The British School of Beijing, Shunyi is pleased to announce it is a fully-accredited IB World School, following the final inspection report from the International Baccalaureate Organisation.

BSB will begin teaching the IB Diploma as its graduate programme (Year 12 and 13) starting from August 2014.

The English National Curriculum continues to be the cornerstone of education at BSB from the Early Years programme, through to IGSCEs in Years 10 and 11.

The IGSCE, the English National Curriculum’s Certificate of Education, has a proven track record of providing a solid and successful foundation from which to embark on the IB Diploma course.

The British School of Beijing, Shunyi is part of the international Nord Anglia Education group and has followed the trend of the group’s 27 international schools around the world to offer the IB Diploma as its graduate qualification.

Intense preparation has been put into The British School of Beijing’s IB offer to students, led by an experienced team of IB teachers, making it one of the best in Beijing for those students wanting a bigger choice of subjects per class space, smaller class sizes and more individually-focused teaching.

The school will offer subjects across the areas of Languages, Humanities, Science, Maths and The Arts. Students select 6 subjects to study over the two-year programme and must also complete the Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay and Creativity, Service, Action (CAS) requirements.
School Principal Mr Andy Puttock said BSB’s new IB Diploma programme was about giving students enough scope to pursue their careers and dreams.

“The IB is the natural next step for us as a school that believes in creating great learning through true academic rigour. We are preparing our students for a world beyond school and we want to give them choices so they can discover for themselves where their true strengths lie,” Mr Puttock said.

This sponsored blog post has been brought to you by
The British School of Beijing, Shunyi.

Photos courtesy of BSB Shunyi

Some students love it, others not so – but whatever side of the boundary your children like to sit on, sport is an important and compulsory part of any school curriculum.

The international schools within Beijing have excellent facilities for playing sport either for recreation or competitively.

The British School of Beijing, Shunyi (BSB) is one such school that offers a wide range of facilities to provide a comprehensive sports programme for students.

 These facilities include a full-size football pitch that can be used for other sports such as softball and field hockey. There is also a running track, an indoor swimming pool and a gym for volleyball, basketball, badminton and floorball.

Students also make use of a cardio and weights room that has the latest equipment.

In August 2014, students will also begin using a Sports Dome, which will provide another option during poor air quality or bad weather situations. 

At weekends, BSB is regularly filled with the sights and sounds of children playing football and other competitive sports organised by various groups.

BSB is also an active participant in Asia-wide School Sports Associations that provide students with a fantastic opportunity to travel to other cities throughout the region and compete against their peers from other international schools.

In the current school year, BSB students have been to Seoul, Hong Kong and Dalian to compete in events organised by the following associations:
ACAMIS – Association of China and Mongolia International Schools (volleyball, basketball, netball, rugby, swimming and football)
FOBISIA–Federation of British International Schools in Asia (football, athletics, swimming and basketball or T-Ball)
ISAC – International Schools Athletic Conference (volleyball, basketball and football)

In fact, this week a team of 36 BSB primary school students are heading to Hong Kong to compete in the FOBISIA Primary Games in Hong Kong.
Boys and Girls teams in Under 9s, 10s and 11s will be striving to win individual and team medals in swimming, football, athletics and (this year) T-Ball.

BSB’s Director of Sport, Mr Travis Washko, said in the 2013/2014 school year, BSB has seen a record turn-out of students competing in sport.

He said a highlight in particular was the large number of students participating in the BSB AquaBears competitive swimming programme.

“We had more than one hundred students try out for the training squads at the start of the year and from this we were able to form squads of swimmers with varying abilities,” Mr Washko said.

“We have worked on helping each student reach their potential and from this we have seen some fantastic results and personal achievements from the students throughout the year.”

The AquaBears programme epitomises the overall BSB sports programme.

“We want to providegood opportunities to those students who want to strive to improve their skills and play competitively, as well as giving those students who are less interested the chance to discover what sport they may like doing,” Mr Washko said.

