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Britannica International School

China, Shanghai

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· Reviewed by · B2C Marketing Manager

Independently researched by doris.
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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees RMB 252,300 - 356,700
Ages 1½ - 18 years
Type Co-educational
Opened 2013
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels, Pearson Edexcel IGCSE
Taught languages Mandarin, Korean, Japanese, French, Italian, Spanish, Hebrew, Portuguese
Typical class size 10
Strengths Languages, Sport, STEM
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Lifestyle and Wellbeing
Stages Early Years, Primary School, Secondary School, Sixth Form
Introduction

Britannica International School, Shanghai is a British-curriculum all-through school for students aged 18 months to 18 years; it opened in August 2013. The campus is listed at 1988 Gubei Road (near Wuzhong Road) in the Gubei residential district of Shanghai. The school follows the English National Curriculum and prepares students for IGCSE and A‑Level examinations in partnership with Cambridge (CAIE) and Edexcel. Britannica publishes its annual tuition table (2025–26): annual tuition ranges from RMB 252,300 (Pre‑Nursery) up to RMB 356,700 (Years 12–13). The school describes itself as smaller than many Shanghai international schools, with a current student population of over 400 and class sizes “all under 22 pupils”. A distinctive, named offering is its extensive Native Language Programme (Mandarin, Korean, Japanese, French, Italian, Spanish, Hebrew and others), delivered by specialist native-speaking teachers.

1988 Gubei Rd, Minhang District, Shanghai, China, 200233

The Essentials

Britannica International School has typical class sizes of 10, instruction in English.

Location
Britannica International School is in Gubei (Puxi), at 1988 Gubei Road near Wuzhong Road — a centrally located site about 10 minutes from Xujiahui CBD and roughly 15 minutes from the former French Concession. The school is inside the city (easy for downtown accommodation) and is served by multiple school-bus routes and short commute times.

Stages
The school covers Early Years through Sixth Form: Early Years (18 months–5 years), Primary (Key Stage 1: ages 5–7; Key Stage 2: 7–11) and Secondary (Key Stage 3: 11–13; Key Stage 4 / IGCSE: 14–16; Sixth Form / A-Level: 16–18).

Type
Britannica is a British international day school delivering the English National Curriculum; students are educated together (co-educational). The school's materials and handbooks describe a day-school model (no boarding provision is listed on the school website).

Additional learning support
The school runs a dedicated English as an Additional Language (EAL) programme and reports specialist EAL teachers and withdrawal sessions where needed. For additional learning needs the Primary handbook describes an inclusive approach: pupils are supported in mainstream classes by qualified teachers and teaching assistants and, where necessary, follow individualised programmes. Pastoral care and regular assessment are used to identify and plan support.

Country affiliation
The school is British in curriculum and ownership: it delivers the English National Curriculum, prepares students for IGCSE and A Level, and states it is British‑owned and British‑managed.

Religious affiliation
No religious affiliation is listed on the school's public pages; the school presents itself as a secular British international school.

School day structure
The published school hours list the day school as 08:20–15:00 with After School Activities 15:00–16:00; the FAQs note buses start arriving from about 08:00, a registration period around 08:20, and formal lessons beginning at 08:40, with a morning break and lunch.

Bus service
The school operates a comprehensive door‑to‑door bus service with many routes across the city; routes and pick‑up/drop‑off times are updated as families join. Buses meet local safety regulations, and each bus is supervised by a bilingual bus monitor who is also a school teaching assistant; the service is optional and charged separately. Specific route stop lists are published on the school site.
Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement
Uniform and PE kit are required; sold at the uniform shop.

Food Options
Lunch is provided in the dining hall at 31-35 RMB per meal; vegetarian and medical dietary provisions are accommodated.

House System
There are four Houses; all pupils are allocated to a House, and Houses compete in sporting, academic and entertainment activities. The school year comprises three termly championships, with a Cup awarded to the winning House; House events use House T-shirts in the corresponding colour, sold via the uniform shop.

Governance and Ownership
The school is owned and operated by Orbital Education; a School Board governs Britannica International School, Shanghai.
Fees

Annual tuition at Britannica International School ranges from RMB 252,300 to RMB 356,700 for 2026/27.

