Compare Specialist-level SEN International Schools in Shenzhen, China

📚 Learning Specialist 🧩 Behaviour Basic

Instructs in English

Ages 2 - 18 years

Fees RMB 138,300 - 226,800

Type Co-educational

QSI International School of Shenzhen was established in 2001 as a non-profit, English-medium day school and serves expatriate families in Shenzhen across three nearby campuses. The school operates a Preschool & Lower Elementary campus (ages 2–7), a Main campus for middle grades (ages 8–13), and a Secondary campus for ages 14–18; AP courses and the IB Diploma are offered at the secondary level. QSI uses a Mastery Learning approach and explicitly teaches its Success Orientations (e.g., Trustworthiness, Responsibility, Kindness) across grades. Preschool and lower-elementary class sizes are given as 16 for 2-year-olds and about 18–20 for 3–7 year-old classes. Facilities described on campus pages include libraries, science labs, music and art spaces, indoor gym space and outdoor play areas. An optional, local school-bus service (with English-speaking bus monitors) is available; routes and fees are handled separately by the school.

Location

QSI Shenzhen is located in the Shekou area of Nanshan District, Shenzhen, with campuses clustered near Tai Zi Road / Bitao Center and the Fenghua Theatre (Shekou). The campuses are accessible from nearby metro stations serving the Sea World / Shekou area and are in a mixed residential and commercial neighbourhood popular with expatriate families.

Stages

The school operates three campuses divided by age: Preschool & Lower Elementary (ages 2–7), Main Campus / Middle School (ages 8–13), and Secondary Campus (ages 14–18). Each campus has its own facilities and administration.

Type

QSI Shenzhen is a non-profit, co-educational day school that serves expatriate families; it does not offer boarding. The school follows the QSI / American-based approach and is part of the Quality Schools International group.

Additional learning support

The school provides dedicated learning-support staff (including two learning support teachers and paraprofessionals in younger classes), a full‑time counselor on each campus, and an Intensive English (IE) programme for early learners who need extra English instruction. QSI's network also works with regional learning‑support coordinators when additional assessment or planning is required.

Country affiliation

The school is an independent international school and part of the QSI group (an international network); it is not affiliated with a particular national government. QSI schools hold international accreditations (QSI Shenzhen is accredited by the Middle States Association).

Religious affiliation

QSI Shenzhen is secular and has no religious affiliation; its programme and materials present a non‑religious, international curriculum.

School day structure

Classes generally begin at 8:30 AM. At the Secondary Campus the school follows an alternating block schedule with classes starting at 8:30 AM and ending at about 4:00 PM, with a morning break, an afternoon break and a 45‑minute lunch; younger divisions typically finish earlier (check admissions for exact division times).

Bus service

QSI Shenzhen offers an optional school bus service run in partnership with a local transport company; bus service is not included in tuition and routes are arranged based on demand. Each bus has an English‑speaking QSI bus monitor, seat belts are required, and some routes include a late bus for after‑school activities. Families can contact the school's transportation office for route details and costs.

Application fees and deposits
- One-time, non-refundable registration/application fee: RMB 2,100 per child.
- Non-refundable tuition deposit (placement fee) due within 10 working days of an acceptance offer: RMB 25,200; this amount is applied to school fees but is forfeited if the student does not enroll.

Tuition fees by year group (published third-party figures)
- The school's public pages do not publish a full numeric tuition table. A third‑party fee listing for the 2025/2026 academic year shows example annual tuition totals by grade (given in RMB): Nursery/Kindergarten ages 2–4: RMB 138,300; Kindergarten 3 and Grades 1–12: RMB 226,800 (variations by specific grade noted in the source). These figures are from an independent fees aggregator and are provided here as published by that third party.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Discounts are offered for full-term payments made on or before the term due dates, with an additional discount available if the full annual payment is completed on or before 1 October. If first-term payment is missed but the full year is paid by 1 October, a maximum discount may still apply.
- Payments must be made on or before the published due dates; students with outstanding fees may be withheld from classes, evaluations, official records, or communications until accounts are settled.

Boarding fees
- QSI Shenzhen is a non-profit day school (no boarding program); therefore no boarding fees apply.

Other costs and recurring charges
- Capital Fund Fee: a separate fee to support facilities and school development is charged (purpose described by the school).
- Bus/transportation and school lunch programs are optional and billed separately (bus routes/costs managed via the school's transport arrangements).
- Uniforms: the school does not require full daily uniforms; a P.E. uniform is provided/required where applicable (uniform policy noted by third-party listings).

Refund information
- The registration/application fee and the placement deposit are explicitly non-refundable; the deposit is forfeited if the student does not enroll. No other public refund policy for tuition or other fees is published on the school's public pages.

Fee payment options
- The school lists payment methods as RMB bank transfer or cash. Credit-card payment is not listed on the publicly posted payment instructions. For invoicing, fapiao, and accounting matters the school provides finance office contacts.

Note: the school's public pages provide policy and procedural details but do not publish a full, grade-by-grade numeric fee schedule; the numeric tuition figures above are taken from a third‑party aggregator that cites the school's fees for 2025/2026. Where the school states specific fee items or policies, the school's pages are cited.

Boarding Arrangements

The school is a day school with no boarding facilities.

Food Options

Lunch is provided by a licensed canteen with an FDA Grade A central kitchen; students may bring lunch from home or participate in the hot lunch program. Meals include two proteins, two side dishes, one carbohydrate, one soup, and fruit or a dessert, with Western and local options; Korean, Chinese and vegetarian boxed lunches are available, and drinking water is provided and tested monthly.

Governance and Ownership

The school is a nonprofit, independently owned and operated institution. It is fully accredited by the Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges.

Curriculum

QSI Shenzhen delivers an American‑based, mastery‑learning program in English with core classes in reading, writing, mathematics, cultural studies and science, supplemented by specialist courses (art, music, PE, technology, foreign languages) and character “Success Orientations.” Preschool and Lower Elementary (ages 2–7) use research‑based early‑years materials (Splash into Pre‑K for preschool) and a play‑based integrated 5‑year‑old program; 6–7‑year‑olds follow a full program including math, reading/language arts, science, cultural studies, art, music, computers and PE. The Main Campus (ages 8–13) aligns many courses with U.S. Common Core standards, provides an Intensive English program for learners of English, and offers technology, PE, art/music and foreign language instruction (Chinese and introductory Spanish). The Secondary Campus (ages 14–18) is a college‑preparatory program offering a QSI Academic Diploma, an Academic Diploma with Honors (which requires at least two AP courses), and the option to pursue the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma in Sec III–IV; students can earn the IB Diploma in addition to the QSI diploma. Advanced study options include year‑long, a‑la‑carte Advanced Placement (AP) courses across humanities, math, science, languages and arts (with external exams in May), which are offered for qualified students (encouraged in Secondary I–II) and can complement IB preparation.

