Graduates of The British School of Beijing (BSB) Shunyi have an excellent track record of being accepted in outstanding universities around the world. Let’s hear from BSB alumni Jenny who is in her last year of studies at the University of Cambridge, on how BSB has helped her achieved academic success and gained admissions to her best fit university!

University of Cambridge

I am currently in my final year of reading Economics at the University of Cambridge and will be graduating in 2021. I am applying for a postgraduate programme to study Finance and Economics. Once I finish my studies, I plan to start my career as an Investment Banker. I currently hold an internship at UBS, so hopefully, I will get converted to full-time!

Please see 2 photos of me participating in Cambridge’s College Boat Club!

Internship Experience

I have completed internship with a couple of firms, both in investment banking and in consultancy. For my latest internship experience, I worked for JP Morgan as their Investment Banking Summer Analyst. I was supposed to be working in Hong Kong but due to the pandemic, my internship programme turned virtual. My work involved building liquidity model for petrochemical firms in Korea and creating a dataset for Asian life insurance companies. The tasks given were definitely challenging; I have never come across some of the models that I had to construct. But overall, I was really grateful for the learning opportunity I was provided with.

My Years at BSB Shunyi

Jenny studied at BSB for 5 years and graduated in 2017 with an amazing IB point score of 43 (out of a maximum of 45).

When I first joined BSB, I was initially very shy but with BSB’s friendly and supportive community, I was able to fit in fairly quickly, gradually changing my personality. Eventually through the years at BSB, I was able to become who I am today.

Looking back, I would say I was greatly honoured to be a part of the BSB community. To me, BSB really was the “Best School in Beijing”. I think that the most special thing about our school is the tightly-knit community. This is true because everyone pretty much knows each other, to the extent where the school Principal knows each and every individual! With such atmosphere, I felt that I was cared for and loved.

What is special about BSB?

I would say it is the supportive environment. BSB definitely allows and supports students to carry out their own projects and build up their own studies. For me I have always wanted to host a Model United Nations (MUN) conference in our school and with the warm support of the school staff and management team, I was able to organize the first BRITMUN conference in 2017.

Jenny at MUN

I was also the Vice-Chair of the BSB Charity Committee, an active member of the World Scholar’s Cup BSB Team, the President of the Human Rights Council at BEIMUN XXIII and the President of the Environment Commission at BEIMUN XXIV.

Jenny at World Scholar’s Cup

Best memories at BSB

Perhaps one of the best memory was the residential trips we went. From local cities in China to foreign countries like Tanzania and Vietnam, I was able to learn things I could not in textbooks. The most unforgettable experience was definitely the one in Tanzania where I actually built school buildings and goat sheds for under-privileged families and got to teach the local children. I think it was the first experience where I really felt like I could do something to change the lives of others.

Jenny in Tanzania

Advice for fellow students

Don’t be too stressed about your academics. Even if you fail at this stage, it is not the end of your life. You will learn that there are way more important things than high school grades once you enter university. For future Oxbridge applicants, read around your subject! It is crucial for you to do a wider reading to fill in the gap of IB. Finally, if any of you have any questions on Cambridge, feel free to reach out! I would be happy to help out.

The British School of Beijing (BSB), Shunyi is a large International School offering Primary through Secondary education to 1,000+ students from over 60 nationalities. Driven by a philosophy of ambition, we inspire every child to achieve more than they ever imagined possible.

BSB students follow an enhanced English National Curriculum completing IGCSE exams at aged 16 followed by the IB Diploma at aged 18. We also offer a German Curriculum for native German speakers in Klasse 1-4. As part of a family of 70+ Nord Anglia schools globally, our curricula are enhanced by collaborations with preeminent organisations such as The Juilliard School, MIT and UNICEF.  Year-on-year our world class teachers ensure that students experience accelerated learning and achieve excellent academic results to enable their entry into the world’s leading universities.

Contact us for a visit at admissions@bsbshunyi.com.

Graduates of The British School of Beijing, Shunyi have an excellent track record of being accepted in outstanding universities around the world.

BSB Shunyi graduating class of 2020

Let’s hear from some of our Class of 2020 graduates on how they achieved academic success and gained admissions to their best-fit universities!

