NAIS Pudong Achieves NEASC Accreditation

A Milestone Worth Celebrating 

We are proud to share an important milestone in the journey of Nord Anglia International School Shanghai, Pudong. NAIS Pudong has been officially accredited by NEASC, the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. 

This achievement places NAIS Pudong among a very small group of schools in Shanghai to hold NEASC accreditation. It is a significant endorsement of the quality of education we provide, the strength of our community, and our clear commitment to continuous improvement. 

What is NEASC Accreditation and Why Does It Matter? 

NEASC is one of the oldest and most respected accreditation organisations in the world, founded in 1885. It accredits leading schools and universities across the United States and in more than 85 countries worldwide. NEASC accreditation is voluntary and rigorous. Schools must meet high international standards across all areas of school life, including leadership, teaching and learning, student wellbeing, curriculum design, staffing, facilities, and community partnerships. 

For families, accreditation offers reassurance. It means that a school has been independently evaluated by experienced educators, has met internationally recognised standards, and is committed to ongoing reflection and improvement rather than standing still. 

A Community-Wide Process 

NEASC accreditation is not a single inspection day. It is a multi-year process that begins with deep internal reflection and involves staff, students, parents, leadership, and governance. At NAIS Pudong, this process gave us the opportunity to ask important questions about who we are as a school, what we value most, and how we can continue to grow in ways that best serve our students. 

The visiting team recognised the time and care our community invested in this process, noting that the school engaged meaningfully with feedback and current educational research to shape three clear Major Learning Plans. These plans focus firmly on student learning and on developing independent, confident learners with resilience, agency, and strong language skills. 

Recognition of High-Quality Learning 

One of the strongest themes in the NEASC report is the school’s growing clarity around what high-quality learning looks like in practice. The visiting team highlighted the shared language that has developed across the community and the way staff collaborate to plan learning that is purposeful, coherent, and centred on our school values. 

The team noted the meaningful progress NAIS Pudong has made in realising its vision of developing creative, confident, and considerate learners. They observed genuine ownership of this vision across the school, with Major Learning Plans focused on adaptive teaching, student agency, and safe-to-fail environments that encourage students to take risks and learn from mistakes. 

Importantly, NEASC recognised that NAIS Pudong is not only setting ambitious goals, but actively translating them into action through collaborative planning, reflection, and curriculum development. 

A Strong Commitment to Growth 

The visiting team commended the clear commitment shown by school leadership and staff to improving teaching and learning. They observed a strong culture of professional development, with teachers continually developing new strategies, assessment approaches, and ways to support student agency and reflection. 

They also highlighted the positive impact already being seen through new assessment and tracking systems, as well as a growing focus on key 21st century skills such as questioning, reflection, and independent thinking. This commitment to learning applies not only to students, but to adults as well. NEASC recognised that a shared commitment to lifelong learning is essential to sustaining meaningful change. 

Capacity and Support for the Future 

NEASC accreditation also considers whether a school has the capacity to sustain improvement over time. The visiting team recognised the strong organisational and financial support provided by Nord Anglia Education, alongside leadership structures that enable collaboration and strategic planning. 

They noted that NAIS Pudong is well positioned to continue building capacity by protecting time for collaboration, aligning professional development with school priorities, and ensuring that resources are directed towards high-quality learning for every student. This includes continued development of language support and further embedding of technology and interdisciplinary learning. 

Looking Ahead with Confidence 

NEASC’s concluding comments reflect a school that knows itself well and is confident in its direction. The visiting team recognised NAIS Pudong’s thoughtful approach to reflection, its openness to asking important questions about identity and future planning, and its willingness to evolve in response to the needs of its community. 

Accreditation is not an end point. It is a confirmation that NAIS Pudong is on a strong path, guided by evidence, reflection, and a shared commitment to excellence. As one of only two NEASC-accredited schools in Shanghai, we are proud of this recognition and even more excited about what it means for the future of our students. 

We thank our students, staff, parents, and wider community for the role each of you has played in this achievement. Together, we continue to build a school where every child is supported to thrive, grow in confidence, and develop the skills they need for success in an ever-changing world.