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

QSI Shenzhen teaches character education through its Success Orientations (e.g., Trustworthiness, Responsibility, Concern for Others) and states this is introduced throughout classrooms and the school. The school also says it has a full-time school counselor at each campus who provides character education, friendship groups, and social & emotional support. These elements are presented as part of the school's whole-child approach to learning. Specific curricula, lesson plans, or measurable SEL outcomes are not published on the school website.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)

The school's website states it employs two learning support teachers, a regional learning support coordinator, and paraprofessionals in early years classes to support individual student needs. QSI Shenzhen presents these staff as providing additional support to students but does not list a catalogue of specific diagnoses or types of special educational needs it can support. The website does not describe the school as a specialist SEN institution; it presents these roles within a mainstream international school model. Detailed policies, formal referral pathways, or scope/limits of SEN provision are not published on the site.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

QSI Shenzhen publishes an Intensive English (IE) Program for students beginning in the 6-year-old class, with students in the IE Program attending IE classes during daily Reading/Writing time. The school also states many teachers hold additional certifications to teach English Language Learners and that the overall program is an English-immersion, American-based curriculum. The website does not provide detailed EAL entry-level criteria, individual withdrawal or push-in/pull-out models, or numbers of EAL staff.

Mental Wellbeing

The school states that each campus has a full-time counselor who provides social and emotional support, friendship groups, and character education, and secondary counselors also provide college counselling. QSI Shenzhen's materials present these counseling services as part of student support but do not publish a detailed mental-health policy, clinical referral procedures, or descriptions of in-school therapy services. The site also highlights community and parent involvement (e.g., Parent Support Group) as part of student well‑being activities.

Safeguarding

QSI Shenzhen publishes a Safeguarding and Child Protection statement that names child protection as a school priority and says the school implements school-based safeguarding policies, regular onsite training, and safe recruitment practices. The statement also says the school educates students and adults on safeguarding and works with international agencies to review and apply best-practice standards. The website provides this formal commitment but does not publish a full safeguarding policy document or detailed reporting procedures on the public pages linked.

Admissions

1. Start the online application. Begin by completing the school's online application through the parent portal (portal.qsishenzhen.cn). After you submit the online form the Admissions Office will contact you to schedule an in-person Admissions appointment for document drop-off and testing; parents should book any campus tours in advance to ensure staff availability.

2. Prepare and bring required documents to the Admissions appointment. The school requires proof of the child's and parents' passports/visas, two years of school records (if applicable), immunization records, and two passport photos for each parent and the child; school records not in English must be officially translated. Failure to bring all items on the application checklist will delay processing, so download and follow the Application Checklist before your appointment.

3. Pay the application/registration fee at the appointment. A non-refundable application/registration fee (stated on the site as RMB 2,100) is due at the time of the Admissions appointment and is typically required in cash; keep the receipt as it is part of your application record. The Admissions Office will not proceed with document processing or testing until this fee is paid.

4. Admissions testing and initial placement. Students age 5+ will take the NWEA MAP computerized adaptive tests in Reading, Math, and Language Usage (all in English); students age 8+ also complete a written essay. MAP results are used for placement but are not the sole determinant—previous records and the Director of Instruction's evaluation also factor into final grade placement.

5. Interview with the Director of Instruction. After testing and document review you will be scheduled for an interview with the campus Director of Instruction; the Director makes the admission decision and places students (age and previously completed grade are primary considerations). Expect the school to place students according to age first, with some exceptions decided by the Director; secondary (high‑school) applicants must demonstrate the English level needed for success in the secondary program.

6. Decision timeline and deposit to hold a space. The Admissions Office aims to return a decision (accepted, denied, or waiting list) by email within one to two days after the interview if all documents were submitted. If accepted, parents must pay a non‑refundable tuition deposit (listed on the site as RMB 25,200) within 10 working days to secure the place; this deposit is applied to fees but forfeited if the student does not enroll.

7. Final invoicing, payments and start. Tuition invoices are issued after the child begins school; the school publishes a Capital Fund Fee and describes a discount policy for timely full‑term/annual payments. Payments are accepted by RMB bank transfer or cash; students may be restricted from class, and records withheld, if fees are not current—so confirm payment deadlines and invoicing procedures with the Finance Office.

Waitlist

QSI Shenzhen states that the Admissions outcome may be “accepted,” “denied,” or “waiting list,” and families are informed by email shortly after the Director of Instruction's interview. The website does not publish detailed rules for how the waiting list is ordered (for example, whether it is strictly by application date, placement testing results, or other criteria), so parents should ask Admissions directly about their child's position and expected timeline if a waiting‑list offer is issued. For up‑to‑date information about availability at a specific campus or age level, contact admissions@shenzhen.qsi.org or the Admissions Office phone numbers listed on the site.

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Shekou International School

📚 Learning Specialist 🧩 Behaviour Basic

Instructs in English, French, Mandarin

Ages 2 - 18 years

Fees RMB 182,000 - 316,000

Pupils 1100

Type Co-educational

Shekou International School (SIS) was established in January 1988 and operates across three Shekou campuses (Jingshan, The Bay, and Net Valley). The school serves Nursery to Grade 12, with more than 1,100 students from over 40 countries, and the Bay campus houses the upper-primary grades and the main office. SIS is an authorized IB World School delivering the IB Diploma Programme and has implemented the PYP; the school is also progressing through MYP authorization. SIS runs language-specialist pathways including a long‑running French International Programme and recent Chinese bilingual offerings. The school publishes a bus service for Shenzhen families (daily two-way routes with licensed, air‑conditioned buses). The facts above are taken from the SIS website (History; About Us; Our Future; Map & Directions; Bus Info).

Location

Shekou International School is located in Shekou, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, with three nearby campuses: Jingshan (Early Primary) on Nanhai Boulevard, The Bay (Upper Primary) on Gangwan Avenue, and Net Valley (Secondary) in the Net Valley / industrial-innovation area. The three sites are within walking distance of one another (the Bay and Jingshan are about a 15-minute walk; Net Valley is roughly a further 15–20 minutes). For exact addresses and campus maps see the school's contact and directions pages.

Stages

SIS serves Nursery through Grade 12 (ages about 2–18) across three campuses: an Early Primary (Nursery–K) campus, an Upper Primary (Grades 1–5) campus, and a Secondary campus (Grades 6–12). The school runs both an International Programme and a French International Programme.

Type

SIS is a private, not-for-profit, co‑educational international school governed/managed by International Schools Services (ISS). The school's published information describes day-school programmes only; no boarding provision is indicated.

Additional learning support

The school publishes a Student Support (Learning Support Services) programme that provides in-class and small-group interventions, a full-time learning support specialist on each campus, EAL (English as an Additional Language) support using a sheltered-immersion model, and counselling services for social/emotional and academic needs. Campuses also have designated small-group spaces (the FAQs mention a sensory space) and the school asks families to disclose learning needs at application so appropriate services can be considered.

Country affiliation

SIS is located in China but is not affiliated with a particular national education authority; it is owned and managed by the international organisation International Schools Services (ISS).

Religious affiliation

No religious affiliation is stated on the school website; SIS presents itself as a secular/international day school.

School day structure

Published FAQs state the usual school day runs 8:00–15:00 for Nursery through Grade 5 and 8:30–15:30 for Grades 6–12. The school also offers after‑school activities (ASAs) and an after‑school bus service for students taking activities.