Jessica Feng

““BSB really aims to develop you as a person. They offer a range of subjects and allow you to explore where your strengths are.”

Jessica graduated in 2020 with an excellent IB Diploma point score of 43 (out of a maximum of 45). For her IGCSE exams taken in 2018, she achieved 1 A**, 8 A*, and 1 A.

Jessica transferred to BSB from a local Chinese school in 2015. She said that “English used to be my weakest subject and I started off getting Bs and Cs when I first began my studies at BSB. Over the years, my English teachers’ amazing teaching has helped me improve so much that I eventually got an A in IGCSE First Language English.”

Jessica with one of her teachers

Jessica said that “BSB really aims to develop you as a person. They offer a range of subjects and allow you to explore where your strengths are. I didn’t really know that I could do Art but now I see that I’m kind of good at Art. I want to keep challenging myself to walk out of my comfort zone. My favorite teacher was Mr. Brigstock because he inspired me to study Economics. His lessons were always well-prepared and fun. Apart from effectively preparing us for exams, he really taught us how to think like an economist.

Before, I would only consider applying to Chinese universities, but now because of the skills I’ve learned at BSB, I am open to choices around the world.”

Jessica is currently studying Economics at New York University. She has also been accepted at Yale-NUS College, King’s College London, The University of Edinburgh, Durham University, and the University of Warwick.

Please click to see a video about Jessica’s learning journey at BSB!

Alex Yu

“The teachers at BSB are full of enthusiasm all the time.”

Alex is studying Electrical/Electronic Engineering at University College London. He also received offers from the University of Toronto, McGill University, and the University of Warwick, etc.

Alex achieved an amazing IB Diploma point score of 41. He said that “The teachers at BSB are full of enthusiasm all the time. When I first came to BSB, I successfully caught up with the Chemistry classes that I’ve missed in a short time thanks to Mr. Finn who helped me after school and during his break time.

BSB’s University and Career Counsellor is very professional. Although he is very busy every day, if you want to consult with him about college applications or life goals, he will do his best to help you. With the help of these excellent teachers from BSB, I succeeded both academically and in college admissions.”

Lucrezia Quagliariello

“BSB will always be my second home. Having attended since 2016, I had been awestruck by BSB’s cultural diversity.”

Lucrezia has been accepted at the University of Amsterdam, Leiden University, University of Sheffield, and the University of Sussex. She has chosen Politics and International Relations as her major.

She said that “BSB will always be my second home. Having attended since 2016, I had been awestruck by BSB’s cultural diversity. I was gifted with the privilege to form relationships with teachers and students stemming from all over the world, a blessing that will certainly unravel into an advantage in the future both professionally and personally. I can truly say I have made friends for life here.”

Lucrezia with her classmates on a residential trip to Tanzania

My favorite trip was my Year 12 Residential Trip to Tanzania. I was able to not only understand Tanzania’s culture but it gave me the opportunity to grow spiritually and appreciate what we have in life.

BSB’s whole student body strives for success with the help of our teachers as a backbone to the huge support system. This made reaching for and achieving my goals a whole lot easier and manageable. The wide range of extracurricular and IB CAS activities integrated into our everyday school life have not only helped me form bonds between my peers and teachers that will last a lifetime but also enriched my learning experience and furthered my personal development.”

We wish our graduates all the best in their future studies!

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The British School of Beijing (BSB), Shunyi is a large International School offering Primary through Secondary education to 1,000+ students from over 60 nationalities. Driven by a philosophy of ambition, we inspire every child to achieve more than they ever imagined possible.

BSB students follow an enhanced English National Curriculum completing IGCSE exams at aged 16 followed by the IB Diploma at aged 18. We also offer a German Curriculum for native German speakers in Klasse 1-4. As part of a family of 60+ Nord Anglia schools globally, our curricula are enhanced by collaborations with preeminent organisations such as The Juilliard School, MIT and UNICEF.  Year-on-year our world class teachers ensure that students experience accelerated learning and achieve excellent academic results to enable their entry into the world’s leading universities.

Photos: Courtesy of BSB Shunyi 

“Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, Bright copper kettles and warm woollen mittens, Brown paper, packages tied up with strings, These are a few of my favorite things. ”

Call me an eccentric, but the holidays remind me of this ‘Sound of Music’ song. Nothing more so than being around the kids at the British School of Beijing, Shunyi (BSB Shunyi), as they ushered in the season of cheer and merriment last Saturday (Dec 7), with their annual Christmas Bazaar.

