A Well-Rounded Leader for a Well-Rounded School: BSB Shunyi’s Principal Jayne Needham

On a cold brisk day, I took a car out to Shunyi to meet with the new principal of the British School of Beijing, Shunyi (BSB Shunyi), Jayne Needham. Her passion for education, experience as an educator and leader, and sheer charm were like a ray of sunshine and a breath of fresh air.

Jayne Needham

Every international school in Beijing’s marketing department beautifully presents their school in brochures for parents. But it’s only when you really get to know the students, facilities, teachers, and people leading the school that you get a true feel for what your children will experience on a day-to-day basis.

This isn’t Jayne’s first time in Beijing. Back when her daughter was in a university exchange program, the family had the opportunity to live in a hutong apartment near Houhai for a few weeks, exploring the city, the culture, and its people. And clearly, she fell in love because when the chance arose, joined BSB Shunyi as their new principal.

Performing arts program with The Juilliard School

Having worked at international schools in the UK and Dubai, Jayne attests to just how important the school community actually is. “It’s surprising how once you’re inside the school, how this school could be anywhere in the world and have the same feel,” Jayne tells Jingkids. “I think if it’s a true international school with a demographic of children that are drawn on many nationalities and if it’s an IB school with a philosophy of internationalism, and project-based learning, and strong communication skills, then you’re breeding a certain type of student and a certain type of atmosphere in your school. So walking in here feels like an international school, it feels like an IB school. It feels like a vibrant and happy place and that’s very similar to the other [international]schools [around the world].”

Three Best Features of BSB Shunyi According to Jayne Needham:

1. Community: The parents are a big part of the school and BSB Shunyi hopes to bring back the vibrant parents’ community that it once had before Covid.

2. Students: The students at BSB Shunyi are eloquent, smart, and happy.

3. Rhythm: The school has a long history in Beijing. It has that feeling of systems and procedures and processes that rhythm and routine of a school is very much present here

Jayne wasn’t always a principal. In fact, she began her career as a math teacher and fondly remembers the students whose lives she’s impacted. Perhaps it’s this deeply rooted passion that drives her methodology. Whereas some principals spend their entire careers working primarily on the administrative side, Jayne highlights the importance of getting to know her students. “I was a teacher myself. I know what great teaching and great learning looks like. That’s what I want to be measuring and monitoring in my school all of the time. So for me, it’s got to be 50/50. I’ve got to be out there in the classroom talking to the students. If you’re not seeing the experience your children get in your classrooms, then you can’t possibly know what’s the best thing to do with your school.” Of course, leading an international school with more than 1,000 students is a tall order. However, Jayne always finds the time to sit down with the students and chat about what really matters, getting to know the kids on a sincere and authentic level.

Jayne Needham with students

BSB Shunyi is part of the Nord Anglia Education group and follows an international adapted English National Curriculum for their Early Years, Primary and Secondary students, preparing them to take the IGCSE examinations at the age of 16. Students in Years 12 and 13 then follow the IB Diploma Program. “It really is choosing the best curriculum for our students in this context. The English National Curriculum has its long-standing history, people understand it in different countries, it’s used by a wide mix of students from different backgrounds and it’s underpinned by real rigor and high standards for younger students.” says Jayne. “For international universities and kind of students who really are more international and global citizens, the IB Diploma Program is perfect for that. It’s very challenging and very demanding. It’s rigorous and provides the best kind of preparation for universities and beyond. Because [BSB Shunyi] has made this mix and match, it’s created the best-of-both-worlds choice for our students.

Describe the BSB Shunyi Student Body:

“One of the things that attracted me to Nord Anglia was this slogan of ‘Be Ambitious’ because that really resonates with me. I came from a real working-class background. I was the first person in my family to go to university, the first person to get a degree, and the first person to live abroad. I don’t know why, but I always naturally had ambition and so this ‘Be Ambitious’ philosophy resonated with me. I see it in our students. Our students are coming here happy, willing to learn, and are ambitious. They do have that feeling of ambition that I really, like, cherish and respect.” – Jayne Needham

Regardless of how long a student will stay at BSB Shunyi, their skills and knowledge are recognized globally. “We try to make sure of that in the curriculum because we know that students come and go from our school and go to different schools’ systems,” explains Jayne, putting to rest any concerns from parents that the English National Curriculum adds an extra hurdle for their children, should they return to their home countries.

One of the benefits of being a Nord Anglia school is access to the vast resources the group provides. With 70-plus schools and more than 68,000 students around the world, BSB Shunyi is able to provide opportunities and allow their students to participate in a range of global and regional experiences, providing them unique life and learning experiences that help them mature into successful global citizens.

MIT-Nord Anglia STEAM Program

For instance, BSB Shunyi works with The Juilliard School for its performing arts programs, enhancing the repertoire of core music, dance, and drama works that encompass a wide range of genres and styles all under the guidance of Juilliard designed teaching materials.

Meanwhile, in the fields of science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM), BSB Shunyi students are able to tackle real-world challenges and develop transferable skills such as flexibility, creativity, and communication through the MIT–Nord Anglia STEAM Program.

Lastly, a well-rounded education isn’t merely about what students get out of their time on campus but also how they can become contributing members of society. UNICEF partners with Nord Anglia Education to help students raise awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to work with their local communities to create solutions for global issues. This aim at bringing SDGs to classrooms around the world through lesson plans, videos, and creative content.

COVID-19 has doubtlessly changed the nature of schooling. It’s now standard procedure for international schools in Beijing to have an online learning protocol in case they need to switch to e-learning at a moment’s notice, thus lessening the transitionary burden for students. But that’s where the charm of being part of Nord Anglia Education really shines. Even during online learning, students are still able to continue their lessons with experts from Juilliard, MIT and have access to as much of their regular school day as possible.

BSB Shunyi is located in Shunyi District and offers grades ranging from Pre-Nursery to Year 13. If you’re interested in seeing the school in person, please feel free to contact the school for a private tour.