Tuition fees (Academic Year 2025–26)
- Pre-Nursery: Autumn RMB 100,900 • Spring RMB 75,700 • Summer RMB 75,700 • Total (3 instalments) RMB 252,300 • Paid in full (by 1 Aug, 3% discount) RMB 244,700.
- Nursery: Autumn RMB 105,700 • Spring RMB 79,300 • Summer RMB 79,300 • Total RMB 264,300 • Paid in full RMB 256,400.
- Reception: Autumn RMB 112,700 • Spring RMB 84,600 • Summer RMB 84,600 • Total RMB 281,900 • Paid in full RMB 273,500.
- Year 1–2: Autumn RMB 124,000 • Spring RMB 93,200 • Summer RMB 93,200 • Total RMB 310,400 • Paid in full RMB 301,100.
- Year 3–4: Autumn RMB 124,000 • Spring RMB 93,200 • Summer RMB 93,200 • Total RMB 310,400 • Paid in full RMB 301,100.
- Year 5–6: Autumn RMB 127,600 • Spring RMB 95,800 • Summer RMB 95,800 • Total RMB 319,200 • Paid in full RMB 309,700.
- Year 7–9: Autumn RMB 135,700 • Spring RMB 101,800 • Summer RMB 101,800 • Total RMB 339,300 • Paid in full RMB 329,100.
- Year 10–11: Autumn RMB 139,100 • Spring RMB 104,400 • Summer RMB 104,400 • Total RMB 347,900 • Paid in full RMB 337,500.
- Year 12–13: Autumn RMB 142,700 • Spring RMB 107,000 • Summer RMB 107,000 • Total RMB 356,700 • Paid in full RMB 346,000.

Application, registration and deposit
- Registration fee (non‑refundable on acceptance): RMB 2,500.
- Enrolment deposit payable on acceptance: RMB 20,000. The RMB 20,000 deposit is credited against the next term's tuition; a place is not guaranteed until the deposit is paid.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Autumn term and annual fees are due by 1 August. Parents may pay termly in advance or pay the full annual fee by 1 August to receive a 3% discount.
- Overdue fees may incur a 2% monthly surcharge, compounded monthly.
- If fees are unpaid, the school may withhold attendance and may reallocate the place at latest two weeks before term starts.

Boarding fees
- No boarding fees are listed. There is no boarding provision indicated in the school fee schedule.

Other costs and optional charges
- School uniform and PE kit: required and sold at the uniform shop (costs borne by parents).
- School lunch (mandatory): RMB 31 per meal and RMB 4 per snack; invoiced by the school caterer and paid directly to the caterer.
- School bus (optional): RMB 160 per day — payable termly or annually.
- EAL or additional learning support: charged separately as required (dependent on individual needs).
- Tuition for Year 10 and above includes public examination entrance fees.

Refunds and withdrawal
- Before 18 May: full refund.
- Before 1 July: tuition refund less the RMB 20,000 deposit.
- After 1 July: six weeks' tuition fee from the Autumn term payment is payable (no full refund).
- Leaving mid‑year: six weeks' notice is required or six weeks' fees payable in lieu of notice.
- Mid‑year refund calculations are based on the standard fee (early‑payment discount not considered).

Sibling discounts
- Second child: 5% discount; Third child: 5% discount.

Payment methods and bank details
- Payment is accepted in RMB or USD at the prevailing exchange rate. Parents are responsible for all overseas transfer charges and should ensure the pupil's name is quoted on transfer details.
- RMB and USD bank account details and beneficiary/SWIFT information are provided by the school's finance office (see the school fee schedule for the account and SWIFT fields).
Academics

Britannica International School teaches British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels, Pearson Edexcel IGCSE for students aged 1.5 to 18.

Curriculum
Britannica International School, Shanghai follows the English National Curriculum from Early Years through Sixth Form; its Early Years programme (18 months–5 years) uses the British Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
In Primary (Key Stage 1–2, Years 1–6) the school delivers the English National Curriculum with specialist teaching beginning in Reception (including languages, swimming and music).
Secondary is organised as Key Stage 3 (Years 7–9) and Key Stage 4 (Years 10–11), with Key Stage 4 leading to externally examined IGCSE qualifications.
The Sixth Form (ages 16–18) is a two‑year programme preparing students for AS/A2 and A‑Level examinations, typically taken in 3–4 subjects for university entry.
Alongside the core curriculum the school provides an extensive World Languages programme (Mandarin, Korean, Japanese, French, Italian, Spanish, Hebrew) and English-as-an-additional-language (EAL) support.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Britannica describes personalised pastoral care as central to its approach: pupils are known by every teacher, form teachers act as the daily communication link with parents, and small classes (often with teaching assistants) are used to support individual growth. The school says UK‑qualified staff regularly assess students' needs and progress against UK standards to guide personalised support. The site highlights designated pastoral leadership in both Primary and Secondary (including a Deputy Head of Secondary responsible for Pastoral Care). Recent school news also describes whole‑school wellbeing events (Global Wellbeing Week) that include assemblies, mindfulness activities and reflective workshops.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The school's admissions information states it is non‑selective but that the admissions team will consider whether the school can meet any specific learning needs when assessing applications. Staff profiles on the site show individual teachers with formal SEN training or experience (for example, a teacher who trained as an SEN teacher and staff with SEN co‑ordinator experience). The website does not publish a detailed list of the specific types of special educational needs it can support. The school's website does not present Britannica as a specialist SEN institution; there is no statement describing it as a specialist SEN school.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
Britannica states it delivers a comprehensive English as an Additional Language (EAL) programme taught by specialist, experienced teachers and that all students are assessed for reading, writing and speaking on entry and throughout their time at school. Classroom teaching is differentiated and, in Secondary, students are placed in ability groups for English support; the duration and intensity of support vary by individual need. The school's leadership biographies also note staff with formal EAL training and coordination experience. The website emphasises a tailored approach to each student's English development rather than a single uniform programme.