Santa was ready to spread cheer and fun.

Not least because no matter where you turned there were amazing wares to be bought by prospective families, but also interactive games were abound for the entire family. Ice cream, despite the freezing temperatures outside, made for a welcome treat for the kids, who also had a bouncy castle within the warmth of the main school building.

The school choir performed, under the guidance of their capable teachers, and after all was said and done, many of the parents and students went home with amazing gifts won from a school raffle draw. It was an unmistakable spirit of true community and the cheer which Christmas brings. Happy kids and truly grateful parents. Those are also some of my favorite things.

Photots: BSB Shunyi

At The British School of Beijing, Shunyi (BSB Shunyi), it’s all systems go as the student body, teachers, and parents alike gear up for this year’s play, to be staged on November 23. This year, students prepare to mount a large-scale stage performance of the movie The Little Shop of Horrors which was first released as a film in 1960, remade in 1982, and has enjoyed many off-Broadway revivals at the Orpheum Theatre.

It is a production which enjoys a cult following as it tells the story of an orphan called Seymour, an amateur botanist from Skid Row who rather fortuitously comes across a strange and hitherto undiscovered species of plant which might just save his boss’s failing flower shop located in a seedy part of town. After much tending to, the plant grows and exhibits a rather curious appetite for blood and later demands, in what gives this production a hilarious yet horrific turn, “Feed Me!”

From the set, props, and even the poster, the entire production’s preparation is in the hands of the student body, assisted of course by a handful of teachers. The performance itself is a hybrid of both the movie and subsequent Broadway performances, with the original characters being portrayed by several students, interspersing scenes with Broadway numbers choreographed to perfection. Watching the team rehearse is in itself a work of art.

Students from Year 7 and above all take direction from Ms. Haley, Director of Performing Arts and Producer of this show, Ms. Helen, Head of Art coordinates the prop and set design construction, and Ms. Anita, drama teacher at BSB Shunyi, who masterfully direct everything from lighting to stage marks for each actor and performing group – this is a well oiled machine which runs with military precision and surgical accuracy. Ms. Anita told me that the play has been in rehearsals since the beginning of the school term, which is wonderfully obvious. As some of the students let me know, it is a fun play to perform and unlike anything they have staged thus far. Each performer has a technique of their own to help them master their performance. One or two, like Luca Coban (Mr. Mushnik), have admitted to not watching the movie or off-Broadway performances in order to give an entirely authentic portrayal of the characters they wish to bring to life. Expert direction, dynamic vocals, choice selections of musical accompaniment and exquisite performances conspire on stage to make this production one for the books.

BSB Shunyi shines as a hotbed of student talent as the very attractive poster mounted to advertise the upcoming theatrical production was itself a result of an artistic contest within the student body. with Year 9 student Yining Zhao (Angeli) emerging the winner. Costumes are being provided by the parent community of BSB Shunyi. Anticipation for the performance is so high that the evening performance on November 23 is entirely sold out. Even though the drama team at BSB Shunyi mounts a performance each year, this year’s performance promises to be one of their best.

If you wish to book a ticket, here is some information to help you know when and how, provided by BSB Shunyi.

3 Shows available:

• Sat 23 November  2pm
• Sat 23 November 7pm SOLD OUT
• Sun 24 November 2pm

Ticket info:

Price: Adult RMB 100, Child (under 18 years old) RMB 65

Please note: We hope that everyone can have a chance to see the show.

• Ticket orders are limited to ONE performance, up to 5 tickets only.
• Children must be accompanied by an adult, and please, no children ages 0-3.
• As some themes can be scary for children, we recommend the show for Y3 (age 7) and up. Parents, please use your best judgment.

***Please note: tickets are non-refundable, and we will not process requests to swap show times.

To buy tickets, please visit our online purchase page:

1. Please click on the link or scan the QR code below.

2. Once you reach the online purchase page, please click the “Register” button in Red, fill in all the details and keep a record of your payment confirmation.

3. Please take a screenshot or save the e-mail as your ticket. We will not do paper tickets in order to be more eco-friendly.

