directs enquiries to admissions email addresses.	English as an additional language The school publishes staff profiles and articles describing staff experience teaching pupils for whom English is an additional language and explains classroom approaches used to support language learners. Senior students are also given electronic materials to preview and review lessons to assist comprehension and language acquisition. The school's published information indicates in-class differentiation and learning-support input are used to help non-native English speakers. The website does not, however, show a separately named EAL department or a detailed, standalone EAL policy. (Information from staff/profile articles and the school's admissions/learning-support Q&A).
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing The school's SEN and Student Development pages state that school counselors provide both group sessions on age‑appropriate mental‑health topics and one‑to‑one counselling for individual needs. The Student Development Center is presented as a focal point for student support and college counselling, led by a named director. The campus description also refers to a “Home Parent” programme and dormitory living spaces intended to create a supportive, home‑like environment for boarders. If you need specifics about counselling qualifications, referral processes or external mental‑health partnerships, the website provides contact emails but does not publish those operational details.	Mental wellbeing The school frames mental wellbeing within its pastoral-care provision and describes systems intended to ensure students feel safe and supported emotionally. Leadership states an aim to manage workload so pupils are “stretched not stressed,” and pastoral leaders oversee houses, tutors and boarding to support students' social and emotional needs. Boarding routines and co-curricular activities are described as offering structured opportunities to decompress and build resilience. Teachers and boarding tutors are presented as first-line contacts for students needing support; more formal referrals are handled through the Learning Support team and external specialists where necessary. (Sources: pastoral pages, news/Q&A and boarding article).
Safeguarding	Safeguarding The school does not publicly disclose information regarding safeguarding and child‑protection policies on its website.	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview The SAIS Bao'an Campus spans over 20,000 square meters. It is enveloped in lush greenery. The campus features three separate buildings: an academic block, dormitories, and a dining hall. The teaching area is equipped with smart classrooms, specialized function rooms, and a variety of indoor and outdoor sports facilities. The culinary team provides Chinese and Western dishes that are nutritionally balanced, and staff and students dine in the same canteen.	Facilities overview The King's School Shenzhen International comprises Pre-PreP, Prep School, and Senior School. The Pre-Prep School has over 3,000 square meters of outdoor space, one of the city's largest outdoor areas among international early years schools. The Pre-Prep includes Pre-K, K1, K2, and K3. The Pre-Prep classrooms are bright and airy with plenty of natural light and fresh air. The outdoor spaces include a sandpit, climbing frame, slide, swings, a football field, and a forest area, with weekly forest classes. The Pre-Prep campus was designed by architect Cindy Walters.
Sports facilities	Sports facilities The teaching area is equipped with smart classrooms, specialized function rooms, and a variety of indoor and outdoor sports facilities. Indoor and outdoor sports facilities support physical education and holistic development. These facilities enable a range of sports and recreational activities. The facilities are integrated into the campus design to support the school's holistic education philosophy.	Sports facilities The co-curricular program includes a broad range of sports as part of the overall activities. The Pre-Prep outdoor space includes a football field. Outdoor spaces support active play and physical education, including a football field and other play installations.
Academic facilities	Academic facilities The campus includes an academic block. The teaching area is equipped with smart classrooms and specialized function rooms. These facilities provide a quiet and comfortable space for learning, working, and living. This setup supports students in achieving well-rounded personal development and academic progress.	Academic facilities The Pre-Prep provides a library, creator spaces, and art and physical exercise areas. The Pre-Prep classrooms are sunlit and airy with fresh air. The Prep and Senior School pages indicate Teaching and Learning arrangements and a Curriculum page for the Senior School. The school presents Curriculum information for its Senior School in the Curriculum section.
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities Enrichment classes run from 4:30 to 6:00 PM for boarding students. Options include American Football, Table Tennis, Frisbee, Marketer Club, Stage Performance, Music Band, Costume and Makeup Design, Props Design, and Cross Over Art project. The enrichment classes are designed to enhance skills and creativity while promoting physical fitness and collaboration. Participation fosters leadership, creativity, and critical thinking and supports a sense of belonging within the school community.	Extra curricular facilities The co-curricular program includes sports, music, drama, art, debating, chess, and community work, with many clubs. The program offers trips and Summer Schools. Music opportunities include public performances, ensembles, orchestras, and choirs.
