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International Chinese School

Australia, Sydney

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English, Mandarin
Fees A$12,132 - 13,820
Ages 5 - 12 years
Pupil numbers 33
Type Co-educational
Opened 2015
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum Australian Curriculum
Taught languages Mandarin
Strengths Sport, Languages, Performing Arts
Clubs Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Social and Hobbies
Stages Kindergarten, Primary School
Introduction

International Chinese School is a bilingual K–6 Anglican primary in New South Wales, delivering half the NSW curriculum in Mandarin through CLIL. The school teaches in English and Mandarin, with Years 1–6 instructed by a specialist music teacher and access to private lessons and growing co‑curricular programs. It follows the Australian Curriculum within the NSW Key Learning Areas, from Early Stage 1 to Stage 3, with Mandarin as a core Languages strand. The school opened in 2015 with a Kindergarten cohort and expanded to Year 6 by 2022; it relocated in 2021 to 211 Pacific Highway, St Leonards. Adjacent to Gore Hill Oval, it offers an all‑weather synthetic grass surface and an external provider for weekly sport, plus swimming and gymnastics. Three sporting Houses, chess, and Hello Mandarin activities, together with cultural and language events, support a vibrant community focused on service, partnership with parents, and leadership development and values globally.

The Essentials

International Chinese School has 33 pupils, instruction in English, Mandarin.

Location
211 Pacific Highway, St Leonards NSW 2065, North Shore, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Stages
Kindergarten to Year 6 (K-6). Early Stage 1 – Kindergarten; Stage 1 – Year 1–2; Stage 2 – Year 3–4; Stage 3 – Year 5–6.

Type
Bilingual K-6 Anglican Christian primary school.

Country affiliation
Australia

Religious affiliation
Anglican (Anglican Christian tradition).
Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement
Uniform items can be purchased from Cowan and Lewis School Wear.

House System
The school has a House system. The 2022 Annual Report notes the introduction of the House system, along with a lunchtime band and dance group, and the inaugural ICS chess championship.

Governance and Ownership
The school is part of Combined Independent Schools (CIS NSW) and operates as an independent school within that network. It is a Christian Anglican school.
Fees

Annual tuition at International Chinese School ranges from AUD 12,132 to AUD 13,820 for 2026/27.

Enrolment / Application fees
- Application Fee: AUD 200 (non-refundable). Overseas applications incur an additional AUD 200.
- Acceptance (Enrolment) Fee: AUD 1,000 (non-refundable) payable within 14 days of an offered place. Overseas applicants must also pay the first term's fees in advance to secure the offer (first term's fees for overseas applicants are non-refundable).

Tuition fees and Service Charges (per year group)
- Years K–2:
- Annual tuition: AUD 10,460.
- Tuition per term: AUD 2,615.
- Annual service charge: AUD 1,672.
- Service charge per term: AUD 418.
- Years 3–4:
- Annual tuition: AUD 10,460.
- Tuition per term: AUD 2,615.
- Annual service charge: AUD 2,360.
- Service charge per term: AUD 590.
- Years 5–6:
- Annual tuition: AUD 10,460.
- Tuition per term: AUD 2,615.
- Annual service charge: AUD 3,360.
- Service charge per term: AUD 840.

Sibling and other fee concessions
- Sibling discounts applied to tuition only (not to Service Charges): 2nd child 10%; 3rd child 12.5%; subsequent children 15%.
- Christian Ministry Workers Discount: 40% off tuition for children of Christian ministry workers; part-time ministry workers receive a pro-rata discount. Documentation of employment as a Christian Ministry Worker must be supplied at enrolment.
- Bursaries: not offered at point of enrolment; may be offered occasionally to current families meeting temporary financial hardship criteria.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- All Fees and Charges are to be paid in advance, at the end of the first week of each term. Fees on amended accounts and mid-term enrolment invoices are payable within seven days of the invoice date.
- The School will debit the nominated account as completed on the Direct Debit Request form (Direct Debit is the stated payment mechanism for regular fee collection).
- Overdue and non-payment terms:
- Accounts unpaid 21 days after the due date incur an overdue charge to cover administrative and collection costs.
- Accounts not paid in full within 60 days of the due date may lead to suspension of the student's enrolment and the Principal may refuse entry and/or terminate enrolment.