Photos: courtesy of British School of Beijing, Shunyi.

For many, making the world a better place is a dream they would one day like to accomplish. Through our collaboration with UNICEF, The British School of Beijing (BSB) Shunyi provides students with activities and challenges so that they can take direct actions to make this dream a reality.

The British School of Beijing (BSB) Shunyi belongs to Nord Anglia Education (NAE), a family of 66 premium international schools in 29 countries. NAE’s collaboration with UNICEF offers unique life and learning experiences to BSB students, helping them develop into mature and successful global citizens. Through special activities and events with UNICEF, our students research and debate challenges facing our society and take actions to address them. Our education focuses not only on ensuring academic success but also on inspiring students to positively impact their local communities and the world at large.

BSB Edward (second from right) speaking at the 2018 UN High-Level Political Forum

Working with UNICEF

UNICEF is the world’s leading advocate for children, operating in 190 countries to save children’s lives, defend their rights and help them fulfill their potential. UNICEF is empowered by the United Nations to take collective action for a better world. Our teachers benefit from resources from UNICEF through lesson plans, videos, and creative content.

Annual Global Challenge

Every year, UNICEF challenges students at BSB and NAE schools to raise awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through creative projects and activities. The SDGs are a collection of 17 goals set by the United Nations regarding social and economic development issues that we hope to achieve by 2030. Also, our BSB Eco-Committee which consists of Primary and Secondary students and teachers, help motivate everyone in the school to create a more sustainable BSB.

Sharing Ideas on the World Stage

BSB students are encouraged to express their concerns in their local communities and on the global stage. Each year, NAE students are invited by UNICEF to engage with and influence world leaders at global summits. This is a unique opportunity for BSB students to contribute to the discussion and influence policy at the highest level.

“We are thrilled to have Nord Anglia students around the world learning about the SDGs and taking positive actions in their schools and communities year over year.  The Nord Anglia Student Summit is an excellent opportunity for students to share their ideas and efforts to leaders at the United Nations during the annual High-level Political Forum (HLPF), where different stakeholders meet to share ideas and assess progress on the Global Goals,” said Shannon O’Shea, Team Leader: Public Partner Advocacy and Visibility Section, UNICEF.

Shannon O’Shea, Team Leader: Public Partner Advocacy and Visibility Section, UNICEF, speaking to NAE students at the Summit

This is the third year in a row that BSB’s Year 12 students participated in the Summit in New York and this year, our Student Ambassador Luca Coban represented BSB at the 2019 NAE-UNICEF Student Summit. Students joined various workshops hosted by UNICEF representatives and discussed ways students could help raise awareness in our schools and what projects students would like to take on.

In the Model United Nations (MUN) event, students acted as representative of different nations and debate resolutions. Luca was honored to be selected as 1 of the 3 students who acted as Deputy MUN Chairs alongside our 3 main MUN Chairs from New York University.

For the High-level Political Forum, NAE students speak on stage to the audience at the UN Headquarters, sharing how they were taking steps to make the world a better place through the SDGs in their own schools.  2 NAE students also presented at the ECOSOC Chamber at the United Nations as a part of governments’ voluntary national reviews. This was held in the iconic General Assembly Hall.

Student Ambassador Luca Coban (first from right) represented BSB at the 2019 NAE-UNICEF Student Summit

Luca also had the opportunity to go up the One World Trade Center, went on the Staten Island Ferry to view the Statue of Liberty up close, ride the New York subway and experience the culture and history of New York City.

Back at The British School of Beijing (BSB) Shunyi, Luca has brought back insights and action plans from the Summit and it is always inspirational to see our students sharing ideas and discussing what they will be doing this new school year at BSB to make the world a better place!

The British School of Beijing (BSB), Shunyi is a large International School offering Primary through Secondary education to 1,000+ students from over 60 nationalities. Driven by a philosophy of ambition, we inspire every child to achieve more than they ever imagined possible.

BSB students follow an enhanced English National Curriculum completing IGCSE exams at aged 16 followed by the IB Diploma at aged 18. We also offer a German Curriculum for native German speakers in Klasse 1-4. As part of a family of 60+ Nord Anglia schools, our curricula are enhanced by collaborations with preeminent organizations such as The Juilliard School, MIT, and UNICEF. Year-on-year our world-leading teachers ensure that students experience accelerated learning and achieve excellent academic results to enable them entry into the world’s leading universities.

