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Swiss School Beijing

China, Beijing

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· Reviewed by · B2C Marketing Manager

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The school at a glance
Instructs in German, English
Fees RMB 205,000 - 332,000
Ages 3 - 14 years
Type Co-educational
Opened 2017
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum German Curriculum
Taught languages Mandarin, English, French, German
Strengths Languages, Sport, Visual and Creative Arts
Clubs Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Lifestyle and Wellbeing
Stages Early Years, Kindergarten, Primary School, Middle School
Introduction

Swiss School Beijing opened in August 2017 as the German-language section of the Western Academy of Beijing (WAB). The school follows the Swiss curriculum (Lehrplan 21) taught primarily in German while students also take daily Chinese lessons and access WAB's English-medium programmes. French is introduced from Grade 5. Classes run from Early Years and Kindergarten through Primary (Grades 1–5) and Middle School (Grades 6–9). The school operates on the WAB campus and students use WAB facilities such as the library and sports areas. Transportation within the WAB bus network is included in tuition. The Association Swiss School Beijing is a Swiss-registered non-profit and the school is recognised under Switzerland's framework for Swiss schools abroad. For families relocating from overseas, the school offers a German-language Swiss curriculum inside an international campus context and daily access to Chinese language teaching plus English immersion at WAB.

10 Lai Guang Ying Dong Lu, Chao Yang District, Beijing 100102, P.R.C.

The Essentials

Swiss School Beijing has instruction in German, English.

Location
The Swiss School Beijing is located on the Western Academy of Beijing (WAB) campus at 10 Lai Guang Ying Dong Lu in Chaoyang District, Beijing (postal code 100102). The campus is in the city's Chaoyang area with access to WAB's on-site facilities; specific local transport details and maps are on the school's contact page.

Stages
The school covers Swiss-style early years through lower secondary: Nursery/Pre‑Kindergarten and Kindergarten, Primary (Grades 1–5) and Middle School (Grades 6–9). It was established as the German‑language section of WAB and has rolled classes out since opening in 2017.

Type
The Swiss School Beijing is a co‑educational German‑language section operating within the Western Academy of Beijing and run by the non‑profit Association Swiss School Beijing; it is recognised by the Swiss government. Students remain on the WAB campus and use WAB facilities as part of the partnership.

Additional learning support
Student support and special educational needs are managed through WAB's Learning Support arrangements: the school can accept students with mild learning needs on a case‑by‑case basis and provides in‑class support, small‑group interventions and Individual Learning Plans where appropriate. Decisions about admissions and the level of support required are made in consultation with parents and the learning‑support team.

Country affiliation
The Swiss School Beijing is affiliated with Switzerland as a recognised Swiss School Abroad and its patron canton is Zürich; it operates under the Association Swiss School Beijing.

Religious affiliation
The school does not state any religious affiliation; it presents itself as a secular Swiss curriculum section within the international WAB community.

School day structure
Daily arrival aligns with WAB's elementary routines: buses normally arrive between about 8:10 and 8:30 in the morning. Afternoon dismissal follows WAB's half‑day and full‑day timings (half‑day departures around 12:00; full‑day departures around 15:30), and the school uses WAB's campus timetable for breaks and lunch.

Bus service
WAB provides a student bus service to and from school for the Swiss School students; buses typically arrive between 8:10–8:30 and depart at about 12:00 (half day) or 15:30 (full day). The school's information notes that bus transportation within the designated WAB network is included in the tuition; route details and timing can vary with traffic and are managed by WAB. For enrolment or route questions the Swiss School Admissions or WAB transport office can provide the current stops and schedules.
Diving Deeper

Food Options
Food services are provided by Chartwells within the Western Academy of Beijing environment. Lunch options are available and can be purchased using a SmartCard. The program offers a wide range of international food options from outlets within the school, with all meals prepared fresh daily in WAB kitchens. Meal offerings include set menus, custom-made sandwiches, salads and snacks, served at morning break and lunchtime.

