Trees cover the walkway on the approach to Springboard’s main entrance
Last week I had the pleasure of visiting the colorful campus of one of Beijing’s newest schools, the Springboard International Bilingual School in Shunyi.
Located not too far from the well-known Roma roundabout, Springboard offers kindergarten through 6th grade in a 75% English, 25% Chinese bilingual environment.
Wide, brightly-lit hallways are a hallmark of the school’s design
The facilities are impressive. The newly renovated building sports brightly-colored classrooms designed for no more than 15 students per class flanked by large common areas that are dotted with toys on the first floor and well-stocked bookshelves on the second.
The football pitch and track allow for plenty of space to run around
Behind the school there’s a large football pitch and basketball courts, plus indoor play areas, a ballet studio, and art studio and a library in an adjoining building.
Springboard’s preschool class catches some shut-eye after lunch
One class of pre-school students started at Springboard this year but the full student body doesn’t arrive until August 22. The school has already started filling up with registrations from students from Japan, China, Canada, the Philippines, Serbia, South Africa, Mozambique and Hong Kong.
The front of the school is impressively green, featuring old-growth trees and a huge garden where students and teachers have planted an array of vegetables and fruits
Overseen by a Western principal with extensive experience overseas and in China, Springboard represents a growing trend in Beijing’s educational market: locally owned schools with hybrid western and Chinese teaching and management, featuring prices that tend to be lower than the purely international schools and an admissions policy that allows local children to enroll as well.
Springboard’s annual tuition for grades 1 through 6 is RMB 90,000 annually, whereas many international schools charge in the range of RMB 150,000 and up.
Well-stocked bookshelves line the second floor
All classes at Springboard are taught in English with the exception of Math and Mandarin language, which are both taught in Chinese.
Those interested in finding out a bit more about Springboard prior to the start of their first semester on Aug 22 can visit their recently launched website here.
Photos by Ron Wu
