For families comparing primary options among the international schools in Taipei, the TES primary is unusual in offering three national systems on one campus. Taipei European School was formed in 1992 from the city's British, French and German schools, and its primary keeps those streams distinct, each teaching in its own language and curriculum, while sharing a single campus and ethos. The primary stage sits on the Swire European Primary Campus on WenLin Road in Shilin and feeds directly into the school's secondary years.
Taipei European School Primary at a glance
| Curriculum and exam boards | British, French and German primary streams; English National Curriculum in the British stream; no public exams at this stage, the IB Diploma comes later |
|---|---|
| Stages | Primary, roughly ages 5 to 11 |
| Founded | Part of Taipei European School, formed in 1992 and renamed in 2003 |
| Accreditation | Within an authorised IB World School (the diploma is taken in the High School) |
| Fee band | Premium, though primary tuition runs below the secondary headline (see Taipei fees) |
| Campus area | Swire European Primary Campus, WenLin Road, Shilin |
Curriculum and academics
The TES primary runs parallel streams. The British stream follows the English National Curriculum, the French stream teaches the French primary programme with a bilingual option, and the German stream follows the German curriculum, each delivered mainly in its own language. There are no public examinations at primary; the focus is literacy, numeracy, a second language and a broad foundation, with the streams sharing specialist teaching, facilities and the wider life of the school.
The primary is the bridge between the early years and the secondary, where pupils eventually take the IGCSE and then the shared IB Diploma Programme. Keeping the national streams distinct through primary means a French or German speaking child holds onto their home language and system during the years it matters most, while a British stream child stays aligned to the English curriculum. Parents weighing the primary years across the city can see how TES fits in our overview of the Taipei schools.
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Taipei European School Primary fees
Primary tuition at Taipei European School runs below the secondary and High School stages, but the school sits in the premium band of our guide to international school fees in Taipei, so primary fees are still towards the upper end of the city's range. The Taipei fees guide notes primary fees are typically 15 to 25 per cent below the secondary headline. Rates are set by stream and revised yearly, so confirm the current primary schedule with the school.
Beyond tuition, budget for a refundable deposit, a registration fee, school transport from across the city, uniform and lunch. Examination fees do not yet apply at primary. Our fee calculator brings tuition and the extras into one annual figure, which helps when a primary place is the first of several years you are planning to fund at TES.
Admissions
Children usually enter the primary either from the TES early years or at the start of a primary year, with admission looking at prior reports, age and, for the British stream especially, English language readiness for those joining from another system. The school also weighs which stream a family wants their child to continue in. Popular year groups fill, so families relocating to Taipei are advised to apply ahead of the move.
The school year runs on an August or September start, and children are placed in the year group matched to their age within the chosen stream. Because the primary leads into the secondary and the later IGCSE and IB pathway, a primary place also secures the onward route through the school. Mid year vacancies appear when expatriate families move on, so it is worth contacting admissions directly when arriving partway through the year.
Location and who goes there
The primary is on the Swire European Primary Campus on WenLin Road in Shilin, in the part of northern Taipei that has long anchored the city's expatriate community. The campus is close to the housing, international shops and clinics that relocating families rely on, and within an easy school run for households in Shilin and the neighbouring Tianmu district, which keeps the daily commute short for primary aged children.
The primary intake reflects the whole school: British, French, German and other international families, many on corporate or diplomatic postings, each choosing a national stream for their child. They cluster in Shilin, Tianmu and the northern districts near the campus and along the bus routes. For how those neighbourhoods compare on housing and commute, the Taipei city hub sets out the wider map for relocating parents.
Taipei European School Primary reviews
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Frequently asked questions
How much are Taipei European School Primary fees?
Primary tuition runs below the secondary stages, typically 15 to 25 per cent under the secondary headline, but TES sits in the premium band for Taipei so primary fees are still towards the top of the city's range. Rates are set by stream and revised yearly, so confirm the schedule with the school.
What ages is the TES primary for?
The primary covers roughly ages 5 to 11 on the Swire European Primary Campus in Shilin, between the early years and the secondary, after which pupils move up to the Yangmingshan campus.
What curriculum does the TES primary teach?
The primary runs British, French and German streams in parallel, each in its own language and curriculum, with the British stream on the English National Curriculum. There are no public exams at primary; the IGCSE and IB Diploma come in the later years.
Is there an entrance assessment for TES primary?
Admission looks at prior reports, a child's age and, for the British stream especially, English language readiness for those joining from another system, along with the stream a family wants to continue in, rather than a heavy entrance examination.
When do TES Primary applications open?
Children join at the August or September start of the year in the class matched to their age within the chosen stream. Popular year groups fill, so apply early, and contact admissions about any mid year places.
