Comparing 9 schools side by side in USD.
Guangdong Country Garden School (广东碧桂园学校) is in Beijiao Town, Shunde District, Foshan City — in the Pearl River Delta just south of Guangzhou. The campus sits inside the Country Garden residential area and is accessible to major transport links in the region; it is commonly referenced as being within easy reach of Guangzhou and the Greater Bay Area transport network.
The school is a continuous K–12 (kindergarten through senior high) provision covering roughly ages 2–18 and describes itself as a 15-year one-stream school. It runs international routes (IB PYP, MYP, DP) alongside other international programmes (IGCSE/A-level/AP) and a bilingual Chinese stream.
Guangdong Country Garden School is a private, co-educational school with a long-standing boarding programme (whole‑school boarding is reported in public profiles). Campus size and student numbers are large for the region (several thousand students on site).
Public information highlights on‑campus student services such as a dedicated international-student unit (留学生部) and counselling/psychological support; the school also reports 24‑hour dorm staff for boarding life. There is limited publicly available detail online about formal SEN (special educational needs) pathways, so families with specific additional‑learning needs should contact admissions to discuss individual provision and assessments.
The school is a Chinese private school (广东) and is not presented as being affiliated to another country; it is associated with the Country Garden education initiative and is referenced in relation to Bright Scholar / Country Garden group coverage.
There is no public indication that the school has a religious affiliation; it is described in official and third‑party profiles as a non‑religious private boarding school.
The school operates as a full boarding campus with on‑site supervision and organised student routines; public profiles note 24‑hour dorm staff and closed‑campus management for boarders. Exact daily start/end times, break and meal schedules are not published in detail on third‑party sites, so expect times to vary by age group and contact the school directly for current timetables.
The school publishes a large school‑bus network covering many pickup points across the Pearl River Delta; one profile notes 103 pickup points that extend across the region (including routes serving Hong Kong). For families relocating from overseas, this indicates established regional transport links, but specific pickup locations, costs and eligibility should be confirmed with the school's admissions or transport office.
The school provides on-campus housing. Boarding per term costs 2,175 yuan for Grade 1 and 1,960 yuan per term for Grade 7.
Middle school students can purchase uniforms in the school uniform shop using their student card. Primary students' uniforms are purchased by parents with the school pickup card at the school uniform shop.
There is a canteen on campus. Students can use their student cards to dine in the cafeteria. The per-term meal fee for new admissions includes 5,000 yuan for meals (as part of the first-term breakdown).
The school is governed and owned by the Country Garden Education Group.
Guangdong Country Garden School operates a 15‑year integrated curriculum that combines the Chinese national syllabus with major international programmes (IB PYP/MYP/DP, Cambridge IGCSE/A‑Level and AP), providing flexible pathways from kindergarten through Grade 12. Early years and primary education use the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) alongside the national primary curriculum (PYP typically through primary Year 5). The middle‑school phase implements the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) while meeting national junior‑middle requirements (generally Grades 6–10). In senior secondary, the school runs Cambridge IGCSE in Years 9–10 and offers multiple Year 11–12 options including the IB Diploma Programme (DP), A‑Level, AP or the national senior high track. The whole‑school curriculum is organised into integrated strands—融通课程 (academic integration), 行知课程 (inquiry/leadership), STEAM, arts, physical education and life education—framed around core competencies of cultural foundation, self‑development and social participation.
The school's published mission and development goals emphasise whole‑person development, wellbeing, community and life education as part of its curriculum framework. Its curriculum pages list “Life Education” and experiential/leadership programmes (行知课程/CAS‑style activities) intended to develop social and emotional skills. The school also states it seeks to “build an open, harmonious and friendly learning community” and to promote members' wellbeing. The site further notes a dedicated safety and mental‑health education centre that intervenes across teaching and student life.
The school's public materials state a commitment to respecting student differences and attending to individual needs, but do not publish detailed information about formal Special Educational Needs (SEN) provision, specific types of needs supported, specialist staff or whether it operates as a specialist SEN institution. There is no SEN policy or SEN coordinator role described on the pages reviewed. Therefore, the school does not publicly disclose specifics about SEN provision.
The school publishes a Language Development Centre and a large international teaching team, and it operates a ‘留学生部' that provides Mandarin (Chinese as a foreign language) for international students. These elements indicate institutional language support and international staffing, but the website does not set out a named English‑as‑an‑Additional‑Language (EAL) programme, EAL curriculum, or specialist EAL staff details. In short, the school does not publicly disclose specific EAL programme information.
The school states it has established a Safety and Mental‑Health Education Centre that is intended to be deeply involved in the whole teaching process to safeguard students' psychological environment. The published materials describe the centre as part of the school's measures to ensure students' healthy, happy development, but the site does not publish detailed staffing numbers, counselling services, or session formats. The school's ethos pages also emphasise promoting members' wellbeing as part of its school culture.
The website presents concrete safety measures such as student ID cards with controlled campus access and a parent notification system (校讯通) linked to those cards, indicating operational steps for everyday campus security. The school also names a Safety and Mental‑Health Education Centre and repeatedly refers to providing a safe learning environment in its published mission statements. However, the site does not publish a standalone child‑protection or safeguarding policy (for example, a designated safeguarding lead, reporting procedures, or external safeguarding contacts) on the pages reviewed.
1. Prepare and attend an Open Day / initial enquiry. Guangdong Country Garden School runs regular open‑day sessions and campus visits for prospective families; in recent years these were advertised in the spring (for example the 2025 spring open day schedule was published). Parents should bring the child (where possible) to sit in on a sample lesson, ask to see boarding and health facilities, and confirm whether the place they intend to apply for is part of the school's municipal (compulsory‑education) intake or the school's international/fee‑paying programme.
2. Register online / submit initial application. For compulsory‑education grades the school normally requires families to register on the local municipal admissions platform within the published city window; for international or private tracks the school publishes its own application form and timetable. Parents should be ready to upload or present identity documents (child's birth certificate, family ID/hukou or residence permit, copies of recent school reports, and parents' contact/residence evidence) and to note the registration deadlines—the municipal window is strictly timed and late online registrations are usually not accepted.
3. Assessment: written tests, interviews and language checks. After registration, applicants for initial entry (especially into junior and senior secondary international streams) are typically asked to attend a school assessment day that includes a short written test (math/Chinese/English depending on grade), a one‑to‑one or small‑group interview, and a language screening for non‑native English applicants. Parents should prepare the child for short subject tests, bring previous school reports/certificates, and expect a separate interview or meeting for parents where school expectations, boarding rules and fee schedules are explained.
4. Offer, acceptance and deposit. Successful applicants are issued a conditional or unconditional offer; schools usually require families to sign an enrolment agreement and pay a deposit or first term fees to secure the place by a stated deadline. Make sure you obtain a written offer showing the exact programme (e.g., national curriculum vs. IB/IGCSE/AP track), the amount and deadline for any deposit, what the deposit covers (tuition vs. holding fee), and the refund conditions if you later decide not to enrol.
5. Complete enrolment: paperwork, medical & boarding arrangements. Before the start of term parents must submit final documentation (originals of identity documents, recent health/medical certificates, vaccination records where required), complete fee payment as agreed, and confirm boarding, transport and meal arrangements if relevant. Expect the school to request a student health check and to confirm dormitory allocation and wardrobe/uniform lists during this stage.
6. If you are not offered a place: next steps and reapplication. If a child is not initially admitted, families can ask whether the school maintains an internal waiting list or whether they should register for the municipal “补录/征集志愿” (supplementary enrolment) process that runs after first offers are accepted. Parents should keep copies of all application materials, check deadlines for supplementary rounds, and enquire with the admissions office about chances for mid‑year entry or transfer (“插班”) into the grade if places open.
Guangdong Country Garden School's intake process differs by programme: for municipal (compulsory) grades the citywide admissions platform handles the main offers and any subsequent ‘补录' or ‘征集志愿' (supplementary rounds) when places are vacated; families must follow the municipal timetable and rules for those rounds. For the school's international/fee‑paying tracks the school commonly operates its own screening, maintains waiting lists for oversubscribed grades, and admits students on a rolling or “插班” basis when vacancies occur. Public, year‑to‑year details about waitlist ranking, application retention period, or whether the school publishes a ranked waiting list are not routinely published on third‑party listings; parents should ask the admissions office directly for the current policy, how the school notifies waitlisted families, and any deadlines to accept/decline an offer during the supplementary rounds.
TLC International School is in Niushan, Dongcheng District, Dongguan, Guangdong, China — the campus address is listed as 1 East of Yu Qing Li Industrial Zone, Dongguan 523128. The school site describes a purpose-built campus with kindergarten, elementary and secondary buildings plus sports facilities. Parents should note the campus sits in an urban/industrial district of Dongguan; check local bus routes or contact the school for advice on door-to-door travel.
The school offers early education for three- and four-year-olds and follows an American-based curriculum from Nursery through Grade 12 (K–12). Curriculum pages describe separate kindergarten/elementary and secondary programmes with downloadable grade handbooks.
TLC is a private, co-educational international day school in Dongguan delivering an American-style, college-preparatory programme; the website notes ACSI accreditation for K5–12. The school presents itself as a day school — no boarding facilities are listed on the campus/facilities pages.
The website describes an English-as-a-Foreign-Language (EFL) programme for primary grades to support non-native English speakers and refers to a school counselor in communications to parents. The site does not publish detailed, formal Special Educational Needs (SEN) or additional-learning-needs provisions, so contact the admissions office for specifics and assessment arrangements.
The school is based in the People's Republic of China (Dongguan) but delivers an American-based curriculum; the site also notes that many core teachers are recruited from the USA.
TLC describes a spiritual dimension to its mission and is accredited by the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI), indicating a Christian affiliation.
The school's website explains that timetables are organised for each division (elementary/secondary) but does not publish specific daily start/end times or the exact timing of breaks and lunch. Prospective parents should ask admissions for the current daily schedule for the grades they are considering.
The school's public pages do not list an official school-bus programme or provider; the campus/facility pages likewise do not reference boarding or transport operators. Local public-bus routes and city transport serve Dongguan generally, but for any organised pick-up/drop-off service (routes, cost, safety procedures) contact the school's admissions or operations office directly. }
A campus cafeteria is available on site.