Governance and Ownership
The Swiss School Beijing is a non-profit organization registered in Switzerland and established to run the Swiss School Beijing. It operates as a section of the Western Academy of Beijing (WAB). The Patronatskanton Zürich is the patron canton, supporting curriculum development, recruitment of teachers, professional development of teachers, and quality assurance. The Federal Office of Culture subsidizes Swiss Schools Abroad and works with educationsuisse, the umbrella organization for Swiss schools abroad, to maintain Swiss educational standards and promote Swiss culture globally. Parents automatically become members of the Association Swiss School Beijing for the duration of their child's enrolment.
Fees

Annual tuition at Swiss School Beijing ranges from RMB 205,000 to RMB 332,000 for 2026/27.

Application fee
- Application fee: RMB 2,100 per applicant (one-time). This fee is non‑refundable and non‑transferable.

Tuition fees by year group (annual and per-term equivalent)
- Early Years: Annual tuition RMB 205,000. Per-term equivalent (annual ÷ 3): approximately RMB 68,333 per term.
- Kindergarten 1: Annual tuition RMB 225,000. Per-term equivalent: approximately RMB 75,000 per term.
- Kindergarten 2 / Junior Grade 1: Annual tuition RMB 244,000. Per-term equivalent: approximately RMB 81,333 per term.
- Grade 1 / Senior Grade 1: Annual tuition RMB 268,000. Per-term equivalent: approximately RMB 89,333 per term.
- Grade 2: Annual tuition RMB 279,000. Per-term equivalent: RMB 93,000 per term.
- Grade 3: Annual tuition RMB 279,000. Per-term equivalent: RMB 93,000 per term.
- Grade 4: Annual tuition RMB 279,000. Per-term equivalent: RMB 93,000 per term.
- Grade 5: Annual tuition RMB 279,000. Per-term equivalent: RMB 93,000 per term.
- Grade 6: Annual tuition RMB 299,000. Per-term equivalent: approximately RMB 99,667 per term.
- Grade 7: Annual tuition RMB 299,000. Per-term equivalent: approximately RMB 99,667 per term.
- Grade 8: Annual tuition RMB 299,000. Per-term equivalent: approximately RMB 99,667 per term.
- Grade 9: Annual tuition RMB 332,000. Per-term equivalent: approximately RMB 110,667 per term.

(Note: the school publishes annual tuition amounts. The per‑term figures above are the annual amount divided by three and presented as an approximate per‑term equivalent.)

What the tuition covers and what is not included
- Included within the annual tuition: required textbooks and school supplies, most after‑school activities, and membership of the Association Swiss School Beijing. Bus transportation within the designated WAB school bus network is provided without additional charge.
- Not included in tuition (examples of additional costs you should budget for): intercity travel for competitions, conference‑related travel, individual private music lessons, additional after‑school swim lessons, and additional language programs outside the curriculum. Students are required to purchase certain items such as laptops and calculators. Daily lunch/snacks are charged separately and typically cost in the range of RMB 30–45 per day.

Boarding
- Boarding is not applicable; the campus operates as a day school (no boarding facilities).

Billing schedule and payment terms
- A non‑refundable portion of the annual tuition of RMB 30,000 is required each school year to secure a student's enrollment.
- Returning students: full annual tuition fees are due by April 30 (returning‑student deadline as stated in the school's tuition schedule). New admissions: tuition fees must be paid within 21 calendar days of the invoice date.
- Pro‑rata / mid‑year entry: pro‑rated tuition is available for students enrolling after the October break; a 10% reduction of the tuition fees per calendar month (excluding the non‑refundable RMB 30,000 portion) applies from October for late entrants.
- Late payments: a late payment surcharge of 2% per month will be assessed on overdue fees.

