Over the past three years, there has been a significant rise in the
number of Chinese families selecting an international style of education
in China for their children.
international schools in china
With the development of the country’s international Chinese-owned
Private Schools (iCPS) sector, options for Chinese parents to keep their
children close to home prior to university and yet receive an education
that prepares them well for university studies abroad, have expanded.
For many of China’s parents, this is proving to be the preferred option,
in preference to foreign boarding or foundation years overseas, at an
age when their child may not be sufficiently mature to face independent
living in a vastly different cultural context.
Sector growth
Private education in China is developing thanks to favourable
government regulations, and it is growing in popularity amongst Chinese
nationals, despite free public schools. This is partly due to a shortage
of education resources in the public education sector, but also due to
increased wealth of many Chinese families who are seeking private
options as a route to academic success. For the most aspirational of
families, the international Chinese Private Schools offer the best of
all worlds: an international style of bilingual education where children
can learn in the language of English, follow a more Western-style of
pedagogy, and study towards globally recognised examinations that
effectively pave their way for subsequent admission to the world’s top
universities and, ultimately, global careers.
There is also a growing recognition amongst informed Chinese parents
(many who have experienced, or are aware of the demands of foreign
higher education) that university success is about completing the entire
degree course and graduating; not simply about getting the grades to
enter university. Such success requires independent learning skills, the
ability to think creatively, and to debate and communicate effectively –
for most of the best universities in the world, this means in the
language of English. These are the skills that iCPSs are promoting, and
many successfully offering, particularly when foreign collaborations are
involved.
Opportunities for foreign partnerships
Some of the most successful developments within the iCPS sector have
included partnerships between Chinese investors and foreign independent
schools, in particular, British schools. They have not only provided
the essential Western skills and pedagogy, but bring an important brand
identity which responds to the demand, by aspirational Chinese families
for education that delivers academic heritage, reputation, brand
prestige as well as a reliable route to higher education.
The international Chinese Private Schools are one of the few routes
by which foreign brands can get involved in the education of Chinese
children in China. There are now 31 independent school brands which have
established agreements with Chinese schools and investors in order to
deliver teaching expertise and an international style of education.
Several such schools opened their doors for the first time in September
2018, including Adcote School and Lucton School in Shanghai; Nanwai
King’s College in Wuxi; RDFZ King’s College in Hangzhou; Rong Qiao
Sedbergh School in Fuzhou; Huili Schools in Shanghai and Hangzhou which
have service agreements with Wellington College; and Wycombe Abbey
International in Hangzhou. More are in development and the trend looks
set to continue.
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