Bus service

SIS provides paid two‑way bus transportation across Shenzhen; fees cover daily two‑way service and a separate afternoon run is provided for students in after‑school activities. Buses are described as fully licensed, air‑conditioned, fitted with seatbelts, and supervised by two bus attendants; routes are fixed and only registered riders may use them. The school uses a bus‑tracking app and asks parents to be prompt at pick‑up; young children (up to Grade 5) must be met at afternoon drop‑off or will be returned to school and parents contacted. For route details or to register contact sisbus@sis.org.cn or the school admissions office.

Application fees
- Application processing fee: RMB 2,000 (non‑refundable; typically applied to tuition upon enrollment).

Tuition fees (summary by school phase)
- Early years / Preschool: approximately RMB 80,000 – RMB 175,000 per year (typical range reported for pre‑K/kindergarten).
- Primary (Upper Primary / Elementary): commonly around RMB 202,000 per year (sources report Primary yearly fees at about this level).
- Secondary / High School: reported annual tuition commonly in the RMB 202,000 – RMB 209,000 range; some published summaries place SIS overall annual tuition across grades within a wider band of roughly RMB 182,000 – RMB 316,000.

Per‑term detail and billing schedule
- The school issues invoices for the full school year; the full year's fees are normally due within four weeks of invoice receipt. Late penalties are applied for overdue payments. An annual re‑registration deposit (reported as RMB 8,000) is requested each March and is applied to the next year's tuition.

Boarding fees
- Shekou International School operates as a day school; boarding is not listed as an option. No boarding‑fee schedule applies.

Other costs (examples commonly charged)
- School bus: optional service with a termly/annual charge; routes and fees published for each school year.
- Co‑curricular/ASA charges: many after‑school activities are free or nominally charged; some external/community‑led ASAs are charged to parents.
- Typical additional items that parents should expect: lunches/cafeteria, excursions and field trips, textbooks/student resources, uniforms, and occasional activity or examination fees. (These items are commonly charged at SIS and peer schools.)

Refunds and deposits
- The application fee is non‑refundable. The March re‑registration deposit is applied to tuition; standard school policies hold parents responsible for fees and outline late/forfeiture conditions.

Fee payment options and currency
- Fees are payable in RMB by bank transfer; the school publishes Bank of China account details for RMB and a US$ account. Payment in US$ or other currencies must be arranged with the school's accounting office in advance. Parents are asked to provide transfer slips/identifiers as instructed.

Uniform Requirement

Uniforms are required for nursery through grade 10; students in grades 11 and 12 may wear either the uniform or business casual attire. Uniform pieces must come from the official uniform collection, and on PE days students wear the PE kit. Uniforms are worn daily on regular school days and for field trips.

Food Options

The SIS cafeteria services are provided by ISS World, offering healthy fusion meals. Lunch is available with weekly menus for the Jingshan, The Bay, and Net Valley campuses, with sample menus and dietary information published for reference.

Governance and Ownership

SIS is a private, co-educational, not-for-profit school owned and governed by International Schools Services (ISS). The SIS Board is composed of ISS senior staff together with the Head of School and the SIS Chief Finance and Administration Officer.

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

SIS describes a school‑wide guidance curriculum and advisory programme (middle and high school) that addresses students' personal, social and emotional development and supports global citizenship, communication and collaboration skills. Counsellors deliver classroom lessons, individual and group sessions and work with teachers and parents to reinforce social and emotional learning. The school's Learner Profile and guidance curriculum are cited as resources that promote respect and kindness across the community. SIS also integrates service‑learning (MYP Service as Action / Week Without Walls) as part of developing empathy and responsibility. (Sources: Student Support; Safeguarding; MYP pages).

Special Educational Needs (SEN)

SIS states it admits and accommodates students with additional learning needs "as existing space and resources allow" and that decisions about admission and continuation of services are made case‑by‑case. Each campus has a full‑time learning support specialist who provides individual and small‑group interventions, collaborates with teachers, offers professional development and parent education. The website emphasises support to help students access the regular curriculum rather than offering an alternative course of study. The school does not publicly list specific categories of special educational needs it can support on the Student Support page. SIS presents itself as an inclusive school that provides learning support within its existing resources rather than as a specialist SEN institution.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

SIS states that EAL specialists support non‑native English speakers through referral at admission or by teacher recommendation and that support focuses on social and academic language development. The school uses a Sheltered‑Immersion Model (SIM): EAL teachers work directly in mainstream classrooms (students are not withdrawn) and support reading, writing, speaking and listening within grade‑level curricula. EAL specialists and classroom teachers jointly assess and monitor students' English acquisition and recommend services based on recent assessments and classroom performance. The Student Support page describes these structures but does not publish detailed staffing numbers or placement criteria on the public page.

Mental Wellbeing

SIS describes a comprehensive, developmental counselling programme that addresses students' personal, social, emotional and academic needs and includes individual and group counselling, classroom lessons and parent programmes. Primary counsellors offer lessons and family support for younger students while middle and high school counselling includes advisory and academic/career guidance and four‑year planning in high school. The school runs wellbeing‑focused initiatives and workshops (for example, school‑wide Wellbeing Week, Positive Discipline workshops and parent education events listed in the events calendar). Counsellors also provide materials and resources to support student adjustment and achievement. (Sources: Student Support page and the school events calendar).

Safeguarding

SIS has a published Child Safeguarding Policy (linked on its Safeguarding page) and states the policy is based on international law, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and Chinese law. The school says all staff who work directly with students undergo police clearance and, where applicable, international background checks before employment and that staff receive annual training on recognising and reporting abuse and neglect. SIS also states students receive age‑appropriate lessons on personal safety and where to seek help, and lists the Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy among its key policies. The Policies and Practices section links to the detailed Safeguarding & Child Protection document (hosted via the school's policy/sharepoint links).

Admissions

1. Initial enquiry and Open Day: Start by registering for an online Open Day (offered approximately every three weeks). The online Open Day introduces the school's programmes and campuses and families who attend are usually then invited to an in-person tour; you may also begin the formal application at any time. Parents should note the Open Day schedule and register early because tours and application slots can fill quickly.

2. In-person tour and school visit: After the online Open Day you will normally be invited to an in-person campus tour and, where appropriate, a classroom visit or playdate for the child. Use the tour to confirm practical details (which campus your child will attend, transport options, school hours and ASA schedules) and to ask about language support or learning‑support capacity. If you need language assistance, the admissions office includes Mandarin and Cantonese speaking staff; ask for their support when you book the visit.

3. Complete the online application and assemble documents: Submit the school's online application (SIS uses the OpenApply portal) and upload all required documents listed on the application. The Admissions Policy says a complete application must include the application fee and all specified documents (examples commonly required are passport/ID, immunization records, recent school reports, passport photo and teacher recommendation forms); incomplete applications cannot be processed and will be discarded after 30 days. Parents should prepare translated copies where needed and check the specific document list for the grade you are applying to before submitting.

4. Application fee and scheduling of assessment: After the application and the non‑refundable application fee are received the school schedules the child's assessment or playdate as relevant for the age/grade. The admissions FAQ sets out grade‑by‑grade assessment practice (examples: playdates for nursery; school‑designed English and maths tasks for mid‑year Kindergarten to Grade 1; MAP reading and MAP maths for Grades 2–5; MAP + essay for Grades 6–12; WIDA may be used where additional language information is needed). Expect the assessment to be paired with a short interview (student and parent) and plan travel/logistics around the scheduled assessment.