The school was founded by Dr. and Mrs. Kempf. It offers an American-based curriculum from Nursery 3 through 12th grade. It is accredited with ACSI for K5-12 and is seeking candidacy for WASC.
TLC International School in Dongguan delivers an American‑based, standards‑aligned curriculum from Nursery (N3) through Grade 12 and operates an early‑education program for three- and four‑year‑olds. Early years (N3, K4, K5) emphasize language, phonics, mathematics, science and social studies through teacher‑directed and interactive activities, with particular focus on reading and phonics in K4–K5. Elementary (Grades 1–5) follows standards‑based unit plans delivered using the Gradual Release of Responsibility model and includes core subjects plus electives such as PE, music, art, computer, library and character education; a full EFL program supports non‑native English speakers. Secondary (Grades 6–12) uses AERO (American Education Reaches Out) standards, teaching English/reading, mathematics, science, social studies, PE and Mandarin, with a variety of high‑school electives (art, public speaking, advanced Chinese, journalism, etc.). The school describes its high school as a college‑preparatory program and is accredited by ACSI for K5–12 while pursuing WASC candidacy.
TLC's published mission and vision state the school supports character training and the development of social skills as part of student development. The website also describes partnering with parents and spiritual mentoring as part of students' personal development. The faculty page notes weekly professional development for staff and a diverse core teaching team, which the school presents as part of its approach to student growth. The site does not, however, publish a named SEL curriculum, a dedicated SEL coordinator role, or specific classroom programmes labelled explicitly “SEL.”
The school's public website does not publish a Special Educational Needs (SEN) policy or detail specific learning-support programmes. The site does not list which types of SEN it can support and does not describe itself as a specialist SEN institution. For parents seeking clarification the site provides a contact route through the school office; therefore families are directed to contact the school directly for up-to-date SEN information.
TLC's public website does not describe a dedicated English-as-an-Additional-Language (EAL/ESL) programme, nor does it list specific EAL staff or withdrawal-language classes. There are no pages on the site that set out an EAL policy or structured language-support pathway. For language-support queries the school's contact page is the advised route for parents to request current information.
The school's published communications advise that students and parents should contact the school counselor for psychological or mental-health concerns and that core/class teachers are points of contact for student welfare. In a public letter the school described arrangements during the COVID period that included online classes and active teacher contact for students' academic and welfare needs. The website does not publish a separate, detailed wellbeing policy or list named mental-health staff or structured programmes on its public pages.
TLC publishes a Statement of Nondiscrimination and states it is accredited with ACSI on its public site. The school's communications also advise reporting concerns to class teachers and to the school counselor, as described in a parent letter. However, the school does not post a formal child-protection or safeguarding policy document or a named Designated Safeguarding Lead on its public website, and such formal policy documents are not available from the site's public pages. For formal safeguarding policy text and named contacts, the site directs parents to contact the school office.
1. Initial enquiry and campus visit. Start by contacting the school to request a campus tour or information meeting so you can see the facilities and confirm the curriculum stream (American AERO program / the school's separate "小牛津书院" A‑Level pathway). The school encourages in-person visits and will provide an admissions contact for scheduling; make note of the school's published telephone numbers on the school's site when you contact them.
2. Complete the online application and pay the application fee. Parents must fill out the school's application form and pay a non‑refundable application fee (the school's online “Apply Now” page states an application fee of RMB 500, which is deducted from tuition on successful enrolment). Keep the payment receipt and confirm whether the fee is refundable or transferable — the school's page explicitly calls the fee non‑refundable.
3. Prepare and submit required documents. Most international schools (and TLC's affiliated listings) ask for standard documents such as the child's passport, parents' IDs, recent school reports, and up‑to‑date immunization records; the exact checklist is not fully listed on the public Apply page, so confirm the school's current document list with admissions before submitting original documents. Provide translated/notarized copies as requested, and bring originals to any in‑person meeting — missing or incorrectly formatted documents can delay processing.
4. Entrance assessment and interview. TLC's Apply Now page says all applicants take an age‑appropriate entrance assessment and interview; for the 小牛津书院 (the school's A‑Level/IGCSE pathway) published Q&A indicates testing includes English and mathematics (math may be set in Chinese for that track) and an English interview with the principal. Plan to allow time for both written testing and a separate interview; ask whether assessments are administered in English, whether there is an EFL placement track, and whether online testing is available if you are applying from abroad.
5. Offer, acceptance and payment steps. If the school offers a place, it will send an acceptance/offer with next steps and payment instructions; the school's public pages do not list a standard deposit/acceptance fee or exact payment schedule for every grade, so confirm the required deposit amount, payment methods (bank transfer / in‑person) and refund policies before accepting. Also ask about sibling discounts, payment deadlines, and whether the stated tuition includes textbooks, meals, bus service or other extras — third‑party listings show tuition figures but extras and payment schedules vary by year and grade.
6. Placement, EFL support and start‑of‑term formalities. After enrollment you may be asked to attend orientation and, for non‑native English speakers, an EFL/placement programme is available (the school publishes an EFL programme for younger grades and limited secondary EFL places). Clarify start‑of‑term requirements such as health checks, uniform orders, school‑provided insurance (if any), and the calendar for the academic year so you can arrange visas, travel and housing if relevant.
TLC's publicly available local listings and recent school‑affiliated announcements for the 小牛津书院 (the school's A‑Level/IGCSE pathway) describe a formal scholarship scheme that includes two main tiers: full tuition scholarships (tuition fully waived) and half‑tuition scholarships (50% tuition reduction). Those materials state that scholarship awards are based on entrance assessment performance and that the school re‑evaluates or stages assessments annually (scholarships are subject to periodic review and typically do not cover extras such as international exam fees or school trips unless explicitly stated). Scholarship details and eligibility (number of awards, selection rubric, renewal conditions and whether scholarships apply to all streams/grades) are described in third‑party summaries of the school's announcements — you should request the school's official scholarship policy and the current scholarship application/timetable from Admissions, because public summaries warn that exact amounts, the number of awards and renewal rules can change year to year.
ISA Liwan International School is on Hailong Road in Liwan District, Guangzhou — the campus sits on the Guangzhou–Foshan boundary area. The school is reported to be about 800 metres from Longxi Station on the Guangzhou–Foshan metro line, and the campus is described as adjacent to a Foshan waterway and local road links. For precise commuting details from a specific address, contact the school's admissions team.
The school is described as a K–12 provision covering Early Years, Primary (IB PYP/UK EYFS-aligned) and Secondary (Middle and High School) programmes. The website presents pathways for Early Years through to senior grades and indicates international curriculum frameworks (IB).
ISA Liwan is an international, co-educational day school and is part of the ISA International Education Group. The school's published material also refers to an immersive international boarding programme available for Primary, Middle and High School students; check admissions for boarding capacity and rules.
The school's public pages do not give a detailed published special educational needs (SEN) or additional learning needs (ALN) policy for ISA Liwan specifically. ISA group schools publish Access & Inclusion frameworks (for example ISA Wuhan's Access & Inclusion policy describing tiered support), so parents should contact ISA Liwan admissions to request the school's current learning‑support policy, assessment process and examples of in‑school provisions.
ISA Liwan is an international school located in Guangzhou, China, and is operated by the ISA International Education Group; it is not presented as being affiliated to any foreign national government.
The school does not state any religious affiliation on its public pages; it presents itself as a secular international school.
The school's public website does not publish a detailed daily timetable (start/end times or exact break/lunch times) for each age group. For specific start/end times, daily schedules and any before/after‑school care options, contact the admissions team listed on the school's contact page.
The school describes an organised school‑bus service operated through a school bus centre; the site notes routes are designed so individual journeys take under an hour. The bus service is presented as a school‑managed transport option — parents should contact admissions for route maps, stop locations, costs, pick‑up/drop‑off times and safety arrangements.
ISA Liwan offers an International Boarding Community for students from primary to high school. Boarding facilities include a study area and a student lounge on each floor, with two house parents per floor to guide and support boarders. A UK-based Head of Boarding oversees the programme; security includes curfews and Wellbeing Center support, with ongoing communication with parents.
The school has a uniform. Uniforms are designed from washable materials for comfort and practicality, suitable for each season, and include formal wear, sportswear, swimwear, ties, and shoes.
The cafeteria serves Chinese, Western, vegetarian, bakery, and pastry meals, along with global cuisine. It can support events such as parties and baking and non-baking lessons.
ISA Liwan has a four-house system. The four houses are 弘毅、博学、求真、至善, and the system supports pastoral care, cross-age collaboration, competitions, and student leadership, with house points contributing to a sense of belonging.
The school is part of the ISA International Education Group (ISAIEG), a network of international schools that provides diverse pathways such as IB, CNC, A Level, AP, HKDSE and other programmes.
ISA Liwan operates a continuous K–12 programme (ages 2–18) that integrates IB frameworks with UK, Singapore and Chinese national standards and delivers bilingual English–Chinese instruction. Early Years and Primary (EY–G5) follow the IB PYP candidate framework alongside UK/EYFS and referenced UK/Singapore standards for literacy and mathematics, with immersive English plus regular Chinese/mother‑tongue lessons. Middle school is built around the IB MYP framework and a Cambridge pathway, with Singapore math/science benchmarks and elements of the Chinese national curriculum. Upper secondary provides multiple external pathways and qualifications—IGCSE for lower secondary assessment and post‑16 options including IBDP, A‑Level, AP electives and HKDSE—alongside specialist arts and elective programmes. The school also notes small class sizes, a mentor system and an extensive co‑curricular offer (60–100+ clubs/CCAs) to support pastoral and skills development.
ISA Liwan states that “Student Support” is integral to school life and lists specific pastoral systems including mentorship programmes, a house system, boarding services, parent–school communication and student management to promote a positive, inclusive community and students' wellbeing. The school says these systems are designed to nurture students' personal and social development and to provide personalised care through higher adult-to-student ratios in houses. The site also notes a Learning Support Centre that works with pastoral teams to support individual learners. These provisions are described on the school's Pastoral Care page.
The school's website describes a Learning Support Centre and a Student Support Centre that provide learning support integrated with teaching, pastoral and psychological services. ISA Liwan says these centres aim to create a positive environment and offer academic and learning support for students with different abilities. The website does not specify which particular categories of special educational needs (for example, specific learning difficulties, autism spectrum, or physical disabilities) it can support. The site also does not present itself as a specialist SEN institution; it describes mainstream student support rather than specialist special-education provision.