“Ultimately it is about participation, doing your best, understanding good sportsmanship and – most of all – having fun,” he said.
For further information on the Sports programme at The British School of Beijing, Shunyi, please contact Mr Travis Washko or any other member of the Sports department who will be happy to answer your questions. sport@britishschool.org.cn

This sponsored blog post has been brought to you by
The British School of Beijing, Shunyi.

Photos courtesy of BSB Shunyi

Probably the most important decision after making the huge leap to move your family to China, is which school to choose.

For families moving to Beijing, this may also include which curriculum to choose, given the huge choice of excellent international schools in this city.

For some this will be an easy question based on nationality, but for others it will be a daunting one.

For ex-pats where their country’s national curriculum is not offered in Beijing, it also means trying to understand the terminology and jargon used in another nation’s curriculum.

The English National Curriculum, as offered by The British School of Beijing, Shunyi,(BSB) is considered one of the leading curricula world-wide and is recognised across the globe.

The curriculum is flexible enough to ensure that it meets the academic needs to help children excel in the international ex-pat environment.

Understanding the English National Curriculum
The English National Curriculum offers a subject-based curriculum from aged 5. It is academically strong and leads to world-leading external examinations at age 16 and 18, which are the iGCSE and International Baccalaureate.

Before the age of 5, children follow a structured play-based curriculum. This puts an emphasis on physical, personal, social and emotional development with listening, understanding and speaking skills to foster good communication. This programme is known as EYFS (Early Years and Foundation Stage).

In the National Curriculum, students are placed in Key Stages according to their age.
•    Key Stage One – Years 1 & 2 (5-7 years old).
•    Key Stage Two – Years 3, 4, 5 & 6 (7-11 years old).
•    Key Stage Three – Years 7, 8 & 9 (11 – 14 years old).
•    Key Stage Four – Years 10 & 11 (14 – 16 year olds) iGCSEs

iGCSE stands for International General Certificate of Secondary Education. These examinations are recognised internationally and are probably the best preparation for all post-16 qualifications, such as the IB, which is studied at The British School of Beijing, Shunyi.

The IB Diploma is widely recognised, along with the more traditional A-Levels, as the best preparation for top universities world-wide.
The approach that BSB has taken is seen as being the best combination of the two systems in terms of curriculum maturity and the international ex-pat environment the school operates in.

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.

You also need to consider your long-term plans. If you know that you’re returning to, or moving to a country that follows a certain curriculum and that your children will have to work in that model, then it makes sense to follow the same curriculum in Beijing.

For further information or to answer any questions you may have about the English National Curriculum, please contact The British School of Beijing, Shunyi; admissions@britishschool.org.cn

This sponsored blog post has been brought to you by
The British School of Beijing, Shunyi.

Photo courtesy of BSB Shunyi

Education is much more than lessons in a classroom.

For many years, schools have understood the benefits of providing special challenges and learning to students both inside and outside the school environment.

To that end, the “school camp” has been a time-honoured tradition and, for many students, one the fondest memories of their school experience.

At The British School of Beijing, Shunyi (BSB), these annual school camps are called “Residentials” and they are an in-built part of the curriculum at BSB from Year 2 through to Year 13.

They are also part of the fee structure, so there is no additional cost to parents at the time of the trips.

BSB Principal Mr Andy Puttock said this was part of the school’s High Performance Learning and Global Classroom ethos to challenge BSB students to achieve more.

“Our Residentials programme extends our curriculum to offer students experiences designed to be fun, challenging, inspiring, and motivating,” Mr Puttock said.

“Living and working with others brings out the best in everyone and, through service projects in China and further afield, our students see how life looks through other people’s eyes.

“Students bond with each other and their teachers, they also learn a lot about themselves as they are faced with changeable situations and challenges. It’s education that can’t come from books and lectures.”

All Residentials in Secondary school are organised by professional tour companies as with the Residentials in year 4, 5 and 6.

The companies provide expert guides for all facets of the trips . Briefings for parents are given in the weeks leading up to the trips. Teachers also do a pre-inspection of the destinations prior to the Residentials going ahead.

Primary school students at The British School of Beijing, Shunyi will soon be embarking on their residential trips (beginning of June), while the Secondary Residentials are held in October each year.

