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Recognise International Academy

China, Shenzhen

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees RMB 141,000
Ages 4 - 16 years
Type Co-educational
Opened 2009
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum EYFS (Early years foundation stage), British Curriculum
Taught languages Mandarin
Strengths Academic Enrichment, Visual and Creative Arts, Languages
Clubs Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Academic and Intellectual
Stages Early Years, Primary School, Secondary School
Introduction

Recognise International Academy (RIA) is a small international school in the Shekou area of Shenzhen that describes itself as serving the expatriate community and offering places for children from Reception up to Year 11 (ages 4–16). The school states its curriculum is based on the National Curriculum of England and that English is the language of instruction. RIA emphasises small classes (maximum ten pupils) and a deliberately limited total enrolment to allow personalised teaching; a school page notes a maximum enrolment of 78. The school runs regular art and music lessons and twice-yearly performances, and lists Mandarin among the taught subjects. Contact details and the campus address are published on the school website.

4-6 Bi Yu Lu, Bi Tao Yuan Villas, Tai Zi Road, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518067,

The Essentials

Recognise International Academy has instruction in English.

Location
Recognise International Academy is located in the Shekou area of Shenzhen (Nanshan district); the school's postal address is 4–6 Bi Yu Lu, Bi Tao Yuan Villas, Tai Zi Road, Shenzhen 518067. Shekou is an established expatriate neighbourhood with ferry links and metro connections to other parts of Shenzhen and amenities such as Sea World nearby, so the area is commonly used by internationally mobile families.

Stages
RIA teaches children aged about 4 to 16 (Reception/Year 1 through Year 11, often shown as KG–Grade 10). The school's published curriculum pages describe Lower and Upper Primary (Years 1–6) and Lower and Upper Secondary (Years 7–11), with IGCSE study typically taken in Years 10–11.

Type
Recognise is an independent, small-scale international school that teaches in English and uses the UK National Curriculum as its basis; class sizes are kept small. The school is mixed-gender (co‑educational) and serves the expatriate community in Shekou.

Additional learning support
The school runs a dedicated Cognition (additional‑needs) class of around four to five students staffed by a specialist teacher plus a support teacher; pupils in that class follow tailored programmes and may join mainstream classes for some subjects and activities. RIA says it works with parents and external specialists to assess needs and plan pathways.

Country affiliation
The school has no stated national/ governmental affiliation; its curriculum is based on the National Curriculum of England (adapted for an international context).

Religious affiliation
There is no religious affiliation stated on the school website; RIA presents itself as a secular, international school.

School day structure
Morning arrival is between 8:30–8:45am and lessons begin at 8:50am. The published day runs with a morning break (around 10:15am), lunch about 12:00pm, an afternoon break at about 2:15pm and the normal end of day at 3:45pm (after‑school activities extend to 4:45pm).

Bus service
The school website does not list a school bus service; third‑party directory listings also indicate there is no school bus provided. If you will need transport from a particular neighbourhood, contact the admissions office to confirm current arrangements or recommended local transport options.
Diving Deeper

Food Options
School meals are provided by La Maison, a local French restaurant; nearly all students opt for school lunches; snacks may be brought but should be healthy; sweets and fizzy drinks are not allowed.

Governance and Ownership
The school is a family-run independent international school founded in 2008, with a maximum enrolment of 78 children. The founder is Ms Kate Rowan and the principal is Mr Ian Taylor.
Fees

Annual tuition at Recognise International Academy ranges from RMB 141,000 for 2026/27.

Application / Registration Fee
- Registration fee (initial enrolment): RMB 6,500. Payable upon confirmation of a place.

Tuition fees (by year group and per term)
- Annual tuition (all ages / Reception–Year 11): RMB 141,000 per year. Payable in three termly instalments. This implies an approximate term amount of RMB 47,000 (141,000 ÷ 3).

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Annual tuition is billed as three termly instalments; each instalment is due per term. The registration fee is due on confirmation of initial enrolment. School lunch charges are billed termly. Specific invoice dates or late-payment penalties are not listed on the published fees page.

Boarding fees
- Boarding is not listed as part of the school offering and no boarding fees are published; Recognise International Academy operates as a day school for ages 4–16. No boarding charges apply.

