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Merchiston Academy Songshan Lake

China, Guangzhou

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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, Mandarin
Fees RMB 40,000 - 178,000
Ages 14 - 18 years
Type Co-educational (boarding)
Opened 2021
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum British Curriculum, BTEC Qualification, Cambridge A Levels, Pearson Edexcel IGCSE
Taught languages English, Mandarin, Armenian
Strengths Sport, Performing Arts, STEM
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Community and Service
Stages Secondary School, Sixth Form
Introduction

Merchiston Academy Songshan Lake (MAS) opened in September 2021 and is presented on the school website as an international campus located in Songshan Lake Park, adjacent to Huawei's European Village; the site states the campus has about 35,000 m² of floor area and convenient transport links. MAS is described as offering courses within IGCSE and GCE A-level pathways and cooperating with Pearson/Edexcel and BTEC vocational provision for older students. The website also describes an on-site boarding provision and a broad co-curricular programme (sports, arts and STEM-related CCAs are listed). The school site does not publish a full fee schedule, an overall minimum/maximum age range for all entry points, typical class-size figures for MAS, or a total current pupil number; I can fetch the campus latitude/longitude from Google Maps if you'd like.

No.12 Shilongzai Road, Dalang Sub-district, Longhua District, Shenzhen, China

The Essentials

Merchiston Academy Songshan Lake has instruction in English, Mandarin.

Location
Merchiston Academy Songshan Lake is located in the Songshan Lake industrial park, Dongguan, Guangdong — the campus sits next to Huawei European Village and Songshan Lake Park. Address given on the school site is C4 CIMC Yi-Ning-Xi-Lu Road, Dongguan City, Guangdong, China. The site notes the campus is tranquil and has easy access to local transport links.

Stages
The school offers IGCSE and A‑level programmes and international preparatory (pre‑A level) options, with two‑year IGCSE and two‑year A‑level patterns and a one‑year pre‑A route described on the curriculum pages. The programmes are aimed at secondary / senior‑school students preparing for university.

Type
MAS is a co‑educational school and operates boarding provision; students are placed in age‑appropriate boarding houses with houseparents and resident tutors on site. The Songshan Lake campus is part of the wider Merchiston group (links with Merchiston Castle School and other Merchiston campuses) and shares resources across those campuses.

Additional learning support
The website describes a three‑teacher guidance model that includes academic mentors, pastoral care and a psychological counsellor as part of student support. The school does not publish a detailed Special Educational Needs (SEN) or specific learning‑support list on its public pages; parents are advised to contact admissions for case‑specific information.

Country affiliation
MAS presents itself as part of the Merchiston family and cites an affiliation with Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh, Scotland (UK).

Religious affiliation
The school website does not state any religious affiliation.

School day structure
The site publishes an Academic Calendar and a timetable page (作息表) where the school timetable is made available; exact start and finish times are shown on that calendar/timetable rather than in prominent text. The boarding page notes that boarders follow the same working day as day students and have a structured evening homework period and supervised weekend activities.

Bus service
The school refers to school buses in its uniform guidance (students must wear uniform on school buses), which indicates a bus service is used, but the website does not publish detailed route, provider or booking information. For pickup/drop‑off routes, costs and registration, the site directs parents to contact Admissions (admissions@merchistonacademy.cn / 400 999 0978).
Diving Deeper

Boarding Arrangements
Three age-appropriate boarding houses accommodate MAS Songshan Lake students, cared for by a Houseparent who lives on site alongside resident Tutors, promoting a family atmosphere. Boarding students follow the same school day pattern; after their evening meal they have structured homework time overseen by a staff member on duty, followed by social time and bedtime. A fully staffed medical centre supports boarders, and at weekends they may participate in a range of activities or undertake independent study.

Uniform Requirement
All MAS students wear the school uniform on school days, on school buses, on school property and on school trips; exceptions may be allowed in special circumstances. Full dress is required from October to April and during the rally.

Food Options
Boarding includes meals; boarders have evening meals as part of the daily routine.

House System
There are three age-appropriate boarding houses for MAS Songshan Lake students.
Fees

Annual tuition at Merchiston Academy Songshan Lake ranges from RMB 40,000 to RMB 178,000 for 2026/27.

Application / Seat‑reservation fees
- Seat reservation (placement) deposit: RMB 18,000 (payable on offer/booking; treated as a seat deposit).

