Schools in Beijing / Housing in Beijing

[Dvushka]

We are moving out to Beijing this summer for at least 2yrs. My 2 DDs would be going into year 7 and 5 in the UK system. We have a package but, given the very high cost of the international schools, it only allows for one to go to a UK curriculum school like Dulwich, BSB or YCIS.

I'm leaning toward Dulwich as I have a friend who had her DCs go there last year although she did mention there is a lot of testing going on and she had considered moving them to WAB. I'm not sure we have a choice of sending DD1 to a more US system based school. They have both spent the last 4yrs in the French lycée system. If DD1 needs to go back to the UK for 13+ in 2yrs time or GCSEs in 3yrs, we think she should get adjusted to UK style learning.

Does anyone have an opinion on these secondary schools in Beijing?

We'd love for her to get more exposure to Chinese but it doesn't look like this is possible at the UK schools- even YCIS seems to offer only 1 class of Chinese a day. Do people just do private tuition or hire an ayi to help their kids learn Chinese?

DD2 is probably going to FCD in the international department. I know she could probably continue in the lycée but it's too great an opportunity to learn Chinese (not a lark as DDs are part-Chinese on DH's side). She's quite adaptable and doesn't seem to have the same social demands as DD1.

Has anyone sent their DCs to this school? Is there another school we should look at where DC2 could get a lot of exposure to learning Chinese but still have friends that speak English on the playground?

Also the distance between the schools is great but it's currently looking like we will be based downtown and the eldest will bus it to school. We won't have a car so Shunyi would not be feasible. Does anyone live downtown or can suggest a complex - we're looking at Park Avenue/Central Park/ Soho right now. Is there a more family friendly complex we should consider?
Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

First step should be to ask for 2x International School Fees! Then you would also solve the getting to 2 places problem as well.
Where will you be working and will you have a driver? I don't know Beijing but when we lived happily in Shanghai having chosen a compound advertised in the lift at work, based on the fact there was easy transport there and school buses from the compound.
I'll leave you to more knowledgeable posters!

I don't live in Beijing, but one lesson per day of mandarin is the most I have seen at international schools. You can easily supplement this with a tutor.
Personally I would look at renegotiating for 2 lots on international school fees as with two different schools you may find your daughters are on different holiday schendules which can be a giant pain in the backside.

The package is what it is. Anyone in Beijing or who has lived in Beijing with an opinion on international schools there? We hope to send applications out next week.

No idea, but good luck in your exciting adventure.

Hi I have 2 DC in dulwich and we are very happy with the school. It's not perfect but no school is perfect. We have been here 2 years and I would definitely make the same decision again. The facilities are amazing and the staff brilliant. Happy to answer any specific questions if that helps :-)

My 2 children go to BSB but are both in Primary so can't help too much but the Secondary school has come on leaps and bounds over the last couple of years and they are on track for fantastic GCSES results this year, way above what state schools tend to achieve in the UK. I love the school as it has a lovely family atmosphere and always feels a happy place whenever you go in. The teachers in primary are excellent. Will you gets look see, I found that really helpful when we went and that really helped cement my decision! Am happy to answer any other questions if you wish.

Are your children with BSB Sanlitun or Shunyi? A friend of mine spoke highly of the Sanlitun school but couldn't comment on the Shunyi school. I'll see if DP can manage to take a look at the Shunyi site as he's only been to the Sanlitun one. Do you live downtown then? If in Shunyi, is it difficult to get around or get downtown? I hope you don't mind but I've pm'ed you with some other questions.