FAQs

How do I apply?

Please complete the online application form with details for each child which will be sent to the school admissions department. You will also be asked for:

· Previous school reports

· Medical and passport documentation

· Student reference request from your child’s current school

· Students may be asked to take an online assessment test

When we receive and review the documents, we will then offer a place.
For more information about applications, or to book a visit, please contact admissions@naispudong.com.

How long should I expect the full admissions process to take?

Once you submit the application form and the supporting documents, we will do our best to send an offer to join our school within 48 hours.

How does the process differ if my company is paying the tuition fees?

Our aim is to make the process as straightforward and simple as possible for you. If your company will be paying school fees, our Admissions team and Finance team will be happy to work directly with your company on financial matters, allowing you to concentrate on your child’s education and well-being.

What are the withdrawal policies?

Refund Conditions

Existing students:

Before 30 April – Full refund
Before 1 July – Full refund less the deposit 20,000RMB
After 1 July - six weeks' tuition fee of winter term
Leaving in the middle of the academic year - notice should be given six weeks (excluding holiday) in advance or six weeks' fees will be payable in lieu of notice

New students:

Before 30 April – full refund of deposit 20,000RMB
Before 1 July – Tuition refund less the deposit 20,000RMB
After 1 July - six weeks' tuition fee of winter term
If the student is joining in the middle of the academic year but finally cancel the application - notice should be given six weeks (excluding holiday) prior to the joining date or six weeks' fees will be payable in lieu of notice

What makes us unique?

We're a truly international school with students from 50 different countries. Our diverse and inclusive school provides our students with a global perspective that will help shape the rest of their lives.

Our students achieve academic excellence, learn to lead, and make the world a better place. We believe students shouldn’t just strong academically – they need to become leaders, be flexible and be understanding.

Our collaboration with The Juilliard School to develop the Juilliard-Nord Anglia Performing Arts Programme delivers a bespoke performing arts education for our students

Succeeding in the 21st century means learning how to think, not what to think. Nord Anglia Education’s collaboration with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is designed to prepare students for our rapidly evolving world, equipping them with the skills and techniques to thrive. Through hands-on, interdisciplinary learning of STEAM subjects (science, technology, engineering, art and maths), your child will develop the transferrable skills needed to invent the future they will ultimately inherit.

In collaboration with UNICEF, Nord Anglia Education students have their social consciousness raised so they care more deeply about the world and the people in it. Your child will research, develop, and debate challenges facing our society, and take action to address them. Through special activities and events with UNICEF, your child will be equipped to make their voice heard on the world stage and to make a lasting, positive difference.

The Global Campus connects our students with teachers and students from our 77 sister schools around the world. Students can work with, and learn from, others and experience a truly global learning environment.

Are your teachers qualified?

All our teachers hold a minimum bachelor's degree along with a Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) which is a specific and targeted teacher training qualification. Teachers from outside the UK have equivalent qualifications. Many of our teachers have master's degrees or other higher qualifications.

All teaching assistants (TAs) are degree qualified and are recruited based on their previous teaching experience. They are all bilingual and provide essential language and teaching support in the classroom.

Our teachers have access to the best professional development opportunities through Nord Anglia University. We bring together teachers from Nord Anglia Education’s 77 schools worldwide to share knowledge and experiences to continually enhance teaching and learning.

What curriculum do you offer, and what are its strengths?

We offer the English National Curriculum (British Curriculum) with an international focus, and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. In our Primary School, we adapt the English National Curriculum to best fit our international study body. We make the learning more global, active, and relevant, connecting students to where they are living now and giving them insight into other perspectives, whilst still meeting all the objectives of the English National Curriculum.

The strength of the English National Curriculum lies in its formal structure. Divided into Key Stages of education, for students from three to 16 years of age, it develops the skills students need to progress, with a rigorous focus on literacy and numeracy and balanced study of other subjects.

Key Stages at a glance:

• Foundation Stage – Early Years – Nursery and Reception
• Key Stage 1 – Years 1 and 2
• Key Stage 2 – Years 3, 4, 5 and 6
• Key Stage 3 – Years 7, 8 and 9
• Key Stage 4 – IGCSE – Years 10 and 11

From the Foundation Stage, our students study Mandarin and our curriculum reflects both our location in Shanghai and our diverse international school community.

The design of the curriculum is “spiral” so that students develop key skills in each subject as they move through the years, each year building upon and extending their previous skill level and knowledge.

The fourth Key Stage is Years 10 and 11 when students study the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE), a series of externally set and marked examinations which are recognised by education systems around the world.

Students in Years 12 and 13 study the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme, the highly respected qualification recognised by the leading universities.
For a detailed insight into our curriculum, go to the “Learning” (hyperlink) section of our website. Please contact us at any time with questions. We are happy to introduce you to our expert teachers from any subject areas during your visit.

English is not our family’s first language. How will my child be supported at your school?