5. Disclosure of learning‑support needs and EAL considerations: If your child has an IEP or learning‑support needs you must supply all relevant documentation at application (recent testing, reports and current support plans). The Admissions Policy explains that SIS admits students with additional needs only where the school has the resources to meet those needs; decisions are made case‑by‑case and additional evaluation may be requested (at the family's expense). If your child will need English language support (EAL), be prepared for screening and for placement decisions that consider both the child's projected rate of language acquisition and available classroom balance.

6. Priority groups, decision categories and notification: Admissions decisions take into account priority categories (for example siblings, certain company‑sponsored families and expatriate passport criteria) as well as English proficiency, academic history and available space. The Director of Admissions will notify families of one of three outcomes: Accepted (place offered if space allows), Wait Pool (applicant meets requirements but the grade is full) or Not Accepted. Parents should check the offer letter carefully for any stated deadlines and the instructions the school supplies about next steps.

7. If placed on the wait pool or offered a place: If your child is placed in the wait pool you will remain on that list for the academic year applied for; the school reviews the pool as places become available and may re‑order consideration according to priority factors. If you receive an offer, the school's offer/acceptance instructions and the current fee schedule (downloadable from the Tuition & Fees page) will outline the required paperwork and payment items; follow those instructions and contact Admissions promptly if you need clarification. For administrative or fee questions, contact admissions directly (the admissions office publishes phone extensions and an email address on the school site).

8. Onboarding and first term arrangements: Once acceptance actions are completed the school will provide information on orientation, timetables, bus registration and other practical arrangements (uniform, lunch accounts, ASA sign‑up). Familiarise yourself with the school's communication platforms (Seesaw for Early Years/Primary; ManageBac for upper levels) so you can receive notices, homework and teacher messages. If your child will use the school bus or ASA programme, check the ASA fee practice and bus tracking options ahead of term start so you can register in time.

Scholarships

SIS publishes two formal scholarship streams on its admissions pages and accepts applications through the online portal.

- French International Programme Scholarship (ISS Global International Language Scholarship): This award supports students joining the French International Programme. It is intended for French speakers or those with appropriate French proficiency, is offered to students entering Grades 1–5, and is awarded for up to three years or until the student completes Grade 5. The application is made online and requires the standard application documents (application fee, passport, immunization record, photos, school reports where applicable, and a completed teacher recommendation form). The school assesses language proficiency (oral test), academic standing, and family interview; awards are limited, vary year to year, and recipients must meet behavioural, attendance and community expectations to retain the scholarship. Note the scholarship is not available to students whose tuition is paid directly or indirectly by an employer. For full eligibility, timelines (applications are typically required by 31 December for the scholarship window) and the list of required documents consult the French International Programme Scholarship page.

- SIS Geckcellence Scholarship Competition: SIS also runs a Geckcellence Scholarship Competition; application and detailed information are published through the school's admissions links (application via OpenApply and further program details on the school's internal information pages). The number and value of awards can vary annually and are determined by the school based on available seats and funding. If you are interested in scholarship opportunities beyond these two named programmes, contact Admissions because additional or year‑specific awards and competitions may open in a given year.

Waitlist

SIS uses a wait pool (not a strict numbered waitlist): if an applicant meets the school's admission requirements but the requested grade is full the applicant is placed in the grade's wait pool for that academic year. The school's Admissions Policy explains that a student's position in the wait pool can change if a subsequent application has higher priority (for example sibling or defined expatriate/company priority), and that applicants remain in the wait pool only for the academic year applied for. Parents may contact Admissions to roll an application into the next academic year beginning December 1st, but applications do not automatically carry over; if you want to be considered for a later year you must request rollover or reapply with updated documents. Because offers from the pool are made as seats open (and are influenced by priority and balance considerations) movement off the pool is unpredictable; contact Admissions for the current status and any grade‑specific guidance.

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The King's School Shenzhen International

📚 Learning Specialist 🧩 Behaviour Basic

Instructs in English

Ages 2 - 18 years

Fees RMB 205,000 - 309,800

Pupils 230

Type Co-educational (boarding)

The King's School Shenzhen (Qianhai campus) opened for the first cohort in late October 2022 and is sited in Shenzhen's Qianhai Shenzhen–Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone. The school operates a 12-year Cambridge-based programme (including A-levels for senior students) and runs a separate King's kindergarten that uses the UK Early Years Foundation Stage framework. The campus was planned as a full boarding prep/senior school (boarding capacity cited by the school) and includes specialist rooms, sports provision and a dormitory building; it also runs robotics and drone/technology activity programmes and UK exchange links with the Canterbury school. The school's published recruitment/launch materials state an initial planned intake of about 200 students across 13 classes in its first year. All items above are taken from the school's official website.

Location

The school's main campus is in Qianhai, Nanshan District — address listed as No.375 Yuewan (月湾街375号), Shenzhen. It sits inside the Qianhai/Month Bay area, a short drive from central Nanshan and within reach of local metro and bus links (nearest metro references list Liyumen/Qianhai area).

Stages

The King's School Shenzhen serves ages 2–18: a Pre‑Prep/Early Years section (EYFS) for about 2–6 year‑olds, a Prep/Primary and Middle phase (roughly Years 1–8 / ages 6–14) and a Senior/High School for Years 9–12 (ages up to 18). Grade-year groupings and curriculum routes (EYFS, Cambridge IGCSE, A‑Levels) are described on the school site.

Type

The school is co‑educational and offers day places across the whole age range. Boarding is available from around Grade 4 upwards (lower‑year rooms are four‑person, older students 2‑person rooms per the school's boarding description).

Additional learning support

The school publishes a range of pastoral and academic support services: a Health & Well‑Being provision, English support and an academic support / pastoral care structure are mentioned on school materials and news items. For children with specific additional learning needs, the school describes inclusive support and structured academic/pastoral teams — parents are advised to discuss individual needs with admissions to confirm precise provisions.

Country affiliation

The Shenzhen school is an overseas branch of The King's School, Canterbury (UK) and states an operational link with the UK parent school. It is therefore affiliated with that British foundation rather than to a Chinese national chain.

Religious affiliation

The Shenzhen campus does not advertise a local religious denomination on its public pages; it operates as the international branch of The King's School Canterbury, a historic UK school with Church of England roots, but the Shenzhen materials focus on academic and pastoral provision rather than explicit religious observance.

School day structure

The school publishes an academic calendar and term dates but does not publish a single, fixed daily start/end time for every division on its public pages. Municipal guidance for Shenzhen schools sets typical earliest start times (for reference: primary not earlier than about 08:20, lower secondary not earlier than about 08:00), so exact daily timetables (arrival, break and lunch times) should be confirmed with admissions for the relevant year group.