Tuition fees (current academic year — listed as annual amounts by programme)
- QingTeng programme (national curriculum + AP): RMB 178,000 per year.
- Songshan Lake programme (national curriculum + A‑Level): RMB 158,000 per year.
- ZiJing programme (national curriculum + DSE): RMB 98,000 per year.
- DeQin (domestic curriculum + Xingzhi特色): RMB 40,000 per year.

Per‑term / billing equivalents
- The school has previously published semester figures (two semesters per academic year) for international and domestic directions; older published semester examples include RMB 75,000 per semester for international direction and RMB 30,000 per semester for domestic direction. Where an annual fee is published, treat it as the full academic‑year charge unless a semester breakdown is specified.

Boarding (annual)
- Boarding (6‑person room): RMB 18,000 per year.
- Boarding (3‑person room): RMB 30,000 per year.

Other charges (paid separately)
- Insurance, optional paid CCAs, school bus, bedding/room setup, meals, uniforms, textbooks, international examination registration fees and occasional field‑trip or practical course fees. These items are charged in addition to tuition/boarding.

Billing schedule and payment terms / refunds
- Tuition is charged according to the published fee schedule for the relevant programme/year. If a student enrolls after a term begins, fees may be charged on a pro‑rata basis. Students are required to settle outstanding fees to receive school reports. If a registered student pays but does not commence, 90% of fees may be refundable; mid‑term withdrawals are calculated pro‑rata by actual days in attendance (school example formula: refund = paid/184 * (184 − days attended), with a minimum month unit). One‑term written notice of withdrawal is normally required; failure to give notice can result in charges for remaining fees.

Fee payment options
- Publicly available materials do not list a definitive set of accepted payment channels for MAS Songshan Lake. Common channels for campuses in this group include bank transfer and electronic payments; for admissions or payment instructions, use the school admissions contact (admissions@merchistonacademy.cn).
Academics

Merchiston Academy Songshan Lake teaches British Curriculum, BTEC Qualification, Cambridge A Levels, Pearson Edexcel IGCSE for students aged 14 to 18.

Curriculum
Merchiston Academy Songshan Lake delivers UK‑style 14–19 provision with IGCSE, a Pre‑A‑level year where applicable, two‑year A‑levels and vocational BTEC pathways in partnership with Edexcel. Programmes run on three entry models — 0+2 (two‑year A‑level for G11–G13), 1+2 (one year Pre‑A‑level then two years A‑level for G10–G11 entrants) and 2+2 (two years IGCSE then two years A‑level) — with staged academic targets for each cohort. Core and elective subjects include Mathematics and Further Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Economics (students typically choose three at A‑level), with IGCSE equivalents and wider options such as Biology, Geography, Accounting, Computer Science, ICT, Drama and Art & Design. Language provision includes IGCSE English plus A‑level and Chinese pathways (including Chinese A‑level and HSK for international students), and the school offers extension and admissions‑test preparation (STEP/MAT/PAT) and competition training. The wider scope comprises vocational/internship modules (BTEC, finance, e‑commerce, data analysis), phase‑assessed general education credits (software, media, Mandarin, arts, performance) and a broad co‑curricular activities programme.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Merchiston Academy Songshan Lake states that pastoral care is a central part of its approach and places pastoral care “on a paramount position” within its holistic education model. The school describes boarding tutors and houseparents as important role models who live and work with students, which the school says supports students' social development and sense of community. Co-curricular activities (CCAs) such as Debate Club, Cultural Societies and team sports are listed as regular provision that supports teamwork, communication and wider social skills. The Boarding overview explicitly links boarding routines and house structures to encouraging interpersonal skills and a supportive community.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The school's public website does not set out a dedicated Special Educational Needs (SEN) or inclusion policy. The site does describe targeted academic clinics (for example, Chinese Clinic and Science Clinic) that provide extra academic support, but these pages do not identify specialist SEN provision or list specific categories of special needs supported. There is no page on the website that describes a named SEN coordinator, specialist learning support team, or a formal SEN policy. Based on the website material I reviewed, Merchiston Academy Songshan Lake does not publicly disclose specific SEN provision or whether it is a specialist SEN institution.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The school's co‑curricular listings describe an English Clinic and an English Clinic/IELTS Preparation offering targeted English support; the site states that targeted EAL/IELTS provision is available, including an EAL provision note for Years 12–13. The English Clinic is described as focused lessons to improve English language proficiency and the IELTS preparation CCA is explicitly for students identified as needing exam support. These references indicate targeted English-language support primarily through CCA-style clinics rather than a separate full-time EAL department. The school does not publish a separate detailed EAL policy or an all‑school EAL programme on the public website.