Other costs and optional charges
- School lunches (optional): RMB 30 per day, billed termly.
- School excursions: variable; charged as applicable for each trip.
- Uniform: the school does not require a full uniform; school T‑shirts and polos are available and commonly worn by students. Any costs for optional school T‑shirts/polos are additional and not specified on the fees page.

Refund information
- The publicly posted fees page and the parent-handbook link do not publish a specific refund or cancellation policy for tuition or the registration fee. The registration fee is shown as payable on confirmation; explicit refund terms for that fee are not stated on the published pages.

Fee payment options
- The school's published fees page and parent-handbook link do not list accepted payment methods (for example, bank transfer, credit card or online payment). Payment method details are not specified on the publicly available fee information.

(Fees and notes above are taken from the school's published Fees page and associated admissions/handbook links.)
Academics

Recognise International Academy teaches EYFS (Early years foundation stage), British Curriculum for students aged 4 to 16.

Curriculum
Recognise International Academy bases its programme on the UK National Curriculum (2014), adapting content to an international context and a personalised approach for pupils aged 5–14. The school serves Reception–Year 11 (ages 4–16) in small, sometimes mixed‑age classes and monitors attainment using the UK National Curriculum levels. Primary provision is divided into Lower Primary (ages 5–7, Years 1–2) and Upper Primary (ages 7–11, Years 3–6), teaching core literacy and numeracy alongside science, humanities, the arts, computing, technology, PE and well‑being. Secondary is split into Lower Secondary (Years 7–9, ages 11–14) which maintains broad UK‑based subject coverage, and Upper Secondary (Years 10–11, ages 15–16) when most students study for Cambridge IGCSEs; the school also supports US High School Diploma credit routes. Across the school pupils study English, mathematics and science as core subjects; foundation areas include art, music, design & technology, computing, humanities, Mandarin (taught several times weekly), PSHE/well‑being and regular PE, with a programme of after‑school activities and excursions.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Recognise teaches explicit PSHE (called “Well‑being”) and a weekly ‘Habits of the Mind' (HOM) session to develop pupils' social skills, attitudes and resilience; Student Council activities form part of this programme. The school emphasises small classes and close teacher–student relationships so teachers have time to address emotional or behavioural issues and to discuss concerns with parents. The Parent Handbook and the school's features page describe these curriculum elements and the school's approach to emotional wellbeing.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The Parent Handbook states RIA offers targeted, individualised support for students with additional academic, social‑emotional or physical needs and that the school partners with experts and parents to assess needs and plan support. The admissions information also describes RIA as an inclusive, non‑selective school and says it has successfully supported children who struggled elsewhere. The handbook does not describe RIA as a specialist SEN institution; support is provided within the school's mainstream, small‑class context.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The school website and Parent Handbook note an English‑speaking environment and describe Chinese language lessons, but they do not publish a specific EAL/ESL programme or detailed EAL provision. Therefore, the school does not publicly disclose dedicated EAL support or a named EAL policy on its website. For language provision the handbook describes four Chinese lessons per week and grouping by home language where appropriate.

Mental Wellbeing
Recognise integrates well‑being (PSHE) and HOM into the curriculum with weekly sessions that teach topics about growing up, managing oneself and positive learning attitudes, and the Student Council contributes to this strand. The school's aims include fostering resilience and positive self‑esteem, and small class sizes are presented as enabling teachers to identify and address emotional needs quickly. The Parent Handbook also outlines medical/health procedures and specialist help routes for pupils who require additional support.

Safeguarding
The Parent Handbook sets out practical safety and child‑care measures: drop‑off and collection rules (children must be brought to and collected by a responsible adult), emergency contact and medical/accident procedures, playground supervision and a complaints/concerns process. These operational rules and procedures are the school's published measures relating to pupil safety; however, the website does not show a separately titled, published ‘safeguarding' or ‘child protection' policy page. For definitive details or named safeguarding contacts, the school's office and principal contact details are provided on the site.
Parent Experience

History
Recognise International Academy began as a one-child home schooling arrangement started by Kate Rowan in 2009; the school's own history page describes that first pupil as “Aiden” and traces growth from home lessons to a villa-based school. In early 2013 Ian Taylor joined as Principal and co‑director and helped expand the site, introduce a dedicated cognition/learning‑support strand, and increase enrolment. The school describes itself as a family‑run, small-scale international school that now accepts children across a broad age range and from many national backgrounds. (Note: an employment page on the school site also references a founding date of 2008; the school's narrative and timeline on the history page emphasise 2009).