Bus service

The school operates a paid school‑bus service for both the Early Years and the Main School; the admissions information and FAQ note that routes are arranged according to demand and currently cover parts of Nanshan, Bao'an and Futian. Specific stops, route maps, pick‑up/drop‑off times and fees are managed by the school and are provided to families when places are offered. }

Application and enrolment fees
- Application fee: RMB 2,000 (one‑time, non‑refundable).
- Placement / enrolment deposit: RMB 25,000 (paid on acceptance; held against future charges and refundable according to the school's terms and conditions).

Tuition fees (annual and typical term structure)
- Kindergarten (K1–K3): RMB 205,000 per year.
- Grades 1–3: RMB 236,500 per year.
- Grades 4–6: RMB 262,000 per year.
- Grades 7–10: RMB 288,800 per year.
- Grades 11–12: RMB 309,800 per year.

(Note: the school issues fee notices and offers payment in installments; historical practice shows a larger first installment followed by a second installment for the remaining balance, and an incentive for a single annual payment.)

Billing schedule and payment terms
- The school issues a formal fee notice with specific due dates. Families who pay the full year by the first deadline historically receive a discount (commonly a 2% annual‑payment discount). Installment schedules (for example a larger first payment followed by a second payment) have been used in prior years. Exact instalment amounts and deadlines are set in each year's fee notice.

Boarding / accommodation fees (where applicable)
- Boarding (weekday accommodation) is published at approximately RMB 100,000 per year (weekday: Sun–Thu); schools may invoice by semester (about RMB 50,000 per semester in past notices). Weekend boarding or additional nights is charged separately.

Other costs
- School uniform: charged separately (one‑off purchase on enrolment; prices vary by year group). Textbooks, exam fees, optional trips, certain extracurricular providers, lunch and transport are additional and charged as incurred. School lunch and other ancillary charges are commonly invoiced separately (monthly or per term).

Refunds and withdrawal
- The placement deposit is described as refundable subject to the school's published terms and conditions; withdrawal and refund adjustments follow the school's fee and refund policy as set out in the acceptance paperwork and fee notice.

Payment methods
- The school has required bank transfer for major payments in prior years (annual payments and first‑installment deadlines are often fulfilled by bank transfer); exact accepted payment channels and account details are provided on the school's fee notice. Other online or card options are not publicly detailed in the available fee notices.

Summary of gaps: public sources publish annual tuition, application fee and placement deposit and indicate installment arrangements, a discount for full‑year payment, and boarding charges; however, a definitive per‑term split for every year group for the current academic year was not found in openly published fee tables and is set each year in the school's formal fee notice.

Boarding Arrangements

The King's School Shenzhen International operates a boarding program at the Qianhai campus. Junior boarders live in four-person dorm rooms and senior boarders in two-person dorm rooms. A dedicated boarding team of four classroom teachers and three boarding tutors oversees daily life, with tutors residing on the same floors as boarders. Boarding life follows a structured routine with after-dinner activities, access to study spaces and library resources, and an evening study period supervised by teachers; the canteen provides three meals and three snacks daily.

Food Options

The in-house canteen is run by the school's catering team. It serves three meals and three snacks daily (breakfast, lunch, dinner, morning snack, afternoon snack, and evening snack), prepared to be delicious and nutritious.

Governance and Ownership

The school is part of The King's School network and has a sister-school relationship with The King's School Canterbury in the United Kingdom. The visit of The King's School Canterbury's Head and International Director to announce the Incoming Executive Principal signals ongoing cooperation and alignment between the Shenzhen and Canterbury campuses.

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

The school presents a structured pastoral-care model adapted from The King's School, Canterbury and identifies pastoral care and wellbeing as a core element of school life. The Deputy Head for Pastoral Care (Mrs Carrie Cameron) leads homeroom teachers, tutors and the House system that are described as central to day-to-day student support. Co-curricular activities are explicitly linked to health and wellbeing in the school's programme. Boarding provision includes dedicated boarding tutors and supervised evening study to support students outside lesson time. (Sources: school pastoral pages and staff/news items).

Special Educational Needs (SEN)

The school states it operates an inclusive policy and has a Learning Support department that advises teachers and parents on additional learning needs. On entry pupils undertake baseline testing to help identify learning difficulties, and the school describes use of differentiation in class and, where appropriate, individual learning plans (ILPs). The school says it will refer students to external specialists (for example an educational psychologist) if needed and that interventions are discussed with parents. The website does not list specific categories of special educational needs it can support nor does it describe operating as a specialist SEN institution. (All points taken from the school's Q&A and learning-support descriptions).

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

The school publishes staff profiles and articles describing staff experience teaching pupils for whom English is an additional language and explains classroom approaches used to support language learners. Senior students are also given electronic materials to preview and review lessons to assist comprehension and language acquisition. The school's published information indicates in-class differentiation and learning-support input are used to help non-native English speakers. The website does not, however, show a separately named EAL department or a detailed, standalone EAL policy. (Information from staff/profile articles and the school's admissions/learning-support Q&A).

Mental Wellbeing

The school frames mental wellbeing within its pastoral-care provision and describes systems intended to ensure students feel safe and supported emotionally. Leadership states an aim to manage workload so pupils are “stretched not stressed,” and pastoral leaders oversee houses, tutors and boarding to support students' social and emotional needs. Boarding routines and co-curricular activities are described as offering structured opportunities to decompress and build resilience. Teachers and boarding tutors are presented as first-line contacts for students needing support; more formal referrals are handled through the Learning Support team and external specialists where necessary. (Sources: pastoral pages, news/Q&A and boarding article).

Admissions

1. Book a campus visit or virtual tour and create an admissions account. The school uses OpenApply for event booking and the application portal; parents should choose the correct campus (Pre‑Prep or Main School), pick the exact year group they are applying for, and use an email address they will keep because that login will be used for the whole application. (See booking fields and campus list on the OpenApply portal.)

2. Complete the online application form in OpenApply and upload required documents. Typical items the system asks for are the applicant's legal name and date of birth, parent/guardian details, current school reports, passport/ID copies, and immunisation/health records — make sure scanned documents match the form field requirements and that names match legal ID. Allow time to translate or certify any documents not in English or Chinese before upload.

3. Pay the application fee (if required) and submit the application for processing. The school's published fee schedule shows a one‑time application fee and a refundable deposit as part of first‑year charges for new intakes; expect to be invoiced after an initial application is accepted. Parents should confirm the current amounts and refund terms with admissions before payment because fees and refund conditions can change year to year.

4. Assessments and interviews are scheduled once the application and documents are complete. For entry to Years 1–6 the school's FAQ says the admissions assessments include CAT4 testing plus an interview; for Years 7–8 the school lists CAT4, a writing test and an interview. For kindergarten/early years there is usually an observational session or parent‑child meeting — read the specific test guidance so you can prepare the right ID, school reports and any required samples of work.

5. Wait for the admissions decision and, if offered, review the acceptance paperwork. If an offer is made you will normally receive an acceptance letter or offer and an invoice for the enrolment deposit/first term fee — check the acceptance deadline carefully, the exact deposit amount shown on the invoice, and the school's refund policy before you pay to secure the place. Keep correspondence and payment receipts in case you need them later.