Mental Wellbeing
The school lists staff with psychology and mental health-related roles: an individual profile identifies Richard Yu as a Psychology & University Guidance Teacher with a mental health teacher qualification and experience in school psychology and counselling. The Guidance Team page describes a university counselling team and named counsellors involved in student guidance. Boarding information states that houseparents and resident tutors are expected to provide responsive care and that staff receive ongoing in‑service training related to student welfare. The site also mentions a fully staffed medical centre on campus for student healthcare. These items on the website indicate the school provides pastoral, counselling and on‑site medical resources for student wellbeing, though the site does not publish a full mental‑health policy document.

Safeguarding
The website emphasises pastoral care, boarding house structures with houseparents and resident tutors, ongoing in‑service staff training, and a fully staffed medical centre as parts of student care and supervision. Boarding pages describe principles such as dignity, inclusion and access to responsive care, and note that tutors and houseparents are important role models who live on site to support students' welfare. The public site does not appear to publish a standalone child protection or safeguarding policy, nor does it name a designated safeguarding lead on the pages reviewed. Therefore, while the site describes practical safeguarding-related provisions (boarding supervision, staff training and medical support), it does not publicly disclose a formal safeguarding/child‑protection policy document.
Parent Experience

History
Merchiston Academy Songshan Lake (MAS) opened in September 2021. MAS is affiliated with Dongguan Xingzhi Vocational School and is presented on its website as linked to Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh, with shared branding and curriculum collaboration. The school's web material states it works with UK partners such as Edexcel to offer internationally recognised courses. MAS is described as one campus within a group that shares resources with other Merchiston campuses (for example Shenzhen and Qianhai).

Community
The school describes a community shaped around full boarding, pastoral care and a “family-feel” college model, with emphasis on student wellbeing and discipline. A wide range of co-curricular activities is listed on the school site—examples include choir, band, theatrical productions, traditional Chinese music (including pipa), sports and outreach/volunteer projects. The campus is located in Songshan Lake and the school highlights connections with local technology and industry partners as part of its community and practical learning opportunities.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
The school's published materials refer to a boarding parents' group (寄宿家长会) that provides practical support for students' residential life and liaises with the school's pastoral team; psychological services and campus residential staff are noted as part of that support structure. The website does not publish a separate, detailed PTA constitution or regular public calendar of parent-led events; publicly available pages focus more on the boarding-parents structure and pastoral arrangements. For information about current parent committees, regular meetings, volunteer roles or fundraising activities the school directs readers to its contact channels (admissions email/phone) for up-to-date details. If you'd like, I can contact the admissions address on the school site and request the latest PTA or parent‑engagement information and report back.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The Merchiston Academy Songshan Lake campus sits in Songshan Lake Industrial Park in Dongguan, adjacent to Huawei Europe Town, in a quiet, accessible setting. The campus covers 35,000 square metres and is equipped with world‑class teaching facilities and equipment, supported by a professional staff and on‑site sports spaces. The school is part of a four‑campus network and resources are shared with Merchiston Castle School (UK), MIS Shenzhen and MIS Shekou. Boarding is available with three age‑appropriate houses and a fully staffed medical centre on site. The campus environment supports a holistic international education for students aged roughly 14–19.

Sports Facilities
Cricket is one of the three main sports offered. Golf is available with access to local practice facilities and a partner club for some sessions. Hockey sessions are available through Merchiston Hockey Club, including time at the Astro Stadium. Rugby provides a defined pathway and regular team activity. Tennis is part of the curricular and co‑curricular programs, with a structured development pathway.

Academic Facilities
Merchiston Academy Songshan Lake offers IGCSE, A‑Level and BTEC courses delivered by a mix of local and international teaching staff. The campus size is 35,000 square metres and includes world‑class teaching facilities and equipment, along with sports facilities. Resources are shared across MAS's four campuses, including MAS Songshan Lake, MIS Shenzhen, MIS Shekou and Merchiston Castle School in the UK.