Community
The school presents itself as a genuinely international community with students from more than 30 countries, small class sizes (typically capped at around ten) and an age range roughly from early years through mid‑teens. School life includes frequent community and cultural events—examples shown on the site include Summer Concerts, Chinese New Year celebrations, Halloween activities, charity runs, Model United Nations, and community service events such as beach clean‑ups. Many of these activities involve parents and local partners and are used to bring together families, staff and students across the year.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
The school website does not publish a formal, named PTA or a committee list; the published Parent Handbook and other pages emphasise close collaboration between staff and families rather than a single parent‑body governance page. Parents are shown participating in and supporting a wide range of events (for example charity runs, concerts, seasonal celebrations and adult social events), and the site describes regular communication and partnership between teachers and parents. Where volunteer roles or fundraising committees exist, they are presented as event‑specific or informal rather than as a permanently constituted PTA on the public site. For prospective parents who need clarity about formal parent groups or volunteer opportunities, the site's contact details and Parent Handbook are the listed entry points to discuss involvement.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The school operates on a small campus in Shekou, Shenzhen, China. It serves students aged 4 to 16 years and maintains small class sizes with a maximum of ten students per class. PE uses a local outdoor sports field, and a swimming pool is located about 100 metres from the back gate; indoor and specialist venues are used for activities. There are after-school activities and regular school events, and two annual excursions are offered. The school emphasises an international environment and personalised learning.

Sports Facilities
PE lessons are held twice a week. A local outdoor sports field is used for PE, and a nearby pool is available for swimming; indoor and specialist venues are used for other activities. Activities within the PE programme include archery, rock-climbing, ice-skating, taekwondo, golf, horse-riding, swimming, gym work, ballet, pool, yoga, dance, drone flying, netball, fishing, kayaking, and more.

Academic Facilities
The RIA curriculum is grounded in the National Curriculum for England (2014). It guides work with children aged 5 to 14 and attainment is monitored using the National Curriculum Levels. At 15 years old, most students start to study towards Cambridge IGCSEs. Seven classes of ten children cover the age range of 5–16, with some mixed-age arrangements and a class for students with additional learning needs. Mandarin lessons occur four times a week, and Well-being is included in the curriculum.

Extra Curricular Facilities
There are After School Activities (ASAs) and two school excursion opportunities per year, one overseas and one local. There are two weekly Art lessons for all students, and the school hosts twice-yearly performances. The calendar includes Recognise Week, Sleepover, Bingo Night, Welcome Night, and two concerts.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The curriculum is grounded in the National Curriculum for England (2014) and uses its standards to inform core content. Attainment is monitored using the UK National Curriculum levels. There are seven classes of ten children each, covering the age range 5–16, with one small class for students with additional learning needs. At around age 15, most students study Cambridge IGCSEs, which can lead to UK A Levels, the IB Diploma, or US/Canadian upper-secondary programs.

Arts & Creative
There are two weekly art lessons for every student, with activities including sculpting, painting, fine art, handicrafts and pottery. Younger students focus on songs, dance, basic instrumentation and percussion, while older students study music theory and more advanced instrumentation. Recognise International Academy presents two school performances each year.

Cultural & Language
The school hosts an international student body with students from over 30 countries. Mandarin lessons occur four times a week and are taught by specialist teachers. The curriculum is adapted to reflect an international context and diverse backgrounds.

Social & Hobbies
The school offers after-school activities and regular visits, with two school excursions per year. It hosts social events including Recognise Week, Sleepover, Bingo Night and Welcome Night, plus two school concerts. Friday assemblies promote well-being and student involvement through the Student Council.

Leadership & Professional
A Student Council provides leadership opportunities for students to contribute to school life.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
The Well-being programme (PSHE) focuses on personal growth, relationships, health, safety and self-management, with student input through assemblies and the Student Council. Physical education is offered twice weekly, with access to local outdoor facilities and a swimming pool nearby; examples of activities include archery, rock-climbing, ice-skating, taekwondo, golf, horse-riding, swimming, dance, drone flying, netball and kayaking.
Languages

Language Provision
The curriculum is grounded in the National Curriculum for England (2014) and guides teaching for ages 5–16. Most students study towards Cambridge IGCSEs around age 15. The school operates seven classes of ten students, with some mixed-age groups and a class for students with additional learning needs. Mandarin is taught four times a week. The school serves an international cohort with over 30 nationalities, and English is the primary language of the curriculum.
Reputation

Awards
No awards granted to the school are listed on Recognise International Academy's public website for the past five years (or earlier) as of January 1, 2026. I reviewed the school homepage, curriculum and about/history pages and did not find any pages or announcements naming awards presented to the school as an institution.