Refund information and withdrawal schedule
- The application fee (RMB 2,100) and the RMB 30,000 portion of annual tuition are non‑refundable. The remainder of the tuition (the “Grade Level Tuition Fees”) is refundable on a sliding scale if you submit a written withdrawal notice to Admissions according to the published schedule. Partial refund schedule (Grade Level Tuition Fees):
- Written notice on or before May 30: 100% refund of grade‑level tuition fees (if the student has not attended any school days).
- August: 90% refund.
- September: 80% refund.
- October: 70% refund.
- November: 60% refund.
- December: 50% refund.
- January: 40% refund.
- February: 30% refund.
- March: 20% refund.
- April: 10% refund.
- May and June: no refund available.
- Refunds are processed to the original payer; the original fapiao (official invoice) must be returned before a refund is issued. All bank fees for refunds are the responsibility of the payer.

Other fees or typical extra costs
- Application fee (one‑time): RMB 2,100 (non‑refundable).
- Lunch/snacks: charged separately; typical cost RMB 30–45 per day.
- Optional services or extras not covered by tuition: private music lessons, some off‑campus trips, certain additional language courses, extra swim lessons, and special programme fees when applicable.
- Required personal purchases: laptops and calculators (students must supply these items).

Fee payment options and banking details
- Invoices are issued in RMB only. The school accepts bank transfers in RMB or other currencies; ensure the invoiced amount is received in full and that all bank charges are paid by the sender. RMB cash deposits into the school's CITIC Bank RMB account are also accepted. Overseas debit/credit card payments are accepted but incur processing fees (example surcharges: 2.8% for Visa/Master, 3% for AMEX, 3.5% for JCB). Local credit cards incur a 0.6% fee; local debit card transactions incur an additional administrative fee (RMB 20 per transaction). All bank charges are the responsibility of the payer. (Bank name, account and SWIFT details are supplied on the school invoice.)

Summary notes (practical points for budgeting)
- Annual published tuition rates are the standard reference for budgeting by grade. The school requires a non‑refundable RMB 30,000 deposit included in the annual fee and specific payment deadlines depending on whether the student is returning or newly admitted. Expect additional out‑of‑pocket costs for lunch, personal technology (laptop, calculator), private lessons, and certain trips or extracurricular extras. No boarding options are offered for students at this campus.
Academics

Swiss School Beijing teaches German Curriculum for students aged 3 to 14.

Curriculum
Swiss School Beijing follows a German‑language programme guided by the Swiss federal Lehrplan 21 and is recognised by the Swiss government. It delivers the full Swiss compulsory pathway from Early Years/Kindergarten (age 3–5) through Primary (Grades 1–5) and Middle School (Grades 6–9). Instruction is primarily in German, with daily, level‑led Chinese lessons, English immersion via the Western Academy of Beijing, and French introduced from Grade 5. In Middle School selected subjects are taught in German by Swiss teachers within the IB Middle Years framework while most other subjects are taught in English on the WAB campus. The school's published information indicates completion of the Swiss compulsory schooling pathway through Grade 9 and does not list upper‑secondary (e.g., Matura or an IB Diploma) programmes on its site.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The Swiss School Beijing is a German-language section of the Western Academy of Beijing (WAB); WAB's counseling team describes a comprehensive, developmental counselling model that promotes students' personal well‑being, healthy relationships and social-emotional growth across Elementary, Middle and High School. WAB states counselors work with teachers, families and student‑support specialists and that the Middle School has a named SEL & Belonging Lead on the counselling team. The Swiss School's Early Years and Kindergarten pages also state they value emotional well‑being and social skills as part of their curriculum. These services are delivered through WAB's integrated Student Support model rather than as a separate Swiss‑School‑only programme. Sources: WAB counselling pages and the Swiss School Beijing ‘Learn'/About pages.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
WAB's Learning Support team supports students with learning diversities and specific literacy needs using a range of inclusive strategies, targeted interventions (for example Individualised Literacy Support), individualized education plans and progress monitoring; supports include in‑class accommodations, small‑group pull‑out work, after‑school academic coaching and targeted workshops. The Learning Support page also says the school coordinates access to external specialists and therapy services (speech, language, occupational) when required. The Swiss School Beijing is a section of WAB and therefore refers families to WAB's Student Support services for SEN provision. The public information describes WAB as an inclusive mainstream school that offers targeted support rather than as a specialist special‑needs institution; the school's pages do not present the Swiss School as a specialist SEN institution.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
English‑as‑an‑Additional‑Language provision for students on the WAB campus is described on WAB's EAL pages and includes Emergent and Bridging English programs, in‑class co‑teaching, English for Academic Purposes, Day‑9 workshops, and individual support for older students. WAB uses WIDA descriptors and IB MYP language‑acquisition criteria to track language progress and lists named EAL teachers and learning leaders for each school section. Because the Swiss School Beijing operates as the German‑language section within WAB, its public pages direct families to WAB's EAL services rather than describing a separate Swiss‑School EAL programme. If you need confirmation about EAL access for a specific Swiss‑School cohort, the school advises contacting admissions directly.