Extra Curricular Facilities
The co‑curricular program includes a broad range of sports and arts/creative activities. Sports CCAs include Cricket, Golf, Hockey, Tennis and Rugby, with some activities held at dedicated facilities (e.g., Astro Stadium and partner golf courses). Arts and culture CCAs cover Still Life Academic Drawing, Mural Club, Paper Craft, Ceramics, Photo Realistic Portraits, Illuminated Manuscripts & Ink Drawing, Documentary, Chinese Embroidery, Cultural Societies‑Film Club and Calligraphy. Additional lanes include English Clinic/IELTS Preparation, Economics Clinic, Seniors Choir, Street Dance, Pipa and K‑pop Group, among others; some CCAs carry fees.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
Merchiston Academy Songshan Lake offers Year 11–13 programs with IGCSE and A-level pathways, including 0+2, 1+2, and 2+2 routes. The A-level program is delivered in partnership with Edexcel, and the curriculum includes a Pre-A-level year as a preparatory stage. Core subject options cover Mathematics (and Further Mathematics), Physics, Chemistry, Economics, and other subjects; elective options include additional languages and STEAM-related subjects, with opportunities to pursue examinations and university-admissions pathways. The curriculum is designed to foster independent study, analytical thinking, and global readiness to support admission to world-renowned universities. Accreditations and pathways also emphasize global perspectives and real-world applicability.

Arts & Creative
The program supports arts and creative development through a range of co-curricular activities, including Band and dramatic productions, as well as visual and performing arts projects. The school runs practical arts experiences and production opportunities integrated with its broader curriculum. Students can engage in visual and performing arts through clubs and productions, with a focus on collaboration and creativity. CCAs and production work are part of the extracurricular framework.

Cultural & Language
Language offerings include compulsory language study and elective options that include English and Chinese language tracks, with pathways such as IGCSE English and Chinese-language options at A-level; there are provisions for Chinese language study at A-level and for non-native speakers, including HSK-focused Chinese coursework. The curriculum emphasizes global citizenship and cross-cultural awareness as part of a broad educational aim.

Social & Hobbies
A range of CCAs supports social and hobby development, including Mindful Meditation, an Economics Clinic, a Detective Novel Club, and Digital Products & Car Reviews. The CCAs are designed to complement academic study and help students explore personal interests and collaborative skills. The Band and production elements also provide music and theatre opportunities as part of student life.

Community & Service
The curriculum includes general education components and elective activities that cover design software, video production, digital literacy, and cultural arts, alongside modules with public welfare and community-related aims. Internship-style experiences in finance, computing, data analysis, and e-commerce are listed as part of the elective offering, contributing to broader social engagement and real-world experience.

Leadership & Professional
Guidance and preparation for higher education are supported by a dedicated university counselling team that helps students gain admission to universities worldwide. The guidance program includes structured activities and ongoing support to develop leadership, study skills, and professional awareness.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Boarding is available at Merchiston Academy Songshan Lake, with a focus on health, welfare, independent living, and community integration. There is a fully staffed medical centre on site, and boarding life emphasizes personal development, responsibility, and balanced routines alongside academic study.
Languages

Language Provision
The school offers IGCSE, A-levels and international preparatory courses. Compulsory languages include IGCSE English (as Second Language) and Chinese (A-level Chinese) with HSK Chinese for foreign students. Optional languages include A-level Chinese, A-level English, English Literature, General Paper, and Second Language. The curriculum framework includes a 1-year Pre-A level, 2-year IGCSE, and 2-year A-level courses.
Reputation

Awards
No school-level awards listed on the school website (past five years): I did not find any entries on the Merchiston Academy Songshan Lake website that present awards given to the school itself in the last five years. The site includes pages for achievements and news and lists various student achievements and the accreditations above, but it does not present a section of awards won by the institution as an organisation.

Summary of what I checked and what's missing: I reviewed the school's English and Chinese site pages (including the Accreditation page, About/Major Attributes, Campus/Our Campuses and the site's Achievements/News sections) and found the accreditations above but no items labelled as school awards or institutional honours from the last five years. If you would like, I can (a) check again for any press releases or archived news on the site that might be phrased differently (for example, "honours", "recognition", or local awards in Chinese), or (b) expand the search to authoritative external sources (news sites, local education bureau announcements) if you want confirmation beyond the school's own site.

Accreditations
The school's website lists the following official accreditations (items and dates quoted or paraphrased from the school's “国际认证 / Accreditation” page).

1) CEMC (University of Waterloo) certification — July 2021. One-line significance: CEMC is the University of Waterloo's Centre for Education in Mathematics and Computing; being certified means the school is authorised to participate in / administer CEMC mathematics, computing and chemistry competitions and related assessments, which are widely used to benchmark mathematical and computing achievement.

2) Pearson Edexcel Centre (Centre number 94928) — July 2021. One-line significance: Pearson Edexcel is a UK examination board; centre authorisation indicates the school is registered to deliver Edexcel qualifications and to enter students for Edexcel examinations.

