Cities / Shenzhen / The King's School Shenzhen International
The King's School Shenzhen International
The first overseas campus of King's Canterbury (founded 597 AD), opened in Qianhai in 2019. British curriculum from Pre-Prep through Sixth Form with bilingual English-Chinese instruction, IGCSE, A-Levels and boarding. Still building toward full capacity across its two campuses.
In brief
A new British curriculum school in Nanshan operated as the first overseas branch of The King's School, Canterbury, growing from a 2019 pre-prep into a full Prep and Senior School on Yuefeng Road.
The Pre-Prep opened on Yuefeng Road in Nanshan in September 2019 and Prep and Senior School followed from 2022, with the campus growing from around 100 to over 230 students in the first phase. The school follows the English National Curriculum with Cambridge IGCSE, A Level, Pearson Edexcel and Oxford AQA pathways, plus a bilingual stream, and is operated under licence from The King's School, Canterbury, with shared staffing and training. John Wright is Head. Fees run from around 205,000 to 310,000 RMB.
The pitch is a small, traditional British school with a direct line to one of England's oldest independents, in a Shenzhen market increasingly dominated by Harrow, Merchiston and other UK brand campuses. The questions are how Senior School outcomes settle in the first A Level cohorts, and whether the bilingual stream stays distinct from the international stream as numbers grow.
Fees
| Fee | Age | Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| K1-K3 (Pre-Prep, age 3-5) | 3 | Annual | CN¥205,000 |
| Grades 1-3 (age 6-8) | 6 | Annual | CN¥236,500 |
| Grades 4-6 (age 9-11) | 9 | Annual | CN¥262,000 |
| Grades 7-10 (age 12-15) | 12 | Annual | CN¥288,800 |
| Grades 11-12 (age 16-17) | 16 | Annual | CN¥309,800 |
| Application Fee (non-refundable) | One-time | CN¥2,000 | |
| Deposit (refundable) | One-time | CN¥25,000 |
Reviews
- Independent signal is heavily concentrated on staff experience and is overwhelmingly negative. Glassdoor sits at 1.5 for senior management and 1.6 for culture and values; ratings are higher only on compensation.
- One former teacher said: the school fires its best teachers on a semesterly basis, posts 20-25 openings at any time, and that workload made every two weeks different. They called in-house cover an automatic red flag and described the workload as insane.
- Glassdoor reviewers describe teachers being terminated mid-contract without explanation, families relocated across the world having contracts ended, replacements with no subject background being put into lead roles, and a 7:50am start with inability to leave before 5pm.
- Some short-term Glassdoor reviews mention friendly colleagues, free lunches, money and benefits, suggesting the picture is not uniform but that pay buys around volatility.
- Parent commentary is sparse. One review on the school's own materials says the quality of education and dedication of staff exceeded expectations; that signal cannot be cross-checked because forum and directory volume is thin.
- The campus sits in Qianhai, Nanshan, the same district as Harrow and Whittle, which means teachers and parents often compare directly to those nearby options.
Head of school
John Wright
John Wright is the Executive Principal of The King's School Shenzhen. He emphasizes the importance of a supportive and challenging educational environment, preparing students for the complexities of the modern world. With a focus on academic excellence and personal growth, he aims to cultivate well-rounded individuals ready for future challenges.
Accreditations
- CN_MOE 01
Academic results
- Curriculum IGCSE and A-Levels
- Founding school King's Canterbury (597 AD, 1,400+ years)