Mental Wellbeing
The school's published news describes recurring wellbeing initiatives (Global Wellbeing Week) that include mindfulness workshops, assemblies, self‑care activities, physical exercise and reflective projects across Early Years, Primary and Secondary. Pastoral materials state the school aims to create an environment where children feel comfortable discussing worries and where teachers monitor welfare closely. Staff training and the pastoral structure (form teachers, year leads and pastoral leaders) are presented as mechanisms to identify and respond to students' emotional needs. The website therefore documents both curriculum‑linked and extra‑curricular activities aimed at supporting students' mental wellbeing.

Safeguarding
The school's Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy (published on the website) names the Designated Safeguarding Lead (Anthony O'Brien) and Deputy DSL (Katherine Mustoe), requires all staff to complete approved child protection training, and sets out safer‑recruitment checks, reporting procedures and record‑keeping. The policy cites UK safeguarding guidance, requires annual policy review and explicitly describes staff responsibilities for reporting concerns and keeping accurate records. The school requires DBS or equivalent police checks and mandates regular staff training and induction on safeguarding procedures. These elements are documented in the school's published Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy.
Parent Experience

History
Britannica International School, Shanghai opened in 2013 and is part of the Orbital Education group, a UK-headquartered organisation that owns and operates a network of British-style international schools. Orbital Education — founded by Kevin McNeany — established Britannica as a British-owned and managed school and provides governance and operational support from its UK office. In its first year the school registered as a Cambridge International School and soon thereafter began graduating its first IGCSE cohort (milestones and early accreditations are recorded on the school site). The school's public materials note a sequence of curriculum and accreditation developments in the years after opening that shaped its early history.

Community
The school describes a multicultural student body and emphasizes language and cultural programmes as part of school life; recent communications highlight an expanding World Languages programme, language fairs and cultural celebrations that involve students and families. Termly events and seasonal occasions — for example concerts and end-of-term celebrations cited in the school's news archive — are used as community gatherings where families and staff interact. Britannica's parent-facing pages and news posts also point to open days and family-facing activities as regular opportunities for community engagement.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
The school's publicly available website does not publish a dedicated Parent Teacher Association page or a named PTA committee with officer contacts; instead it provides a Parent Zone with resources for families and an admissions/contact route for parent enquiries. Parent involvement appears in practice through participation in open days, concerts, language and cultural events and other school-wide activities described in the news and events sections. News items and programme descriptions indicate parents are invited to attend term concerts, seasonal celebrations and language/cultural showcases, and the Parent Zone is the primary online resource the school lists for family information. For specific details about a formal PTA (committee structure, meeting schedules, volunteering roles or fundraising groups) the school directs parents to contact the admissions or school office; the Contact Us page gives the school's admissions email and phone number. In short: public web materials show active family engagement via events and the Parent Zone but do not provide a public PTA constitution or committee list — you may want to contact admissions to request current PTA details or to learn how to join parent groups.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The school operates from a purpose-built campus in the heart of the city. The building features state-of-the-art classrooms, specialist science and technology rooms, a library, ICT suites and a 250-seat theatre. Premier sporting facilities include a swimming pool, a sports hall, astro turf, tennis courts, and basketball and netball courts. The campus is located at 1988 Gubei Road near Wuzhong Road, Shanghai 201103.

Sports Facilities
The school provides premier sporting facilities including a swimming pool, a sports hall, astro turf, tennis courts, and basketball and netball courts.

