Comparing 3 schools side by side in USD.
The school is situated at No. 9 An Hua Street in the Shunyi District, a popular suburban area approximately 25 kilometers northeast of central Beijing. This neighbourhood is often described as an "expat oasis," known for its family-friendly residential compounds and proximity to the Capital International Airport.
The school is divided into Early Years (ages 18 months to 5 years), Primary School (ages 5 to 11), and Secondary School (ages 11 to 18). The Secondary stage culminates in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) for students aged 16 to 18.
The British School of Beijing, Shunyi is a co-educational day school. It does not offer boarding facilities.
The school offers dedicated assistance through its Learning Support and English as an Additional Language (EAL) departments. The EAL programme helps students access the English-taught curriculum through personalised support, which can range from one-on-one tutoring to integrated in-class assistance.
The school is affiliated with the British education system, following the English National Curriculum and offering IGCSEs. Uniquely, it also provides a German Primary Programme for native German speakers to study core subjects in their home language.
The school does not have a religious affiliation and welcomes families from all cultural and religious backgrounds.
The school day typically begins with registration around 8:25 am, with lessons starting at 8:40 am. The day concludes at 3:30 pm, after which students may depart or attend optional co-curricular activities.
An optional bus service is available for students, covering major residential compounds in Shunyi and downtown Beijing. Regular buses depart the school at 3:40 pm, and a late bus service is available for Secondary students participating in after-school activities.
The school enforces a strict uniform policy where all students from Early Years to Year 11 are required to wear the official school uniform, which must be kept neat, tidy, and clearly labelled with the student's name. Students in the Sixth Form (Years 12 and 13) are exempt from the standard uniform but must adhere to a "business smart" dress code, wearing professional attire such as suits to set a positive example for younger pupils.
The school provides a comprehensive lunch service prepared fresh on-site by an in-house catering team led by an experienced Head Chef, ensuring nutritious and high-quality meals for all students. The menu changes monthly to offer a diverse range of options, including Western, Chinese, and other international cuisines, and features special "International Lunch Days" every Wednesday to introduce students to global flavours. The kitchen is fully equipped to handle specific dietary requirements, including allergies and religious restrictions, with all beef, lamb, and chicken served being certified Halal.
Part of the Nord Anglia Education family.
The school follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) for its youngest students, moving into the English National Curriculum for Primary and Lower Secondary education. Uniquely, the school offers a German Primary Programme that allows native German speakers to study core subjects in their home language alongside the English curriculum. At the Upper Secondary level (ages 14-16), students prepare for and sit the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) examinations. For the final two years in the Sixth Form (ages 16-18), the school offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) as its pre-university qualification.
The school integrates social development into its daily life through a "Behaviour and Social Graces" (BSG) programme, which emphasizes respect, good manners, and positive self-expression. In Primary School, the PAWS system (Positive Behaviour, Academic Achievement, Working Together, Sport) is used to encourage and record student achievements, fostering a strong community spirit. Secondary students engage in a "citizenship and PHSE" (Personal, Social, Health and Economic) programme delivered by their form tutors to support their personal development.
The school employs a dedicated Student Support Team that works with class teachers and external specialists to assist students with additional educational requirements. While the school can cater to mild to moderate needs on a case-by-case basis, it is not a specialist SEN institution and may require assessments during the admissions process to ensure they can meet a child's specific needs.
The school offers a comprehensive EAL programme delivered from a dedicated "EAL Hub" to ensure non-native speakers can fully access the English-taught curriculum. This support uses structured courses based on the Cambridge English Programme, with students grouped by ability and assessed regularly using CEFR-aligned tests to track progress. A one-off fee applies for students who are required to join this additional support programme.
Student wellbeing is a primary priority, managed by a robust pastoral structure that includes class teachers in Primary and Form Tutors in Secondary. The Secondary School has a dedicated "Assistant Head of Secondary – Pastoral" who oversees student welfare, alongside university counsellors who support older students with future planning. The school emphasizes a close-knit community experience where staff are trained to identify and respond swiftly to social and emotional needs.