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History Shenzhen American International School (SAIS) was established in May 2005 with approval from the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China and the Guangdong Provincial Department of Education. The school is accredited by Cognia and has grown to offer programs from preschool through Grade 12. SAIS operates multiple sites, including its Shekou campus and the newer Bao'an campus, and has expanded its high‑school pathways in recent years. The Bao'an campus also includes an on‑site boarding program and is presented by the school as a key milestone in its development.	History The King's School Shenzhen International began as the school's first overseas kindergarten, which opened in Shenzhen in 2019 as an overseas branch of The King's School Canterbury. In January 2022 the school announced plans to expand into a full 1–12 campus in the Qianhai/Front Sea area, with middle and senior phases planned to open in the 2022 academic year. The Shenzhen campus has been led by senior staff seconded from the UK and announced its founding executive principal at the time of the expansion. The project is backed by a single listed investor identified in reporting as Hengyu Capital, which has been described as the school's sole investor.
Community	Community SAIS maintains an active community presence on its website and through on‑campus events, with regular posts highlighting student projects, seasonal performances and cultural activities such as holiday music programs and Thanksgiving events. The school publishes series like “SAISERS” and other news items that mark institutional milestones and student initiatives, and it has hosted visiting speakers — for example, a scheduled talk by former Vermont governor Peter Shumlin in December 2024. These activities are used to engage students, families and staff and to celebrate transitions such as the opening of the Bao'an campus.	Community The school describes an active school community made up of international and local families and publishes regular newsletters and event calendars for parents. Typical community activities reported by the school and local press include regular campus open days, pastoral coffee mornings, seasonal cultural celebrations (for example Mid‑Autumn Festival), and student club activities such as a debate society. The school has used public information sessions and on‑campus open houses to involve families in curriculum and pastoral briefings.
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association The school's PTA is featured as a site category and supports parent‑facing programming and communications. Recent PTA activity includes a parenting workshop titled “Parenting Patterns & Responses in the Screen Age,” held on November 15, 2024, which invited current parents and a small number of outside participants. The PTA also supports Parent‑Teacher Conferences; recent PTCs included grade‑specific assemblies and one‑on‑one meetings, with practical briefings on platforms and reports such as ManageBac, Q1 report summaries, SchoolBuddy and exam/grading procedures. School posts emphasize that these events are intended to strengthen parent–teacher communication and collaboration. Contact and sign‑up details for PTA workshops have been published on the site, and the school indicates plans for additional parent workshops and community sessions going forward.	Parent teacher association The school established its first Parent‑Teacher Association (家委会 / PTA) in the 2023–24 year; the school newsletter announced that the inaugural PTA meeting was scheduled for 25 September 2023 and invited parent applications. The newsletter describes the PTA as a channel to improve home–school communication and to involve parents in the school's ongoing development. The PTA invitation included a contact route (email to the school pastoral lead) for parents wishing to apply or participate. Early school calendars show the PTA working alongside the school calendar (open houses, pastoral coffee mornings and other parent events), indicating its role in coordinating parent engagement around those activities. The school's public posts and newsletters are the primary sources for these details.