Early Years and primary information shows an immersive bilingual approach with English-language lessons and specific EAL provision listed in timetables, and the school describes differentiated language teaching from early years. Boarding and pastoral information also states the school runs targeted language and English-improvement courses (including TOEFL/IELTS preparation and small-group English classes) as part of its boarding learning support. These pages indicate curricular and extra-curricular English support rather than a standalone external EAL certification programme. Details about staff numbers or named EAL specialists are not published on the site.
The website describes a Wellbeing/Student Support Centre that provides group activities, group and individual counselling and preventive and intervention services, and it says boarding staff must hold a mental-health education certificate to better support boarders. The school also notes that experienced psychological experts and teachers will provide psychological counselling and wellbeing lectures. The Health Clinic page indicates on-campus medical provision and CPR/AED training that support student health and emergency response. The site therefore presents a combination of counselling, boarding-focused pastoral care and on-site health services as its mental-wellbeing provision.
ISA Liwan's website describes campus security measures (an ‘advanced intelligent campus system', 24-hour security and surveillance), boarding safeguards such as house parents, curfew and regular roll-calls, and an on-site Health Clinic with nursing cover and emergency preparedness (CPR/AED training). The boarding page states house parents are “ever present” for counselling and safety, and the Pastoral Care page describes the house system and home–school communication as part of student protection. The site sets out these operational safeguarding measures but does not publish a clearly labelled, standalone child-protection or safeguarding policy document that is publicly accessible from the pages reviewed.
1. Initial enquiry and application: Start by submitting the school's online admission inquiry or application form (the school publishes an enquiry form for grade intention and contact details). The school's published process asks parents to provide the application form plus “supporting materials” and to indicate the intended grade; the site's enquiry form shows the EY1–G11 grade choices and basic contact fields. Because the school's site does not list every required document, parents should be prepared to provide recent school reports, passport/ID and any residency paperwork the family holds and confirm exact document requirements with admissions.
2. Admissions office review: After you submit the application and supporting materials the Admissions Office reviews the file to confirm the candidate's eligibility and the appropriate entry level. The school's published outline states that this review is an early gate before arranging assessments and helps determine whether an entrance assessment or interview is needed. Expect the review to consider the age cutoff (the school uses a September 1 cut‑off for age placement) and the published approximate class sizes (around 20 pupils for EY and ~24 for primary classes).
3. Entrance assessment or interview: The school arranges an entrance examination, assessment or interview as part of the process to place the child at the correct level; this applies across age ranges listed in the admissions plan. Parents should ask admissions in advance what format the assessment will take for their child's grade (group activities for early years, literacy/math tasks for primary, subject tests for older grades). Bring originals of school reports or samples of recent work if requested — these often speed up the placement decision.
4. Placement confirmation: Following assessment, the school confirms the recommended enrollment level and class allocation; this is the point when you will know whether there is a place available for the intended intake. Because class sizes are capped (the school publishes approximate sizes), availability for a particular grade can vary and places may fill quickly for popular year groups. If you need a specific start date or have constraints (boarding, transport, bilingual needs), mention these early so they can be considered in placement.
5. Offer letter and invoice: The school issues an Admissions Offer Letter together with an invoice if a place is offered; the published procedure explicitly lists issuing an offer and invoice as the next step. Parents should review the offer package carefully for the payment deadline, whether the fee quoted is annual or first‑year only, and any non‑refundable registration charges. The school's admissions materials make clear that payment by the stated deadline is required to secure the place.
6. Tuition and fees: The school's publicly reported annual tuition range for the international stream is in the region of CNY 208,000–308,000 (figures published for the 2025/2026 academic year show per‑grade totals that vary by year). Parents should confirm which extras are not included (for example, some schools exclude transport, uniforms, exam or activity fees) and request an itemised invoice so they know what is covered by the published amount. Fees are subject to change and the published figures should be verified directly with the school before making a payment.
7. Payment and enrolment finalisation: Pay the invoice by the deadline stated on the Offer Letter; the school's procedure states “Pay fees before specific deadline” as the final step before enrolment. Keep proof of payment and request written confirmation of enrolment and start date. If your child requires a visa, boarding place or other administrative support, confirm those arrangements as payments are completed so the school can prepare arrival and orientation.
8. Practical points and follow up: Note the school's age cut‑off (September 1) and class capacity when planning application timing; late applications may require waiting for a vacancy or joining via the school's intake windows. Keep a copy of all exchanged correspondence and the Offer Letter for your records.
ISA Liwan publishes a scholarship programme for its international school students covering several categories (academic, arts, sports, science, environment, public service, entrepreneurship and business). The school states scholarship waivers range from 30% up to 100% of annual tuition and can be awarded for up to a maximum of three years; the published sections also list grade bands for eligibility (for example: academic scholarships for Grades 6–12; arts/science/sports for Grades 1–10; environment/public welfare/entrepreneurship for Grades 7–10). The school's scholarship page also indicates the programme is open to both incoming and current students and notes a large aggregate scholarship fund cited on the site; parents should request the scholarship application form, the specific eligibility criteria and deadlines (separate application and supporting evidence are normally required) and confirm whether awards are renewable and conditional on academic or co‑curricular performance.
The school's published admissions procedure (application → review → assessment → offer → invoice → payment) does not publicly describe a formal, ranked waiting‑list or pool on the pages examined. The admissions pages set out the standard steps for assessment and offer but do not state whether unfilled applications are placed on a waitlist or how such a list would be managed. Because waitlist policies and vacancy management can be handled case‑by‑case, parents should assume there may be limited immediate availability for some grades and contact the Admissions Office to ask whether they operate a waitlist, how it is ranked (if at all), and whether any preferences (siblings, entry date) affect priority. For direct confirmation, use the school's admissions contact listed by ISA International Education Group (admissions@isalwis.com).
The school listed at the website is in Shenzhen (Yantian District), not Guangzhou — its postal address is No.33 Huanmei Road, Dameisha, Yantian District, Shenzhen. It sits in the Dameisha / Dapeng coastline area (near Dameisha Beach) and is reachable by local buses and the Shenzhen Metro Line 8 (Dameisha station serves the area). For exact travel times and routes from your address, contact the admissions office as routes vary.
Vanke Meisha Academy operates as a senior high school (entry commonly from junior‑three graduates) and offers three main learning tracks: a Sino–US (AP/Post‑AP) route, a Sino–UK route (IGCSE → A‑Level), and an Arts Academy pathway that combines intensive arts training with academic courses. Course levels within the Sino–US track are described as foundation/stone, honors, AP and Post‑AP.
The school is a co‑educational, privately operated (民办) academy established by the Vanke education foundation and approved by the Shenzhen education authorities. The school operates boarding arrangements for some year groups; dormitory areas are off‑campus and specific houses/commuter shuttles are used for boarding students.
The website describes student support services including a Student Health / development centre and on‑site psychological counselling available to students. The public site does not provide detailed descriptions of formal SEN (additional learning needs) programmes or specialist resource provision, so families with specific SEN requirements should contact the admissions or student‑support team to discuss individual arrangements.
The school is a Chinese private school (run by Shenzhen/Vanke interests) rather than an overseas‑nationally affiliated school; it delivers international curricula (AP, Cambridge/IGCSE/A‑Level and an Arts Academy) and holds international accreditations/authorisations.
No religious affiliation is indicated on the school website; the academy presents itself as a secular, non‑religious education provider.
The school website does not publish a single, detailed daily timetable (start/end times and break schedule for all year groups). For precise daily schedules (arrival, lessons, lunch and end‑of‑day times) the admissions office or the grade‑level coordinator can provide the current term's timetable.
The website and FAQs note shuttle/commuter arrangements connected with off‑campus dorms (for example, a dorm area is served by daily shuttle transfers) and list a separate ‘bus/commuter fee' as an additional charge outside headline tuition. Public transport options (local buses to the ‘Vanke Centre' stop and the Dameisha Metro station) also serve the neighbourhood. For current routes, stop locations, pick‑up points and fares, contact admissions for the school's official shuttle routes and a current bus schedule.
The school offers a boarding program with three residential areas along Dameisha Beach. House parents supervise students in the dormitories, and a dormitory committee is democratically elected by students. Dorm-life includes organized after-school activities led by dorm staff.
Art School (VMAA) materials show a school uniform with a uniform fee of 2,600 RMB per set for the 2020–2021 academic year.
Healthy dietary habits are emphasized as part of residential life; no specific food options are published on the site.
There are three residential areas with house parents and a dormitory committee elected by students; dorm activities are organized by the dorm staff.
Vanke Meisha Academy is part of Meisha Education, a business area of Vanke Group. Meisha Education has expanded to Guangzhou among 11 cities.
The URL you provided points to Vanke Meisha Academy (VMA) in Shenzhen; the school describes three distinct pathways on its curriculum page: a China–US blended track, a China–UK blended track, and an Arts Academy. The China–US blended pathway is organised into four tiers—foundation, honors, Advanced Placement (AP) and Post‑AP research—so students progress from core bilingual national courses into college‑level AP options in the high school years. The China–UK pathway has students study 7–9 IGCSE subjects across the two pre‑advanced years (with exams at the end of Grade/Year 11), then proceed to 3–4 A‑Level subjects through AS and A2. The Arts Academy combines 50% cultural/academic study with 50% specialised arts training (visual arts or performing arts with streams such as piano, violin, viola, cello and vocal), and students may follow this alongside the school's academic qualifications. VMA notes it is authorised to offer AP (about 25 AP courses), is Cambridge‑authorised for Cambridge qualifications, and holds WASC accreditation; the school also delivers Chinese national curriculum content (e.g., in Grade 10) alongside bilingual instruction to prepare students for these international qualifications.
Meisha (Vanke Meisha Academy) operates a Mentor programme that provides one-to-one mentors for every student to help them identify strengths, set goals and navigate school life. The Mentor programme explicitly aims to increase students' self‑awareness, intrinsic motivation and active engagement with campus activities. The website presents this mentoring as a vehicle to move students from passive to active learning and to foster longer‑term ties to the academy. The school also describes personalised and experiential learning approaches (project-based learning and reflective practice) that support social and emotional skill development.