Mental Wellbeing
WAB's counselling and psychological services describe direct support for student mental wellbeing, including individual and group counselling, developmentally responsive crisis support, and programmes aimed at coping, stress management and positive relationships. WAB names an Educational Psychologist and Head of Student Support (Dr. Christin Topper) who provides psychoeducational assessment, coordinates external therapy services, and can deliver individual or group psychotherapy as needed. The counselling pages state the team works with teachers and families to support students' social‑emotional needs across all phases of school. Swiss School Beijing refers families to these WAB services for wellbeing and psychological support available on the shared campus.

Safeguarding
WAB states it is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all students and aligns its approach with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and Chinese law on the protection of minors. The WAB safeguarding page names Mr Todd Hutchinson as the designated safeguarding officer and gives a contact email (safeguarding@wab.edu); it also states that applicants undergo child‑protection screening, background checks and mandatory ECIS child‑protection training. The Swiss School Beijing is a section of WAB and refers to WAB's safeguarding arrangements and policies for child protection on the shared campus. WAB publishes a link to its Safeguarding Policy on its site for further detail.
Parent Experience

History
The Swiss School Beijing opened in August 2017 as the German-language section of the Western Academy of Beijing. It is operated by the Association Swiss School Beijing, a non-profit organisation registered in Switzerland that was established to run the school. The school is recognised by the Swiss federal authorities within the framework for Swiss schools abroad and is linked to a Patronatskanton; the Canton of Zürich provides curricular and quality-support functions. An agreement with WAB assigns educational responsibility to the Association while WAB supplies campus infrastructure and administrative services.

Community
The school presents itself as a multilingual, multicultural learning community serving Swiss and other nationalities within WAB's international campus. Students and families take part in shared campus activities and use WAB facilities—such as the library and sports amenities—which link the Swiss section into broader school events and extracurricular programmes. The school emphasises values including participation, respect and identity, and frames student life around Swiss educational traditions alongside Chinese and international cultural encounters.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
The Association Swiss School Beijing functions as the school's governing body; every parent or guardian of an enrolled student automatically becomes a member for the duration of enrolment. It is a Swiss-registered non-profit and publishes statutes that define membership, governance and the Association's remit. The Association's board (Schulrat) includes parent representatives alongside the principal, a teacher representative and external partners such as a Swiss Embassy representative and a WAB representative. Because the Association holds educational responsibility while WAB provides campus services, parents can influence curricular and policy matters through the Association's governance structures. The school website also notes parent-facing resources tied to campus services, for example a parent paperback swap and a parenting-resource section in the library; operational details and opportunities to participate are set out in the Association statutes and board contacts.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The Swiss School Beijing is a department of the Western Academy of Beijing and shares its facilities and services. The Sabina Brady Library offers extensive resources, including posters, DVDs, audio books, magazines, and online databases, with more than 95,000 items in total. Resources are mainly in English, and there is an ongoing focus on expanding the German-language collection. The library is open Monday to Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm; Kindergarten students must be accompanied by an adult, and new students receive a red library bag with borrowing allowances (up to two books for 14 days). Parents may borrow resources for themselves and their children, and there is a parent paperback swap collection along with staff-assisted sign-ups.

