Comparing 2 schools side by side in USD.
Address: No. 26, E Shan Road, Pudong New Area — the international division is on the Jincai High School Eshan Rd campus in central Pudong, close to Century Park. The school site gives the Pudong/Century Park location but does not list specific public-transport links; families usually check local metro/bus maps and the school for door-to-door directions.
JCID runs an Elementary (listed as Grades 1–5), Junior High (Grades 6–9) and Senior High (Grades 10–12) structure; fee pages on the site show these grade bands. The school operates both a Chinese section and an English section and implements IPC in the elementary years, the MYP in middle years and the IBDP in senior years.
JCID is the international division of Shanghai Jincai High School (an established Shanghai high school) and is authorized as an IB World School. The site shows the international division coexisting alongside the Chinese section and serving both local and international students.
The site describes language support such as ESL/CSL in the elementary curriculum and a range of after‑school programmes; it also describes school counselling and individual counselling for student mental health. The website does not provide a detailed Special Educational Needs (SEN) policy or a named learning‑support team — contact admissions to discuss specific additional‑needs arrangements.
The international division is part of Shanghai Jincai High School and was established with approval from the Shanghai Municipal Education Committee; it operates within the Chinese school system while offering international (IB and English‑section) programmes.
The school website does not indicate any religious affiliation.
The public pages visited do not list a regular start/end time or daily timetable for lessons and breaks. For exact school‑day hours and the daily schedule (including lunch and break times), contact the admissions or elementary/middle school offices listed on the site.
The school provides a school–home bus service for day students and lists route/fee options on its site (examples given: a Lianyang shuttle at RMB 4,000/semester, within‑10km routes at RMB 6,000/semester and over‑10km at RMB 8,000/semester; one‑way options and shared small‑route arrangements are noted). Parents register via the school's bus registration link.
The school requires students to wear school uniforms.
JCID was established in 2000 with approval from Shanghai Municipal Education Committee. It is the international division of Shanghai Jincai High School and is authorized as an IB World School.
Shanghai Jincai International School (JCID) delivers an international programme from Grades 1–12: the Elementary Department (Grades 1–5) uses the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) with core subjects (Language Arts, Mathematics, Chinese/Mandarin, IPC) plus specialist classes (music, art, drama, STEM, PE, library), ESL/CSL support, electives and after-school programmes. Grades 6–10 follow the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP), providing the MYP's eight subject groups, interdisciplinary inquiry and the student-centred Personal Project. Grades 11–12 are taught as the IB Diploma Programme (DP), authorized in 2015, including the DP core (Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay, CAS) and a six-subject cohort model delivered in English. JCID's DP subject list includes language and literature (Chinese, English, Japanese, Korean), language acquisition, individuals & societies (Economics, Psychology, History), experimental sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Biology), mathematics and fine art, with additional language and elective options. In parallel, the school operates a Chinese-section that follows local curricula and college-entrance preparation (including tailored tracks for Hong Kong/Macao/Taiwan and overseas students) and can lead to a Shanghai Education Commission graduation diploma when requirements are met.
JCID's primary-school Code of Conduct states the school works “with parents and the entire community to ensure all students are fully supported academically, socially and emotionally,” and lists school activities used to develop students' identity, communication and respect for others. The primary site describes whole-school events (International Week, Chinese Culture Week, talent shows and festival activities) intended to give students opportunities to develop social skills and responsibility. The school's Academic Governance pages also show a “Students Center” and related curriculum/groups, indicating structured pastoral roles within the faculty. The website does not set out a named, detailed SEL curriculum on a public page; the available pages describe ethos, activities and pastoral support rather than a published SEL scheme.
The school's Academic Governance section lists a document titled “JCID Inclusive & Learning Support Requirement Policy,” indicating JCID has a formal inclusion/learning-support policy referenced on its site. The public webpage listing these governance documents does not, however, publish the policy text on the visible page (the policy is linked as a downloadable file rather than displayed). The site does not publicly enumerate which specific categories of special educational needs it supports on the visible pages, nor does it describe itself as a specialist SEN institution. For details of what needs are supported and specific procedures, the linked Inclusion policy would need to be consulted.