Year 2 students begin their school camp experience with a sleepover at school. As the students are only 6 and 7 years old, this eases them into the idea of an overnight stay with their school group and teachers.

Year 3 students visit the countryside outside of Beijing, exploring the flora, fauna and landscape of the area for two nights.

Beginning in Year 4, each Residential is a 4 night/5 day educational experience focusing on four key outcomes:
•    Education – history, culture, biology, geology, environment, anthropology
•    Outdoor Education – mountain biking, kayaking, abseiling, camping, snorkelling
•    Community Engagement – local school interaction, community service, conservation
•    Team Building – communication, cooperation, consideration, coordination

The locations are:
Year 4 – PingYao
Year 5 – Xi’an
Year 6 – Guizhou
Year 7  -Sanya
Year 8 – Yangshuo
Year 9 – Xiamen
Year 10 – Ziyuan   
Year 11 – Sanya
Year 12 – Guizhou
Year 13 – Vietnam

For more information on the Residentials trips at The British School of Beijing, Shunyi, please contact the Admissions team – admissions@britishschool.org.cn

This sponsored blog post has been brought to you by
The British School of Beijing, Shunyi.

Photo courtesy of BSB Shunyi

A school’s After School Activities programme not only complements the curriculum offered at school, it can also uncover some hidden talents and enable students to discover a love for something new.

Take for example the student with a flair for technical drawing, or the student who completes a camping expedition with nothing more than backpack of supplies, or the students who makes their peers laugh with their comic strip creation.

It’s these fun discoveries that make After School Activities such a valuable addition to any school programme.

At The British School of Beijing, Shunyi, more than 100 different types of After School Activities and Clubs are offered to students in primary and secondary school across the three terms.

They are provided to enrich learning, discover hidden talents and to enable students to further understand the world around them.
After School Activities (ASAs) at The British School of Beijing, Shunyi are generally held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3.30pm to 4.30pm, with school bus transport provided.

Three terms of different activities are offered to Primary students (Year One and above) and Secondary students. Sign-up sheets are distributed at the start of each term.

There generally is no extra cost involved for the activities, but on some occasions small fees may be charged for use of special equipment or ingredients.

Here’s some examples of what is offered each term.

Primary School
Drama Club, Golf, Comic Creators, Cookery Club, Creative Writing, Technical Drawing, Sing Up, Splash Club, Dutch for Native Speakers, French (for German students), German as a Foreign Language, Chinese Painting, Computer Science, Press Pack, Art & Design, Lego Club and Chess Club.

Secondary School
Roots and Shoots, STEM Club (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths), Student Council, Orchestra, The International Award, Chinese Cooking, Drama Club, Self Defence, Spanish for Beginners, English Clinic (for non-native speakers), Presentation Skills, Cross Fit HIIT and Cardio, Statistics, Art Workshop, Art & Design, Chinese Calligraphy, The World Scholar’s Cup, Global Classroom, Strategic Board Games, Wind Band and Homework Support.

Many of the programmes, especially in Secondary School, lead on to competitions and events outside the school which further enhances the experience for the students and provides the opportunity for them to showcase their skills.

For more information on BSB’s After School Activities programme, please email or come into the Admissions Office for a brochure – admissions@britishschool.org.cn

This sponsored blog post has been brought to you by
The British School of Beijing, Shunyi.

Photo courtesy of BSB Shunyi

By the time a child reaches their final years in primary school, they will be totally familiar with their school environment.

They will know their teacher very well, be comfortable with most if not all of the people in their class and will probably know most of the other faces in the school too.

By Year 6, they are the most senior people in their school, they will be used to being given responsibility and they tend to be looked up to by the younger boys and girls in the school.

Within a few short months these same students revert to being the most junior again in a brand new social environment, with a different atmosphere – Secondary School!

Change can be a daunting task for any one of us but when you are 11 or 12, when dealing with other changes happening in your life, it is a change that, for some children, takes quite a lot of adjusting to.

The British School of Beijing, Shunyi has produced a booklet called “Changes – Making the transition from Primary to Secondary School”, which is available to anyone interested in helping their child make this big adjustment from “big fish to small fish”.