Sports Facilities
Swiss School Beijing has access to WAB's sport facilities, including the school's own swimming pool, Tiger l'Air (a multi-sport air-supported structure), and the WAB sport field. These facilities support a range of athletic activities on campus. A virtual tour of WAB's School Campus is available for more information about the facilities.

Academic Facilities
The Sabina Brady Library supports information and recreational reading for the WAB Elementary School community. It houses more than 95,000 resources, including digital equipment, books, posters, DVDs, audio books, magazines and online databases. Resources are mainly in English, with a German-language collection being expanded. The library hours are 8:00am–5:00pm, Monday to Friday; Kindergarten students require adult supervision; new students receive a red library bag and may borrow up to two books for 14 days. Parents can borrow resources as well; there is a parent section and a paperback swap collection.

Extra Curricular Facilities
The Sabina Brady Library provides materials for reading and research that support extracurricular study and reading activities. WAB's sports facilities—the swimming pool, Tiger l'Air, and the sport field—enable athletic pursuits outside class time. The campus environment supports parent involvement through library resources, with a parent section and borrowing options for adults and a paperback swap collection. Chartwells food services offer daily meals to support students during the day. Health services are available through the on-site clinic staffed by registered nurses to support students during school hours.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The Swiss School Beijing offers a German-language curriculum embedded in the international context of its partner, the Western Academy of Beijing (WAB). The school is recognized by the Swiss government.

Cultural & Language
German is the main language of instruction. Chinese is taught in Kindergarten and Primary with one daily lesson. English is introduced through immersion in the WAB campus, and English is taught as a foreign language starting in Grade 2. French becomes part of the curriculum in Grade 5.
Languages

Language Provision
German is the main language of instruction from Early Years through Middle School. Chinese is taught in Kindergarten and Primary with one daily lesson; English is introduced via immersion on the WAB campus and is taught as a foreign language starting in Grade 2; French becomes part of the curriculum in Grade 5. The language program is designed to develop multilingual communicators who can move between cultures and contexts.

Bilingual Teaching
Not offered as a bilingual program.

Immersion Programs
English immersion is provided through the English-speaking environment of the Western Academy of Beijing (WAB) campus; English is taught as a foreign language starting in Grade 2.
Reputation

Accreditations
• Recognition by the Swiss government (under the Swiss Federal Law for the provision of Swiss education abroad, SSchG): the school is officially recognised as part of the Swiss Schools Abroad framework, which means it is authorised to deliver Swiss-style schooling overseas and is subject to Swiss oversight and standards.

• Patronatskanton — Canton of Zürich: the school is linked to the Canton of Zürich, which supports curriculum development, teacher recruitment and professional development, and external quality assurance. This connection is part of the Swiss Schools Abroad model of cantonal patronage.

• Federal Office of Culture (FOC) support: the Swiss Schools Abroad (including this school) receive subsidy and strategic oversight from the FOC, which helps ensure alignment with Swiss cultural and educational priorities. This is a national-level support mechanism rather than a private accreditation.

• Partnership / membership with educationsuisse: the school works closely with educationsuisse, the umbrella organisation for Swiss Schools Abroad, which coordinates standards, advocacy and certain quality measures across the network.

• Use of the Swiss curriculum Lehrplan 21: instruction is guided by Lehrplan 21 (the Swiss curricular framework used in several German-speaking cantons); this indicates formal curriculum alignment with a Swiss national/ cantonal curriculum standard rather than an external commercial accreditation.
Admissions

Admissions
1. Check eligibility and basic criteria. Before you apply, confirm that your family meets the school's admissions criteria: the Swiss School Beijing is designated as a School for Children of Foreign Nationals and, in line with local regulations, cannot consider admissions of Chinese nationals who are permanently resident in mainland China. If you are unsure about residency or nationality rules for your child, contact the Admissions Office for clarification (Katharina Pankow is listed as the Admissions Officer).