If you'd like, I can extend the search beyond the school website to directories, local media and education directories to see whether any external recognitions or formal accreditations exist that are not shown on the school's site.

Accreditations
No accreditations are listed on Recognise International Academy's public website as of January 1, 2026.

(Notes from the school site that are related to curriculum but are not formal accreditations)
- National Curriculum for England — The school states its curriculum is grounded in the National Curriculum for England (2014); this means the school uses the content and standards from that curriculum to set teaching and attainment expectations, but the National Curriculum itself is a curriculum framework rather than an external accreditation for a school.
- Cambridge IGCSE (exam preparation) — The school says that at about age 15 most students begin studying towards Cambridge IGCSEs; Cambridge IGCSEs are external subject qualifications awarded by Cambridge Assessment International Education, and preparing students for those exams is different from holding an institutional accreditation. The website does not state that the school holds Cambridge school/center accreditation or any other formal accrediting body membership.
Admissions

Admissions
1. Make an initial enquiry and get the application form. Be prepared to provide basic facts about your child (name, date of birth, current year group) so the school can advise which year group is appropriate.

2. Complete and return the application paperwork. Include scanned passport pages (the school only accepts students with expatriate/non-Chinese passports), recent school reports if you have them, and any learning-support information that affects your child.

3. Wait for an acknowledgement and a proposed meeting. The school will contact you to acknowledge receipt of the application and to arrange a meeting with you and your child; this is the formal next step after submission. Plan to bring originals of any documents (passports, previous school reports) to the meeting or be ready to show them via video call if you are overseas.

4. School visit / trial day for the child (if appropriate). RIA may set aside time for your child to spend at the school so staff can meet them and observe how they settle; this is commonly used to confirm the best class placement. Parents should note visits may include informal classroom observations and short activities rather than long formal testing.

5. Assessments and references (when appropriate). The school says it may carry out some gentle assessments and/or contact referees to establish current academic level and needs; these are used to inform placement and any individual support. If your child has special educational needs, bring relevant records and be ready to discuss support history, since RIA tailors placements to individual circumstances.

6. Overseas applicants: remote correspondence and interviews. If you are applying from outside China, the school conducts correspondence and interviews by email, Skype, FaceTime or WeChat where needed; be ready to arrange a convenient time across time zones. Have digital copies of passports, reports and any assessment documents available for the remote discussion.

7. Decision and timing. RIA describes itself as a small school with limited places and says decisions are at the discretion of the School Directors; for applications received before 30 March the school aims to confirm places before the end of the second week of April. Parents should be aware of the limited capacity (the school highlights small maximum class sizes) and plan alternative options in case a place is not available.

8. Confirm enrolment and fees. If offered a place, confirmation normally requires payment of the registration fee and completion of enrolment paperwork; tuition and payment terms are published on the Fees page (see Fees section). Keep a record of payment deadlines and the school's stated instalment schedule so you can meet the enrolment conditions promptly.

Scholarships
There are no scholarships, bursaries or financial-aid programmes described on the school's public admissions or fees pages. The Fees page lists tuition (141,000 RMB per year for 2023–24), a registration fee (6,500 RMB) and optional costs such as school lunches, but does not reference discounts, sibling concessions, or scholarship schemes. If you need fee assistance or want to check for any unpublished discounts or concessions (for example sibling discounts, staff-rate fees, or ad hoc awards), contact the school directly to ask — the admissions contact and principal's email addresses are available on the site.

Waitlist
The school does not publish a formal waitlist or 'pool' system on its website; instead the site explains that RIA has limited places that are in high demand and that enrolment decisions are made at the Directors' discretion. Parents who cannot secure an immediate place should contact the school (office.recognize@gmail.com or the admissions contact) to ask whether the school maintains an informal list or can notify them if a place becomes available. Because the site emphasises small class sizes and limited capacity, it is advisable to ask the school directly about expected timings for any vacancy notifications and whether the school will hold a place pending paperwork or fees.
School Events
The school has not added events
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