Withdrawal and refund information
- Parents must give at least one full term's notice in writing to the Principal before terminating enrolment.
- If insufficient notice is given, the parent is required to pay one term's school fees (this amount is treated as a genuine pre-estimate of loss).
- Application Fee and Acceptance Fee are non-refundable. Overseas applicants' advance first-term fee is non-refundable when used to secure an offered place.

Other costs and charges
- Service Charges cover classroom consumables, textbooks, photocopying, excursions and sports (including transport) and are charged annually and per term as noted above.
- Voluntary contributions: Building Fund and Library Fund donations (tax-deductible for donations of AUD 2 or more). These are voluntary and separate from Fees and Charges.
- Uniforms: uniform items are supplied through the school's official uniform shop (Cowan & Lewis School Wear). Orders can be made online and collected from the school; specific uniform item prices are set by the supplier.
- Before/After School Care: before and after school care is available during term time (before school from 7:00am; after school until 6:00pm). Permanent bookings require an application process (applications for permanent care are made in Term 4 of the preceding year). Specific session fees or casual rates are managed separately and are not published in the fee schedule.

Fee payment options
- The School's stated regular fee collection method is by debiting the nominated account via a Direct Debit Request form. Parents should complete the Direct Debit Request to nominate the account to be debited. For other payment methods or one-off payments, contact the Registrar for accepted options and instructions.

Notes on enforcement and adjustments
- The School Board sets the Schedule of Fees and Charges annually and reserves the right to vary fees by written notice.
- No remission of fees is made for student absence due to illness, leave, suspension, or expulsion unless otherwise determined by the School in exceptional circumstances.
Academics

International Chinese School teaches Australian Curriculum for students aged 5 to 12.

Curriculum
The International Chinese School is a bilingual K-6 Christian school in the Anglican tradition, with learning delivered through English and Mandarin. The school is the first and only NSW school approved by the NSW Education Standards Authority to deliver half the curriculum in Mandarin. Primary learning follows the NSW Education Standards Authority's Key Learning Areas, structured as Early Stage 1 (Kindergarten); Stage 1 (Year 1–2); Stage 2 (Year 3–4); and Stage 3 (Year 5–6). The Key Learning Areas are English, Mathematics, Science and Technology, Human Society and Its Environment (History and Geography), Personal Development, Health and Physical Education, Creative Arts, and Languages (Mandarin). Music education is delivered across Years 1–6 by a specialist music teacher, with private lessons and co-curricular programs; co-curricular music opportunities are planned to expand to choir and instrumental ensembles. The teaching approach includes Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL), with learning in Mandarin for Key Learning Areas while English continues to be used, supporting a bilingual immersion model.

Exam Results
2024 NAPLAN results show Year 3 cohort as part of ICS's seventh participation in NAPLAN; ICS was among the top-performing schools on the Lower North Shore in average performance across tested areas; 42% of ICS students come from a language background other than English. Year 3 results: Reading 458, Writing 473, Spelling 490, Grammar 454, Numeracy 495. Year 5 results are not available due to the small cohort (fewer than 11 students).

Gifted and Talented
Selective High School preparation sessions are offered to prepare students for selective high schools. These targeted sessions were introduced in 2024 to support this pathway.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The school is a K-6 Christian school in the Anglican tradition with learning delivered through a Christian worldview. A bilingual immersion model operates with students taught in English and Mandarin. Teachers partner with parents to develop confident, enthusiastic and principled leaders of the future.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Neurodiverse learners are catered for. The school employed a staff member with knowledge of neurodiverse learning to support teaching. The school began implementing suggested strategies for neurodiverse learners.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The school teaches in English and Mandarin. Approximately 50% of the teaching week is delivered in Mandarin and 50% in English. The school uses a Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) approach to bilingual education.