6. Complete registration tasks and prepare for transition. After payment of the deposit and any required enrolment forms, the school may ask you to complete health forms, bus enrolment, uniform orders and other pre‑start checklists in the portal; you should also confirm start‑of‑term dates and induction/transition visits for your child. If your child needs learning support, disclose this early and upload any assessment reports so the school can plan support measures before term starts.

7. Practical items to be ready: legal ID (passport or national ID), recent school reports and transcripts, immunisation records, proof of residence for the correct campus, and any educational/psychological reports where relevant. If you are applying from overseas, check visa/guardian requirements for the relevant year group (the school may also offer boarding from Year 4 and above; confirm the boarding eligibility process separately). These specifics are referenced in the school's admissions pages and FAQs.

Scholarships

The King's School Shenzhen's senior‑school navigation includes a Scholarship Programme section, which indicates the school runs some form of scholarships at the senior level; however the detailed official scholarship terms (eligibility windows, application deadlines, selection criteria and award levels) are not fully published in a single detailed page that I could retrieve. Third‑party coverage and local school reports indicate the Shenzhen campus has offered senior‑school scholarships in recent years (academic scholarships and performing‑arts/specialist awards have been referenced) and that award levels reported in local media range from partial awards (for example 10% of fees) up to full tuition awards for outstanding candidates. Because third‑party articles summarise past programmes and the school's own scholarship page does not publish full application rules in the public HTML I could access, I recommend contacting admissions to request the current scholarship policy, application form and deadlines (and to ask whether awards are means‑tested, merit‑based, renewable, or limited to particular year groups).

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Recognise International Academy

📚 Learning Specialist 🧩 Behaviour None

Instructs in English

Ages 4 - 16 years

Fees RMB 141,000

Type Co-educational

Recognise International Academy (RIA) is a small international school in the Shekou area of Shenzhen that describes itself as serving the expatriate community and offering places for children from Reception up to Year 11 (ages 4–16). The school states its curriculum is based on the National Curriculum of England and that English is the language of instruction. RIA emphasises small classes (maximum ten pupils) and a deliberately limited total enrolment to allow personalised teaching; a school page notes a maximum enrolment of 78. The school runs regular art and music lessons and twice-yearly performances, and lists Mandarin among the taught subjects. Contact details and the campus address are published on the school website.

Location

Recognise International Academy is located in the Shekou area of Shenzhen (Nanshan district); the school's postal address is 4–6 Bi Yu Lu, Bi Tao Yuan Villas, Tai Zi Road, Shenzhen 518067. Shekou is an established expatriate neighbourhood with ferry links and metro connections to other parts of Shenzhen and amenities such as Sea World nearby, so the area is commonly used by internationally mobile families.

Stages

RIA teaches children aged about 4 to 16 (Reception/Year 1 through Year 11, often shown as KG–Grade 10). The school's published curriculum pages describe Lower and Upper Primary (Years 1–6) and Lower and Upper Secondary (Years 7–11), with IGCSE study typically taken in Years 10–11.

Type

Recognise is an independent, small-scale international school that teaches in English and uses the UK National Curriculum as its basis; class sizes are kept small. The school is mixed-gender (co‑educational) and serves the expatriate community in Shekou.

Additional learning support

The school runs a dedicated Cognition (additional‑needs) class of around four to five students staffed by a specialist teacher plus a support teacher; pupils in that class follow tailored programmes and may join mainstream classes for some subjects and activities. RIA says it works with parents and external specialists to assess needs and plan pathways.

Country affiliation

The school has no stated national/ governmental affiliation; its curriculum is based on the National Curriculum of England (adapted for an international context).

Religious affiliation

There is no religious affiliation stated on the school website; RIA presents itself as a secular, international school.

School day structure

Morning arrival is between 8:30–8:45am and lessons begin at 8:50am. The published day runs with a morning break (around 10:15am), lunch about 12:00pm, an afternoon break at about 2:15pm and the normal end of day at 3:45pm (after‑school activities extend to 4:45pm).

Bus service

The school website does not list a school bus service; third‑party directory listings also indicate there is no school bus provided. If you will need transport from a particular neighbourhood, contact the admissions office to confirm current arrangements or recommended local transport options.

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

Recognise teaches explicit PSHE (called “Well‑being”) and a weekly ‘Habits of the Mind' (HOM) session to develop pupils' social skills, attitudes and resilience; Student Council activities form part of this programme. The school emphasises small classes and close teacher–student relationships so teachers have time to address emotional or behavioural issues and to discuss concerns with parents. The Parent Handbook and the school's features page describe these curriculum elements and the school's approach to emotional wellbeing.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)

The Parent Handbook states RIA offers targeted, individualised support for students with additional academic, social‑emotional or physical needs and that the school partners with experts and parents to assess needs and plan support. The admissions information also describes RIA as an inclusive, non‑selective school and says it has successfully supported children who struggled elsewhere. The handbook does not describe RIA as a specialist SEN institution; support is provided within the school's mainstream, small‑class context.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

The school website and Parent Handbook note an English‑speaking environment and describe Chinese language lessons, but they do not publish a specific EAL/ESL programme or detailed EAL provision. Therefore, the school does not publicly disclose dedicated EAL support or a named EAL policy on its website. For language provision the handbook describes four Chinese lessons per week and grouping by home language where appropriate.

Mental Wellbeing

Recognise integrates well‑being (PSHE) and HOM into the curriculum with weekly sessions that teach topics about growing up, managing oneself and positive learning attitudes, and the Student Council contributes to this strand. The school's aims include fostering resilience and positive self‑esteem, and small class sizes are presented as enabling teachers to identify and address emotional needs quickly. The Parent Handbook also outlines medical/health procedures and specialist help routes for pupils who require additional support.

Safeguarding

The Parent Handbook sets out practical safety and child‑care measures: drop‑off and collection rules (children must be brought to and collected by a responsible adult), emergency contact and medical/accident procedures, playground supervision and a complaints/concerns process. These operational rules and procedures are the school's published measures relating to pupil safety; however, the website does not show a separately titled, published ‘safeguarding' or ‘child protection' policy page. For definitive details or named safeguarding contacts, the school's office and principal contact details are provided on the site.

Admissions

1. Make an initial enquiry and get the application form. Be prepared to provide basic facts about your child (name, date of birth, current year group) so the school can advise which year group is appropriate.

2. Complete and return the application paperwork. Include scanned passport pages (the school only accepts students with expatriate/non-Chinese passports), recent school reports if you have them, and any learning-support information that affects your child.

3. Wait for an acknowledgement and a proposed meeting. The school will contact you to acknowledge receipt of the application and to arrange a meeting with you and your child; this is the formal next step after submission. Plan to bring originals of any documents (passports, previous school reports) to the meeting or be ready to show them via video call if you are overseas.

4. School visit / trial day for the child (if appropriate). RIA may set aside time for your child to spend at the school so staff can meet them and observe how they settle; this is commonly used to confirm the best class placement. Parents should note visits may include informal classroom observations and short activities rather than long formal testing.

5. Assessments and references (when appropriate). The school says it may carry out some gentle assessments and/or contact referees to establish current academic level and needs; these are used to inform placement and any individual support. If your child has special educational needs, bring relevant records and be ready to discuss support history, since RIA tailors placements to individual circumstances.