The academy's ‘Mission and Responsibilities' page says its counselling/college‑guidance team works with special educators and psychological counsellors as part of providing comprehensive student support. The website positions the school as an international secondary school rather than a specialist SEN institution. The site does not publish a dedicated specialist‑SEN unit or a detailed list of the categories of special educational needs it can support. If you need precise information about specific SEN provision or formal specialist programmes, the school's published pages do not provide those details.
The admissions and curriculum pages state the academy admits students who have relatively strong English listening, speaking, reading and writing skills and the curriculum includes academic English and other high‑level English courses. However, the website does not describe a dedicated EAL/ESL programme or set out targeted EAL assessment and staged English‑language support for learners whose first language is not English. Therefore the school does not publicly disclose specific EAL provision on its website. For entry and course details the site refers applicants to admissions contacts.
The school's FAQ says a Student Health Development Centre with trained psychological teachers offers one‑to‑one psychological counselling for students. The staff pages and job listings include roles related to psychological support (named psychological teacher posts) and a boarding director with graduate training in psychology/counselling. The website describes counselling as part of student support alongside boarding pastoral care and health services. The site does not publish detailed clinical referral pathways or a full list of external mental‑health providers on the public pages.
The academy's FAQ states that dorm supervisors (life teachers), a school nurse and security staff provide 24‑hour support for students in boarding, indicating on‑site pastoral and health staffing for student safety. The school's operations/administration leadership describes responsibility for campus safety, logistics and property management. The website does not appear to publish a standalone child‑protection or detailed safeguarding policy document on its public pages. For specific safeguarding procedures or to request policy documents the site lists school contact details and directs enquiries to admissions and administrative offices.
Note: the website you supplied is for Vanke Meisha Academy (VMA), located in Shenzhen (Yantian / Dameisha), Guangdong — not Guangzhou. The campus address and admissions contact numbers are published on the school site; parents should use the Shenzhen contact lines when making enquiries.
1. Register an account and submit an application. Parents/students are asked to use a computer to access the school's “申请入学 / Apply” portal, complete both student and parent information, and choose the specific admission activity (for example the “Future Leaders Training Camp”). The student written responses are required to be in English with set word counts, and the site warns incomplete or incorrectly formatted entries will be rejected — prepare translations, transcripts and any required portfolio files ahead of time.
2. Wait for the admissions office to review your submission. The school's stated review window for submitted applications is typically 2–4 working days; if the application is not approved the system will notify you and you can correct and resubmit. Parents should watch the mobile number and email they registered, and follow up quickly if any data was entered incorrectly because some front-end fields cannot be edited by applicants.
3. Pay the activity / assessment registration fee (when required). For events such as the Future Leaders Training Camp the current listed registration fee is RMB 500; after an approval message you normally have 24 hours to complete the payment and the school states the fee is non‑refundable. Keep the payment receipt and ensure the linked phone/email on the account is correct, since the payment is used to confirm your assessment place.
4. Download the event/assessment voucher and attend the on‑site assessment. The portal issues an event participation voucher (downloadable about three days before the activity) with instructions on what documents and materials to bring; the training-camp day typically includes a combined academic and, for arts applicants, a professional assessment. Parents should check the voucher for arrival time, which items students may bring, and the requirement that only the student may enter the campus on assessment day (per current notices).
5. Receive assessment results / interview outcome. The site indicates that after the assessment/interview applicants can check results online (often within about five working days). If an applicant is outstanding, the admissions committee may also make a scholarship offer at this stage and contact family by phone; keep a contact number available and monitor the application account for updates.
6. Wait for the学位确认 (seat‑confirmation) notice. After a successful outcome the school issues a separate notification for the required seat‑confirmation (学位确认费) and accompanying instructions; parents should expect this message within a few business days after results are posted. Clear understanding of the timing is important: the seat will only be held after the family completes the confirmation payment per the school's instructions.
7. Pay the seat‑confirmation fee and then the tuition. The portal instructs families to first pay the seat confirmation fee (school notes 1–2 working days for finance to confirm receipt), then follow the later tuition‑payment notice (generally in late June–early July). Parents should check that the tuition notice specifies whether the payment requested is for a semester or full year, confirm bank/payment details from the official portal (not from phone texts alone), and save receipts; the school's 2025–26 tuition figures are published on the site.
8. Note the published tuition and which extras are excluded. For 2025–2026 the site lists Academic track tuition at RMB 270,000/year, Arts track tuition at RMB 312,000/year (which includes RMB 42,000/year for art workshops), and a boarding fee of RMB 18,000/year. The school explicitly states that those headline figures do not include items such as the new‑student training‑camp fee (listed separately), uniforms, meals, shuttle bus, sports insurance, non‑national curriculum textbooks, international exam fees, off‑campus internships, and summer programs — budget for these extras.
9. Expect formal admission documents and pre‑arrival communications. After payment the school will issue an official acceptance/录取通知书 (commonly sent in late July according to the site) and tutors typically contact families in early August with pre‑arrival details and preparation. Keep an eye on the registered email and the portal account, and confirm medical, travel and boarding paperwork well before the stated registration dates.
10. Complete school registration and participate in the new‑student training camp. The site describes a mandatory new‑student training program in early August (outdoor practice, sailing/rowing, and Duke of Edinburgh–style activities); the training‑camp fee is listed separately (e.g., RMB 4,550 is shown as a separate new‑student training‑camp charge for the 2025–26 year). Parents should plan travel and packing around the camp schedule and ensure any medical/consent forms are submitted in advance.
Vanke Meisha Academy publishes that the admissions committee may award entrance scholarships to strong applicants; for arts applicants in particular the school has historically operated tiered entry scholarships judged by performance at the arts assessment. The admissions page notes the committee may offer admission scholarships to exceptional candidates during assessment activities and that families are contacted by phone when such offers are made.
Details and historical example (parents should confirm current terms): the school's arts‑academy tuition pages set out a multi‑tier scholarship scheme used in earlier cycles (examples from public materials for the arts academy include full‑tuition, 75%, 50% and 25% entrance awards, with explicit score bands for performance disciplines and rules on award limits and disbursement timing). Those older pages also note scholarship payments are made by the academy finance office (often split across terms) and that scholarship awards are not stackable with other VMA awards — the highest single award applies. Because scholarship policy and the number/value of awards often change year to year, ask the admissions office which scholarships will be available for the year you apply, how recipients are selected, whether awards are conditional on later academic progress, and how/when the funds are paid.
The school's official admissions pages do not describe a formal, published waitlist or centralized “seat pool” for standard new‑student admissions; the online procedures focus on assessment, admission decision, seat confirmation and payment. For transfer/插班 admissions the school's public notices and transfer‑term announcements indicate spaces are limited and may be filled on a first‑come, first‑served basis (“名额有限,报满即止,先到先得”), which functionally means families should register promptly when transfer rounds open. If you need a definitive, current answer about whether the school will hold a waiting list in any particular admission round, contact the admissions office directly — the site lists admissions phone lines and emails for that purpose.
Located in Guangzhou's Science City (Huangpu District), the campus sits in a suburban, green area of the city with nearby shopping and leisure amenities; downtown Guangzhou is roughly a 30–45 minute drive from the campus. For maps and contact details the school is listed at No. 8 Jiantashan Road, Science City, Huangpu District.
BASIS International School Guangzhou serves early years through upper secondary (Pre‑K / Kindergarten up to Grade 12 / Year 13), so it covers preschool, primary, middle and high school age groups. Public listings show the school running a full Pre‑K–12 program.
The school is co‑educational and part of the BASIS International Schools network. It operates as an international day school and also offers weekday boarding; published materials note boarding facilities on campus.
Public information highlights English language learner (ELL) support within the BASIS network, but the school does not appear to publish a detailed public SEN/Learning‑Support policy for Guangzhou on its main pages. Parents with specific Additional Learning Needs (ALN/SEN) questions should contact admissions to discuss individual needs and available provisions.
The school is part of BASIS International Schools, a U.S.‑founded network operating international and bilingual campuses in China (and elsewhere); it is not affiliated to a foreign government.
No religious affiliation is stated in the school's public listings; BASIS International School Guangzhou operates as a non‑religious / secular international school.
The school follows the typical international‑school model with different timetables by division (early years, primary, middle, high). The school's public pages do not publish a single, division‑wide bell schedule online, so exact start/end times, break and lunch windows are best confirmed via the school's current calendar or parent handbook.
Local listings and parent‑oriented pages indicate the school charges for and offers a paid school‑bus service (校车), though publicly available sources do not publish routes or operator details. For routes, stops, fees and registration deadlines contact the school's admissions or operations office directly.
The school offers a weekday boarding program with on-campus facilities that accommodate more than 450 boarding students.
There is a cafeteria on campus.
The school is part of BASIS International Schools.
BASIS International School Guangzhou delivers the BASIS Curriculum from Early Years through secondary (Pre‑K–Grade 12), with English‑medium instruction across core subjects — English/literacy, mathematics, science, social studies, Chinese language, the arts, and physical education. Primary (Pre‑K–Grade 5) focuses on foundational and inquiry‑based learning, while middle school (Grades 6–8) builds subject depth and readiness for upper‑school work. Upper school (Grades 9–12) moves into honours sequencing and offers Advanced Placement (AP) courses beginning in Grade 9, with students eligible for the BASIS Diploma and College Board credit/placement pathways. The curriculum is complemented by sustained fine‑arts, STEM and co‑curricular programmes, and the campus operates a weekday boarding programme. For the most up‑to‑date lists of specific AP subjects, diploma requirements and grade‑by‑grade course maps, consult the school's academic/admissions pages.
The school does not publicly disclose information regarding Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) on its official website or in publicly available materials.
The school does not publicly disclose information regarding Special Educational Needs (SEN), including which types of needs it can support or whether it is a specialist SEN institution.
The school does not publicly disclose information regarding English as an Additional Language (EAL) provision or any specific EAL programmes, staff, or initiatives.
The school does not publicly disclose information regarding mental wellbeing provision, including counselling, wellbeing programmes, or staff roles focused on student mental health.
The school does not publicly disclose detailed safeguarding or child protection policies and procedures on its official website or in publicly available materials.
