Merchiston International School Shenzhen vs Recognise International Academy

	M Merchiston International School Shenzhen Shenzhen, China	R Recognise International Academy Shenzhen, China
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year RMB 138,000 - 148,000	Fees / year RMB 141,000
Age range	Age range 4 - 18 years	Age range 4 - 16 years
Type	Type Co-educational (boarding)	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum EYFS (Early years foundation stage), British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels, Advanced Placement (AP)	Curriculum EYFS (Early years foundation stage), British Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils —	Pupils —
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 2018	Opened 2009
Bus service	Bus service Yes	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Longhua campus: No.12 Shilongzai Road, Dalang Sub-district, Longhua District, Shenzhen; Qianhai/Shekou campus: No.1009 Nanhai Blvd, Shekou, Nanshan, Shenzhen. Both campuses are in Shenzhen city; Longhua is inland (Dalang) while the Qianhai/Shekou site is in the Nanshan/Shekou area near the coast. The website lists full contact numbers and postcodes for each campus.	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	Stages MIS is an all-through school serving Early Years through Year 13 (ages 4–18). The Longhua campus is the main all-through site; the Qianhai/Shekou campus is noted for Early Years and Junior provision.	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.
School type	School type Merchiston International School is a co-educational British international school and an overseas branch of Merchiston Castle School (UK). The school operates boarding provision across age-appropriate houses (boarders are organised in houses covering junior through senior year groups).	School 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.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support Parents are asked to declare any additional support needs at application; all students are screened for additional support needs at entry and the school says it will make reasonable adjustments where appropriate. The site also refers to a Student Success Centre / support team for helping students with learning needs.	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	Country affiliation MIS is the authorised overseas branch of Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh, Scotland; the school follows British-style provision and offers British pathways (IGCSE/A Level) alongside other options for senior years.	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	Religious affiliation The school website does not list a religious affiliation for MIS; the founding school in Edinburgh (Merchiston Castle School) is described in public sources as non‑denominational.	Religious affiliation There is no religious affiliation stated on the school website; RIA presents itself as a secular, international school.
School day structure	School day structure Typical school routines shown on the site indicate a morning registration/form time around 07:45–08:00, lessons during the day, a school finish in the mid‑afternoon (~15:30) followed by co‑curricular activities/CCAs (often 15:45–17:00) and supervised study/evening programmes for boarders (evening study/homework and set bedtimes vary by year group). Exact start/end times differ slightly by phase and boarding house.	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 details	Bus service details The school runs an optional bus/shuttle service for day students; parents are asked to book routes in advance and the service carries an additional fee (the school notes optional bus fees and that fees are non‑refundable once a term begins). Routes are organised to meet local requirements and parent demand. For specifics on routes, stops and fees you should contact Admissions.	Bus service details 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.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application fees and deposits - Application fee: RMB 2,000 (non‑refundable, non‑transferable; payable at time of application). - Security / enrolment deposit: RMB 18,000 (refundable as stated by the school's fee policy). Tuition fees by year group (annual and per‑term amounts) - Early Years / K2 (age 4): Annual tuition RMB 200,000 — Per term (calculated as annual ÷ 3) RMB 66,667 (rounded). (Per‑term value is derived by dividing the published annual fee by three; the school's fee policy uses the term as the billing period.) - Kindergarten 3 and Years 1–5 (age 5–10): Annual tuition RMB 235,000 — Per term RMB 78,333 (rounded). - Years 6–11 (age 11–15): Annual tuition RMB 335,000 — Per term RMB 111,667 (rounded). - Years 12–13 (age 16–17): Annual tuition RMB 370,000 — Per term RMB 123,333 (rounded). Boarding fees - Boarding arrangements and costs vary by year group. For younger junior years boarding is offered as an optional extra (reported example: RMB 70,000 per year where boarding is optional); in higher secondary years boarding is included in the published senior tuition totals. Parents should note the published annual figures above reflect whether boarding is included for that year group. Other costs and recurring extras - Additional fees that may apply include: school lunch (for day students), exam fees for IGCSE/A‑Level, textbooks, fee‑paying co‑curricular activities (CCAs), individual music lessons, optional bus service and uniform shop purchases. Bus fees and other term‑based services have the school's stated no‑refund rule once a term commences. Billing schedule and payment terms - Fees are billed in RMB. The school issues invoices and requires payment by the due date stated on each invoice. The school refers to fees and adjustments on a term basis and calculates pro‑rata charges