Cities / Shanghai / Nord Anglia International School Shanghai, Pudong
Nord Anglia International School Shanghai, Pudong
The longest-running British international school in China, established in 2002 (formerly British International School Shanghai Pudong), offering the English National Curriculum, IGCSE, and IB Diploma to around 700 students aged 2-18. Annual fees for 2025-2026 range from RMB 271,600 (Pre-Nursery)…
In brief
The smaller, more pastoral of the big Pudong international options, part of the Nord Anglia network and pitched at families who want a family-feel community over the largest campus footprint.
NAIS Pudong sits on Junmin Road in Pudong New Area, opened in 2002 and operates within the Nord Anglia Education group. Curriculum runs English National Curriculum through primary, IGCSE in middle years and the IB Diploma at sixth form, with around 700 students aged 2 to 18. Diane Vaughan leads the school. Accreditation is through NEASC.
Parents who choose NAIS Pudong describe a warm, less-packed community where teachers know the children and the move-in transition is gentle. The school promotes Nord Anglia network ties to MIT, Juilliard and UNICEF, though parents on the ground talk more about pastoral care and happy children than network resources. The recurring criticism is that facilities are smaller than Concordia, Dulwich or SAS Pudong, and that some specialist subjects in the lower school are taught by generalists. Right pick for families wanting a softer landing in Pudong, not the biggest sports and arts programmes.
Fees
| Fee | Age | Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-Nursery / Nursery / Reception | 2 | Annual | CN¥271,600 |
| Years 1-6 | 6 | Annual | CN¥319,130 |
| Years 7-9 | 12 | Annual | CN¥354,050 |
| Years 10-11 (IGCSE) | 15 | Annual | CN¥378,300 |
| Years 12-13 (IB) | 17 | Annual | CN¥385,090 |
| Application Fee (non-refundable) | One-time | CN¥3,500 | |
| Enrolment Fee (non-refundable) | One-time | CN¥4,000 | |
| Resource Fee (refundable) | One-time | CN¥16,000 |
Reviews
- NAIS Pudong has operated since 2002 on Junmin Road and is consistently named as the Nord Anglia international, not bilingual, presence in Shanghai, distinct from BISS Puxi and the bilingual NACIS Minhang.
- Shanghai parent and teacher forum threads place the school just below SAS, Concordia, Dulwich and Wellington in the top tier, and ahead of most bilingual or smaller schools.
- One Shanghai-based teacher posting in 2024 said the larger Nord Anglia and Dulwich schools sit on the border of tier one, with student numbers and foreign passport mix slipping at some chain schools after the post-Covid expat drawdown.
- Aggregator parent feedback reports about ninety-seven percent of parents saying their child is happy, with consistent praise for warmth, community feel and university outcomes; one critical reviewer said facilities are poor compared with peer schools and that some specialist subjects are taught by non-specialist teachers.
- The bilingual sister NACIS draws sharper negative teacher reviews; commentators repeatedly remind readers not to confuse the two.
Head of school
Diane Vaughan
Diane Vaughan is the Principal of NAIS Pudong, a position she has held since August 2022. She entered the teaching profession after a successful career in the technology industry, initially teaching computer science. With extensive leadership experience, Diane has served as a Principal and held various senior leadership roles in international schools across the Middle East and China. She is dedicated to fostering a vibrant global community and ensuring academic excellence through the school's diverse curricula.
Accreditations
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges 01
Academic results
- IB Average 37 (2025)
- IB 40+ Score Rate 50% of graduates