Admissions

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• How old is the school?

  Our Shunyi campus opened in 2009, after The British School of Beijing opened BSB Sanlitun in 2003. As part of Nord Anglia Education, founded in 1972, we are embedded within one of the oldest British heritage school systems and a well-established global family of 70+ international schools that educate more than 70,000 students across 30 countries – including students in North America, Europe, the Middle East, China, and Southeast Asia.
• What is the quality of the school's staff?

  BSB hires only highly qualified, motivated staff who are experienced at developing young minds and ensure our students become skilled and creative thinkers. Most of our teachers are from the UK, with a few specialist teachers from other countries – such as within our primary school programme offered in the German language – and a strong Chinese team that teaches Mandarin.
• What is the school's curriculum?

  Our broad and balanced curriculum develops students’ skills and knowledge across ten subject areas in Primary School (Years 1–6) International and Deutsche Grundschule Peking streams, with special attention to personalised learning. In Secondary School, we offer a range of courses within the Key Stage Three (Years 7, 8, and 9), Key Stage Four (Years 10–11), and The IB Diploma (Years 12–13) programmes. These are complemented by many offerings within STEAM, music, arts, and sports programmes.
• How does the school ensure the personal development of each student?

  Upon entry, we use information from students' previous schools and prior attainment, where possible, to set minimum and aspirational targets for all subjects.
  
  These targets are regularly reviewed between students and teachers; parents also receive regular information on progress against targets. If a student is exceeding their goals, we review this with the student and may well set a new aspirational target in celebration of that excellent progress. If a student is falling short, experienced staff will work with the student, teacher, and parent to identify any changes needed to further the student’s academic progress.
  
  The students’ highly personalised targets remain flexible as part of our highest quality learning educational philosophy at BSB Shunyi.
• What nationalities can apply to BSB?

  BSB is licensed as an expat school under the Ministry of Education and can only accept qualified students who hold a foreign passport with the appropriate visa.

  In accordance with the new requirements implemented by the Beijing Municipal Education Commission (BMEC) for applicants from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, the student must be foreign passport holders (including passports of Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan). Students from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan must also hold a travel permit (回乡证, 台胞证).

  If your family hold other countries’ Permanent Residence (PR), or the student holds a foreign passport and travel document, please submit your family's document to our Admissions team for consultation.

  Please note that original documents need to be provided during application process.

• What entrance assessment do students need to take for admission?

  Our entry assessments ensure your child goes into the right class and correct ability groups from day one. These assessments act as simple and quick checks, which enables us to meet the student’s individual needs. Our assessments help us spot talents and strengths as well as key developmental areas that we will give special attention to, once the student joins BSB Shunyi. We also assess the English language ability of students who are non-native speakers to ensure they are ready to access our curriculum with support from our EAL team.
• My child comes from a different education system. How does the school ensure my child settles in smoothly?

  Our transition policy allows our students and their families to make a smooth start at BSB.
  
  Prior to your arrival, we provide lots of information on their class and the school environment, and we are ready to warmly welcome you. Your child will be placed in the ability group and class that will give them the right amount of support and challenge they need. To help your child feel secure in class, they will have an assigned ‘buddy’ to look out for them in the early days.
  
  We also have a Parents' Association (PA) welcome team for the family and regularly scheduled events to ensure the entire family belongs as a member of our BSB family and community. We frequently share events through the PA Blog and their regular newsletter to encourage new families to get involved, as desired.
• What are the advantages of BSB Shunyi compared to other international schools?

  With our small class sizes, BSB Shunyi provides a more intimate school experience – students, teachers, and staff know each other very well. Students are encouraged to participate in all school events, which creates a lasting sense of belonging. We put strong efforts into good behaviour and social graces at BSB Shunyi. Should problems among students arise, we act swiftly and discretely.

  Across the school, academically strong students will be challenged in differentiated groups (called ‘sets’) within their classroom in the subjects in which they excel. In addition, we offer a fast-track Key Stage Four (Years 10–11) programme for our advanced students.

  We offer over 300 after-school activities and lunch clubs each year – which develop our students with well-rounded and active characters. Our various clubs include ones that extend academic interests, language clubs, robotics, martial arts, cooking, sports, and music to name only a few.