Academic Facilities
The school provides state-of-the-art classrooms, specialist science and technology rooms, a library, ICT suites and a 250-seat theatre.

Extra Curricular Facilities
The school offers a broad programme of after-school activities, with over 100 co-curricular activities available weekly, including sports, arts, languages and expeditions.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
Britannica Shanghai follows the English National Curriculum for students aged 18 months to 18 years and is part of the Orbital Education group. It offers an A-Level Programme that follows the English National Curriculum, with students typically studying three to four subjects during a two-year A-Level course, supporting progression to higher education. The school emphasises small class sizes to identify, nurture, and celebrate excellence in each child.

Arts & Creative
The Co-curricular Programme provides a broad range of activities, with over 140 after-school options including robotics, cooking club, and drama.

Cultural & Language
The World Language Programme offers native language lessons in Mandarin, Korean, French, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Hebrew and Portuguese, delivered by specialist native-speaking teachers.

Social & Hobbies
Over 140 after-school activities enable students to explore interests outside the classroom, including robotics, cooking, and drama.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Yoga is among the co-curricular activities, supporting student wellbeing.
Languages

Language Provision
The school uses English as the language of instruction and places English fluency at the centre of learning, with English as an Additional Language support for non-native speakers. Mandarin is a mandatory subject for Early Years through KS3 and is offered as an option for IGCSE and A Level; in Early Years, Primary and KS3 Mandarin is taught daily, and Secondary students have four Mandarin lessons per week for examination courses. The World Languages Programme provides native-language lessons in Mandarin, Korean, French, Italian, Spanish, Japanese and Hebrew, taught by specialist native-speaking teachers. A Native Language Programme supports native Mandarin, Korean, Japanese, French, Italian, Spanish, Hebrew or Portuguese speakers from Reception onward.
Reputation

Awards
For the five-year period covering 31 December 2021–31 December 2025 the school website does not list conventional standalone "school award" wins (for example "School of the Year" style awards) other than external accreditations/quality marks and one-off recognitions reported in its news posts. I searched the school site's news and accreditations pages and found the following external recognitions given to the school during that period (these are awarded to the school, not individual students):

- COBIS re-accreditation (18 November 2025) — re‑accreditation by the Council of British International Schools, reported as the outcome of a 2025 inspection (this is an external accreditation/re-accreditation reported in the school's news).

- Primary Geography Quality Mark (reaccreditation, September 2023) — the Geographical Association's Primary Geography Quality Mark was reaccredited to the school, recognising the quality and impact of its primary geography curriculum.

- ALFRI / Bell Foundation EAL accreditation (March 2022) — Language for Results International (ALFRI/Bell Foundation) accreditation for the school's EAL provision; reported on the school site as an external accreditation/quality mark.

- SAT testing centre accreditation (18 November 2022) — the school reports it became an accredited SAT test centre, enabling on‑site administration of the SAT for students applying to US universities.

Other recognitions on the school site in that time window: the school was shortlisted for the TES International School Awards 2025 (Curriculum Initiative of the Year) — that item is a shortlisting/nomination reported in November 2025, not a winning award on the school site, so I have not listed it as a win.

If you would like, I can:
- extract the exact dates and full text of each news item or accreditation report; or
- check external organisation sites (COBIS, CIS, Geographical Association, Bell Foundation, College Board) for their official statements/reports about the school (useful if you want independent verification beyond the school site).

Accreditations
Below are the accreditations and external quality marks listed on the school's website, each with a one-line explanation of what it is and why it matters (source: Britannica International School – Accreditations and related news pages).

- COBIS (Council of British International Schools) — COBIS membership/accreditation indicates the school meets standards of British international schooling and is part of a UK-based quality-assurance and professional network for British international schools.

- BSO (British Schools Overseas) — BSO is an inspection scheme run via the UK Department for Education for British-style schools abroad; a BSO inspection confirms the school meets standards comparable to independent schools in England.

- CIS (Council of International Schools) — CIS accreditation is an international quality-assurance process showing the school meets recognised standards for international education, global citizenship and continuous improvement.

- Cambridge Assessment International Education (Cambridge International) — recognition/approval to deliver Cambridge qualifications (IGCSEs etc.), which are widely recognised international academic qualifications.

- Pearson Edexcel — approval to deliver Pearson/Edexcel qualifications (GCSEs/A‑levels), indicating the school is authorised to offer these internationally recognised exam programmes.

- ALFRI / Bell Foundation accreditation for EAL (Language for Results International) — an external accreditation that evaluates and recognises the quality of provision for learners who use English as an additional language (EAL).