1. Express interest and register: Start by completing the school's online/printed personal information or registration form to place your child in the admissions queue. Parents should confirm the correct grade-for-age cut-off (the school publishes grade/age guidance by September 1) and check whether the intake you want is open (some years/grades may be closed). Keep a copy of the completed form and note any scheduled campus tour or open‑house date that the admissions office gives you.
2. Pay the application fee: After registering you must pay the application fee (published examples show RMB 2,000). The fee is typically non‑refundable; some school communications indicate it may be credited toward fees if the student is admitted, so ask the admissions officer whether that applies in your case. Save proof of payment — the school will require it when you submit the rest of the application materials.
3. Submit required documents: Prepare and submit the documents the school requests — commonly a copy of the child's passport/ID, official transcripts or school reports for the past one to two years, and teacher recommendations. The school's admissions guidance (published examples) lists these items specifically; parents should also be ready to provide proof of residency/visa status if requested and to ask whether immunization records or translated documents are needed. Make sure all academic records are official (signed/stamped) and translated into English if requested.
4. Student assessment and observation: Assessment format depends on grade. For Early Childhood (PreK–K1/K2) the school uses group‑based play/observation and an English-language listening/follow‑instructions check; for Grades 2–9 the published process includes a written assessment, behaviour observation and a student interview. Expect assessments to check English, mathematics and age‑appropriate reasoning; families should confirm the exact testing date, location and whether any preparation materials are allowed.
5. Parent interview and school interview outcomes: A parent/guardian interview is part of the process — the school expects to discuss educational expectations and the family's support for the pupil's learning. After assessments and interviews, the school will notify families of the decision by email; the admissions pages indicate the school issues offers and then asks parents to complete enrolment paperwork. If you receive an offer, read the acceptance letter carefully for payment deadlines, required paperwork, and any conditions of admission (for example, final official transcripts).
6. Acceptance, enrollment steps and deadlines: When offered a place you will be asked to follow the school's enrolment procedure within the stated timeframe (published examples show a requirement to complete admission steps within five working days of the offer). The enrollment steps usually include signing the contract and paying the tuition/fee balance or deposit; confirm with admissions what portion of the initial fees is refundable, how and when tuition is billed, and what is excluded (meals, uniforms, school bus, activities are commonly extra). Keep copies of all signed documents and payment receipts.
7. Eligibility and grade limits: BASIS International School Guangzhou publicly states it only accepts students holding a foreign passport (including Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan passport holders) and notes some upper grades may not be open to new external applicants (for example, the school has stated it does not accept applications into Grade 10 or above at times). Before applying, confirm with the admissions office that your child's passport/visa status and the target grade are eligible for intake in the year you want.
8. Boarding, logistics and follow up: If you are applying for boarding, the school publishes boarding capacity and operates a boarding programme for middle/high school students; if you plan to use boarding or school transport, confirm availability and extra costs before accepting an offer. If a grade is full or you have timeline questions, ask the admissions team directly for next steps and for written clarification of deadlines, fee refund conditions and required health/administration paperwork. Always request the admissions contact name/email and keep a copy of all correspondence.
Does the school offer scholarships: Yes — BASIS schools in China run a multi‑campus ‘BASIS Global & 爱圣 International (Aisheng) Global Excellence Student Scholarship' that includes BASIS International School Guangzhou among participating campuses in some years. The programme offers competitive full and half scholarships for incoming high‑school–level students (generally for Grade 9 entry) that can cover four years of tuition and, at campuses that provide boarding, may cover boarding fees as part of the package. Exact award amounts are calculated from the school's tuition for the year the scholarship applies.
Who may apply and what the awards cover: The scholarship targets top academic candidates with leadership potential; awards are offered as full (four years' tuition and, if applicable, boarding) or half scholarships (half the tuition or boarding). Awards are limited in number and granted after multi‑stage selection. Families should note that even when tuition is covered, schools commonly expect parents to pay other charges (books, activities, travel, some administrative fees) unless the scholarship states otherwise.
Application materials and selection stages (published examples): The scholarship application typically requires an application form, standardized English scores (published guidance cites TOEFL at ~105 or Duolingo ~135 as an example requirement), two teacher recommendation letters, official transcripts for the past two years, a short self‑introduction video, and a portfolio of academic/extra‑curricular work. Shortlisted students usually sit multi‑subject written tests and take interviews (including presentations, speeches or debate elements) before a final review by a scholarship panel. There is commonly an application fee for the scholarship round (published examples show an RMB 2,000 fee that may be refundable if the student is awarded the scholarship), and timelines/deadlines are set each year by the programme. Because procedures and score thresholds are updated year to year, families should request the current scholarship brief and exact deadlines from the Guangzhou admissions office.
How to proceed: If you want to pursue a scholarship, contact the Guangzhou admissions office directly to request the most recent scholarship brief and application form, confirm eligibility, and obtain exact deadlines and submission addresses. Scholarship rules and award amounts change by year, so always rely on the official school scholarship brief for final requirements.
Publicly available admissions information for BASIS International School Guangzhou does not set out a formal, published waitlist policy on the school website or in the standard admissions guidance that we found.
Practical effect and recommended action: Because the school publishes a fixed capacity and grade intake plan, if a requested grade is full the school typically records continued interest and may place applicants on an internal waiting/interest list (this is a standard practice for many international schools; the school's admissions pages describe limited vacancies and enrolment planning but do not publish a public FAQ about waitlist mechanics). Parents should therefore ask admissions whether a formal waitlist exists, how placements are prioritised, whether siblings or current students get priority, and what the typical wait time is. (This statement about internal waiting lists is an inference based on the school's published intake/capacity information and common practice; confirm directly with the school.)
Clifford International School is located inside Clifford Estates in Panyu district, Guangzhou — mailing address 1 Xueyuan Road, Clifford Estates, Panyu, Guangzhou 511495. The school sits on a larger Clifford campus with multiple entry gates and an underground parking/arrival area intended to keep drop-off dry in bad weather.
CIS runs a Canadian (Manitoba) international program across elementary, middle and high school: Elementary Grades 1–5, Middle School Grades 6–8, and High School Grades 9–12.
The school is co-educational and operates as an accredited overseas school affiliated with the Province of Manitoba, Canada. CIS offers both day places and optional boarding (dorm) arrangements; the admissions page lists semester boarding fees alongside tuition.
The school provides targeted English-language support through an International Learning Centre that helps students (notably Grades 1–8) needing extra English to be successful in class. In addition, CIS has a guidance/counseling department that supports academic planning and university preparation for secondary students.
CIS is affiliated with the Canadian province of Manitoba as an official affiliated overseas school; it follows the Manitoba provincial curriculum for its international program.
The school does not have a religious affiliation and does not practise religion as part of the school program.
The campus lists regular business hours as Monday–Friday, 08:00–17:00; for classroom scheduling OpenApply lists a typical school-day start at about 08:30 with an end around 16:10 (4:10 pm). For exact daily bell times, breaks and grade-specific timetables refer to the school calendar or contact admissions (the site posts an annual calendar/PDF).
Public access to Clifford Estates is served by local buses and there is a Clifford Estates bus terminal nearby; the school's listings also note that a school bus service is available and that bus fees are separate from tuition. Parents should contact the admissions office for current routes, pickup points, costs and whether specific stops serve your neighbourhood, since routes and availability can change each year.
Boarding is available for Grades 1-12. The boarding fee is 3,950 RMB per semester. The total per semester with boarding is: Grades 1-6 71,450 RMB; Grades 7-8 78,450 RMB; Grades 9-12 91,950 RMB.
A uniform is required; the uniform fee is excluded from tuition (uniforms and meals are charged separately).
Meals are billed separately from tuition; a meals fee is excluded from tuition.
The school is affiliated with the Province of Manitoba, Canada, and uses the Manitoba curriculum as part of Clifford International School.
Clifford International School delivers the Manitoba (Canada) provincial curriculum across Elementary (Grades 1–5), Middle (Grades 6–8) and High School (Grades 9–12) and is an affiliated overseas school of the Province of Manitoba. In Elementary (Grades 1–5) homeroom teachers cover four core subjects—English Language Arts, mathematics, science and social studies—while Manitoba‑certified specialist teachers deliver physical & health education, visual arts, music and ICT. The Middle School program (Grades 6–8) emphasizes academic preparation for high school alongside development of interests and social‑emotional skills, taught by Manitoba‑certified specialist teachers. High School (Grades 9–12) leads to Manitoba high‑school credit and diploma; students take required and optional courses and may enrol in selected Advanced Placement (AP) subjects (examples include AP Psychology, Calculus AB, Statistics, Computer Science and AP Chinese), with AP courses earning Manitoba credit and the option to sit AP exams, and the school also serves as an on‑site SAT test centre. Finally, the Chinese‑Canadian Dual Program (Manitoba program) is authorized by the Guangdong Education Department and endorsed by Manitoba Education; eligible Mainland Chinese students who complete it can receive both a Chinese diploma and a Manitoba high‑school diploma.
Clifford describes student social and emotional support primarily through its Guidance Department, which coordinates faculty, families and community resources to help students develop confidence and competence. The principal's message and school pages note extracurricular programming and opportunities for leadership, learning and personal growth that contribute to students' social development. Elementary homeroom teachers and Manitoba‑certified specialist teachers deliver physical and health education and specialist subjects that support social and emotional learning in the younger grades. The school's staff listings show roles such as Dean of Students and named guidance counsellors who oversee these programmes.
The school does not publicly disclose information regarding Special Educational Needs (SEN) provision on its website.
The school does not publicly disclose specific EAL/ESL provision on its website. The Chinese‑Canadian (Manitoba) programme description does state the programme is well‑suited to students who already have strong English language skills, implying admissions expect a solid English foundation. The Guidance Department also notes that many students will need external language proficiency tests (e.g., IELTS/TOEFL) for university applications.
Clifford's Guidance Department provides one‑on‑one and group meetings, seminars and regular counselling related to academic planning and student development, and staff listings show named guidance counsellors and a Dean of Students who support students. These services appear to be the primary publicly described route for mental‑wellbeing support; the website does not publish a separate, detailed mental‑health programme or a named school psychologist.