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual SAIS Bao'an offers a high school program mix including the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP) for Grades 11–12, Advanced Placement (AP), A‑Level, and the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE). A Grade 10 Pre‑DP Foundation Year prepares students for DP, while Grade 9 offers a Middle Year Foundation. The curriculum includes Theory of Knowledge (TOK) and Service as Action (SAS) integrated into courses, and college counseling supports university admissions.	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative Enrichment Classes provide Stage Performance, Music Band, Costume and Makeup Design, Props Design, and Cross Over Art projects. After-School Activities include dancing and drama, and student-led clubs contribute to creativity and collaboration. Enrichment and ASA programs extend learning beyond academics into the arts and creative collaboration.	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language Language Programs include ESL and EAL support and ongoing Chinese, French, and Japanese language study. A team of native and non-native language teachers supports language development and test preparation for TOEFL and IELTS. Language learning is linked to cultural experiences that broaden students' global perspectives.	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies After School Activities (ASA) include badminton, football, dancing, drama, chess, reading, and the magazine/newsletter club. The boarding program offers additional enrichment through stage performances, music, and arts activities in the Enrichment Classes. Student-led activities foster teamwork, leadership, and social connection within the SAIS Bao'an community.	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service SAS (Service as Action) is embedded across middle and high school curricula, including Foundation Year pathways and DP/AP/A‑Level programs. Students participate in service and action projects as part of SAS. The school encourages parental involvement in SAS and supports a collaborative approach to student well-being and community engagement. Community-centered experiences are reinforced through the boarding environment and campus life.	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional The school features an Executive Principal and a Secondary Principal/IBDP Coordinator, with a Director of the Student Development Center leading college counseling and student development initiatives. The Leadership page presents the leaders and key administrators who support admissions, curriculum, and student support. College counseling provides guidance on course selection, standardized tests, and the college application process.	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing The Bao'an campus includes three buildings: an academic block, dormitories, and a dining hall that support boarding life. Meals are prepared by chefs from star-rated hotels and are served in a shared canteen for staff and students. The Home Parent program and on-campus dormitories foster a home-like environment that supports student well-being. Physical education, ASA, and enrichment activities promote fitness and holistic well-being.	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision English language support is provided through ESL/EAL programs. Chinese, French, and Japanese language learning is available. TOEFL and IELTS preparation courses are offered to support language proficiency for college admissions.	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs Language immersion programs are offered as enrichment within the Boarding Program.	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards I reviewed the school website for awards listed as having been given to the school itself during the five-year period from January 1, 2021 through January 1, 2026. The site contains news items, program and campus information and references to student scholarships and student awards, but it does not list any institutional awards or prizes granted to the school in that period. (Student-focused scholarships and awards are described on the site, but those are awards to students, not to the institution.)	Awards • Red Dot Design Award (2023) — the school's website states the Qianhai campus won a 2023 Red Dot Design Award in Germany for its campus design; the Red Dot is an international design prize recognising product and communication design. • The Plan (Italy) award — the school's website refers to The Plan Award (2023) in two places: one page says the campus was shortlisted for the Italian THE PLAN Award, and another page refers to a The Plan Award in 2023. Because the school's own pages use both “shortlisted” and wording that implies a win, the site's information about The Plan Award is inconsistent; I have listed it here because it appears on the school website, but the site does not present an unambiguous single statement of a win. Note: I have included only awards and accreditations explicitly reported on the school's official website. The site also mentions items such as being a finalist in the 2022 China School Awards (Pastoral Care) and various student competition results, but those are either finalist/student-level recognitions rather than school wins or are awarded to students rather than to the school itself, so I did not include them in the list above.
Accreditations	Accreditations 1) Cognia accreditation — The school states it is accredited by Cognia; Cognia is a U.S.-based nonprofit accreditation and continuous-improvement organization (formerly AdvancED) that evaluates K–12 schools against international standards for teaching, learning and school improvement. 2) Approval by the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China — the site says SAIS received approval from China's Ministry of Education; that indicates the school has the national-level regulatory authorization required to operate as an international school for foreign personnel's children. 3) Approval by the Guangdong Provincial Department of Education — the site also records provincial-level approval from Guangdong's education authorities, which is the provincial counterpart to the national approval and is part of the school's official operating permissions.	Accreditations • Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) — The school states it received official certification from Cambridge Assessment International Education in June 2023; this means KSS is authorised to deliver Cambridge curricula and assessments (e.g., Cambridge Pathway/A Levels) and to register students for CAIE examinations. • Council of British International Schools (COBIS) — the school reports that it was awarded COBIS Compliance Status (a formal recognition following inspection) in November 2023; COBIS is a UK-based membership and quality-assurance organisation for British international schools and Compliance Status indicates the school met COBIS's inspection criteria.