JCID's Academic Governance page lists a “JCID Language Policy,” showing the school formally records its language approach in policy documents. The school's teachers page also states the international division employs foreign teachers, which is factual staffing information published on the site. The publicly visible pages do not, however, describe a named EAL programme, dedicated EAL staff, assessment procedures for EAL learners, or specific EAL provision in detail. Therefore the website does not publicly disclose detailed EAL provision on its visible pages; the linked Language Policy would be the place to check for those details.
The school's Services page states that counselling is provided to students, teachers and parents for mental health and that mental-health education activities are launched to address students' mental problems. The page lists major intervention methods including basic psychological skills training for homeroom teachers and school staff, and individual counselling for students who may have mental health issues; it also mentions guidance for parents on family relationships and child development. These statements are presented on the school's Services page rather than as a separate published mental-health policy. For fuller procedural detail or referral arrangements, the site points to its services page and linked governance documents.
The school's Code of Conduct and other pages state JCID aims to provide “a safe, secure and purposeful learning environment,” which is published on the primary-school pages. The Academic Governance area lists a set of policies (assessment, language, inclusion, etc.) but the website's visible pages do not display a standalone child-protection or safeguarding policy by that name. The site therefore asserts a commitment to a safe environment in its ethos and governance listings but does not publish a clearly labelled, public child-protection/safeguarding policy on the visible pages; anyone needing the school's formal safeguarding procedures should request the relevant governance document directly from the school.
1. Confirm eligibility and basic requirements. JCID's admissions page specifies that the international division enrols overseas students, students from Hong Kong/Macao/Taiwan who are permanent residents, and overseas Chinese whose parents work in Shanghai; applicants must be at least 6 years old, healthy, and have at least one semester of prior school experience. Parents should check that their child's passport/visa status and the parent's Shanghai work permit meet the school's requirements before applying.
2. Make initial contact and submit the online application. The school asks families to add the official WeChat account and complete the school's application form (Admissions & Recruitment Application) as the first administrative step; this is how the school registers new applicants and opens the file. Parents should save confirmation screenshots and the contact details given on the form, because the school uses the submitted contact information to arrange the next steps.
3. Prepare and send required documents to student affairs. JCID lists the documents it requires to process an application: photocopies of all family members' passports, photocopies of valid visa pages for the family, a photocopy of one parent's Shanghai work permit, the child's birth-certificate/passport page showing date of birth, the most recent one-year academic report from the child's current school, and six passport photos. The admissions page also notes that final document requirements may vary by applicant, so parents should expect the school to request additional or original documents at a later stage.
4. Tests and interview are scheduled after documents are received. The school states that applicants will be notified of the test date by email once documents are checked; tests vary by grade and typically include Chinese, English and mathematics. Parents should plan for both an assessment day and a short interview—arrange travel/time off in advance and make sure the child brings any required stationery or identification that the school asks for.
5. Offer, admission letter and enrolment notice. If the applicant passes the tests and interview, JCID issues an admission letter and an enrollment notice; those documents are required to complete registration and to arrange tuition payment. Parents should check the admission letter carefully for deadlines (deposit/enrolment deadline) and any specified conditions (e.g., submission of originals, medical checks).
6. Pay fees and complete registration. Tuition is payable each semester (two semesters per academic year) and the school lists fees in RMB (USD may be accepted at the current exchange rate). The published per‑semester tuition rates on the admissions/fees page are: Elementary (Grades 1–5) RMB 34,000; Junior High (Grades 6–9, English section) RMB 38,000; Senior High (Grades 10–12) RMB 38,000 (Chinese section shows a different miscellaneous amount); there is also a uniform fee and miscellaneous fees for materials/textbooks/field trips. Parents should confirm the exact amount, the accepted payment methods, and any deadlines directly with admissions before transferring funds.
7. Practical follow-up and contact. Because some requirements (visa pages, work permit, residency status) are regulated by Shanghai authorities and can affect eligibility, parents should keep copies of all immigration/work documents and follow up promptly if the school requests originals or additional paperwork. If you have questions or need clarifications (test content by grade, available class sections, boarding vs. day options), contact the elementary or middle/high admissions lines and emails published on the school site—JCID provides separate contact numbers and emails for elementary and for middle/high admissions.