Contact us to book a visit! admissions@bsbshunyi.com

This post is provided by BSB Shunyi
Photos 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 teachers and classmates very well and will probably know most of the other faces in the school too. By Year 6 (in a British school following the English National Curriculum), they are the most senior people in their school and tend to be looked up to by the younger students.

Within a few months, they revert to being the most junior again in a brand new social environment when they transition to Year 7 in Secondary school. Change can be a daunting task for any one of us but when you are 11 or 12, it is a change that takes quite a lot of adjusting to.

The important thing to remind yourself is that children are more resilient than we are. Remember too, that typically in a short while, their new surroundings will become more familiar and they will be running from the gym to the Science Lab and on to the Art room without the slightest stumble. The first couple of weeks can be difficult, though.

Below are some tips for parents on how you can help support your child in making a successful transition from Primary to Secondary school.

What are some of the things children worry most about?

• Making new friends
• Getting lost in the new building
• Being the smallest and youngest in an environment filled with older and bigger students
• Whether or not their new teachers will like them
• Coping with greater academic expectations and more homework
• Having different teachers for different subjects

Remind children some of the great things about moving to Secondary

• Having more freedom (what to do and where to go in your break time)
• Learning new and interesting subjects
• Being treated as more of a grown-up
• Experiencing new ways of learning with new friends and teachers
• Increasing control over what subjects you study
• More exciting tools and gadgets!

How can you feel confident that both you and your child are well-prepared?

• Keep an ongoing dialogue between you and your child and be honest about both the positive and negative aspects of transition.
• Talk to your child about your own move to Secondary school – your child may have different experiences, but it will help you be empathetic and understanding.
• Ensuring your child eats well and get enough sleep.
• Drop by the school whenever you can or visit for a school event.
• Support and encourage your child to get involved in school activities.
• Suggest time management techniques or help set up a study area.
• When needed, don’t hesitate to make an appointment to talk to your child’s Teacher or Head of Secondary

Another big adjustment in Year 7 is that students will study a diverse range of subjects. It is important to encourage a balance between all subjects. Discuss all the subjects at home. Everyone will have their favorites and will excel in certain subjects. Problems occur when a subject is neglected in the early stages. This may happen because of the perceived difficulty of the subject which may have an impact on subject choices in future years.

As a parent, you want the best for your child. So do we! At The British School of Beijing, (BSB) Shunyi, we promise to support your child to be their best and achieve more than they ever thought possible. Our world-class teachers provide an engaging learning environment to ensure your child will love coming to school. Students are well supported by their teachers and excellent pastoral care system. Parents are always welcome to contact us for support.

To ensure that the move from Primary to Secondary is as smooth as possible, BSB Year 6 students have attended trial lessons in each Secondary subject during the last month of school. This helped students get to know their new teachers and familiarise themselves with the Secondary classrooms. They learnt new words in Spanish, created logos in Design and Technology and created masterpieces in Art. They are all very excited about their move to Secondary in August and have used their iPads to make a video to explain what Secondary at BSB is like. Please see some examples of their creative videos here.

Mr. Jim Hartland, Assistant Head of Secondary – Pastoral

The British School of Beijing (BSB), Shunyi is a large International School offering Primary through Secondary education to 1,000+ students from over 60 nationalities. Driven by a philosophy of ambition, we inspire every child to achieve more than they ever imagined possible.

BSB students follow an enhanced English National Curriculum completing IGCSE exams at aged 16 followed by the IB Diploma at aged 18. We also offer a German Curriculum for native German speakers in Klasse 1-4. As part of a family of 60+ Nord Anglia schools, our curricula are enhanced by collaborations with preeminent organizations such as The Juilliard School, MIT, and UNICEF.  Year-on-year our world-leading teachers ensure that students experience accelerated learning and achieve excellent academic results to enable them entry into the world’s leading universities.

