The BISS academic year is composed of two semesters. The first one starts in August and ends in December. The second semester runs from January to June. The main holiday periods during the year are the winter and New Year holidays, Spring holidays and Summer holidays. The national holidays of China are also observed.
How many students are there in each class?
The numbers of students in each class is capped at 22 students while the maximum number of students in the kindergarten classes is 20. In addition to the homeroom or subject teacher, there are also teaching assistants and support teachers to provide language and other support during lessons. This is to allow for each teacher to provide personalized guidance to each student.
Is there help for my child if he/she is weak in English?
Except for applicants whose native language is English, all others will be assessed prior to entry into BISS to determine his/her English language oral and comprehension abilities. ESOL support (English for Speakers of Other Languages) is offered to students from Grades 1-10 where needed. ESOL students receive in-class support or extra assistance outside the regular classes depending on their language proficiency. BISS is well known for the speed with which our student gain English language proficiency. In fact, we have a high success rate for the IB Diploma even for students who arrived with low English levels.
What countries would my child’s classmates come from?
BISS students come from culturally diverse backgrounds with over 330 students from 40 different nationalities.
Does my child need to take an entrance exam?
There are no entrance exams but students may be required to take a placement test to ascertain that they are able to meet the academic expectation of the grade.
How do I register?
You can contact our Admissions Office to find out more about the school. Our website "Admissions"has all the neccessary downloads with information as well as the "Steps" to follow.
How long is the registration process?
Once the Admissions Department receives all the required registration documents and student history, we require (and enjoy) family interviews, the entire process could take 1 week.
What are the school hours?
Students attend classes from Mondays to Fridays and lessons start at 8:20 am to 3:20 pm. After School Activities (ASA) are held on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursdays from 3:30 to 4:20.
What fees do I pay?
The most recent fee structure can be found in the Admissions section of this website.
Where do the teachers come from? What special qualifications do they have?
BISS teachers come from many parts of the world, including the USA, Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Europe Philippines and China. The teachers are licensed in their home countries and most hold advanced degrees. All have experience in international education.
How transportable is the programme if we need to relocate to another country or return to our home country?
The IB programme are very well known and respected throughout the world.
Universities around the world recognize the IB programme as being rigorous and well-balanced, preparing the students well for university study. Graduates from BISS/IB Diploma Programme have been accepted by top universities like Harvard, John Hopkins and Stanford Universities in the US, Warwick University in the UK, McGill University in Canada and the National University of Singapore.
Will parents be updated on how our child is progressing?
BISS believes very strongly that parents are our important partners in the children’s education. The channels of communication include a weekly news bulletin, meetings and emails with the homeroom or subject teachers, viewing of student progress on "Studywiz" platform, and the Parent Teacher Association (PTA). BISS also runs a regular series of Parents On Board Programs to help parents facilitate and expedite their children’s learning.
Are there extra-curricular activities for the students?
Students are strongly encouraged to participate in the After School Activities programme that includes music and song, arts and crafts, drama performances, sports and games, cultural experiences, and involvement in the student newsletter. BISS also organizes an Activity Week, Sports Day, and a International Day during the year to celebrate cultural diversity and to promote healthy lifestyles. There are also opportunities for students to participate in events organized by other international schools in Beijing or across China e.g. the Model UN Conference, and create awareness of social or environmental needs.
Frequently Asked Questions about BISS