The school strictly adheres to the UK statutory guidance "Keeping Children Safe in Education" and follows rigorous "International Child Protection Standards." A dedicated team, led by a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and supported by Deputy DSLs in both Primary and Secondary schools, oversees all child protection matters. All staff undergo strict recruitment vetting and are required to recognize and report any concerns regarding student safety immediately.
1. Make an Enquiry:
Parents are encouraged to start the process by submitting an online enquiry form, sending an email, or calling the admissions team directly to express interest.
2. Discover Our School:
Families are invited to visit the campus either in person or virtually to meet the academic team, ask questions, and share their specific educational needs.
3. Apply for a Place:
Parents must submit an online application form along with supporting documents; depending on the child's age, the school may also request further references and an assessment to ensure the right class placement.
4. Application Review:
The school Principal reviews the completed application, after which the admissions team contacts the family to confirm the admissions status and outline the next steps for enrolment.
The school does not explicitly list academic or talent-based scholarships for incoming students.
The school does not explicitly detail a specific "waitlist" or "pool" system policy. However, they do note that students are placed in year groups according to their date of birth, academic level, and language ability, and that they accept applications throughout the school year.
The Deutsche Botschaftsschule Peking is located at Liangmaqiao Road 49A, 100125 Beijing, China. It sits in the northeast part of Beijing, within the German diplomatic community area. The school also operates a kindergarten at Tayuan Diplomatic Residence Compound, Xindong Road 1, Chaoyang District, 100600 Beijing.
The institution comprises a kindergarten and a full school that serves grades 1–12. The primary level (grades 1–6) runs a full-day program.
The school is a German international school serving a mixed student body and functions as a day school. There are no boarding facilities advertised.
The school offers learning support and talent development through a dedicated team called 'Team Lernen.' Services include occupational therapy, speech therapy, literacy support (LRS), and special education provisions.
The school is affiliated with Germany and follows the German international-school model, offering the German Abitur.
No religious affiliation is noted.
The primary grades participate in a full-day schedule (Ganztagsschule for grades 1–6). Exact daily start and end times are not published in the available materials.
A flexible school bus service is offered. Routes and arrangements are organized by the school, with bus stops and providers coordinating through DSP.
The school has a canteen on site.
The Deutsche Botschaftsschule Peking follows the German education system from kindergarten through the gymnasiale Oberstufe, culminating in the Deutsches Internationales Abitur (DIA). Instruction is conducted in German across primary and secondary levels, with English and French taught as foreign languages; English-language instruction is provided in Geography and Politics, and Chinese is taught as the local language from the start, with Chinese - Landessprache als Fremdsprache available from Year 6 as an alternative to French, and from Year 10 also as a new foreign language. The gymnasiale Oberstufe comprises Grades 10–12, with Grades 11 and 12 forming the Qualifikationsphase; the DIA examinations occur in the second half of Grade 12 and are administered by a KMK-appointed examiner. Admission to the Oberstufe requires meeting the German Sekundarstufe I qualifications (in Germany, at a German Auslandsschule or at a European School), with a transfer within the Qualifikationsphase generally not permitted. The school operates a Ganztagsschule for Grades 1–6 and emphasizes Lernunterstützung and Begabungsförderung within a diverse, international community.
Deutsche Botschaftsschule Peking supports social and emotional learning through a formal buddy system called Patengruppen, pairing older students with younger ones for peer support and belonging, with regular Patengruppen events. It positions itself as the center of the German community in Beijing, offering a wide range of clubs and activities to promote social interaction and intercultural understanding. In the primary program, there are more than 80 after-school activities and a broad Ganztagsschule offering that extends learning beyond the classroom. The school hosts a diverse student body from around 20 nationalities, which supports social development and intercultural collaboration. On-site health services, including a school nurse who coordinates care during activities, contribute to student wellbeing within the SEL framework.