We offer a comprehensive and proven English as an Additional Language (EAL) programme for students from Year 1 to Year 11, as well as support beyond. Many of our students do not speak English at the level of their year group when they join the school, however our most recent results from externally administered examinations show that within a very short period, students are on track with their peers.

Our EAL team provides individualised support for students to assist them to fast-track into full participation in the classroom. Every teacher is trained to assist students to continually improve their English through immersion in the classroom Our bilingual teaching assistants are on-hand to support our native Mandarin-speaking students.

Our programme of Co-Curricular Activities (CCAs) also classes and activities for non-native English-speaking students and their parents.

Do you provide after school activities?

Our Co-Curricular Activities (CCAs) are designed to enhance student learning. We believe that every child benefits from getting involved in activities outside of the classroom. Our CCAs cover sport, performance, academics, community, and expression. Students are encouraged to try new things, take risks and give back to the community; essential elements of becoming a life-long learner and leader.

We currently offer more than 140 CCAs, taught largely by our teaching staff. For some activities, expert coaching or teaching is brought in from outside the school and these do involve additional fees payable at the beginning of each term. The CCA programme runs from 3:15 – 4:15pm each school day, with some activities also scheduled before school and at weekends.

Check out our CCA programme guide here to find out more about how your child can expand the limits of their mental and physical abilities as well as discover and develop their talents with performance and creative pursuits.

Does my child need a laptop computer?

Students from Year 5 to Year 8 are provided with an iPad mini for use at school and at home. Students in Years 9 -11 are provided with an iPad Pro to reflect the increased workload at this age. We train students on iPad safe usage and teachers regularly check that students are using their devices appropriately.

We take online and cyber security extremely seriously, and students are taught how to stay safe online during their Guidance lessons.

Students in our IB Academy (Years 12 and 13) bring their own laptop to school.

We do also have a range of school computers and iPads that can be used by students throughout the school.

How does the school communicate with parents?

We communicate with families in a variety of ways that reflect modern life and communication:

• Face-to-face conversations, either formally at planned Academic Review Evenings, or informally at parent or teacher request

• Students receive four formal reports each year, a settling in report after the first month in school and then a report at the end of each of the three terms.

• Emails and phone calls to and from teachers and parents

• In the Primary school we use Class Dojo as a platform to send messages and for teachers to post pictures and information about what has been happening in your child’s class

• Social media include our school Facebook page and our official WeChat account.

• Students use Microsoft Teams to access their work and keep track of homework.

• Weekly updates which summarise the week’s highlights and provides important notices of upcoming events and activities.

Is a school lunch provided, and where is the food sourced and made?

The Hub, our school canteen, is run by Sodexo, a leading global catering company with the highest standards of food preparation and hygiene. Students may choose from a variety of foods, and we have a healthy food policy which ensures that options are highly nutritious and freshly prepared in our school kitchen. Daily meals include both Western and Asian hot food, a salad bar, and sandwich bar. Students are welcome to bring their own lunch to school, and should they choose the school lunch, a charge card system is in place for easy payment.

Where do your families live, and do you provide school buses?

Our school is centrally located in Shanghai; just half an hour from the downtown part of the city and even closer to Jinqiao and Lujiazui in Pudong. Students from all over Shanghai attend our school, including from our own neighbourhood of Kangqiao, and we have a fleet of school buses to bring them to and from school.

Each school bus is supervised by a bilingual bus monitor who is a teaching assistant at the school, and all buses are fitted with seat belts which students are required to wear. Ask our helpful Admissions team for information about school bus routes during your visit.

As a parent, how can I get involved?

We encourage all parents to take an active role in school life, and our active Parents Community Association (PCA) is a great place to start. This group of parent volunteers holds regular meetings and coffee mornings to plan and executes our major school events, raise money and provide support to our school charities, and is a great place for parents to make friends. The PCA also organises our class representatives who work directly with class teachers and parents to help with school outings and events, and to bring parents together for fun activities. You can contact the PCA at community@naispudong.com.

How do you protect students on days which are polluted?

We are serious about protecting our students from potentially harmful air pollution we have clean air filters in every classroom and all communal areas throughout the school. Even on the highest of pollution days, indoor air quality is better than international health standards. We maintain our filtration system regularly and always monitor the internal air quality.

We have an outdoor play policy based on the best available advice from the US Department of Health, the recognised leader in the field. Accordingly, we take regular readings for the Air Quality Index (AQI) and PM2.5 (the most dangerous particles) throughout the day at four set times, and more regularly where required. When readings exceed the healthy range, students’ outdoor activities are limited or, during any high pollution, cancelled.

As our extensive facilities include three indoor gymnasiums and other suitable indoor spaces, many activities are easily able to be transferred indoors.

In 2014, the Chinese government developed strict regulations to reduce air pollution in China. The air quality has continually improved and the AQI is at its lowest levels in decades

Do you have a nut or allergy policy?

We recognise that for some students, particular foods are potentially hazardous and may even cause life-threatening allergic reactions. For that reason, we are a nut-free school.

