Cities / Beijing / The British School of Beijing, Sanlitun
The British School of Beijing, Sanlitun
The most central international school in Beijing for embassy and CBD families, situated in the heart of Sanlitun. A Nord Anglia primary-only school (to Year 6) following the British National Curriculum. Students typically move to BSB Shunyi for secondary.
In brief
Nord Anglia's downtown Beijing campus, ages 2 to 11 only, in the Sanlitun embassy district. It is the original British School of Beijing site, opened in 2004, and now serves as the early years and primary school that feeds onward to BSB Shunyi or to other senior schools in Chaoyang.
Small by Beijing standards, around 700 pupils, with over 60 nationalities and a 1:10 staffing ratio. The Sanlitun location is the differentiator: families in central Chaoyang, Lido and the embassy belt do not need the long Shunyi commute. The trade-off is obvious. Senior years are not here, so secondary planning is a separate decision.
Families are consistently warm on community feel, EYFS provision and pastoral handling of younger children. The Nord Anglia network tie-ins with MIT and Juilliard land here too, though most families treat them as nice-to-have rather than a reason to come. Class sizes and teacher continuity are the things to test on a tour, since the small roll means a single departure is felt across a year group.
Fees
| Fee | Age | Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tadpoles Half Day (age 1) | 1 | Annual | CN¥165,000 |
| Tadpoles Full Day (age 1) | 1 | Annual | CN¥247,000 |
| Pre-Nursery Half Day (age 2) | 2 | Annual | CN¥165,000 |
| Pre-Nursery Full Day (age 2) | 2 | Annual | CN¥247,000 |
| Nursery Half Day (age 3) | 3 | Annual | CN¥165,000 |
| Nursery Full Day (age 3) | 3 | Annual | CN¥247,000 |
| Reception (age 4) | 4 | Annual | CN¥247,000 |
| Year 1 (age 5) | 5 | Annual | CN¥293,600 |
| Year 2 (age 6) | 6 | Annual | CN¥293,600 |
| Year 3 (age 7) | 7 | Annual | CN¥307,000 |
| Year 4 (age 8) | 8 | Annual | CN¥311,400 |
| Year 5 (age 9) | 9 | Annual | CN¥311,400 |
| Year 6 (age 10) | 10 | Annual | CN¥311,400 |
| Application Fee (non-refundable) | One-time | CN¥2,500 | |
| Security Deposit (refundable) | One-time | CN¥16,000 | |
| EAL Charge (one-time, if applicable) | One-time | CN¥20,000 |
Reviews
- Reddit posters comparing Beijing options describe BSB Sanlitun as a small, central-Beijing British school, often paired with the larger Shunyi sister campus and recommended after ISB for international families.
- One teacher poster wrote 'I'd also go for BSB Sanlitun, it's a small-ish school towards the centre of Beijing,' with the size and location framed as the main draw against rivals further out.
- A parent reviewer on the International Schools Database scored the school five stars across the board, writing that her daughter 'absolutely loves her school and looks forward to going to school everyday' and that 'the school encourages independence of thought and not to be afraid to vocalize those thoughts.'
- A former Nord Anglia teacher used the school as a cautionary example when discussing newly opened group schools in Beijing, saying staffing and management at new openings can be a problem; the comment was about a different campus but invoked Sanlitun as their reference point.
- Coverage is thin overall and skews positive where it exists, but there are not yet enough independent voices to draw a stable picture of the school day-to-day.
Head of school
Barrie Scrymgeour
Joanne Prabhu is the Principal of The British School of Beijing, Sanlitun. With over twenty years of experience in the field of education, she is dedicated to identifying and nurturing the unique talents of every student. Mrs. Prabhu emphasizes the importance of a happy and settled learning environment, believing that children thrive when they feel supported and inspired. She is committed to ensuring academic excellence through the English National Curriculum and fostering the school's vibrant international community. She describes feeling privileged to lead the school and sensing its ambitious spirit from her first visit.
Accreditations
- Cognia 01
- Council of International Schools 02
Academic results
- Student Nationalities 60+
- BSO Inspection Good