The school's campus information describes physical safety measures such as a gated campus with four separate gates, an underground entrance for dry arrival/pickup, and regular campus hours, indicating attention to site security and safe arrivals. The website lists contact numbers and offices for guidance and admissions. However, Clifford does not publicly present a dedicated child‑protection or safeguarding policy page on its website.
1. Create an account on the school's admissions portal. Parents must upload a photo of the child's identification when creating the account and select the correct portal (Grades 1–5 or Grades 6–12). Be prepared to supply basic family and contact information in the portal so the admissions team can reach you. (See the school's application portals and instructions.)
2. Wait for contact from the Admissions Office to schedule testing. The school's admissions staff will contact you to arrange a test time — make sure previous school report cards and other relevant documents are submitted before that test date. If you have questions or need to schedule around travel/visa dates, raise that at this stage so the team can advise.
3. Entrance assessment(s). For applicants to Grades 1–8 the school runs a one-on-one entrance assessment (typically about 30 minutes); applicants to Grades 9–11 sit a longer written exam covering English and math (about 3 hours). The school explicitly states students do not need to “study” for these assessments, but you should ensure the child is well-rested and that any previously requested documents are available on test day. If English is not the child's first language, confirm with admissions whether any language supports or alternative arrangements are available.
4. Acceptance and enrolment arrangements. After the assessment the admissions office will notify you of the decision; if accepted, the office will help you complete the enrolment steps and make practical arrangements for start date and orientation. The school posts its academic calendar and fee schedule for the 2025–2026 year on the site, so check those dates and the payment schedule before finalizing enrolment. Note that the site flags that tuition is subject to change and that some items (meals and uniform) are excluded from the published tuition.
Guangzhou Grace Academy is located in the Nanpu / Panyu area of Guangzhou (Riverside Garden / Xinpu Nan Lu / JuShu Cun), with the school postal code listed as 511431. The campus is in the southern Panyu district — reachable by local road links and city buses, though specific metro/bus stops are not published in the school listings. For the most direct contact details see the school phone number listed below and the school website you provided.
Public directory listings describe Guangzhou Grace Academy as providing elementary through secondary education (primary and secondary levels) under the Accelerated Christian Education system; the school's graduates are reported to progress to universities abroad. Exact grade-by-grade breakdowns (for example K–12) are not listed in the directory summaries.
Private, English-medium, co-educational Christian school operating as a day school; directory entries identify it with the Accelerated Christian Education (ACE/School of Tomorrow) family. There is no public indication in the directories that boarding facilities are offered.
The school uses the ACE/School of Tomorrow approach, which includes individual diagnostic testing and individually prescribed learning paths (mastery-based PACEs) to pinpoint strengths and gaps and tailor student work. Directory descriptions note students are ‘individually diagnosed' and have tailored study plans; for specific SEN/ALN services or on-campus specialist provision, the school's admissions office should be asked directly.
The school is not listed as formally affiliated with a foreign government; its instructional approach is the Accelerated Christian Education system (a US-origin curriculum/program used internationally).
Guangzhou Grace Academy is a Christian school and is identified in directories as part of the Accelerated Christian Education (Christian) network.
Guangzhou Grace Academy uses the Accelerated Christian Education (ACE) “School of Tomorrow” PACE-based programme as its core, delivering individualized PACEs from Kindergarten through Grade 12. The ACE core at GGA covers Mathematics, English (including creative writing and literature), Word Building (spelling), Science and Social Studies, with the high‑school years expanded through electives. In addition to PACE work, students attend group “afternoon” classes (Discovery/practical science and engineering, PE, Music, Art, communication and personal‑development) to develop hands‑on skills, teamwork and character. At the upper (high‑school) stage students follow the ACE high‑school pathway with elective choices and credit accumulation intended to prepare them for further study; graduates of the School of Tomorrow/ACE programme at GGA have been accepted by universities in the US, UK, Australia and elsewhere. In short, Kindergarten and lower primary focus on foundational PACEs and discovery activities, middle years continue PACE progression with increased group work, and Grades 9–12 follow the ACE high‑school electives and university‑preparation pathway.
Guangzhou Grace Academy teaches the Accelerated Christian Education (ACE) curriculum and describes a structured personal-development programme that includes Personal Development Plans (PDPs), family groups, daily devotions/Prime Time, and quarterly character-trait themes (e.g., self-control, responsibility) to develop self-awareness and interpersonal skills. The school's curriculum documentation states students receive individualized diagnosis and tailored study plans, and afternoon classes focus on character, leadership and service. These curriculum elements are presented as part of the school's approach to student development rather than as a separate ‘SEL department' or externally branded SEL programme. Public materials examined do not name specific staff roles (for example, a dedicated SEL coordinator) responsible for SEL.
Public information for Guangzhou Grace Academy indicates the school offers Learning Support and uses diagnostic testing to identify students' performance levels so programmes can be tailored to individual needs. The international school database lists “Learning Support” and notes dedicated staff/programmes for students with special learning needs, and the school's ACE-based approach emphasises individualised PACEs and adjustments in Personal Development Plans. Available public sources do not specify which categories of special educational needs (for example, specific learning difficulties, autism spectrum conditions, or physical disabilities) the school will support, nor do they describe specialist SEN facilities. There is no indication in the publicly available materials that GGA is a specialist SEN institution.
Third‑party school listings report that Guangzhou Grace Academy provides an English as a Second Language (ESL/EAL) programme described as age- and level‑appropriate, with extra ESL support available for students who need it; Chinese language classes are also offered. The school's public profile notes English is the language of instruction and that new students take diagnostic tests to determine appropriate placement. Public materials reviewed do not provide detailed descriptions of the EAL curriculum, staffing levels for EAL, or assessment procedures beyond the summary statements on ESL support.
The school's curriculum documentation emphasises personal and character development—self‑awareness, spiritual awareness and awareness of others—through PDPs, family groups, devotions and themed character work, which are presented as part of students' holistic development. These curriculum elements indicate an intention to support students' personal and social development, but the publicly available materials do not identify named mental‑health or school‑counselling staff, nor do they describe specific clinical or therapeutic wellbeing programmes. Therefore, there is no public evidence of a dedicated counselling service or detailed mental‑health provision in the sources consulted.
1. Confirm eligibility and basic records. Guangzhou Grace Academy (listed officially as Guangzhou恩慧/Guangzhou Grace Academy) is registered as an "外籍人员子女学校" and states its招生对象 (admissions target) as children of foreign nationals residing in Guangdong—parents should check that their child's passport/visa/residence status meets that requirement before applying. Keep a clear copy of the child's passport, parents' passports and residence/visa documents ready because the school and local authorities normally require them for enrollment verification.
2. Contact the school and request current admissions materials. Start by contacting the school (their official website is listed but some third‑party directories note the school has not verified contact details; if the website is unreachable, ask for the admissions office phone or email and confirm application deadlines, required forms and the latest fee schedule). When you make first contact, ask for an application form, the exact list of required documents (medical/immunization record, passport copies, previous school reports) and whether there are specific submission windows.
3. Complete the application and pay any application/enrolment fees. The school publishes one‑time enrollment fees and annual tuition on public directories (example figures are an enrolment fee around ¥5,000 and annual tuition shown in third‑party listings between about ¥98,000 and ¥118,000 depending on grade); parents should confirm the current amounts and whether the enrolment fee is refundable before paying. Expect to submit the signed application, copies of identity documents, recent school reports or transcripts (if applicable), and any school‑requested health/immunization records.
4. Arrange and attend entry/diagnostic testing and interview. Guangzhou Grace Academy uses diagnostic tests for new students to determine appropriate placement and to identify areas needing support; these tests typically cover English and core academic subjects and may be followed by a short interview with school staff. If English is not your child's first language, ask in advance about ESL support and whether the school provides a language assessment separate from the subject diagnostics. Knowing the format (paper, online or in‑person) and the content of the placement tests ahead of time will help you prepare and schedule travel if testing must be done on campus.
5. Receive offer, review contract and pay tuition deposit. If the school offers a place, you should receive a written acceptance or offer letter with a deadline for confirming enrollment and paying any required deposit or first instalment. Carefully review the enrollment contract for the tuition payment schedule, withdrawal/refund rules, and any additional fees (uniforms, books, transport, meals and extracurriculars), and ask for these policies in writing. Keep proof of payment and the signed contract; international schools in Guangzhou often require these documents when issuing any school‑related permits or confirmations.
6. Complete post‑acceptance administrative steps. After confirmation and payment, the school will typically provide information on uniforms, school start dates, transport (school bus) and orientation; if you need a student visa/supporting letters for government purposes, ask the admissions office what they will provide and what you must handle with local authorities. Also confirm deadlines for immunization records and any parent/guardian notarization or local residency documents that the school requires for enrollment. Finally, schedule the first day logistics (transport, lunches, and any parent orientation) so your child has a smooth start.
7. If you have special circumstances, discuss them early. If your child needs learning‑support services, medical accommodations, or if your family's visa/permit situation is complex, notify admissions before applying so the school can confirm whether they can meet those needs and what documentation will be required. Policies and available services can differ between schools and may change, so get commitments in writing where possible. If anything about the school's published information is unclear (for example, conflicting fee figures), ask the admissions office to confirm the exact terms applicable to your child's year and grade.
Huamei International School is located at No. 23 Huamei Road in the Tianhe education core area of Guangzhou (Longdong, Tianhe District). The school occupies a large campus (about 160,000 m²) at the foot of Phoenix Mountain and gives the address and contact details on its website. For exact directions and transit options contact the admissions office; the site lists a service hotline and email.
The school runs a full sequence from kindergarten through primary and middle school to an international/high‑school division and an International Students Division — effectively K–12 with an international high‑school program. The website has separate sections for Huamei Kindergarten, Primary School, Middle School and International High School.
Huamei is a co‑educational private school that operates as a full‑time day and boarding school; the website describes full‑time boarding international education from kindergarten to high school and also lists day‑school options. Third‑party school listings also describe it as co‑educational.
The kindergarten materials describe attention to individual development, individual development plans and a personal growth portfolio for each child; the campus also reports on‑site medical staff and 24‑hour health services. The school website does not publish a detailed, school‑wide SEN/ALN policy page, so prospective parents with specific support needs should contact admissions to discuss assessments and provision.
The school is a Chinese private school in Guangzhou and was founded by returned overseas students; it is not presented on the website as officially affiliated with a foreign government.