It features an outline of what those big adjustments will be; it goes into more detail about how lesson schedules and homework changes in the Secondary School ; it provides valuable tips to parents on how to feel confident that your child is prepared for the change and it gives first-hand accounts from current Year 7 students on how they made the transition.

The British School of Beijing, Shunyi suggests parents and children together take a tour of the school facilities and see the difference in the classrooms. It’s a great way to help your child get excited about the many new subjects and topics they will be doing.

The biggest concern for students tends to be the changes in homework. Examples are given in the book of how to prepare and manage time to ensure homework becomes part of the daily routine.

For a copy of “Changes” or to take a personalised tour of the Secondary School facilities at The British School of Beijing, Shunyi, please contact the Head of Secondary Mr Steve Lewis (steve.lewis@britishschool.org.cn) or the Admissions team (admissions@britishschool.org.cn).

In the meantime, here are some of the pointers from the book on how to feel confident that your child is prepared for the change from “big fish to small fish”.

• Keep up the dialogue between you and your child and be honest about both the positive and negative aspects of transition.
• Support this stage of growing independence in their lives by identifying ways your child can have greater independence at home.
• Spend a little time remembering back to your own move to secondary school and talk to them about it – your child may have a very different experience to you but it will help you to be empathetic and understanding.
• Drive or walk past the school whenever you can, or visit for an event.
• Support your child to get involved in local activities or clubs where they will come across other children who already go to the school.
• Encourage your child to get involved in clubs and activities in their new school.
• Suggest time management techniques to your child or help them set up a study area.
• Make an appointment to talk to the school’s Head of Secondary or Head of Year 7.

This sponsored blog post has been brought to you by
The British School of Beijing, Shunyi.

 Photo courtesy of BSB Shunyi.

At international schools across Beijing, graduating students have begun their final term of their school life and that means final exams.

For parents it is an anxious time where we advise, encourage, nurture and sometimes cajole our children into studying as much as they can, to do the best they can, especially as we are reminded of our own past and the opportunities gained or lost during these final weeks of school.

Perhaps the best advice for students at this time comes from those who were sitting in their seats this time last year.

The British School of Beijing, Shunyi (BSB) gathered comments and advice from last year’s graduate students, who went on to pursue their dreams at Universities around the world, with the aim of discovering their secrets for success.

BSB has a proud record of students achieving outstanding academic results that get them into the course they want at the University they want.

BSB Graduates achieved a 100% pass rate across 9 different subjects last year. Here is what a few of them had to say about their experience in their final year at BSB, with some sound advice to future graduates.

Prateek Pandey is studying Mechanical Engineering at the University of Bristol, United Kingdom

“I had the opportunity to meet one of the most knowledgeable faculties in their respective fields, made friends from around the globe and learned valuable life skills and experiences. Teachers can guide and coach but we have to make the sincere effort to learn. There is no short cut for hard work to excel in life.

My advice to students is to leverage this opportunity to the fullest and always work towards and focus on your goals. Listening to my teachers and never hesitating to ask a question (no matter how silly) have been my mantras to excel at this school and have helped me to get into my dream university, The University of Bristol, UK to study Mechanical Engineering.”

Randy Zhang is an Engineering Major at Rice University, Houston, Texas, USA

“Academically, BSB is strong in many fields and has prepared me well for many aspects of University life.

“BSB has an extremely strong science department. After my first semester at University I did not feel like I had met any new material in the fundamental sciences that I had not seen at BSB. So do take advantage of that. Also make sure you build a solid foundation in Maths if you are looking to do Engineering.

“Like Rice University, BSB is a relatively small community so there are many opportunities available to you, although you do have to realise that you still have to put in effort and seize those opportunities yourself.”

Tom Cho is studying a Bachelor of Business Administration at the University of Hong Kong

“BSB has a compassionate staff whom the students can rely on when they need help. Now that I am attending a university, I realise how ignorant I was of such caring community. It is probably the last chance for you to receive such care from someone other than your families so use it wisely!

“For those of you who are stressed about universities, my advice is to have a good balance between enjoyable life and studies. Achieving your goals means taking the occasional rest and having diverse experiences and extracurricular activities.