6. Overseas applicants: remote correspondence and interviews. If you are applying from outside China, the school conducts correspondence and interviews by email, Skype, FaceTime or WeChat where needed; be ready to arrange a convenient time across time zones. Have digital copies of passports, reports and any assessment documents available for the remote discussion.

7. Decision and timing. RIA describes itself as a small school with limited places and says decisions are at the discretion of the School Directors; for applications received before 30 March the school aims to confirm places before the end of the second week of April. Parents should be aware of the limited capacity (the school highlights small maximum class sizes) and plan alternative options in case a place is not available.

8. Confirm enrolment and fees. If offered a place, confirmation normally requires payment of the registration fee and completion of enrolment paperwork; tuition and payment terms are published on the Fees page (see Fees section). Keep a record of payment deadlines and the school's stated instalment schedule so you can meet the enrolment conditions promptly.

Scholarships

There are no scholarships, bursaries or financial-aid programmes described on the school's public admissions or fees pages. The Fees page lists tuition (141,000 RMB per year for 2023–24), a registration fee (6,500 RMB) and optional costs such as school lunches, but does not reference discounts, sibling concessions, or scholarship schemes. If you need fee assistance or want to check for any unpublished discounts or concessions (for example sibling discounts, staff-rate fees, or ad hoc awards), contact the school directly to ask — the admissions contact and principal's email addresses are available on the site.

Waitlist

The school does not publish a formal waitlist or 'pool' system on its website; instead the site explains that RIA has limited places that are in high demand and that enrolment decisions are made at the Directors' discretion. Parents who cannot secure an immediate place should contact the school (office.recognize@gmail.com or the admissions contact) to ask whether the school maintains an informal list or can notify them if a place becomes available. Because the site emphasises small class sizes and limited capacity, it is advisable to ask the school directly about expected timings for any vacancy notifications and whether the school will hold a place pending paperwork or fees.

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Shenzhen Foreign Languages GBA Academy

📚 Learning Specialist 🧩 Behaviour None

Instructs in English, Mandarin

Ages 6 - 19 years

Fees RMB 165,200 - 210,000

Pupils 900

Type Co-educational, Co-educational (boarding)

Shenzhen Foreign Languages Greater Bay Area Academy (SGA) opened in 2017 and is established and managed under the Shenzhen Municipal government and Shenzhen Foreign Languages School group. The school delivers a blended curriculum that integrates the Chinese National Curriculum with the International Baccalaureate (PYP, MYP and DP) and teaches in English as the primary language of instruction while maintaining Chinese language studies. The campus is described on the website as covering about 140,000 m² and the school publishes a teacher:student ratio of 1:7 and a Chinese/foreign teacher ratio of 4:3. Boarding is provided for middle and senior students (dorms are two-person rooms; boarding fee is published on the site). SGA also reports more than 200 after-school activities, Student-Led Clubs and School Teams, and lists notable STEM, music and arts achievements by students. (All points above are taken from the school website.)

Location

Address: No. 30 Xiangtang Road (Xiangtang Lu), Bantian sub-district, Longgang District, Shenzhen. The campus is in the Bantian/Longgang area (city outskirts with road and local-bus connections); parents relocating should check specific transit options and journey times from their housing area.

Stages

SGA is a 12‑year, continuous school covering primary, middle and high school. It delivers the IB continuum: PYP for primary, MYP for middle years and DP for the final two years.

Type

The school is a co‑educational, government‑run (municipal) school operated by the Shenzhen Foreign Languages School Group; it is a publicly authorised integrated/“multi‑path” school and admits students of different nationalities.

Additional learning support

SGA states it provides short‑term English language (EAL) support for students who need it and has school counselling/pastoral services; third‑party listings note a growing learning‑support team (a Learning Support Coordinator and trained staff) and access to external specialists when required. Parents with specific SEN requirements should contact admissions to discuss individual provision and assessment.

Country affiliation

The school is run under the Shenzhen Foreign Languages School (group) and Shenzhen municipal education authorities; it is not affiliated to any other country.

Religious affiliation

SGA does not advertise any religious affiliation; its programmes are secular and curriculum‑focused.

School day structure

The school follows age‑appropriate daily timetables for PYP (primary), MYP (middle) and DP (senior) with lessons, a mid‑morning break and a lunchtime, plus after‑school co‑curricular activities. Exact start/end times and break lengths vary by year group and are published to families (contact the school or check the Parent Handbook for the current term schedule).

Bus service

Public listings indicate SGA operates a school‑bus service for families (routes/availability are adjusted each year and places are typically by application/registration). Many schools in the area contract private bus providers, so parents should confirm current routes, pickup points, safety arrangements and fees with admissions before relocating.

Application fee
- The school's published fee schedule and parent/student handbook do not list a separate application, registration or seat-deposit fee on their public fee pages.

Tuition fees (by year group)
- Grade 1–5: RMB 165,200 per year. Per term (semester): RMB 82,600.
- Grade 6–10: RMB 178,400 per year. Per term (semester): RMB 89,200.
- Grade 11–12: RMB 210,000 per year. Per term (semester): RMB 105,000.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- The school publishes tuition as annual amounts and the academic calendar is split into two semesters (Semester 1 beginning in August and Semester 2 beginning in January). The per-term figures above are the annual tuition divided by two to match the school's two-semester calendar. Snacks for the year must be reserved at the start of each semester and meal charges are calculated by the school calendar.

Boarding fees (if applicable)
- Boarding (Grades 6–12): RMB 12,000 per year. Per term (semester): RMB 6,000. The boarding fee covers basic dormitory facilities and utilities; personal items, bedding, laundry and meals are not included and are payable separately. Boarding places are by application only.

Other costs and recurring charges
- Meal charges (charged per meal/day according to age group):
- Grades 1–2: snack RMB 10; lunch RMB 20 (breakfast/dinner not listed except for boarders).
- Grades 3–5: snack RMB 25.
- Grades 6–12: breakfast RMB 10; lunch RMB 25; dinner RMB 25. Meal charges are calculated according to the school calendar and some meals (breakfast/dinner) are provided only to boarders.
- Tuition explicitly excludes: school uniform, school bus, off-campus competitions / inter-school activity costs and other additional items (these are charged separately). The boarding fee also excludes personal items, beddings and laundry.
- Co-curricular activities, external exam or registration fees for external exams, school trips, and specialist program fees may incur additional charges (not included in the tuition). The school's published fee statement notes those categories as exclusions from tuition.

Refund information
- The school's public fee statement and the student/parent handbook do not publish a detailed refund or cancellation policy on the fee pages reviewed. No published refund schedule or explicit refund rules were found on the school's public fee and handbook pages.

Fee payment options and channels
- The school's publicly posted fee pages and handbook do not specify payment channels (for example: bank transfer details, accepted card payments, WeChat/Alipay or international payment instructions). No payment-account or payment-method details were found on the school pages reviewed. Parents should expect standard institutional payment channels (bank transfer or school finance office arrangements) but the school does not publish the exact options on the referenced pages.