Our two full-time school nurses are highly qualified to always assist and are on call during both school time and during after-hours school events. The school nurses keep detailed records of all students with allergies or other ongoing or occasional medical needs and are always happy to speak with parents about any concerns. If you have questions, the school nurses are available to speak with you during your visit.

What curricula do you offer, and what are their strengths?

We offer the English National Curriculum (British Curriculum) with an international focus, and the International Baccalaureate. At our Primary School, we enhance learning through the International Primary Curriculum (IPC), making learning more global, active and relevant. Students are connected them to where they live and gain insight into other perspectives, whilst still meeting all of the objectives of the English National Curriculum.

The strength of the English National Curriculum lies in its formal structure. Divided into Key Stages of education, for students from 3 to 16 years of age, it develops the key skills students need to learn, with a focus on Literacy and Numeracy with a balanced study of other subjects.

Key Stages at a glance:

Foundation Stage – Early Years – Nursery and Reception

Key Stage 1 – Years 1 and 2

Key Stage 2 – Years 3, 4, 5 and 6

Key Stage 3 – Years 7, 8 and 9

Key Stage 4 – IGCSE – Years 10 and 11

From the Foundation Stage, our students study Mandarin and our curriculum reflects both our Shanghai location and the diverse international membership of our school community.

Our curriculum designed is based on the ‘spiral’ model—students develop key skills in each subject as they move through the years, building upon and extending their previous knowledge.

The fourth Key Stage is Years 10 and 11 when students study the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE), a series of externally set and marked examinations which are recognised by education systems around the world.

Students in Years 12 and 13 at NAIS Pudong study the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma programme, therespected qualification recognised by leading universities.

For a detailed insight into our curriculum, go to the Academic Excellence section of our website.

Please direct any specific questions to our Admissions team at admissions@naispudong.com. We are happy to arrange for you to meet experts from subject areas during your visit.

How do you protect students on days which are polluted?

We’re serious about protecting our students from potentially harmful air pollution. We’ve installed clean air filters in every classroom and all communal areas throughout the school to ensure that, even on high pollution days, indoor air quality meets international health standards. These filters are regularly maintained and tested to ensure their effectiveness.

We've adopted an outdoor play policy based on the best available advice from the US Department of Health. We take regular readings for the Air Quality Index (AQI) and PM2.5 (the most dangerous particles) throughout the day at four set times, and more regularly where required. When readings exceed the healthy range, students’ outdoor activities are limited or, during any high pollution, cancelled.

As our extensive facilities include three indoor gymnasiums and other suitable indoor spaces, many activities are easily able to be transferred indoors.

Is school lunch provided, and where is the food sourced and made?

The Hub, our school canteen, is run by global catering company, Sodexo, which sets the highest standards of food preparation and hygiene. Students can choose from a range of foods, and our healthy food policy ensures nutritious options are freshly prepared in our school kitchen. Daily offerings include both Western and Asian hot food, a salad bar, and sandwich bar.

Do you provide guidance for students?

The health and wellbeing of students is our number one concern. Guidance is a set part of the school curriculum for students and begins with Circle Time for students in Early Years, continuing with set lessons each week as they progress to older years. Guidance covers topics like social and emotional wellbeing, developing study skills and positive mindsets towards learning.

Where do your families live, and do you provide school buses?

Our school is centrally located in Shanghai; just half an hour from the downtown part of the city and even closer to Jinqiao and Lujiazui in Pudong. Students from many parts of Shanghai attend our school, including from our own neighbourhood of Kangqiao, and we have an extensive fleet of school buses to take them to and from school, including buses which collect students following their after-school activities.

Each school bus is supervised by a bilingual bus monitor who is a Teacher Assistant at the school, and all buses are fitted with seat belts which students are required to wear. Ask our helpful Admissions team for information about school bus routes during your visit.

How does the school communicate with parents?

We communicate with families in a variety of ways that reflect modern life and communication:

1. Face-to-face conversations, either formally at planned Academic Review Evenings or informally at parent or teacher request.
2. Students receive four formal reports each year, a ‘Settling In’ report after their first month at the school and then a report at the end of each of the three terms.
3. Emails directly to and from teachers and parents.
4. In Primary school we use Class Dojo to send messages and for teachers to post pictures and information about what has been happening in your child’s class.
5. Social media includes our school Facebook page and our official WeChat account.
6. Students use Microsoft Teams to access their work and keep track of homework.
7. Weekly updates which summarise the week’s highlights and provide important notices of upcoming events and activities.

As a parent, how can I get involved?

We encourage all parents to take an active role in school life, and our active Parents Community Association is a great place to start. This band of parent volunteers:
• Hold regular meeting and coffee mornings.
• Plan and execute our major school events including the Summer Festival and Christmas Bazaar.
• Raise money and provide support to our school charities
• Provide a place for new parents to make friends and meet people.

The Parents Community Association also organises our Class Representatives who work directly with class teachers and parents to help with school outings and events, and to bring parents together for fun activities.

You can contact the Parents Community Association at community@naispudong.com.

Frequently asked questions