Cities / Taipei / Taipei European School
Taipei European School
Taipei's most internationally diverse school, with British, French, and German sections across two Shilin campuses serving 50+ nationalities.
In brief
Taipei's pan-European campus, formed by merging the British, French and German schools, around 1,800 pupils across two Yangmingshan and Shilin sites, IB-track at the top with separate national-curriculum primary streams below.
TES brings together the British Section, the Section Française and the Deutsche Schule in Taipei, with the Swire European Primary Campus in Shilin and the Swire European Secondary Campus on Yangmingshan. The school holds CIS accreditation, runs the IB MYP and IB Diploma in upper school, and added a five-storey secondary block in 2020. IB results sit above the world average.
Families pick TES over TAS for two reasons. It is more genuinely international, with a lower share of Taiwanese passport-holders, and the British, French and German sections give European families a way to keep their child on a national curriculum at primary. Honest criticisms recur. Fees are high relative to outcomes, no school bus runs below grade 3, and views on administration vary. For families on the embassy or European corporate circuit, TES is usually the first call before TAS.
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Nursery (half-day) | 3 | NT$417,600 |
| Nursery / PS / KG (full-day) | 3 | NT$553,800 |
| Reception / Vorschule | 5 | NT$651,200 |
| Primary Year 1-6 | 6 | NT$674,200 |
| Secondary Year 7-9 | 12 | NT$786,600 |
| High School H1-H2 | 15 | NT$820,800 |
| High School H3-H4 | 17 | NT$836,000 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Re-enrolment Deposit | NT$50,000 | |
| Registration Fee (one-time) | NT$50,000 |
Reviews
- TES is the British/IB counterpoint to Taipei American School in Taipei; posters position the two as the city's top tier and rank TES second on package and prestige but academically comparable.
- Former pupils praise the Mandarin programme. One ex-student said the school had pretty good Mandarin language teaching during their time but added that the climate has shifted to feel "much more cooperate" under newer leadership.
- IB pathway is the standout vs TAS. Parents weighing IB depth pick TES; AP-leaning families pick TAS.
- Two campuses (Yangmingshan upper school, Shilin lower school) feature in posts about commuting and where to live.
- Work-culture flags appear in teacher posts. One described TES as "okay tier 2" with families that "throw their weight around" and a package below TAS.
- A small but persistent local point: a long-running family protest takes place outside the school. Posters say the school has explained the antisemitic symbolism to the protesters, who continue regardless. Read it as local context, not a school-quality claim.
Positives
- Tier 1 in Taipei alongside TAS. Posters consistently rank TES second behind TAS in Taipei, with academic rigour described as comparable, especially in IB.
- IB and Mandarin programme. IB Diploma offer is broader than TAS. Mandarin language teaching is praised by ex-pupils.
Considerations
- Cultural shift under newer leadership. Some former pupils and parents describe a more corporate feel than in earlier years.
- Work-culture pressure for staff. Teacher posts mention demanding parent expectations and lower package than TAS, with the work culture at both top schools described as tough.
- Two-campus structure. Lower school in Shilin, upper school in Yangmingshan. Most expat families cluster in Tianmu for the commute.
Leadership
John Nixon
Dr. C.V. Chen has been a pivotal figure in the development of Taipei European School since its inception. As the Chairman of the Board of Directors, he has overseen the school's growth and integration of diverse curricula, ensuring a supportive and enriching environment for students from various backgrounds.
Accreditations
- Council of International Schools 01
Academic results
- IB 2024 Avg 37 pts, 100% pass
- French Bac 100% pass