Mental Wellbeing
The Welfare Policy governs student welfare and discipline. The Welfare Policy is read within the National Safe Schools Framework and reinforces the school's core values to provide a safe and supportive learning environment. The school does not permit corporal punishment of students.

Safeguarding
The school has a Welfare Policy (incorporating behaviour management and discipline), a Child Protection Policy, a Dealing with Bullying Policy, and a Grievance Policy. The Welfare Policy is addressed within the National Safe Schools Framework to ensure safety and wellbeing. The Child Protection Policy addresses obligations under child protection legislation. The Dealing with Bullying Policy outlines bullying response, and the Grievance Policy provides a process for addressing grievances. The school does not permit corporal punishment of students.
Parent Experience

History
Most Reverend Dr Glenn Davies, then Archbishop of the Sydney Diocese, was behind the original vision for establishing the International Chinese School. As Bishop of the North Region (2002–2013), he identified a need to serve Lower North Shore families with an Anglican Chinese bilingual school. Planning began with the support of St Paul's Anglican Church, Chatswood; the first registration was submitted to the NSW Board of Studies in 2011 for a 2012 opening, but site issues delayed the start. Renovation funds from the Anglo Australian Christian and Charitable Fund enabled a hundred-year-old timber hall at the church to become classrooms, and the school opened in January 2015 with a Kindergarten cohort; by 2022 it enrolled from Kindergarten to Year 6. In 2021 the School relocated to 211 Pacific Highway, St Leonards, with continued support from the Anglo Australian Christian and Charitable Trust.

Community
The School uses a bilingual immersion model with English and Mandarin instruction. It is a K-6 Christian school in the Anglican tradition, delivering learning through a Christian worldview. Parents are welcomed and encouraged to be active contributors to their children's schooling; teachers partner with parents in guiding student growth, including activities such as reading groups and excursions. The Vine, the school newsletter, is published and distributed electronically to parents fortnightly during the school term.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
The School fosters a vital partnership with parents, welcoming active contributions to children's schooling. Teachers partner with parents to develop confident, enthusiastic and principled leaders of the future through involvement in reading groups, excursions and other aspects of school life. The partnership emphasizes parental involvement as part of the school's educational nurture and ethos, reflecting the school's Christian foundation and value on family engagement.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The school is located at 211 Pacific Highway, St Leonards NSW 2065. It is in the heart of the North Shore. The school is adjacent to Gore Hill Oval, which provides an all-weather synthetic grass surface for sporting activities. An external professional sports provider delivers the weekly sports program, and annual sporting activities include swimming and gymnastics.

Sports Facilities
Gore Hill Oval adjacent to the school provides an all-weather synthetic grass surface for many sporting activities. An external professional sports provider delivers the school's weekly sports program. Other annual sporting activities include the school's swimming program and gymnastics. There are three sporting Houses at the School, each named after Chinese Christian leaders.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Music education comprises classroom experiences, private individual tuition, and co-curricular programs. Music is integral to the classroom curriculum for every student and from Years 1-6 is taught by a specialist music teacher. Students can undertake private music lessons during the School day, delivered by private tutors who work in partnership with the School. Co-curricular music opportunities are planned to expand from 2023 with choir and instrumental ensembles.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The School delivers a unique and challenging education with about 50% of the curriculum taught in Mandarin through a CLIL approach. Instruction follows the NSW Key Learning Areas, including English, Mathematics, Science and Technology, History and Geography, Personal Development, Creative Arts and Mandarin. The School is approved by the NSW Education Standards Authority to deliver half the curriculum in Mandarin. Students perform strongly in the NAPLAN tests, with averages in the top band for English and Mathematics.

Arts & Creative
Music education at the School comprises classroom experiences, private individual tuition, and co-curricular programs. From Years 1–6, music is taught by a specialist music teacher. Students can undertake private music lessons during the School day. Co-curricular music opportunities are planned to expand from 2023 with choir and instrumental ensembles.