No religious affiliation is specified on the school's public pages; the school presents itself as a non‑religious, international educational institution.
The website does not publish a single, detailed daily timetable for all year groups. Kindergarten pages note a structured daily programme (including six meals for boarders/young children) and the school offers both boarding and day options; for exact start/end times and break/lunch arrangements you should contact admissions or request the current timetable.
The school advertises weekly city‑wide and daily district‑wide school bus pick‑up and drop‑off services, indicating organised transport for students across the city and district. The website does not list specific routes or providers on the public pages, so ask the admissions office for current routes, stops, costs and enrolment procedures.
The school provides full-time boarding for international education from kindergarten through high school. Student dormitories are on campus with 24-hour supervision and night shifts; the dorms are surrounded by trees, and students are provided with more than 30 daily necessities at check-in to support a home-like environment.
The school has seven uniform sets for four seasons: two winter, two summer, and three spring/autumn. Uniforms are designed by top fashion designers and produced by a leading manufacturer using high-quality fabrics; they are a symbol of campus culture and student values. Life teachers sort the uniforms and arrange laundry, with around-the-clock service to wash, disinfect, and dry clothing, bed linens, and daily necessities.
The Huamei Student Canteen is a Grade A canteen in Guangdong Province. It covers over 8000 square meters with more than 3500 dining seats; more than 30% of the chefs are of the highest grade. Nutritionists from Zhongshan Medical University guide meals, offering six meals per day with main dishes providing more than ten options; the menu alternates between Chinese and Western styles and includes snacks, afternoon refreshments, and late-night meals.
Huamei is a Model School Governed by Law, recognized by the Ministry of Education, with a Safe and Civilized Campus designation; security guards operate 24 hours a day and a health service operates on site.
Guangzhou Huamei International School is a full-time boarding Chinese–English school that provides a continuous pathway from kindergarten through high school on a single campus. Kindergarten follows IB PYP principles and runs full‑day English IB integrated classes (ages ~2.5–6) with bilingual immersion and inquiry‑based activities. The primary division uses the school's “Rongchuang” curriculum which blends the Chinese national curriculum with Western approaches, offering immersive English lessons, city‑themed PBL, SEL and science/STEAM courses; the primary program is also linked to Cambridge English initiatives. The middle school implements the national curriculum with expanded English instruction and specialist talent/innovation pathways while preparing students for both domestic senior high and international routes. The international high school provides multiple external qualifications and pathways — AP and A‑Level courses, a Canadian stream (CIS/OSSD) and a Double Curriculum Program awarding Chinese and Canadian diplomas, plus aviation and bilingual Hong Kong/Macao/Taiwan tracks — to support university applications abroad.
The school publishes a named Huamei “characteristic SEL Social Emotion Course” as part of its primary curriculum. Huamei runs a campus Psychology Festival that includes psychology lectures, interactive booths (e.g., an intelligent “confession” booth), art-based self-exploration activities and psychology teacher–led sessions, showing one channel the school uses to deliver social–emotional learning. The school also lists a Student Development Centre with a director and deputy, indicating an institutional pastoral team responsible for student development. School timetables for younger students show regular mental-health education and biweekly group psychological counselling sessions during evening study. Together these items indicate SEL is delivered through curriculum‑linked courses, schoolwide events and an internal student development team.
The school's English-language website does not publish a dedicated Special Educational Needs (SEN) policy or a clear list of specialist SEN provisions. There is no public description of the types of SEN the school can support or of a specialist SEN department. For families needing confirmed SEN provision or formal learning‑support arrangements, the school's published materials direct enquiries to its contact channels.
Huamei describes explicit English‑language provision across age groups: an English IB integrated kindergarten class led full‑day by native English homeroom teachers with TEFL/TESOL qualifications. The primary curriculum advertises immersive English lessons (for example, weekly immersive English lessons and bilingual classroom use). The junior‑high and senior‑high materials list ESL/bridge courses and foreign‑teacher oral English classes (ESL bridge and ESL courses are named in curriculum overviews). The International Students Division also states it educates pupils from many countries, which supports the presence of English‑language support within that division.
The school runs an annual Psychology Festival that includes psychology lectures for students and external experts (for example, a public lecture by Professor You Jia Ning was advertised). School schedules note regular mental‑health education and biweekly group psychological counselling for younger boarders. The Student Development Centre is listed in the school's leadership structure and appears to provide pastoral oversight. The campus also reports on‑site medical provision and a staffed clinic which the school presents as part of its around‑the‑clock health services.
The school's English pages do not publish a formal, standalone child‑protection or safeguarding policy for public download. The site does, however, describe practical safety and welfare arrangements for boarders including life‑care teachers who supervise daily life and escorted weekend shuttle services with school guards. The school also states health professionals from an affiliated hospital are stationed on campus to provide 24‑hour medical services. A campus service hotline and main contact details are published for enquiries. If you need the school's formal safeguarding policy or named child‑protection contacts, the website suggests contacting the school directly via the published phone or email.
1. Initial enquiry and application: Contact the school's Admissions Office to request the correct application form for the programme you want (main campus programmes, International Students Division (ISD), or the International High School/Canadian track). Parents can register online for many divisions or visit the admissions office in person; the ISD page on the school site lists phone and email contacts for enquiries. Keep a record of the exact programme name you are applying for (for example ISD, AP/CIS/DCP or the bilingual primary programme), because fees, timelines and required documents differ by programme.
2. Prepare and submit required documents: For local-entry primary pupils the school's published instructions mention bringing a photocopy of the household register (hukou) and a small portrait photo and completing the school's Student Information form; non-local or international applicants must submit passport and previous-school transcripts or study certificates. International or overseas-student applications typically require a passport copy, recent school transcripts, and sometimes a birth certificate and recommendation letter—confirm the exact checklist for your programme with admissions before you apply. Originals are commonly required for verification at enrolment, so allow time to gather certified copies or translations if needed.
3. Entrance assessment and interview: The school organises placement assessments and interviews; for the ISD online/in-person intake the school describes subject tests (Science, Math, English and HSK for Chinese) with published durations and an application/test fee (the ISD FAQ shows test structure and an application fee reference). For other streams (international high‑school tracks such as AP/CIS or Canadian programs) admission decisions are typically based on a combination of grades, municipal exam placement (where applicable), the school's own written tests and an interview or family meeting. Parents should plan for at least one in-person or virtual interview and for the possibility of additional subject testing to determine appropriate class placement.
4. Offer, deposit and registration: If the school makes an offer you will normally receive written acceptance instructions and a deadline to return a signed acceptance and pay any required deposit or first-term tuition; the timing and amount vary by programme and intake. Boarding, weekend-stay permissions and other optional services (if relevant) are typically charged separately—check the offer letter for the exact line items and payment deadlines. Keep receipts and an itemised copy of the contract; the school's official communications and brochure pages list programme contacts you should use if anything in the offer is unclear.
5. Medical/visa and arrival steps for international students: For non‑Chinese nationals there will be additional steps before term starts, including visa paperwork (for long stays) or residence-permit guidance, vaccination/health checks, and submission of authorised medical certificates where required. The ISD materials and the school's international-students pages note that online applicants must meet China's legal and school health requirements before formal enrolment. Parents should allow multiple weeks for visa processing and international-travel planning and confirm the school's arrival/boarding check-in dates.
6. Programme-specific timelines and special-admissions: For specialised streams (sports/talent classes, golf or other special-admission cohorts) the school publishes separate admissions brochures and schedules; these streams may run their own trials, interviews or selection events and have separate application windows. For the international high-school tracks the school follows municipal selection principles in addition to its own testing schedule (the school's international-high-school pages note multiple intake/test rounds across March–June for certain cohorts). If you are applying for a special programme, download that programme's brochure or ask admissions for the exact calendar and selection criteria.
7. After acceptance — enrolment, uniforms and start-of-term: After you pay the required fees and complete registration paperwork the school will provide details on uniforms, textbooks, meal/boarding arrangements and the student timetable. Ask admissions for an itemised schedule of mandatory and optional charges (transport, boarding weekend fees, extra-curricular or exam centre fees) so you can budget for the full first year. If anything in the package is unclear (for instance weekly boarding vs full-term boarding rules), request the school's written policy before final payment.
ISD (International Students Division): The school's ISD materials explicitly state that applicants with excellent entrance-test results may apply for scholarships; the ISD FAQ and recruitment materials describe both full and half (50%) scholarships awarded on the basis of test performance. The ISD documentation also states an application/test fee and the test structure; families applying to ISD should confirm the scholarship application steps, deadlines, and whether scholarship offers require a separate application or are awarded automatically after testing.
Other school-level and programme scholarships: Huamei runs targeted scholarship or special-admissions programmes from time to time (for example talent/sports cohorts and selective cohorts in the international/high‑school streams); these are handled per programme and the amounts and criteria vary by year. The school's special-admissions brochures (sports/golf and other talent programmes) describe selection and support mechanisms for successful candidates; however, the main website does not publish a single, centralised and up‑to‑date scholarship tariff covering every programme. Because scholarship availability, amounts and eligibility criteria change frequently, ask the Admissions Office for the current scholarship brochure and the exact deadlines and documentation required for any scholarship application.
Practical next steps I recommend: (1) confirm which programme you are applying for (local bilingual primary, international high school / AP/CIS, or ISD) and request the specific programme brochure from admissions; (2) ask admissions for a current tuition and fees table for that programme (including boarding, weekend‑stay and meal charges); and (3) if you are interested in scholarship consideration, request the current scholarship criteria and deadline in writing. Contact details are on the school pages (Admissions/ISD).
Publicly available information on the school's English and Chinese pages does not include a clear, school‑wide description of a formal waitlist or pool system. I searched the school's admissions and ISD pages and did not find a published, programme-level waitlist policy or a one‑page explanation of how a waitlist is operated on the school website. Because practices differ by programme (for example municipal placements, special-admissions cohorts, and ISD intakes), some programmes may maintain an internal waiting list and contact families if places become available; however, that procedure is not explicitly described in the school's public admissions materials. For certainty: if you want to know whether your child would be placed on a waiting list (and to learn the school's notification timelines and priority rules), contact the Admissions Office and ask for the programme's waitlist policy and how you will be notified; the school's admissions contacts are published on the ISD and main site pages.
