In anticipation of the Beijing International School Expo on January 24-25, we will be highlighting local and international schools around Beijing from the upcoming 2015-2016 beijingkids School Choice Guide, which comes out on January 20.
Established in 2005, Dulwich College Beijing (DCB) is a British international school for students from 1 to 18 years of age. The curriculum is based on the enhanced English National Curriculum up to Year 9, IGCSE courses for students in Years 10 and 11, and the International Baccalaureate Diploma in Years 12 and 13. DCB emphasizes excellence in academics, sports, and the arts, fostering in every child a sense of the importance of community service. All students study compulsory Mandarin up to the end of Year 9, with many continuing with it as an examination subject in the Senior School years. The school’s mother-tongue German courses are designed to allow children to return seamlessly to German language schools or universities after a stint in Beijing. DCB was awarded the “Best British International School” in 2011. It is a PSAT, SAT, PLAN and ACT testing center and offers SAT preparation courses in conjunction with an American SAT review company. Strong IBDP results have enabled graduates to enter Oxbridge and Russell group universities in the UK as well as Ivy League and top 50 universities in the US.
Founding date: 2005
Age range: 1-18
Grades offered: Early Years to Year 13
School type: International school based on the English National Curriculum and IBDP programme
Total area: 115,322sqm (Legend Garden Campus), 17,860sqm (Riviera Main Campus)
Number of students: 1,450
Is the school accredited by the Ministry of Education? Yes
Foreign passport holders accepted? Yes
Local Chinese students accepted? No
Accreditations: ABRSM, CIS, NCCT, WASC, IB, CIE, International Awards, London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art, Edxecel
Tuition fees (2014-2015 academic year):
• Early Years: RMB 74,000-186,500 RMB
• Grades 1-12: RMB 186,500-242,000
• Lunch: Approximately RMB 7,000 per year
Lunch offered: Catered by Chartwells with vegetarian, Western, and Chinese options. The Junior and Senior schools use a smartcard payment system.
Nationality of students: Over 45 nationalities
Primary teaching language: English
Other languages taught: Chinese, French, Spanish and German
Average class size: 16-21
Average teacher/student ratio: 1:4 (Early Years); 1:21 (high school)
School hours: 8.30am-3.30pm (Early Years); 8.15am-3.40pm (Junior and Senior School)
After-school activities: Robotics, student press, Model United Nations, movie making, School of Rock, jive dancing, orienteering, cooking, creative writing, numerous sports teams and more
Special needs programs offered? Gifted and Talented
Extra help offered? Learning Support and EAL
School facilities: Sports facilities include two sports domes, a multi-purpose sports hall, six tennis courts, a weight room, a football pitch, a rugby pitch, a cricket pitch and a swimming pool. DCB is the only school in Beijing that has a skating rink. The school building houses two large theatres with over 800 seats combined, two black box theaters, spacious music rooms, ICT suites including one dedicated to music, light and airy art rooms, two new libraries, a radio studio, 10 well-equipped science laboratories, four modern design and technology workshops with 3D printers and well-lit classrooms with SmartBoards.
School nurse or doctor available? Yes, onsite qualified nurses from International SOS Clinic
Contact: www.dulwich-beijing.cn, info@dulwich-beijing.cn
• Legend Garden Campus: 89 Capital Airport Road, Shunyi District (6454 9000) 顺义区首都机场路89号丽京花园7区
• Riviera Main Campus: 1 Xiangjiang Beilu, Jingshun Lu, Chaoyang District (8450 7676) 朝阳区京顺路香江北路1号香江花园
Word from a Parent:
“Dulwich brings out the best in my children. They are growing in leaps and bounds through the patient and nurturing care of their teachers. They feel they belong to the school community and look forward to school every day!”
– May Ng (Singapore), mother of Timothy (age 14), Katelyn (11) and Samuel (6)
Photo: Courtesy of DCB