Deutsche Botschaftsschule Peking provides Lernunterstützung and Begabungsförderung through a 'Team Lernen' that offers individualized support beyond regular lessons in kindergarten and school. The staff have diagnostic and therapeutic qualifications to identify strengths and weaknesses and provide extensive support options in Ergotherapie (occupational therapy), Logopädie (speech therapy), LRS training, and Sonderpädagogik (special education). Parallel to this, a holistic concept for Begabungsförderung (gifted education) has been developed to support high-potential students. In the primary program, additional DaZ (German as a second language) and LRS training are available to meet diverse learning needs. The school does not publicly disclose whether it is a specialist SEN institution.
English and French are taught at differentiated levels and heavily promoted within the language program. English is taught in the primary grades with two weekly hours in grades 1–2 and three hours in grades 3–4. In secondary, English is delivered in three streams (Mainstream, Advanced, Fluency) to accommodate different starting points and progress. In addition, English-language instruction is provided in Geography and Politics as part of subject-specific language learning. The school emphasizes English proficiency as a key outcome for university study and international careers.
Patengruppen (buddy groups) support social integration and peer support, contributing to student wellbeing within the school culture. The school's community emphasis and diverse, intercultural environment further support mental wellbeing through social belonging. On-site health provisions include a nurse who coordinates care for students during activities and liaises with medical services as needed. The Ganztagsschule program and a broad range of more than 80 after-school activities also bolster structured social engagement and wellbeing beyond academic classes. These elements collectively underpin a supportive environment for students' social and emotional development.
The school does not publicly disclose information regarding safeguarding policies or procedures.
The school is an excellent German international school that offers all the advantages of the German education system. It provides a broad general education, diverse language skills, and an upbringing toward independence and responsibility. Whether your child's future lies in Germany after school or within an international community, the German International Abitur opens study opportunities worldwide. Whether you stay two years or twelve, the German Embassy School Beijing ensures that your children remain rooted in the German system and can return to a domestic German school at any time. We are specialists in integrating new students from all federal states. The high quality of our teaching, our differentiation offerings, and the intensive supervision enable a successful integration. The school is international, teaching students from 20 nations and promoting encounters with the language and culture of the host country. Language education is a priority; English and French are taught at differentiated levels. We also offer English-language subject instruction in Geography and Politics, employing qualified native speakers to provide authentic foreign-language teaching. Chinese, as the host-country language, plays a significant role and is promoted from primary school with a differentiated course offering. From Year 6, 'Chinese - language of the host country as a foreign language' can be chosen as an alternative to French as a second foreign language, and from Grade 10 it can also be chosen as a newly starting foreign language. Digitalization and new media have transformed the world of knowledge; the school uses an intelligent learning-management system, tablet classes, and a project-oriented media curriculum to pursue new paths in knowledge transfer in a rapidly changing world. The 'Learning Team' provides individualized support beyond classes in kindergarten and school, with staff trained to diagnose and address strengths and weaknesses and offer extensive support in areas such as occupational therapy, speech therapy, dyslexia, and special education, and a comprehensive, holistic concept for talent development has been developed. The school is the center of a vibrant German community, offering clubs and activities that involve students and parents. Two state-of-the-art libraries, a flexible school-bus service, a well-equipped school shop, small groups and classes, and 20 nationalities characterize the school. Abitur provides worldwide access to higher education; 80+ leisure activities; three-time champions at the East Asian Games; all-day schooling for Grades 1-6; professional study and career counseling. Contact: Deutsche Botschaftsschule Peking, Liangmaqiao Lu 49A, 100125 Beijing, PR China; dspeking.cn; info at dspeking.cn; +86 10 8531 6100. The page was last updated on June 23, 2025.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The school does not state any religious affiliation; it presents itself as a secular Swiss curriculum section within the international WAB community.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