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions 1. Initial inquiry and information-gathering (Contact & tour). The school's contact page provides a form to request tours and lists school hours and phone/email contacts; families should confirm which campus/program (Bao'an vs. Shekou) they are applying to before proceeding. Visiting or a phone call is useful because the school offers both day and boarding options and bus/meal arrangements differ by campus. 2. Create an OpenApply account and complete the online application. - SAIS uses OpenApply for admissions; parents should register a family account and complete every required section of the online application (personal details, family, previous schools, health/SEN information and fees section) before submitting. The OpenApply form also asks whether you want boarding or day place and which academic year and curriculum stream (IB/AP/A‑Level/DSE) you are applying to; fill those carefully because they affect placement and fee schedules. You can preview the full checklist on the OpenApply portal so you can gather translations, transcripts, and medical records before submission. 3. Prepare and submit required documents and pay the non-refundable application fee. - The application will not be processed until the non-refundable application fee (¥2,000 RMB) is paid and the required documents are received. The school's published application checklist requires a completed application form plus copies of the student's passport, birth certificate (English translation), residence permit or visa (if available), immunization record, two passport photos, the last two years' official school reports (English translation), and any specialist SEN reports. If you do not yet have a Chinese visa/residence permit you may submit passport copies now and email visa/permit copies later. 4. Admission review and any follow-up (selection process). - Once the application fee and documents are received the school's selection/review process begins; the school may request additional information, clarification of records, or follow-up communications with the sending school. The website and application form do not publish a single fixed interview/exam sequence for all applicants, so the school may contact you to arrange placement testing, an interview, or a meeting with staff as appropriate for the student's age and programme; for high‑school entry the school also runs entrance examinations and scholarship-related assessments. Parents should be ready to supply original documents on request and to schedule in-person or online meetings for placement discussions. 5. Offer, acceptance, and payment of the enrollment deposit. - If the school issues an offer, new families must pay the non-refundable enrollment deposit (published as ¥60,000 RMB) within five working days of receiving the admission letter to secure the place; continuing students must meet the seat-reservation deadline (published as March 31). The enrollment deposit is applied toward total fees but is non-refundable; if the deposit is not paid by the deadline the school explicitly reserves the right to offer the place to other applicants. Parents should check the offer letter for exact dates and the finance contact for bank details. 6. Tuition payment schedule, early-bird and payment options. - The school publishes grade-group tuition bands and offers an early-bird rate for payments by March 31; full tuition deadlines and the standard payment schedule show an annual (due by August 10) or semester option (due by August 10 and January 10). For example (published in the SAIS fee policy for 2025–26) annual tuition figures differ by grade and programme (primary, middle, AP/IB high school, A‑Level, HKDSE) and boarding and meal fees are additional. Parents should review the current Fee Policy PDF carefully for the grade-specific tuition amount that applies to their child and confirm whether their employer will pay directly or whether they will pay as family. 7. Additional fees and optional services (boarding, meals, transport, school fund). - The Fee Policy lists boarding fees (annual boarding fee and meal and dormitory amounts), a School Fund / uniform & BYOD one-time fee for new students (published as ¥20,000 RMB), and bus fee zones (published zone rates); meal and transport fees can be optional and non-refundable depending on your selections. Sibling discounts apply to tuition only (with the structure published in the fee document) but do not apply to boarding, meals or uniform/school-fund charges. If you are considering boarding, note the fee structure for dormitory configurations and that meal arrangements differ between the Bao'an and Shekou campuses. 8. Withdrawal, refunds, and arrival preparations. - The school publishes a withdrawal and refund policy with proportional refunds depending on the withdrawal date (e.g., 100% refund before school year begins, scaled refunds through the year) and specific rules for temporary leave, late payments, and documentation release. Parents should also prepare immunization records and any medical documentation in advance; the application form requires immunization and health history and indicates the school will follow emergency procedures if necessary. If a visa/residence permit is required for enrollment, start that process early (the application form asks for residence/visa details).	Admissions 1. Book a campus visit or virtual tour and create an admissions account. The school uses OpenApply for event booking and the application portal; parents should choose the correct campus (Pre‑Prep or Main School), pick the exact year group they are applying for, and use an email address they will keep because that login will be used for the whole application. (See booking fields and campus list on the OpenApply portal.) 2. Complete the online application form in OpenApply and upload required documents. Typical items the system asks for are the applicant's legal name and date of birth, parent/guardian details, current school reports, passport/ID copies, and immunisation/health records — make sure scanned documents match the form field requirements and that names match legal ID. Allow time to translate or certify any documents not in English or Chinese before upload. 