Why join for free?
Already have an account? Log In
China, Shanghai
Let the school know you're thinking of applying — they can share their prerequisites and help you through the process.
It's best to ask — circumstances can change at any time.
Britannica describes personalised pastoral care as central to its approach: pupils are known by every teacher, form teachers act as the daily communication link with parents, and small classes (often with teaching assistants) are used to support individual growth. The school says UK‑qualified staff regularly assess students' needs and progress against UK standards to guide personalised support. The site highlights designated pastoral leadership in both Primary and Secondary (including a Deputy Head of Secondary responsible for Pastoral Care). Recent school news also describes whole‑school wellbeing events (Global Wellbeing Week) that include assemblies, mindfulness activities and reflective workshops.
The school's admissions information states it is non‑selective but that the admissions team will consider whether the school can meet any specific learning needs when assessing applications. Staff profiles on the site show individual teachers with formal SEN training or experience (for example, a teacher who trained as an SEN teacher and staff with SEN co‑ordinator experience). The website does not publish a detailed list of the specific types of special educational needs it can support. The school's website does not present Britannica as a specialist SEN institution; there is no statement describing it as a specialist SEN school.
Britannica states it delivers a comprehensive English as an Additional Language (EAL) programme taught by specialist, experienced teachers and that all students are assessed for reading, writing and speaking on entry and throughout their time at school. Classroom teaching is differentiated and, in Secondary, students are placed in ability groups for English support; the duration and intensity of support vary by individual need. The school's leadership biographies also note staff with formal EAL training and coordination experience. The website emphasises a tailored approach to each student's English development rather than a single uniform programme.
The school's published news describes recurring wellbeing initiatives (Global Wellbeing Week) that include mindfulness workshops, assemblies, self‑care activities, physical exercise and reflective projects across Early Years, Primary and Secondary. Pastoral materials state the school aims to create an environment where children feel comfortable discussing worries and where teachers monitor welfare closely. Staff training and the pastoral structure (form teachers, year leads and pastoral leaders) are presented as mechanisms to identify and respond to students' emotional needs. The website therefore documents both curriculum‑linked and extra‑curricular activities aimed at supporting students' mental wellbeing.
The school's Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy (published on the website) names the Designated Safeguarding Lead (Anthony O'Brien) and Deputy DSL (Katherine Mustoe), requires all staff to complete approved child protection training, and sets out safer‑recruitment checks, reporting procedures and record‑keeping. The policy cites UK safeguarding guidance, requires annual policy review and explicitly describes staff responsibilities for reporting concerns and keeping accurate records. The school requires DBS or equivalent police checks and mandates regular staff training and induction on safeguarding procedures. These elements are documented in the school's published Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy.
Britannica International School, Shanghai is a British-curriculum all-through school for students aged 18 months to 18 years; it opened in August 2013. The campus is listed at 1988 Gubei Road (near Wuzhong Road) in the Gubei residential district of Shanghai. The school follows the English National Curriculum and prepares students for IGCSE and A‑Level examinations in partnership with Cambridge (CAIE) and Edexcel. Britannica publishes its annual tuition table (2025–26): annual tuition ranges from RMB 252,300 (Pre‑Nursery) up to RMB 356,700 (Years 12–13). The school describes itself as smaller than many Shanghai international schools, with a current student population of over 400 and class sizes “all under 22 pupils”. A distinctive, named offering is its extensive Native Language Programme (Mandarin, Korean, Japanese, French, Italian, Spanish, Hebrew and others), delivered by specialist native-speaking teachers.