2. Book a visit or information meeting. The school encourages families to schedule a tour or meeting so you can see the learning environment and ask grade-specific questions; this is also a practical way to confirm curriculum fit, language support needs, and campus logistics such as bus routes. When you book, have your child's preferred start date and current grade level ready — the admissions team will use these to check space availability and advise next steps.

3. Submit the online application (OpenApply) and pay the application fee. Applications are submitted online; the school requires a non‑refundable application fee of RMB 2,100 per applicant. For entry at the start of a new school year, families are encouraged to apply before 30 April; the school continues to accept applications after that date but notes that later applications are more likely to be waitlisted.

4. Prepare and upload supporting documents; anticipate assessment or interview. After you apply, the Admissions Team will confirm which documents they need and will contact you if anything is missing; they may also request an interview or a short assessment for placement. Typical supporting documents international schools request include a passport or ID, recent school reports/transcripts, and any reports for learning support or medical needs — prepare these in advance, but confirm the exact list with the Swiss School Admissions Team.

5. Admissions review and decision. The Admissions Team performs an initial check of the application and documents, and the Swiss School Admissions Committee then evaluates the complete application for grade availability and the school's ability to meet the child's needs. Decisions are communicated to families via an OpenApply email notification — watch the email account used for your application and respond promptly to any requests for further information.

6. Accept the offer and complete financial enrolment steps. If offered a place, you will receive an invoice; newly admitted families are required to pay tuition within 21 calendar days of the invoice date, and each school year carries a non‑refundable portion of RMB 30,000. Invoices are issued in RMB (payments may be made in RMB or USD by bank transfer or card, subject to card fees), so confirm the invoiced amount, payment deadline, and any bank details provided on the school invoice.

7. Finalise logistics and understand what tuition covers. The published tuition fees for 2025–2026 list the annual charges by grade; the school states that the fees cover textbooks, most after‑school activities, and membership of the Association Swiss School Beijing, and that bus transport within the WAB bus network is provided without extra charge. Certain items are explicitly excluded from tuition (for example: intercity travel for competitions/conferences, individual music lessons, additional after‑school swim lessons, and language programs beyond the curriculum), so plan for those extra costs if relevant.

8. If you need to join later in the year or monitor status. The school admits students during the school year when space is available; prorated tuition is available for students enrolling after the October break (the school's policy notes a 10% reduction of tuition per calendar month from October, excluding the non‑refundable RMB 30,000 portion). If you apply late or are placed on a waitlist, keep the Admissions Office informed of any change in your preferred start date or contact details so they can offer a place when one becomes available.

Scholarships
The school's published materials describe a Tuition Fee Discount Policy for Swiss families in accordance with the Swiss Federal law for the provision of Swiss education abroad (SSchG). Tuition for the Swiss School Beijing is presented as being similar to Western Academy of Beijing fees but reduced by the amount of financial support the school receives from Swiss authorities; this is the only specific fee‑reduction program described on the school's admissions/fees pages. There is no publicly posted information on the Swiss School Beijing website about broad scholarships or a general need‑based financial‑aid program as of the 2025–2026 publications; families seeking fee assistance or special arrangements should contact Admissions to ask whether any additional financial support, local grants, or exceptional arrangements are available for their situation.

Waitlist
The school does use a waitlist in practice. Swiss School Beijing advises that applications submitted after 30 April for the new school year are more likely to be waitlisted, and that places offered after that date depend on space availability. There is no publicly published, detailed ranked‑pool rule set on the admissions page (for example, a numerical priority list), so parents should assume that admission after the main application window is contingent on openings and the school's ability to place the child in the requested grade. If you are waitlisted, practical steps are to (a) confirm your child's continued interest with Admissions, (b) ask whether there are grade‑specific or sibling priorities that might affect movement, and (c) request periodic status updates so you know when a space becomes available. For the most current status or specific questions about how waitlist priority is determined, contact the Swiss School Admissions Office directly.
School Events
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