Choosing the right international school
Moving to a new country is hard enough, and moving to Shanghai – where ‘bustle’ takes on new connotations – can be downright daunting. Finding the right school for your children is always a challenge that expat parents face.
Shanghai has no shortage of international schools – but that makes your choices even harder. Some of the most important elements are: location, size, curriculum, Chinese language program, extracurricular activities, and most importantly, the right fit for the child. Here are some of the key points to look for when understanding the differences between the many, varied international school programs.
Location
Spending a lot of time on the bus or in the car to the school is no fun for the kids or the parents. Try to look for a school that is either close to the office or close to your new home. Many of the larger schools in Shanghai have schools in both Puxi and Pudong areas. Programs or age levels may vary per campus.
Student-Teacher Ratio
Smaller classrooms obviously allow for more student-teacher interaction. On the other hand, there should be enough students in the class so that the child has plenty of opportunity for interaction with other children. Wayne Richardson, co-principal of Puxi campus for YCIS Shanghai said, “We try to find the right balance of teachers and students, so that everyone is engaged and participating.”
Curriculum
Curriculums vary between schools in Shanghai. For example, the German and French schools use a more national-based curriculum from their home country, with many other schools using an English or US-based curriculum with an international outlook. An example of this would be the popular Cambridge IGCSE Programme for 14-16 year-olds and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP), which is a rigorous pre-university course of study for students aged 16- 19. The IB Programme suits many expatriate families because of its international outlook and allows for more flexibility in university choice as the diploma is widely accepted in most countries.
For younger students, it is important to consider the school approach and philosophy towards Early Childhood and Primary School Education. Also, some programs may offer half-day or partial-week day programs for pre-schoolers.
Chinese language program
Coming all the way to China, it is a perfect opportunity to at least have some exposure to Chinese language and culture. Most schools offer a Chinese Language program, while some schools also offer Chinese as a medium of instruction. For instance, YCIS Shanghai utilizes a unique co-teaching method by using one Western and one Chinese teacher in each class, which enables students to immerse themselves into a bilingual environment and ultimately improving their Chinese language acquisition. Even for short-stay students, exposure to Chinese will help them make friends and adapt to the local environment.
Extracurricular activities
Music, art, sports, dance, theater, newspaper…the list of possible extracurricular activities is endless. Have a good look at what each school offers and how involved the students are in activities. Check with the employee if the children have any special hobbies or interests.
And most importantly… help find a school you – and more importantly – your child loves!
Tips for parents
- Be sure to talk with teachers and administrators. Ask plenty of questions about class size and curriculum details.
- What types of activities does the school offer? Ask for a list of active clubs, sports, music and art groups.
- What is the feeling like at the school? Sit in on a class if you can.
- Consider the program and applicability when you leave the country.
- Consistency: find out how long the program has been established and how long the teachers and administrators have been there.
Which international school is best for your child?
If you are moving your family to Shanghai, you will need to find a way to send your children to school. Luckily, Shanghai has a wide range. Costs vary -- some are very expensive compared to what you may be used to in your home country. I also know of several expats who are doing home-schooling or use the local Chinese school system. These alternative options are detailed at the end of this article. But first, here is a bit of information on international-style (read private) schools:
Shanghai American School is probably the most established and well-touted international school in Shanghai and utilizes an American curriculum. Stepping onto either campus is like magically transporting to a suburban school anywhere in the States. SAS also has a wide range of extra-curricular activities and prides itself in its international community. Pre-K thru 12, ¥111,836-177,187, IB affiliated
Website: www.saschina.org
Where: One campus in Minghang, one in Pudong (near the beach)
E-mail: admission@saschina.org
Tel: (8621) 6221-1445
Shanghai Community International School (SCIS), according to its vision statement, is an “international school with U.S. curricular underpinnings and an independent school approach and philosophy.” There are two SCIS campuses (Hongqiao and Pudong) and a separate Early Childhood Development Center. The school has an impressive extra-curricular lineup and an “advisor” system that helps students develop according to their individual abilities. Pre-K thru 12, ¥115,000-198,000, IB and AP affiliated.
Website: www.scischina.org
SCIS - Hongqiao Campus
Address: 1161 Hongqiao Road
Tel: (8621) 6261-4338
SCIS - Pudong Campus
Lower School Address: 800 Xiuyan Road, Kangqiao, Pudong
Upper School Address: 198 Hengqiao Road, Kangqiao, Pudong
Tel: (8621) 5812-9888
Yew Chung International School of Shanghai is a branch of the Hong Kong-based Yew Chung Educational Foundation. The school puts a strong emphasis on bilingual education and an East-meets-West curriculum. According to their website, they stress a “holistic” approach to education and are associated with the Christian faith. K thru 12, ¥167,000-214,000, IB affiliated
Website: www.ycis-sh.com
Address: There are four locations all serving a different grade levels (Hongqiao, Gubei, Century Park, Regency Park)
E-mail: enquiry@sh.ycef.com
Tel: (8621) 6219-5910 ext. 222
The British International School, Shanghai is associated with Nord Anglia line of world schools and uses a British curriculum. Two campuses can be found on each side of the river. Pre-K thru 12, ¥159,445-228,240, IB affiliated
Website: www.bisspuxi.com, www.bisspudong.com and www.bissnanxiang.com
Where: Forest Manor Residential Park in Puxi; Cambridge Forest New Town in Pudong; Nanxiang Town
Email admissions@bisspuxi.com; admissions@bisspudong.com; admissions@bissnanxiang.com
Tel: (8621) 5226-3211 Ext. 1510 (Puxi); (8621) 5812-7455 Ext. 1015 (Pudong); (8621) 5912 5755 (Nanxiang)
Concordia International School, Shanghai follows an American curriculum, puts a strong emphasis on Mandarin acquisition, and has a full lineup of extra-curricular activities. The school is associated with the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod. Pre-K thru 12, ¥146,000-195,000, AP (Advanced Placement) affiliated
Website: www.ciss.com.cn
Where: 999 Ming Yue Road, Jinqiao, Pudong
Solveig Kettinger, Director of Admissions
email: admissions@ciss.com.cn
Tel: (8621) 5899-0380, Ext. 3000
Dulwich College of Shanghai follows an advanced English and International Baccalaureate Curriculum. The school also has a variety of extra-curriculars and community programs (err…programmes). K thru 12, ¥156,700-211,200, IB affiliated
Website: www.dulwich-shanghai.cn
Where: 266 Lan’an Road, Pudong
Email: info@dulwich-shanghai.cn
Tel: (8621) 5899-9910 x204
This short list includes established schools with a primarily English-language focus and American or British curriculum. There are schools that cater to other nationalities (German, French, Japanese, etc), Chinese-run schools with an international division, and experimental schools where both locals and foreigners attend. For a full list of international schools, check out the Wikipedia article here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_international_schools_in_Shanghai.
For information regarding international schools including reviews and parents’ experiences, you can check out the forum topic here:
http://www.shanghaiexpat.com/phpbbforum/best-international-schools-t22365-650.html.
For information about putting your student in a local school, check out the forum topic here:
http://www.shanghaiexpat.com/phpbbforum/foreign-kids-in-local-schools-t69038.html.
Submitted by Chou123 on Mon, 2010-06-21 12:03