- Primary Geography Quality Mark (Geographical Association) — an external quality mark recognising high standards in geography leadership, curriculum development and teaching in the primary phase.

- The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award (DofE) — the school is registered to deliver the DofE programme, indicating it runs the internationally recognised youth development programme for Bronze/Silver/Gold participation.

- SAT testing centre accreditation (College Board/SAT) — the school is an accredited on‑campus SAT test centre, meaning students can take the SAT at the school site for US university admissions.

Note: these entries are taken from the school's official accreditations page and related news items on the Britannica International School (Shanghai) website. The accreditations page lists BSO, COBIS, Cambridge, Edexcel, DofE, ALFRI (Bell Foundation) and the Geographical Association quality mark; separate news posts confirm LFRI/ALFRI (March 2022), SAT testing centre status (Nov 18, 2022), the Primary Geography Quality Mark reaccreditation (Sep 2023) and a COBIS re-accreditation news item (Nov 18, 2025).
Admissions

Admissions
1. Enquiry and school tour — Start by contacting the Admissions team to request an enquiry, book a tour or join an open day so you and your child can see the campus and meet staff. During this visit the admissions staff will discuss your child's needs, explain the curriculum, transport and routines, and introduce you to the Principal or Head of Phase; use the visit to check whether the school's organisation and timetables fit your family logistics. If you are overseas the school can arrange a virtual tour and a meeting with the relevant head of phase.

2. Complete the online application and upload documents — When you decide to apply you must submit the online application form and upload the specified documents: child's birth certificate, child and parent passports, child and parent residence permits/work permits, recent school report, immunisation record, medical insurance card and a passport photo. The admissions portal stays open for your admissions journey so you can upload documents and track progress, but you cannot edit submitted forms after signing. Note: if a year group is already full and you meet entry requirements, the school will place the child on the waiting list only once the registration fee has been paid.

3. Assessment and second visit — After the application and paperwork are received the school arranges a formal assessment and usually a meeting with the Principal (or relevant Head) to evaluate academic readiness, communication and social interaction. Assessment format depends on age: EYFS children have informal observations (and sometimes a trial day), Years 1–9 typically sit a non-verbal reasoning (NVR) test (with additional drawing assessments in early primary), Years 10–11 have NVR plus English and Maths assessments, and Years 12–13 require evidence of prior externally accredited results (IGCSE equivalence). The Admissions Policy says assessment outcomes and any observed support needs will be discussed with parents; if further evidence is needed the school may invite a trial day or ask for more school reports.

4. Offer, registration and deposit — If the child meets the school's entry criteria and passes the assessment, the Principal issues an offer. To accept a place you will be asked to pay a non-refundable registration fee and an enrolment deposit; the standard registration fee and the deposit amounts and terms are published in the school fees schedule (the 2025–26 fees document shows a RMB 2,500 registration fee and a RMB 20,000 enrolment deposit that is credited against the next term's tuition). The admissions documents and the school's admissions policy explain timing: registration and deposit secure the place, the deposit is refundable subject to the school's refund and notice conditions, and full fee payment deadlines are specified in the fees schedule.

Scholarships
The school has run scholarship opportunities in the past (examples published on the school website include a 2019 Secondary Scholarship Day offering up to 100% scholarships for some secondary entry years and a 2019 announcement of a 50% tuition scholarship for certain Year 10 and Year 12 entrants). Those items are event/news postings from 2019 and describe specific, time‑limited scholarship campaigns rather than a standing, published scholarship programme. The current Admissions and Fees pages do not present an ongoing, school‑wide scholarship scheme, and there is no separate, regularly updated scholarships page on the site; therefore, if you are interested in any scholarship or fee‑assistance options you should contact the Admissions office directly (admissions@britannicashanghai.com or +86 21 6402 7889) to request the latest information and to ask whether any assessments or scholarship days are being offered at the moment.

Waitlist
Britannica operates a waiting list if a year group is full: applicants who meet the entry requirements are placed on the waiting list provided the registration fee has been paid. Priority on the waiting list is explicitly set out in the Admissions Policy: siblings of current students, returning students, sister‑school children, staff children and native first‑language English speakers receive priority, followed by other applicants based on completion of the admission process. The Admissions Policy and fees documents also state that an enrolment deposit (paid on acceptance) guarantees a place once paid and that families may register up to a year in advance subject to completing the full admissions process. For exact position on the list and timing you should confirm with the Admissions team, as places are reallocated if fees are unpaid before term start.
School Events
The school has not added events
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