This post is provided by BSB Shunyi
Photos courtesy of BSB Shunyi

Are schools responsible for instilling healthy eating habits in their students?
Unlike schools back home where a higher order dictates school cafeteria offerings, private international schools in Beijing generally have more control over what foods they offer on campus. However, whether schools are responsible for teaching and encouraging healthy eating habits in our children is up for debate. Some would say that healthy eating habits should start in the home, and would naturally be reflected in a student’s choices in school. Others are more worried about their children eating their fill, as nitpicky, finicky eaters might avoid eating altogether when faced with a lack of tasty options. We can all agree that children ought to eat when hungry in order to fuel their bodies and brains for the school day, but how do schools take on the healthy food movement?

To find answers, we approached two international schools for their school lunch policies and procedures. While both reputable, the British School of Beijing Shunyi (BSB) has a large, K-12 student body to serve, and a multinational organization behind it, while House of Knowledge International School and Kindergarten (HoK) runs smaller scale international schools, housing only kindergarten and elementary aged children on its two campuses. The differences do not stop there. Where BSB outsources its massive lunch needs and café offerings to an outside caterer (Eurest), HoK has a full in-house kitchen staff preparing breakfast, lunch, and snacks to its young population. We questioned the two vastly different schools how they determine what “healthy eats” are in today’s plethora of health recommendations, nutritional suggestions, and cultural opinions.

Beijing’s international community is so wide and varied that there’s bound to be a multitude of culture-specific opinions, food limitations, and other accommodations to be made. Do the schools monitor what is served our children, and how often is this menu reviewed? Are parents involved in deciding what their children are fed?

Healthy Eating is a Habit
Both BSB Shunyi and HoK agree that healthy eating is a habit. Andy Puttock, Principal at BSB Shunyi, explains that with a large student population in an international city such as Beijing, there will be families with “different views about what they want a school restaurant to provide”. Regardless, BSB Shunyi believes that children should eat healthily at school because “studies have consistently shown that students learn much better in school if they have a healthy diet; it feeds the brain as well as the body, and enables students to be alert and effective in their studies”.

Tara Gillan, Director of Marketing at HoK, responds in agreement: “healthy eating habits have been shown to stabilize energy, sharpen the mind, and improve moods, allowing us to maximize our student performance.”

Finally, both schools would agree that it is their responsibility to teach healthy eating habits as part of a holistic education program. Where BSB sees “the way students behave, interact, socialize, play, and undertake routine […] as an important part of learning,” including the way they eat.  Gillan states that “healthy eating starts at home and in school,” reminding us that “children watch and imitate adults; they look to them to learn from them and the environment around them.” Hence why “teachers at HoK sit and eat with students at meals and snack times, acting as role models, exhibiting positive attitudes towards healthy food”. Puttock emphasizes that “if [students]acquire good healthy eating habits in school, it is likely they will take these into their home and their future.”

Criteria for Healthy Food
What constitutes as a healthy, balanced, nutritional diet is up for debate even among nutritionists, dieticians, and physicians — so how do schools decide on what to serve? For many, the responsibility of decision is too heavy for one governing body, and is thus divided into tiers of decision makers.

At BSB Shunyi, for example, the catering partner provides menu suggestions based on the recommendations of their in-house nutritionist. The school then has a Food Committee, consisting of parents, students, and staff members, who meet once a month to discuss whether the menu is healthy, balanced, and appropriate for the students’ developmental needs (especially for the youngest). Comments and criticism from committee meetings are then brought up regularly at the top level management meetings as well as in meetings with caterers.

Other schools might choose their own criteria, deciding for themselves what they define as a nutritionally balanced diet.  The school’s opinion on healthy eating is then incorporated into their menus, their classrooms, as well as parent education.

HoK observes the World Health Organization (WHO) healthy diet recommendations, defining a balanced nutrition based on a diet with the five key food groups. The school only serves water (no sugary drinks), and has set water breaks when teachers monitor the children’s water intake.  The menu is then fully reviewed once a year at both campuses with all the teachers, the principal, and the kitchen manager. The bulk of the feedback is from teachers, who dine with the children on a daily basis, and as such are privy to which meals are well-received and which ones hardly get tasted. By dropping unpopular meals, the school can add variety and keep their menu fresh and exciting for the students.