“Speaking of my personal experience, I took part in the Model United Nations conference and International Award. Please make full use of such valuable time and give your best shot at everything you are trying to achieve and you, like me, will have both an academically fulfilling and enjoyable secondary school life.”

Ieva Kulviecaite is studying Psychology at Mykolas Romeris University, Vilnius, Lithuania

“At BSB the teachers are fearless to deliver criticism on assignments and never hesitate to advise students when needed. But such teaching techniques helped me to grow and achieve success. I truly appreciate their kindness and respect.

“From my personal experience, I can guarantee you that it takes nothing more than perseverance and self-determination to accomplish your targets.

“I am currently a student at Mykolas Romeris University in Lithuania, my homeland, and I’m grateful that BSB guided me to choose this path.”
Michiko Weis is an Undergraduate Student at Les Roches International School of Hotel Management, Switzerland

“At BSB, I was taught over and over again the importance of being prepared, using my time effectively, and prioritising.

“Now that I am in Les Roches International School of Hotel Management in Switzerland I am so thankful to the BSB teachers and my parents for having had taught me those things and for giving me the opportunity of having my education in such a wonderful and caring school that has helped me to achieve my goals.

“My personal advice would be “listen”. It may seem annoying at times and many of the things teachers and parents say are repetitive, but they say them for a good reason, and once you leave high school and home for university you will quickly realise how right they were.”

Jashdave Singh is studying International Business and Politics at the Copenhagen Business School, Denmark

“BSB was a vital stepping stone in helping me to get into one of the top business schools in the world.

“I participated in many activities such as Model United Nations and residential trips which allowed me to expand my social network beyond BSB and travel to amazing places.

“Not only that, the teachers were extremely helpful and, in my mind, were much rather like friends whom I was able to discuss my academia with. The quality of teaching gave me the chance to learn more than what was prescribed in the syllabus of the subjects I chose.

“Therefore, a helpful word of advice – don’t be afraid to ask for help in your studies as the teachers are more than happy to help you out. Take every opportunity presented to you at BSB to improve yourself."

This sponsored blog post has been brought to you by
The British School of Beijing, Shunyi.

 Photo courtesy of BSB Shunyi.

Success is most often borne out of opportunity… and practice… lots of practice.

As Malcolm Gladwell said in his book Outliers: The Story of Success – “Practice isn’t the thing you do when you’re good. It’s the thing you do that makes you good.”

Being good at music comes from having the opportunity to learn, to practice and to be around others who share the same passion for it.

Students at The British School of Beijing, Shunyi(BSB) are given the opportunity to develop a love of music from a very early age. Beginning in Early Years Foundation Stage, the music programme offered enables students to explore and discover the joy of music, rhythm and beat.

In Primary school, the Primary Instrumental Programme (PIPs) is offered to all students in Year 1 to 6 as part of the curriculum. The students learn Recorder (Year1 and 2), Violin or Cello (Year 3 and 4) and a variety of wind instruments (Year 5 and 6).

Music is also part of the curriculum in Secondary School and offered as a subject choice in the ICGSEs.

Complementing all of this is the school’s Individual Music Programme (IMPs), whereby a team of private music teachers provide excellent tuition on a weekly one-to-one basis. Lessons include guitar, drums, piano and a variety of wind and string instruments.

And finally, students can follow this up with participation in BSB’s after school and lunchtime activity programme which includes an orchestra, a Wind Band, Ukulele Ensemble and various choirs across the age groups.

BSB Primary school students Maddison (aged 11) and Joseph (aged 11) have taken the opportunity to make the most of the music programme at The British School of Beijing, Shunyi. The two were part of a bigger school team of BSB students that recently went to Malaysia to participate in a combined music and performing arts carnival with other international schools. (FOBISIA)

Maddison, a Year 6 student, has been learning the clarinet for the past two years at The British School of Beijing, Shunyi through both the PIPs and the IMPs programmes. She said to be able to be part of the BSB team at the carnival was a fantastic experience.

“I had a really good time at the school in Malaysia,” Maddison said. “I got to learn dance, practise my clarinet and play in a huge orchestra. We did themes from the movies. My favourite was the James Bond theme. The hardest was Pirates of the Caribbean.