Cultural & Language
The School uses a bilingual immersion model with about 50% of the curriculum delivered in English and 50% in Mandarin. A Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) approach supports this bilingual education. Cultural and language activities include Hello Mandarin speaking competition and New Year celebrations.

Social & Hobbies
Chess is popular and there is a Chess Club that hosts the annual ICS Chess tournament. Students also participate in cultural events such as New Year celebrations. Hello Mandarin speaking competition is another co-curricular cultural activity.

Community & Service
Service to Others is a core value; the School aims to develop compassionate young leaders with a heart for serving others both in the school and in the local community. The Mission emphasises equipping students to be agents of transformation in a globalised society. Partnership with Parents is valued to support the educational nurture of children.

Leadership & Professional
The School partners with parents to develop confident, enthusiastic and principled leaders of the future. This leadership emphasis is reflected in the Vision and Core Values, which include service to others and cultural diversity as foundations for leadership. The Mission states that students are equipped to be agents of transformation in a globalised society. Partnership with Parents supports children's learning and leadership development.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
The School is located next to Gore Hill Oval, supporting outdoor sporting activities. A weekly sports program is delivered by an external professional provider. Annual sporting activities include swimming and gymnastics. There are three sporting Houses named after Chinese Christian leaders.
Languages

Language Provision
Mandarin is taught as part of the school's bilingual program. The school is the first and only NSW school to receive approval from the NSW Education Standards Authority to deliver half the curriculum in Mandarin. Mandarin is delivered within the Languages (Mandarin) Key Learning Area. English is taught as a core subject within the NSW curriculum.

Bilingual Teaching
The school uses a bilingual immersion approach, teaching some Key Learning Areas in Mandarin. Students spend approximately 50% of the week in English and 50% in Mandarin. Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) is used to deliver these bilingual lessons. This approach integrates Mandarin across the curriculum to prepare students for a 21st‑century world with a closer China–Australia relationship.

Immersion Programs
Immersion programs use CLIL to deliver subject content in Mandarin. Students spend about half their week in English and half in Mandarin. Mandarin is delivered in selected Key Learning Areas rather than a single subject. The program is designed to prepare students for life in a global context where the Australia–China relationship plays an increasingly important role.
Reputation

Accreditations
The School is the first and only school in NSW to receive approval from the NSW Education Standards Authority to deliver half the curriculum in Mandarin.
Admissions

Admissions
1. Expression of Interest: Fill out the Expression of Interest Form. The Registrar will invite families to join a school tour. If the child is on a visa, indicate the visa subclass in the form's 'Any further comments' field. This step initiates the enrolment process.

2. Enrolment Application Form: Complete the Enrolment Application Form. A non-refundable $200 application fee is required to process the application. Once received, the application will be reviewed and placed on a waitlist. A confirmation email is sent on receipt.

3. Family Enrolment Interview: As there are more applicants than positions, not all applicants proceed to an enrolment interview. The School will contact you if a position becomes available for an interview. The interview is an opportunity for the Principal to get to know the family and ensure that values and expectations align. Enrolment positions are offered at the sole discretion of the Principal.

4. Letter of Offer: Successful applicants are issued a Letter of Offer. To accept the offer, the Letter of Acceptance and ICS Conditions of Enrolment must be signed and returned, along with payment of the $1000 Enrolment Fee. The offer lapses if it is not accepted within the timeframe indicated on the Letter of Offer.

5. Confirmation of Enrolment: You will receive an email from the Registrar to confirm the enrolment of your child.

Scholarships
The School does not offer scholarships at point of enrolment. Bursaries may be offered from time to time to families that already have children enrolled in the School and who meet temporary financial hardship. Examples of such hardship include death of a spouse or unforeseen loss of employment.

Waitlist
After submitting the Enrolment Application Form, a non-refundable $200 application fee per applicant is required to process the application. Once received, the application will be reviewed and placed on a waitlist.
School Events
The school has not added events
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