JCID's admissions and tuition pages do not advertise any school-wide scholarships, merit awards, or published fee‑remission programs for incoming students. External school listings and fee summaries likewise report tuition and miscellaneous fees but do not list scholarship programmes for JCID. If you are exploring fee assistance, special cases (for example, sibling arrangements, staff discounts, or one‑off hardship support), or external scholarship schemes, contact the admissions office directly to ask whether any discretionary reductions or programmes exist and what documentation would be needed. For reference, use the admissions contact numbers and emails shown on the school site when you enquire.
JCID's official admissions page and the school's published enrolment information do not describe a formal waitlist or ‘pool' system; the published procedure describes document submission, testing, interview and then issuance of an admission letter when a candidate passes. Because the school's public materials do not mention a waitlist, parents who are concerned about capacity or timing should ask admissions directly whether (a) applications are processed on a rolling basis, (b) there is a waiting list for specific grades or sections, and (c) how the school notifies families if a place becomes available. The international schools databases that summarize JCID list “no deadline” and that students can join after the academic year begins, which suggests rolling intake rather than a formal, published waitlist — but for an authoritative answer please contact the school's admissions office.
Wellington College International Shanghai is in the Qiantan International Business District, Pudong New District (No.1500 Yao Long Road; campus main gate listed as No.100 Hai Yang Xi Road). The school also operates a separate Early Years Centre (No.195 Tongwan Road). The nearest metro is Oriental Sports Center (Lines 6, 8 and 11 — exit 4 is the recommended exit and involves a short walk via Yaoti/Yaolong roads).
The school runs an Early Years Centre for children aged c.2–5 (Pre‑Nursery, Nursery, Reception), a Primary/Prep phase and a Secondary phase up to Year 13. Years 10–11 follow IGCSE programmes and Years 12–13 study the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IBDP); the school's published age range is from the Early Years through to graduation around age 18.
Wellington Shanghai is a co‑educational private international day school offering a bilingual (English–Mandarin) curriculum and is part of the Wellington College Education (China) group, linked to Wellington College in the UK. The Shanghai campus does not operate a boarding programme (students must reside in Shanghai with a parent).
The school has a Learning Support department that provides bespoke support for pupils with learning difficulties, working with class teachers, families and — where needed — external specialists. Support is planned, reviewed regularly and sits alongside the school's pastoral and wellbeing provision.
The campus is affiliated with Wellington College (the founding school in the UK) and is part of the Wellington College Education (China) network — it is an independent international school rather than a government/state school.
The Shanghai campus does not present itself as a faith school on its website. (For context, the original Wellington College in the UK has historical Church of England roots, but the Shanghai campus does not advertise a religious designation.)
The school notes that every school day begins with a pastoral session; break and lunch arrangements and exact school start/end times vary by year group. Detailed daily timetables and term‑specific schedules are published to parents via the school calendar/parent portal — contact Admissions or consult the calendar/parent resources for the precise times for the year group you are considering.
Wellington provides an optional daily school‑bus service operated with a licensed third‑party transport company; routes cover many pick‑up points (the school cites more than 130 in Puxi and 70 in Pudong) and each bus is staffed by a bus monitor responsible for pupils on the journey. Parents register via the EDU365 bus platform; the school publishes a general annual bus fee and a separate Welly Line (local) route and fee schedule (the website shows the Welly Line fee and the standard annual fee with termly breakdowns).
The school does not offer boarding. All students must reside in Shanghai with at least one parent.
Uniforms and sports kits are mandatory. The dress code is specified for each year group, and the uniform shop is on the first floor of Building A next to the V&A Café.
Catering is provided by Aden. Menus include daily Asian and Western options such as sandwiches and noodles with vegetarian choices, and allergens are posted; the environment is nut-free.
The house system comprises eight houses: Combermere, Hill, Hopetoun, Wellesley, Stanley, Lynedoch, Hardinge and Orange. Pupils are allocated to a house on joining and remain in it; houses coordinate academic, artistic and sporting activities and foster school identity.