3. Pay the application fee (if required) and submit the application for processing. The school's published fee schedule shows a one‑time application fee and a refundable deposit as part of first‑year charges for new intakes; expect to be invoiced after an initial application is accepted. Parents should confirm the current amounts and refund terms with admissions before payment because fees and refund conditions can change year to year. 4. Assessments and interviews are scheduled once the application and documents are complete. For entry to Years 1–6 the school's FAQ says the admissions assessments include CAT4 testing plus an interview; for Years 7–8 the school lists CAT4, a writing test and an interview. For kindergarten/early years there is usually an observational session or parent‑child meeting — read the specific test guidance so you can prepare the right ID, school reports and any required samples of work. 5. Wait for the admissions decision and, if offered, review the acceptance paperwork. If an offer is made you will normally receive an acceptance letter or offer and an invoice for the enrolment deposit/first term fee — check the acceptance deadline carefully, the exact deposit amount shown on the invoice, and the school's refund policy before you pay to secure the place. Keep correspondence and payment receipts in case you need them later. 6. Complete registration tasks and prepare for transition. After payment of the deposit and any required enrolment forms, the school may ask you to complete health forms, bus enrolment, uniform orders and other pre‑start checklists in the portal; you should also confirm start‑of‑term dates and induction/transition visits for your child. If your child needs learning support, disclose this early and upload any assessment reports so the school can plan support measures before term starts. 7. Practical items to be ready: legal ID (passport or national ID), recent school reports and transcripts, immunisation records, proof of residence for the correct campus, and any educational/psychological reports where relevant. If you are applying from overseas, check visa/guardian requirements for the relevant year group (the school may also offer boarding from Year 4 and above; confirm the boarding eligibility process separately). These specifics are referenced in the school's admissions pages and FAQs.
Scholarships	Scholarships SAIS publishes a school scholarship programme and a scholarship application form for the Bao'an campus. The school's scholarships page and the SAIS Scholarship Application Form list several categories in the 2025 plan, including a High School Entrance Examination Scholarship, Top University Scholarship, Outstanding Student Scholarship, and Talent Scholarship (for arts or sports); the application form describes required items such as a 200–500 word personal statement, two recommendation letters, certified transcripts, and supporting evidence (competition results, portfolios) for talent awards. Deadlines and timelines are published in the scholarship form (examples: application deadlines of December 20 for spring-entry and June 30 for fall-entry; selected applicants notified by January 10 or July 31; successful applicants required to confirm by January 20 or August 5). The scholarship form identifies a Scholarship Coordinator (Ms. Aleezer Li) and gives a contact email and phone number for questions and submission instructions. The scholarships page also includes student testimonial material (example: a 12th‑grade recipient reporting a half scholarship) indicating the school has awarded partial scholarships in practice. If you are considering a scholarship, submit the scholarship form and all supporting documents by the published deadline and follow up with the scholarship coordinator for any programme-specific steps.	Scholarships The King's School Shenzhen's senior‑school navigation includes a Scholarship Programme section, which indicates the school runs some form of scholarships at the senior level; however the detailed official scholarship terms (eligibility windows, application deadlines, selection criteria and award levels) are not fully published in a single detailed page that I could retrieve. Third‑party coverage and local school reports indicate the Shenzhen campus has offered senior‑school scholarships in recent years (academic scholarships and performing‑arts/specialist awards have been referenced) and that award levels reported in local media range from partial awards (for example 10% of fees) up to full tuition awards for outstanding candidates. Because third‑party articles summarise past programmes and the school's own scholarship page does not publish full application rules in the public HTML I could access, I recommend contacting admissions to request the current scholarship policy, application form and deadlines (and to ask whether awards are means‑tested, merit‑based, renewable, or limited to particular year groups).
Waitlist	Waitlist The school website and published admissions documents do not present a separate, public ‘waitlist' policy or named ‘admissions pool' for general applicants. However, the Fee Policy states that if a new student's enrollment deposit is not paid by the required deadline the school reserves the right to offer the place to other applicants, which indicates places may be reallocated promptly when deposits are not received. Because the site does not describe a formal waitlist process (priority rules, how long students remain on a list, or how waitlisted families are notified), parents who want to know the practical handling of oversubscribed grades should contact admissions directly (admissions@szsaisba.org) to ask whether a waitlist will be created for their child and how offers from that list are managed.	Waitlist —
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