Application of Healthy Food
In addition to balancing the amount of energy and nutrients for the growth and development of their young students, HoK is also careful about their ingredients.  With in-house catering, HoK has full control of everything from the menu to the ingredients chosen.  They promote themselves as leaving out “unnecessary ingredients such as extra salt, extra oil,” and brand themselves a MSG-free school.

As food safety is a key concern in China, HoK carefully chooses its ingredient sources, opting for certified organic farms when possible, and green label options when in the wrong season.  The school kitchen also uses organic rice and flours, Wonder Milk and Wonder Milk sugar-free yogurt, breads fresh from a German bakery, and meats from a licensed butcher.

When schools outsource catering, as BSB Shunyi does, it is up to the caterer to source fresh, safe, and healthy ingredients. The catering company BSB Shunyi is partnered with is the same one used by Keystone Academy. Their daily menu includes at least one Western dish and one Asian special, in addition to their salad bar, bread baskets, and sandwich station. The displayed variety is enough for older students to make healthy choices, according to Andy Puttock, though the school’s management team does routinely keep an eye out on what is being eaten. However, with primary school children, the classroom teachers eat with them to ensure that children are eating well, and to be able to communicate with parents when children are not.

Giving the Menu a Global Kick
Due to Beijing’s international mixture of residents, most international schools will encourage global awareness by incorporating as many international dishes into their menus as possible. BSB Shunyi provides foods such as Indonesian nasi goreng chicken with prawn crackers, Japanese udon noodles, Korean bibimbap, Spanish seafood paella, Mexican chicken tortillas, and British roast pork with jacket potatoes.

HoK also believes that “food and culture are inextricably linked.” As such, their kitchen prepares a variety of dishes from around the world, including German schnitzels, Japanese curry, Mexican fajita wraps, and Italian pasta carbonara, in addition to Chinese food. “Encouraging kids to try new foods from other cultures is one way to foster acceptance of diversity and differences around the world and in the classroom,” expands Tara Gillan. “Although the students’ initial reactions to a dish from another country may be: ‘Ew! What IS that?’ We always encourage the students to try new things, not only for their health, but also for social education reasons.”

Food Accommodations
Whether your child has food allergies or dietary restrictions for other reasons, schools must accommodate them when providing foods to your children. Schools with catering, such as BSB Shunyi, will always offer specific dishes to accommodate religious or other dietary restrictions, such as a vegetarian dish, gluten-free foods, and halal-certified beef, lamb, and chicken. However, all schools, especially those with their own kitchen, have a running list of the allergies and dietary needs of their staff and student body.

As with most schools, the admissions process will require parents to disclose all allergies and dietary restrictions.  Oftentimes, this becomes a private discussion with parents, where the schools will take the time to sit down and properly discuss dietary options, the severity of the allergies, how to treat reactions, and so forth.  Parents of children with peanut allergies will be relieved to find that both BSB and HoK are “nut free” schools due to the rise in peanut allergies in children.

Finally Feedback
A part of encouraging healthy eating habits in schools is having food that is appealing to students. If students were to refuse to eat in school, then they risk becoming undernourished, snacking on unhealthy alternatives, or even going hungry. As such, creating nutritionally balanced healthy dishes that the majority of the student body finds tasty could just be the biggest challenge of every school.  Whether a school welcomes feedback from students and implements changes in a timely fashion is crucial to student well-being.

At BSB Shunyi, the menu is formally reviewed every month based on feedback from the Food Committee, which consists of parents, staff, and older students. Younger students are given simple feedback forms that are reviewed by school management and caterers. However, it is notable that the menu can be changed spontaneously based on customer demand in informal reviews with the caterer.

The feedback and review process is similar at HoK, where, due to the younger student population, the duty of food critiquing falls on the shoulders of their teachers. Feedback forms allow teachers to rate the meals based on taste, healthiness, presentation, food preparation, among others. Feedback is generally collected for the annual review, but some comments can be taken directly to the cook as they are received.

Although parents and schools can agree or disagree on which party is responsible for foundational eating habits, schools developing these processes ensure healthy, well-rounded diets for every child.

This article originally appeared on page 26-29 of the August 2016 Issue of beijingkids magazine. Click here for your free online copy. To find out how you can obtain a hard copy, contact distribution@truerun.com.

Photos: Uni You and Courtesy of BSB Shunyi