for students joining after a term starts. Late payments incur a monthly penalty (1.5% as stated). Refund and withdrawal information - If a registered student fails to enrol, 90% of the tuition will be refunded. For withdrawals after starting, the school's refund formula is: Actual tuition fee ÷ 184 (instruction days) × (184 − days actually attended). Refunds will be processed within 15 working days after the academic year end; the original tax receipt (Fapiao) must be returned as part of the refund process. Fee payment options and surcharges - Primary payment method: the school's online portal (School Pal). The school accepts in‑person credit card payments at the Finance Office (surcharges apply: 1% for domestic cards; 3% for foreign‑issued cards). Employer payments are accepted by bank transfer; all bank charges are the payer's responsibility. Discounts and sibling policy - A sibling discount is applied to tuition and boarding fees for second and subsequent children (commonly reported as 5%). Note: The school's published fee chart and the school's fee policy set the formal terms, billing dates and any grade‑specific boarding inclusions; the payment, refund and surcharge rules above are taken from the school's fee policy.	Fee details Application / Registration Fee - Registration fee (initial enrolment): RMB 6,500. Payable upon confirmation of a place. Tuition fees (by year group and per term) - Annual tuition (all ages / Reception–Year 11): RMB 141,000 per year. Payable in three termly instalments. This implies an approximate term amount of RMB 47,000 (141,000 ÷ 3). Billing schedule and payment terms - Annual tuition is billed as three termly instalments; each instalment is due per term. The registration fee is due on confirmation of initial enrolment. School lunch charges are billed termly. Specific invoice dates or late-payment penalties are not listed on the published fees page. Boarding fees - Boarding is not listed as part of the school offering and no boarding fees are published; Recognise International Academy operates as a day school for ages 4–16. No boarding charges apply. Other costs and optional charges - School lunches (optional): RMB 30 per day, billed termly. - School excursions: variable; charged as applicable for each trip. - Uniform: the school does not require a full uniform; school T‑shirts and polos are available and commonly worn by students. Any costs for optional school T‑shirts/polos are additional and not specified on the fees page. Refund information - The publicly posted fees page and the parent-handbook link do not publish a specific refund or cancellation policy for tuition or the registration fee. The registration fee is shown as payable on confirmation; explicit refund terms for that fee are not stated on the published pages. Fee payment options - The school's published fees page and parent-handbook link do not list accepted payment methods (for example, bank transfer, credit card or online payment). Payment method details are not specified on the publicly available fee information. (Fees and notes above are taken from the school's published Fees page and associated admissions/handbook links.)
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options —	Food options —
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership —
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details Merchiston International School Shenzhen delivers a British-style programme from Early Years through Key Stage 5; its Early Years provision (age 4–5) is aligned with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Key Stages 1–3 (Years 1–9) follow a broad British curriculum covering core subjects (English, mathematics, science) alongside Chinese, humanities, art, design & technology, computing and physical education. Key Stage 4 (Years 10–11) is based on the IGCSE programme, with core IGCSEs in English, mathematics, Chinese and the sciences and a range of elective options in humanities, languages, creative and technical subjects. Key Stage 5 (Years 12–13) offers Cambridge International A‑Levels or Edexcel A‑Levels across STEM, humanities, creative and language pathways, and students can also undertake an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). Senior phases include dedicated university guidance, personalised support and co‑curricular opportunities to complement the examined qualifications.	Curriculum details Recognise International Academy bases its programme on the UK National Curriculum (2014), adapting content to an international context and a personalised approach for pupils aged 5–14. The school serves Reception–Year 11 (ages 4–16) in small, sometimes mixed‑age classes and monitors attainment using the UK National Curriculum levels. Primary provision is divided into Lower Primary (ages 5–7, Years 1–2) and Upper Primary (ages 7–11, Years 3–6), teaching core literacy and numeracy alongside science, humanities, the arts, computing, technology, PE and well‑being. Secondary is split into Lower Secondary (Years 7–9, ages 11–14) which maintains broad UK‑based subject coverage, and Upper Secondary (Years 10–11, ages 15–16) when most students study for Cambridge IGCSEs; the school also supports US High School Diploma credit routes. Across the school pupils study English, mathematics and science as core subjects; foundation areas include art, music, design & technology, computing, humanities, Mandarin (taught several times weekly), PSHE/well‑being and regular PE, with a programme of after‑school activities and excursions.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression —	Higher education progression —
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning —	Social & emotional learning —
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History —
Community	Community —	Community —