The school is governed by Wellington College Education (China) (WCEC). The governing framework includes the WCEC Executive Board, School Affairs Boards and four sub-committees (Academic, Facilities and Services, Finance and HR, Safeguarding). Appointments come from Wellington College in the UK and WCEC.
Wellington College International Shanghai delivers a bilingual (English–Mandarin) curriculum across Early Years, Primary and Secondary stages, integrating Mandarin as a core subject and offering a Dual Language Pathway.
The Early Years Centre (Pre‑Nursery, Nursery, Reception; ages 2–5) follows a bespoke programme linked to the UK Early Years Foundation Stage with play‑based and inquiry approaches.
The Primary School (Years 1–6) uses the English National Curriculum adapted for international learners, delivered through a concept‑based Programme of Inquiry and substantial Chinese language provision.
The Secondary School serves ages 11–18 (Years 7–13): pupils study towards IGCSE qualifications in Years 10–11 (core English, mathematics, sciences plus options in humanities, languages, arts and PE).
Sixth Form (Years 12–13) follows the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP); Mandarin study routes include IGCSE Mandarin in Years 10–11 and IB language options (ab initio, Chinese B, or Chinese A at SL/HL) in the Diploma years.
Wellington states that pastoral care is central to the College and that every school day begins with a pastoral session led by class teachers, form tutors, heads of year and tutors to provide one-to-one and group discussions, quiet self‑study and wellbeing reflection. The school says its wellbeing curriculum was developed in partnership with the Institute of Positive Education and includes age‑appropriate PSHE elements and mindfulness to build emotional literacy. Pastoral provision is described as operating across Early Years to Year 13, with class teachers taking the lead in Early Years/Primary and heads of year and tutors leading in Senior School. Specific staff roles named on the site include heads of year, tutors and specialists from the Pupil Services department.
The College's website describes a Learning Support department that provides support and guidance to pupils with learning difficulties at varying levels and that the school works closely with teachers, pupils and parents to identify, plan and review bespoke support. The school states that, in some cases, it will engage external partners where the need demands it, and the site references external speech‑language specialists in related events. The website does not present Wellington College International Shanghai as a specialist SEN institution; provision is described as school‑based Learning Support rather than specialised residential or specialist SEN provision. Specific diagnostic categories (for example, autism spectrum disorder, specific learning disorders, etc.) are not listed on the public pages.
Wellington publishes a dedicated explanation of its EAL provision: pupils are grouped by ability into three tiers (beginners, intermediate and highly proficient) and may receive targeted small‑group intervention, in‑class EAL teacher support or enrichment and challenge as appropriate. The site names a Director of English as Additional Language and describes practices such as withdrawal groups, in‑class support from EAL teachers and a 1:1 reading programme with interns to develop English proficiency. The pages emphasise immersion in an English‑rich environment alongside structured support to develop both conversational and academic English.
The school describes a central Pupil Services hub that includes counselling, life coaches and learning support and states that wellbeing is delivered through timetabled lessons and specialist interventions. A news article on the site reports that the Pupil Services team includes trained coaches, counsellors, staff trained in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and art therapists, and that there are fortnightly wellbeing lessons from Year 1 to 13 developed with the Institute of Positive Education. The site also refers to workshops from external specialists (for example ELG) and parent workshops as part of the wider mental‑health provision. Specific hour‑by‑hour service schedules or clinical treatment protocols are not published on the public pages.
Wellington's safeguarding pages state the College has robust child‑protection policies and procedures, requires all staff to read and sign the Safeguarding Policy and Staff Code of Conduct annually, and provides annual safeguarding training for staff. The school says it follows the recommendations of the International Task Force on Child Protection for recruitment and requires rigorous background checks for staff appointments. The site gives a named contact for safeguarding concerns (Designated Safeguarding Lead, Gemma McDonagh) and offers the full Safeguarding Policy as a downloadable document. For details of policy text, reporting routes or statutory timings, the site directs readers to the downloadable safeguarding policy.
1. Initial enquiry and information-gathering. Contact the Wellington Admissions team (phone and email are published on the school site) or use the online enquiry/OpenApply link to request the Admissions booklet and the application checklist; parents should download and read the booklet and checklist so they know exactly which documents the school requires.