Brief summary of missing items (from public fee pages reviewed)
- The school's official published fee notice provides the annual tuition, boarding fee and meal charges and confirms the two-semester academic calendar, but does not publish (on the pages reviewed): a separate application/registration/seat fee, detailed billing deadlines or installment/late-payment penalties, explicit refund/cancellation rules, nor the school's bank account or accepted payment channels. The tuition, boarding and meal figures above are taken from the school's official fee announcement and the term dates from the school calendar.

Boarding Arrangements

Student dormitories are provided. The dormitories offer two-person rooms; there are separate buildings for male and female students with full facilities. The first-floor lobby includes a laundry room and a medical room, and each floor has a common space. The school has a care system to meet the housing needs of students in Grade 6 and above.

Food Options

Meals are provided on campus with breakfast, a snack, lunch, and dinner. Snacks must be reserved at the start of each semester. Breakfast and dinner are available for boarders only. Meal prices vary by grade: Grades 1–2 breakfast 10 RMB, snack 20 RMB; Grades 3–5 lunch 25 RMB; Grades 6–12 breakfast 10 RMB, snack 25 RMB, lunch 25 RMB, dinner 25 RMB.

Governance and Ownership

The school was founded in 2017 as Shenzhen Foreign Languages School (Group) Bay Area Campus. It is funded by the Shenzhen Municipal Government, led by the Shenzhen Education Bureau, and managed by Shenzhen Foreign Languages School (Group). The school enrolls students globally, across primary, middle, and high school as a 12-year program with small-class teaching. In August 2023, the school received IB Diploma Programme authorization; the school is also accredited by CIS and is affiliated with WASC and BSA.

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

SGA describes social and emotional learning as part of its IB-based curriculum: the PYP explicitly develops social skills and self‑management, and the MYP highlights affective (emotional) skills and the IB Approaches to Learning. The school also embeds teamwork, reflection and identity development through its PE programme and co‑curricular activities (over 200 ASA/club/team options), which are presented as part of the school's student development offer. These curriculum elements and after‑school programmes are described in the Student/Parent Handbook and the school's activities pages. The school website does not list a named SEL team or dedicated pastoral staff in the publicly available handbook text.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)

The school's publicly available Student/Parent Handbook and policy pages do not provide specific information about Special Educational Needs (SEN) provision, named learning‑support staff, or which categories of SEN the school can support. The site describes SGA as a “多元融合” (diverse/integrated) school but does not publish a formal SEN policy or details of specialist SEN resources on the pages reviewed. Therefore there is no explicit, verifiable public statement on the school website about specialist SEN provision or whether SGA is a specialist SEN institution. If you would like, I can contact the admissions office (OpenApply) or search third‑party listings for additional information—please confirm.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

The Student/Parent Handbook states that English is the main language of instruction and that the school provides short‑term English language learning support for students who require English as an Additional Language (EAL). This is described as temporary language learning support rather than a long‑term, named EAL programme on the publicly available pages. No detailed EAL programme outline or staffing structure is published on the school website pages reviewed.

Mental Wellbeing

The school's published curriculum materials state that the PYP and MYP include social, emotional and physical development (PYP) and affective skills (MYP) as part of learning objectives, indicating wellbeing is addressed through the curriculum. Co‑curricular activities and the PE programme emphasise personal growth, teamwork and reflection, and the boarding facilities description notes an on‑site medical room and residential care arrangements for boarding students. The website does not publish a separate mental‑health or counselling policy nor list named counsellor posts in the public handbook text. For specific counselling services or referrals the school uses, parents are advised to contact admissions or the school directly.

Safeguarding

There is no child protection or safeguarding policy text published on the pages of the school website reviewed (Student/Parent Handbook and Policy Announcement pages do not contain a public safeguarding statement). The school's public pages describe boarding care facilities and general student welfare through curriculum and boarding arrangements, but a formal, detailed safeguarding/child‑protection policy is not available on the site. Therefore the school does not publicly disclose a standalone safeguarding policy on the pages reviewed; for official safeguarding policy and named safeguarding officers you should contact the school directly.

Admissions

1. Submit an online application through OpenApply. All applications to SGA must be completed via the school's OpenApply portal (sga.openapply.cn/apply); SGA does not accept paper applications. When you register, choose the correct form for your child's grade (Primary G1–G5, Secondary G6–G8 or G9–G11) and keep your OpenApply login details handy for follow-up requests.

2. Provide the required documents listed in the application checklist. The school's admissions page specifies that an Admission Application Form, a Family Statement and a School Report are minimum required items; the Admissions Office will not start processing until required materials are received. Parents should prepare scanned academic reports (two most recent years if available), any translated or certified documents, the student's passport or ID, and any teacher references the portal requests.

3. Application review and document integrity check. After you submit, the Admissions Office reviews all documents against SGA's admissions policy; the school explicitly reserves the right to withdraw an offer if information is found to be false or misleading. Make sure dates, school names and grades on transcripts match and that school reports are authentic to avoid delays or rescinded offers.

4. Entrance assessment invitation is issued to candidates who clear the document review. SGA's published process says successful applicants will receive an invitation to an Entrance Assessment; the website does not publish a public, detailed breakdown of assessment content or format, so expect the Admissions Office to provide the assessment schedule, format (online or on-campus) and any preparation instructions by email. Parents should confirm time-zone differences for remote assessments, bring the required ID to in-person assessments, and ask Admissions in advance if accommodations are needed.

5. Admissions decision and response window. The school states that a decision is normally sent by email within 10–15 working days after the Entrance Assessment; offers will include instructions and a deadline for confirming the place. Parents should watch the email account used on OpenApply, read the offer letter carefully (it will state any conditions) and meet the confirmation deadline to secure the place.

6. Fees, boarding and other cost information you should check before confirming. SGA publishes its official fee policy (2025–2026 school year) on the school website: Tuition for Grade 1–5 is RMB 165,200; Grade 6–10 RMB 178,400; Grade 11–12 RMB 210,000. Boarding (Grades 6–12) is RMB 12,000 for the year; meal rates are listed per grade band and tuition excludes meals, uniforms, school bus and some extracurricular or trip costs. Parents should read the school's policy page carefully to confirm what is included in tuition, ask about the payment schedule and whether there is an enrollment deposit or refund policy stated in the offer letter.

Scholarships

The school's official pages (admissions, policy and related site sections) do not list scholarships, bursaries or formal fee‑remission programs. SGA's published fee policy gives tuition, boarding and meal rates but does not describe merit or need‑based awards. If you need information about financial assistance, sibling discounts, or any temporary subsidies, ask Admissions directly (OpenApply contact or the school phone listed on the Shenzhen municipal school directory) because any such programs would be administered case-by-case and are not described on the public site. For accuracy when planning, request written confirmation from Admissions about whether any scholarships or fee reductions are available and the eligibility/application process.

Waitlist

SGA's public admissions documents and the school's admissions procedure do not describe an explicit waitlist or pool system. The published process shows application review, an entrance assessment, a decision and a confirmation step but does not explain what happens to applicants who are not offered a place. If you are not offered a place, contact the Admissions Office (via OpenApply or the school's admissions contact) to ask whether the school maintains a waiting list, how candidates are ranked, and whether you must reapply for a later intake; the school runs regular Open Days where Admissions staff can address these questions in person.

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