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions 1. Enquiry and initial application — Contact Admissions, complete the school's application form and submit it with the required supporting documents and proof of payment of the non‑refundable application fee. Parents should include current passport/ID details, recent school reports, any assessments or Individual Education Plans, and a completed medical declaration so the school can identify support needs early. The school provides downloadable application material and specific contact emails for Longhua and Shekou admissions. 2. Admissions checks and entry assessment — After the application is accepted, the Admissions Department schedules the appropriate assessments. All applicants from Year 3 (age 7) and above take an online entrance assessment; Juniors (Years 1–2) are normally assessed by a meeting with the Head of Juniors and often by a morning or day in class, while Senior applicants sit CAT4 (cognitive) plus an English test and an interview. Parents should ask which specific test their child will sit, whether the assessment can be arranged at the current school (for overseas candidates), and whether EAL or SEN screening applies. 3. Interviews and trial visits — For many junior applicants the school recommends, and sometimes requires, a classroom trial or in‑person meeting; for senior applicants an interview with the Head of Seniors (and Head of Sixth Form for Years 12–13) forms part of the decision. Parents should prepare recent school reports and be ready to discuss any English‑as‑an‑additional‑language (EAL) needs or learning support so the school can assess whether it can provide appropriate support. The Head of Section has discretion to request additional evidence or a Student Support review if additional learning support is suspected. 4. Decision and acceptance — The Head of the admitting section (supported by Admissions and the Head of School) informs parents whether an offer is approved. To secure an offered place parents must confirm acceptance and pay the placement/security deposit (stated on the school invoice as RMB 18,000); the offer may be withdrawn if the deposit is not paid by the invoice deadline. Parents should note the school's invoicing currency (RMB), payment channels, and the credit‑card surcharges and deadlines set out in the fee policy. 5. Waiting list, refusal and re‑application — If places are full the school will place an approved applicant on a waiting list (placement is generally by date application + fee received, with some priority categories). If an application is denied, parents may reapply after six months and should follow any remedial recommendations given in the decline letter. Parents are advised to apply early and to keep their application documentation and contact details up to date while on the waiting list. 6. Pre‑entry requirements and ongoing obligations — Before attendance begins the school typically requests up‑to‑date medical checks and may take a confidential report from the applicant's current school; all students are screened for additional support needs on entry. Parents should understand the school's withdrawal and refund rules (for example, one‑term notice for withdrawal and the stated refund calculations) and the expectation that fees are paid by the due date to avoid late penalties or withheld reports. The school places students in year groups by age as of 1 September and will consider out‑of‑year placements case‑by‑case.	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	Scholarships Merchiston publishes a formal Scholarship Policy and runs a scholarship programme that applies to tuition fees only; other costs (boarding, application fees, lunches, extracurricular fees, uniforms, textbooks, etc.) remain payable by the family. Scholarship awards are tiered (examples published include full, 75%, 50%, 25% and smaller discounts) and are normally time‑limited and subject to renewal criteria (academic standards, conduct, attendance and participation), with specific durations varying by year group. The school runs multiple scholarship categories (academic, music, sport, leadership/service/global citizenship, and specific programmes such as a golf scholarship) and evaluates candidates using a mix of tests (e.g., standardised tests/CEM), interviews, written statements, references, and evidence of achievement; sporting scholarships use performance evidence and may require tournament rankings. Application windows and exact eligibility/award levels are published on the school site for specific cycles (for example the school has recent public scholarship campaigns and separate calls for particular programmes), so parents should check the current Scholarship Criteria page and contact Admissions for the latest timelines and the documents required.	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	Waitlist Merchiston operates a formal waiting list. Placement on the waiting list is generally determined by the date the application and application fee are received, though priority is explicitly given to (1) children of full‑time faculty, (2) qualified siblings of current students who have completed the application process, and (3) children transferring from another Merchiston Castle school. Positions on the waiting list are not disclosed to parents; if an applicant does not obtain a place for the term applied for they are automatically carried forward to the waiting list for the following term and, at the end of the academic year, to the appropriate year level for the new school year. The school advises early application because waiting‑list position and available spaces can change; for operational details parents should contact Admissions.	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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