Choosing an International Education for your Child

International Curriculum Choices

Choosing the best curriculum that fits your child is one of the key factors when selecing an international school.

The curriculum offered at The British School of Beijing, Shunyi (BSB) has proven to help students from different backgrounds excel in an international environment.

- Our students follow the English National Curriculum from ages 2 to 16 and completes the IGCSE examinations at aged 16.

- Students ages 16 to 18 then study the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme and our graduates have been accepted by top universities worldwide.

English National Curriculum 

- The Benefits

The English National Curriculum covers the Early Years Foundation Stage, Primary and Secondary education. It is considered one of the leading curricula world-wide and has many benefits compare to other curriculum options:

• It is recognised as one with high academic standards as each key stages has its specific learning objectives and assessments to check on progress.

• It offers a wide variety of subjects to ensure that students receive a holistic and balanced education.

• Since it is commonly used in schools that teach in English, it is widely accepted globally when students have to pursue further education in other countries.

• The International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) examinations taken by students aged 16 are externally assessed by Cambridge International (CIE).  IGCSE is probably the best preparation for all post-16 pre-university entry curriculum.

IB Diploma Programme 

- The Benefits

The IB Diploma Programme is one of the most respected pre-university curriculum in the world. It aims to prepare students for success in higher education worldwide and also be active participants in a global society.

• It better prepares students for the rigours of university study, inspires them to excel at university and throughout the rest of their lives, both personally and professionally.

• It encourages students to develop into well rounded adults who have a global perspective, a strong set of ethics and are intellectually, academically and socially able.

• IB Diploma graduates have continually been accepted at high-ranking colleges and universities worldwide.

• The IB Diploma examination is externally assessed by the IB Organisation.

Best of both worlds 

at BSB Shunyi

This approach that BSB Shunyi has taken is seen as being the best combination for international students. The combination of 2 of the world’s best curricula - The English National Curriculum from Early Years up until IGCSE, followed by the IB Diploma - has opened many doors for our BSB graduates. They have a track record of being accepted in the world’s Top 100 universities include Cambridge, UCL, Imperial College London, LSE, Edinburgh, Manchester, UCLA, New York U, Emory, Melbourne, Amsterdam, National University of Singapore, Seoul National University and many more.

Furthermore, BSB is part of Nord Anglia Education (NAE), a family of 80+ premium international schools in 30+ countries. Through NAE’s global collaborations with world-leading institutions and organisations such as The Juilliard School, UNICEF, IMG Academcy and MIT, BSB can provide our students with unique life and learning experiences that help them mature into successful global citizens.

English National Curriculum

- The Structure

In the English National Curriculum, students are placed in different Key Stages of learning according to their age, each has its key academic objectives and set of assessment to check on progress.

Stage	Age	BSB Year Group
EYFS	2-5	Teddies, Nursery,  Reception
Key Stage 1	5-7	Year 1, 2
Key Stage 2	7-11	Years 3, 4, 5, 6
Key Stage 3	11-14	Years 7, 8, 9
Key Stage 4  IGCSE	14-16	Years 10, 11

1. Early Years Foundation Stage EYFS 

    (2-5 years old)

EYFS consists of Teddies, Nursery and Reception. This comprehensive learning experience prepares children for entry into the Primary school. Students study all aspects of the curriculum. They are assessed frequently to ensure they are making the appropriate progress for their age and will achieve the early learning goals necessary to ensure future success. These learning goals include literacy, numeracy, physical and emotional development as well as developing self-confidence, independence and a broader understanding of themselves and the world around them. Our teachers ensure that these learning experiences are fun, motivating and exciting thus developing a love of learning for future years.

2. Primary School Key Stages 1 & 2

  (5-11 years old)

In Years 1 to 6, students study the core elements of Literacy, Maths and Science everyday as well as the broader curriculum of the Humanities, the Creative Arts, Music Physical Education and the Performing Arts. Students are frequently assessed to ensure they make the progress they need to, in preparation for their Secondary school studies and future examination success. Data shows that BSB students consistently make greater progress and attain higher results than the average for their age.

3. Key Stage 3

  (11-14 years old)

Years 7 to 9 students study a full range of curriculum subjects aiming to provide a broad and balanced education. All these are taught by specialist teachers who are real experts and enthusiasts for their own subjects. High academic standards are at the heart of the curriculum. The core subjects of Maths, English, Science and Modern Foreign Languages are taught in ability sets. This allows all students to be challenged and achieve the highest standards appropriate to their abilities. Students are regularly assessed and moved between sets to reflet their progress and growing mastery of the subjects.

4. Key Stage 4

(14-16 years old)

Years 10 and 11 students complete the IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) Programme. IGCSE examinations which are externally assessed by Cambridge International (CIE).  IGCSE is recognised internationally and are probably the best preparation for all post-16 qualifications.

Students complete compulsory core curriculum including Mathematics, English, Science and Global Perspectives. They select optional subjects depending on their areas of interest whilst also considering the areas of study they might wish to follow in the future. These include a wide range of subject disciplines in the Arts, Humanities, Sport Science, computer Science and Languages. This ensures a holistic and balanced education experience for the students.

IB Diploma

- The Structure

The IB Diploma Programme for students 16 to 18 years old requires them to study six subjects, one from each of the six groups, as well as the requirements of the three Core Components. The wide range of subjects offered at BSB allows our students to devise a portfolio that is well suited to their interests and abilities and supports their career aspirations.

Students select academic subjects – three at Higher Level, three at Standard Level – from six groups: 

Group	Academic Subjects
1	Studies in Language and Literature
2	Language Acquisition
3	Individuals and Societies
4	Sciences
5	Mathematics
6	The Arts and Electives

The above academic IB subjects are supported by 3 Core components:

• Extended Essay (EE) – a 4,000-word essay on a subject of interest to the student.

• Theory of Knowledge (TOK) – these invites students to question the basis and limits of knowledge from their own perspective.

• CAS (Creativity, Activity and Service) – students participate in various purposeful and personally challenging activities related to these three areas. 

The IB Diploma Programme provides excellent preparation for the rigours of university and adult life and is widely recognised by many as the leading post-16 qualification currently available.

Making the Right Choice for your Child

As with any choice, choosing a school curriculum is very personal and being informed is important. If you are leaning towards one curriculum type, take the time to find out more. The so called ‘hidden curriculum’ - how a school functions, how people are treated, if the school is an inclusive, safe and welcoming environment are all important factors to take into consideration.

For further information or to answer any questions you may have about choosing a school or curriculum, please contact us at [e-mail].

Click below to see the outstanding experiences offered at BSB!