2. Complete the online application. Applications are submitted via the school's OpenApply portal; you will need to upload the documents listed on the published checklist (for example: passport/ID, recent school reports and any assessment records). There is a non‑refundable application fee (RMB 3,500) that must be paid for the application to be reviewed — make sure you attach all required files before submitting.
3. Assessment scheduling and format. After a completed application is received the school arranges an age‑appropriate Wellington admission assessment; assessments are usually held at the campus but can be arranged remotely if your child lives outside Shanghai. Parents should prepare for an assessment that looks at age‑appropriate literacy, numeracy and learning behaviours — the school notes assessment results are considered but are not the sole basis for decisions.
4. Admissions Committee review and decision timing. Applications (including assessment outcomes and submitted documents) are reviewed by the Admissions Committee; the school aims to notify applicants within five working days but warns that busier year groups may take longer. Keep in regular contact with your assigned admissions officer if you need a faster update or if you must meet any internal deadlines.
5. Offer, acceptance and deposits. If you receive an offer the school issues an offer letter; to secure the place parents must accept the College's terms and pay the stated resource fee (the site lists RMB 18,000) within the published acceptance window (the school's page specifies a five‑day deadline). Check the offer letter carefully for the exact payment deadline and the method (bank transfer instructions/terms will be on the letter).
6. Waiting pool / provisional placement (if no place is immediately available). If no places are available you may be placed in the school's waiting pool (the school uses the term “waiting pool” rather than a simple first‑come queue); placement into that pool only happens after a completed application, assessment and a recommendation by the Admissions Committee. The school emphasises that the waiting pool is managed by “best fit” (not strictly by application date) and that not all applicants in the pool will be offered a place.
7. Practical documents, timelines and re‑application. An application remains valid for one academic year (August–June); if you wish to apply for the following year you must submit a fresh application. Parents should also prepare routine documents (proofs of guardianship/residency, up‑to‑date school reports, immunisation/health records where required) in advance to avoid delaying assessment and review.
8. Fees, what they cover and when to review them. The school publishes a detailed fee schedule (the site's 2025–26 schedule lists annual and term breakdowns by year group) and states which items are included (most curriculum materials, basic co‑curricular activities and some trips) and which are excluded (school lunches, uniform, transport, individual music tuition and voluntary trips). Parents should download the full fee schedule from the school site and check the exact figure for their child's year group before accepting an offer.
9. Final enrolment steps and contact. After you accept an offer and complete payment, follow any onboarding instructions from Admissions (medical forms, start‑date confirmation, orientation details). If you have timing constraints (relocation dates, visa timing, sibling placements) communicate these early to your Admissions officer as published contact details are available on the school site.
Wellington Shanghai runs a Fellows & Scholars programme plus means‑tested bursaries. The Fellows Programme recognises pupils (years 10–13) for exceptional contribution in academics, the arts or sport and does not carry a monetary award; Fellows gain additional enrichment opportunities. The Scholars (scholarship) awards are merit‑based, limited in number, focused in Academics, Arts or Sport, carry a bespoke programme of study and may include a fee reduction (the school's communications and news posts reference scholarships that can provide either 50% or 100% reductions in tuition for successful applicants). Applicants for scholarship consideration are typically identified or nominated by subject/department leaders during the admissions process (the site notes there is no separate formal application for scholarship — nominations are reviewed by a scholarship committee). In addition, the College offers bursaries for families in financial need; bursaries are awarded annually after objective means testing and the level of support is limited, so families should contact Admissions for the specific process and timeline. For full details, eligibility criteria and current deadlines consult the school's Fellowship, Scholarship and Bursaries page and the scholarship announcements on the school site.
Wellington College International Shanghai operates a formal waiting pool (referred to on the site as a “waiting pool”). A child is placed into the waiting pool only after the application has been completed, the assessment has been carried out and the Admissions Committee has recommended placement. The school states that the waiting pool is managed by suitability/best fit rather than strictly by application order, and that families will be contacted if a place becomes available; it also warns that not all applicants in the pool will ultimately receive an offer.
