Beijing offers plenty of schooling options that is on a par, or often even better, than in many other countries. There are several high-quality international schools to choose from with state-of-the-art facilities. Curricula are normally taught in English, but all international schools offer elective language courses in Chinese. British, American, Australian, Canadian, Japanese, German and French curricula, as well as IB and Montessori, are all available in Beijing. Spaces in international schools can be limited and there are often waiting lists, particularly for well-known larger schools such as WAB and ISB, so it's advisable to apply as early as possible. While many of the International schools are located in the suburbs of Shunyi district, there are a number of reputable international schools nearer to the city center as well, such as Beijing City International School (BCIS), Harrow School Beijing and BISS.
In additional to international schools, there are "embassy schools" run expressly for the purpose of educating their nationals (the Japanese School, German School, Pakistan School, and French School, for example). Embassy schools usually follow the national curriculum of their home country and require students to be passport holders of that country.
Most schools in Beijing, international or otherwise, have admissions procedures that may include an interview, submission of previous academic records, an entrance exam, or an ESL (English as a Second Language) assessment. A deposit is usually paid as part of the application. Detailed information on the application procedures can generally be found on the school's website, however before submitting papers it's important to confirm whether there is availability for the child/children in their particular grade.
Recent laws have changed so that expatriate children now have the option to consider local schooling as well. Expatriate children who attend local schools are immersed in Chinese culture and language however, one thing to consider is that the approach to education is different in China than in the West, with less emphasis on independent thinking and more emphasis on rote learning. An option for families who wish to strike a balance between the international schools and local schools are bilingual schools, in which students are taught in both English and Chinese. This seems especially popular for younger students, who will be able to pick up Chinese or English fairly quickly.
Beijing has one special needs school, the Sunshine Learning Center, which provides education to children with intellectual disabilities such as autism and Down's syndrome.
In additional to international schools, there are "embassy schools" run expressly for the purpose of educating their nationals (the Japanese School, German School, Pakistan School, and French School, for example). Embassy schools usually follow the national curriculum of their home country and require students to be passport holders of that country.
Most schools in Beijing, international or otherwise, have admissions procedures that may include an interview, submission of previous academic records, an entrance exam, or an ESL (English as a Second Language) assessment. A deposit is usually paid as part of the application. Detailed information on the application procedures can generally be found on the school's website, however before submitting papers it's important to confirm whether there is availability for the child/children in their particular grade.
Recent laws have changed so that expatriate children now have the option to consider local schooling as well. Expatriate children who attend local schools are immersed in Chinese culture and language however, one thing to consider is that the approach to education is different in China than in the West, with less emphasis on independent thinking and more emphasis on rote learning. An option for families who wish to strike a balance between the international schools and local schools are bilingual schools, in which students are taught in both English and Chinese. This seems especially popular for younger students, who will be able to pick up Chinese or English fairly quickly.
Beijing has one special needs school, the Sunshine Learning Center, which provides education to children with intellectual disabilities such as autism and Down's syndrome.