“It was great to hear how it sounded when we all played together.”

Joseph, also in Year 6, participated in the combined choir. He said he enjoyed meeting like-minded students from other international schools who enjoy performing and learning more about music.

“I enjoy doing music at BSB and the opportunities it gives me,” Joseph said.

Enjoyment is the key for The British School of Beijing, Shunyi’s Director of Music Ms Marguerite Chaplin.

“To be successful you have to enjoy what you do,” Ms Chaplin said.

“Research shows there is a clear correlation between the enjoyment of a subject and retention of learning in that subject. So our philosophy is to develop a love of music, a solid understanding of the language of music and to engage as many students as possible in our extensive range of ensembles to nurture that enjoyment. “

For more information about the Music Programme at The British School of Beijing, Shunyi, please contact the Director of Music, Ms Marguerite Chaplin, directly or BSB’s Admissions Team for a tour of the music practice rooms and performance facilities: marguerite.chaplin@britishschool.org.cn or admissions@britishschool.org.cn

 This sponsored blog post has been brought to you by
The British School of Beijing, Shunyi.

Photo courtesy of BSB Shunyi.

The international school environment in Beijing provides some amazing opportunities for students to learn and be confident in multiple languages.

But is it possible to learn and be confident in more than one curriculum?

The British School of Beijing, Shunyi’s German Primary programme, also referred to as BSB’s Deutsche Grundschule, is providing the opportunity for young German speakers to follow both the German National Curriculum and the English National Curriculum.

It is a solid foundation for German speaking students who want to keep up with the German curriculum and also develop a strong base in an English-speaking learning environment.

Students in Klasse 1 to 4 follow the core subjects of the German Thuringia Curriculum, specifically German, Maths, Topic (Humanities and Science), Art and Personal, Social and Health education (PSHE).

All of these subjects are taught in German, but then the children switch and engage in all other subjects and activities such as PE, Music, Drama and weekly assemblies as part of the English national programme.

Head of German Primary at The British School of Beijing, Shunyi, Mrs Christine Riedl, said the programme provides excellent exposure to both curriculums.

“Students in our programme not only keep up-to-date with school in Germany, but are also in touch with what’s happening in the English Curriculum,” Mrs Riedl said.

“It provides flexibility to parents in the ex-pat school environment to choose their child’s curriculum and the biggest benefit of course is that our students form an excellent ability to learn in both languages.”

Such ability was on show at The British school of Beijing, Shunyi this week during the school’s Year 3 production. Students of Klasse 2 (equivalent to Year 3 in the English Curriculum) participated in the whole show, “The Legend of the Pharaohs”, spoken entirely in English.

Klasse 2 student Nicolas Marcea played a lead role in the show, speaking many lines in English. The rest of his classmates sang and danced throughout the show.

Nicolas’ mother Catherine Marcea said her family was very happy with the German Primary programme at The British School of Beijing, Shunyi. While her two children, aged 6 and 8, have been in an international school environment previously, it is their intention to eventually move back to Germany. She said BSB’s German Primary Programme provides them with flexibility going forward.

“We are happy with the programme because it is not completely separate from the rest of the school,” Mrs Marcea said.

“With the two curriculums, our children get to fully participate in the school and they can still be in touch with their own culture. For us, this was really important.”

Mrs Marcea said the students still celebrate special German events such as Erntedank and Karneval, enjoying special food and traditions. She said it was important that the students are given an opportunity to express German culture in the international school environment and was happy with how BSB’s German Primary programme provides these opportunities.

She said she felt they could “easily move back into the German system”, having been at The British School of Beijing’s German Primary programme.

For more information on German Primary at The British School of Beijing, Shunyi, contact the Head of the programme, Mrs Christine Riedl – christine.riedl@britishschool.org.cn

To visit the school and have a tour of the German Primary classrooms and facilities, please contact BSB’s Admissions team – admissions@britishschool.org.cn

 This sponsored blog post has been brought to you by
The British School of Beijing, Shunyi.

 Photo courtesy of BSB Shunyi