3) UCAS official recognition — July 2021. One-line significance: UCAS is the UK's Universities and Colleges Admissions Service; the school's recognition indicates it can support and process students' applications through the official UK university admissions system.

4) Oxford International AQA Examinations centre (Centre number 96278) — November 2021. One-line significance: OxfordAQA is an international exam board (a collaboration involving Oxford University Press and AQA); centre authorisation means the school may administer OxfordAQA international examinations (e.g., international GCSE/A‑level variants).

5) Pearson BTEC Centre (Centre number 95354) — July 2022. One-line significance: BTEC (administered by Pearson) are vocational qualifications; being an authorised BTEC centre allows the school to deliver Pearson BTEC vocational programmes and assessments on campus.
Admissions

Admissions
1. Follow the school's official WeChat and make initial contact. Merchiston Academy Songshan Lake (MAS) asks families to follow its official WeChat account as the first step; the Applications Process page on the school website lists this as Step 1 and this is also where open days, application links and contact details are announced. Parents should follow the account so they receive updates (assessment dates, open-day slots and application-link notices) rather than relying on third‑party summaries.

2. Pay the non‑refundable application fee (RMB 1,000). MAS requires a non‑refundable application fee of RMB 1,000 to progress an application; the Applications Process page shows this as Step 2. Keep the payment receipt and proof of payment — the school asks you to submit proof of payment with the application form and will not proceed with assessment without it.

3. Complete and submit the school application form. Parents should complete every section, including declarations about medical conditions and support needs — incomplete forms slow processing and the school uses the information to plan assessments and pastoral support.

4. Attend the interview and complete entry assessments (or arrange online if necessary). Both parents and the student are normally expected on campus for a face‑to‑face interview; an online interview is an alternative when required (for example, COVID‑related restrictions). Students take the entry assessments (the school specifically lists CAT4 and WIDA among the assessments); prepare copies of recent school reports and expect English proficiency testing (WIDA) and cognitive/ability screening (CAT4).

5. Provide required supporting documents at application or assessment. MAS lists the documents they require: mainland candidates should bring ID cards (international/HK/Macau applicants should provide passports), a recent frontal colour digital photo (two‑inch, white background), the application form, and academic transcripts for the last two years; CVs and certificates of awards are optional but recommended where relevant. The Application Information page also notes the school usually requests a confidential report from the applicant's current school and requires disclosure of any special learning needs so the Head of Section can assess reasonable adjustments.

6. Receiving an outcome, accepting an offer and next administrative steps. The school states parents will receive an offer letter by email within five working days after assessments, and offers should be accepted within five working days; if a candidate is declined they may reapply after six months once recommendations (if any) have been completed. After accepting a place, expect follow‑up steps such as fee‑payment instructions, a medical check on entry and placement decisions (year placement is determined by birth date and assessed ability); consult the school fee policy and the admissions team for payment deadlines and refund/withdrawal rules.

Scholarships
MAS publishes a specific scholarship page describing a range of awards and eligibility rules for 2024. The school runs targeted scholarships for different entry points and programmes: (a) A‑Level and DSE one‑year ‘crash‑course' scholarships (full or half tuition) using gaokao/DSE thresholds and interview performance — thresholds on the page show Guangdong candidates with higher listed score cutoffs (for example, A‑Level full scholarship considered at gaokao 500+ with interview; half scholarship at 470+). (b) Middle‑school/new‑student scholarships ("优才新生奖学金") tied to Dongguan Zhongkao scores (examples on the page show full award at a pure culture score of 700, half award at 650) and renewal conditions requiring the student to remain in the top percentage of the year. (c) Awards for outstanding graduates ("优秀毕业生奖学金") and academic/excellence awards (e.g., 20,000–50,000 RMB and other ranges) for students who achieve high university placements or sustained in‑school performance. Each scholarship page links to the application form and a WeChat/MikeCRM application URL; the page also sets renewal conditions (for multi‑year awards) and clarifies that scholarship value usually applies to tuition rather than extras such as boarding, uniform or activity fees — read the scholarship terms closely and contact admissions to confirm current availability and exact amounts.

Waitlist
MAS's published Applications Process states that where there are more candidates than available places, applications will be placed on a waiting list. The site gives no further public detail about waiting‑list ordering, typical wait times, or whether priority is given by application date, assessment score, sibling link or other factors; parents on the waiting list should contact admissions directly (admissions@merchistonacademy.cn or phone 400 999 0978) to ask about their position and any expected timeline. If an application is declined, the school's page also notes a candidate may reapply after six months, provided any recommendations have been followed.
School Events
The school has not added events
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