The school is in Merchant Hill, Panyu District (No.122 Dongyi Road), Guangzhou — about a 20-minute drive from downtown Guangzhou and close to retail and residential areas. Public transport and highway links in Panyu connect the neighbourhood to the wider city; the school website gives the full postal address for visits and enquiries.
CIS serves ages 2–18 with divisions for Early Childhood (international kindergarten), Elementary, Junior High (Grades 6–9) and High School (Grades 10–12). The site describes pathways from Pre‑K through the Alberta high‑school program.
CIS is a co‑educational international school that operates as a day school and offers boarding for secondary students. The boarding programme and dormitory facilities are available to students in Grades 7–12.
The school provides English Language Learning (ELL) with graded programs (elementary pull‑out and after‑school sessions, in‑class support in junior high, and credited ESL in high school) and assesses other learning‑support needs on an individual, at‑need basis. Admissions and the ELL pages describe assessment and tailored support arrangements.
CIS follows the Alberta (Canada) curriculum and is accredited by the Alberta (Canada) government; it also uses the IB PYP framework in early years/elementary and offers AP courses at senior levels.
The school does not list any religious affiliation on its public website; information and programme descriptions are secular in nature.
The school operates full‑day programs (the site specifically notes full‑day Pre‑K and Kindergarten). Specific daily start/end times and break schedules are not published on the public pages; prospective parents are asked to contact Admissions or check the school calendar for division‑specific timetables.
CIS offers a paid school bus service with zone pricing (examples listed on the admissions/fees page: a local 5 km zone, within‑Panyu and outside‑Panyu rates are published). Bus routes, fees and pickup areas are arranged through Admissions and are billed as optional extras. For exact routes, stops and current fees, contact the Admissions office.
Boarding is available for secondary students (Grade 7–12). The CIS Guangzhou dormitory accommodates 120 students and includes four-bunk rooms, independent bathrooms, and student lounges. The dorm programme offers after-school activities and an evening development curriculum. Boarding expenses are RMB 35,000 per year.
CIS Meals provides on-site catering from a Level A certified kitchen. The kitchen uses Metro Supermarket ingredients with daily quality checks. Boarding students have breakfast and dinner on campus on weekdays, in addition to lunch and snacks for all students. Weekly menus are shared with parents, and the meals feature a mix of international and local dishes.
CIS uses a four-house system: Panda, Wolves, Elk, and Dragon. The houses compete throughout the year to win the House Cup, promoting community, belonging, and personal and social development.
CIS Guangzhou is Alberta-accredited by the Government of Alberta and an IB PYP World School. It is a member of ACAMIS and the Canadian Overseas Schools Association Network (COSA). The school delivers the Alberta Curriculum for K-12 and offers Advanced Placement courses.
Canadian International School of Guangzhou delivers the Alberta (Canada) K–12 curriculum, integrates the IB Primary Years Programme framework across early years and elementary levels, and offers Advanced Placement (AP) courses in senior high.
Early Childhood (ages 2–5) follows a play‑based, IB‑aligned program that also uses Alberta kindergarten outcomes; Elementary (Kindergarten/age 5–Grade 6) teaches Alberta Programs of Study through Units of Inquiry in English language arts, mathematics, science and social studies while also scheduling PE, art, music, Mandarin and IT.
Junior High (Grades 7–9) continues the Alberta curriculum with an inquiry approach and provides English Language Learning (ELL) support embedded in core subjects for students who need it.
High School (Grades 10–12) follows Alberta senior‑secondary courses; on completion of required credits students receive the Alberta High School Diploma, and AP courses are offered as enrichment (AP Calculus and AP Physics were introduced for 2024–25).
Mandarin instruction is provided across divisions in native and non‑native streams, and the school supplements classroom learning with after‑school activities and university‑counselling services to support language development and post‑secondary pathways.
CIS describes a formal counselling service that provides group and individual counselling and delivers social‑emotional lessons in the classroom to support students' social and emotional development. The counselling team works with teachers to implement evidence‑based strategies aimed at improving student relationships, behaviour and learning. The school's House system (Panda, Wolves, Elk, Dragon) is explicitly described as promoting belonging, self‑identity, responsibility and positive self‑esteem across sporting, academic and artistic activities. CIS also lists “personal growth & well‑being” among its core competencies within its Alberta/IB‑informed curriculum framework.
CIS states it is an inclusive, non‑selective international school and that learning support for students who require additional help is assessed on an individual, at‑need basis during admissions and thereafter. The admissions information explains the school will determine availability of learning‑support services case‑by‑case rather than listing a published set of specific diagnoses or categories supported. The website does not publish a public list of the exact types of special educational needs it can or cannot accommodate. CIS does not present itself as a specialist SEN institution; instead it describes individual assessment and tailored support where possible.
CIS operates a defined English Language Learning (ELL) programme for students who do not speak English as a first language, with stated provision for Grades 2–9 and an ESL credited course option in High School. The ELL page describes leveled reading materials and assessments 2–3 times per year, elementary pull‑out and after‑school sessions (noting nine periods per week at elementary level), in‑class support in Junior High, and credited ESL courses in High School. The school says ELL is designed to develop both social and academic English and to remove barriers so students can access the Alberta curriculum when ready. The website therefore does publicly describe specific EAL/ELL provision and staffing structure.
CIS's counselling service describes whole‑school wellbeing initiatives intended to promote compassion, leadership and resilience, and offers both group and individual counselling to support students' mental health. The counselling team states it provides classroom social‑emotional lessons, supports teachers with evidence‑based strategies, and runs parent/caregiver workshops to help families support student wellbeing. Boarding and student services pages also reference attention to students' psychological and social development in the boarding context. These statements on the website outline the school's publicly stated approach to mental wellbeing but do not publish clinical protocols or detailed therapeutic qualifications for staff.
The school's public website describes student wellbeing, counselling services and boarding safety in broad terms but does not publish a clearly labelled child‑protection or safeguarding policy that is publicly accessible. The site includes a privacy policy and a menu link for "School Policies," but a distinct, named safeguarding/child‑protection policy is not available on the pages reviewed. For specific details about safeguarding procedures, reporting lines, or staff safeguarding roles you will need to contact the school directly via the admissions or contact details provided on the site.
1. Initial enquiry and eligibility check — Contact the Admissions Office to begin. Parents should confirm eligibility (CIS accepts students who hold foreign passports, including Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan) before completing the online application form; if you are unsure, ask Admissions so you do not complete unnecessary paperwork. You can request a campus tour or an online information session — tours are available year-round but appointments are recommended.
2. Complete the application and gather documents — Fill in the school's Application Form (the site links to the online form) and prepare required documents: a recent photo, the student's passport information page, both parents' passport copies, and school records (current year and previous full-year reports and any standardized test results). Note the non‑refundable application processing fee (stated on the admissions page) is required when you submit — this fee covers review, one test and an interview. Keep certified/translated copies ready if your documents are not in English.
3. Arrange assessment and interview — After submission you will be scheduled for an admissions assessment and an oral interview; these are conducted in English and are used to determine grade placement and any language support needs. If you are outside Guangzhou the assessment and interview can be scheduled online; follow the instructions Admissions provides so your child is prepared (timing, platform, and materials). Expect the school to test English and, where relevant, to assess academic levels against the Alberta curriculum.
4. Learning support / ELL assessment — If the assessment indicates the student needs English Language Learning (ELL) or other additional learning support, the school will evaluate needs individually and may make ELL a condition of entry (especially above Grade 2). Parents should ask in advance about ELL costs, frequency, and how ELL lessons are scheduled relative to mainstream classes. If your child has documented learning support needs, disclose these early so CIS can confirm whether appropriate services are available.
5. Offer, acceptance and securing placement — Once assessments and document checks are complete, CIS will issue written notification of the outcome (offer or otherwise). To secure a confirmed place the FAQ states families must complete tuition payment — parents should clarify whether this means a deposit or full payment and ask for the exact invoice and payment deadlines. Ask Admissions for the written offer's conditions (start date, grade placement, any conditions such as continuing ELL).
6. Fees, payment timing and mid‑term starts — Tuition can be paid annually or by semester; fees are inclusive of experiential-learning fees, tests, materials and insurance, and the school invoices pro‑rata for students starting mid‑semester (monthly or half‑month rules apply as specified). Parents should request the full tuition table and a written copy of the school's refund and withdrawal policy before paying to make sure they understand deadlines and any penalties. Also note optional miscellaneous fees (boarding for Secondary students, bus fees) are charged separately.
7. Arrival and orientation — Arrange a campus visit or orientation before your child's first school day where possible; the Admissions Team normally arranges a meeting with a relevant head of school or teaching staff during visits. If you are relocating from overseas, inform Admissions early so they can accept documents by email and schedule an online interview if needed. For visa purposes the school can provide a “future student letter of enrolment” only after tuition fees have been paid; CIS does not provide visa‑application services.
CIS publishes a formal Academic Scholarship Programme (2025–2026) on its website. The programme includes several categories: (a) a high‑value “Million RMB Scholarship” tied to Grade 12 graduates who receive offers from certain elite universities (Ivy League, Stanford, MIT, Oxford, Cambridge — the page describes awards up to one million RMB); (b) a Tuition Scholarship that can cover full tuition for high‑performing students entering Grade 10; and (c) an Excellence Scholarship recognising new and current students for academic achievement, leadership and contribution in areas such as STEM, arts and service. The scholarship announcement asks new families to contact Admissions for details and current students to speak with their Learning Partner (LP), so application procedures, eligibility criteria, selection timelines and award amounts appear to be managed directly by the school rather than through an open online application form; parents should contact Admissions to request the official scholarship guidelines and any deadlines.
The school's public admissions pages (Admissions and FAQ) do not describe a formal waitlist or centralised ‘pool' system; instead CIS accepts applications year‑round and emphasises that offers are made subject to seat availability. Parents are explicitly advised to apply as early as possible because seats in each grade are limited, and the FAQ notes that placement is secured by completing tuition payment — which implies places are allocated on a first‑come/confirmed‑by‑payment basis rather than by an automatic ranked waitlist. If you need to know whether CIS will hold your application on a waiting list or maintain a priority order for late applicants, contact Admissions directly (phone, WeChat or email) to request the school's local practice for your child's grade.