The British International School Shanghai, Puxi, widely known as BISS Puxi, is one of the city's longer established British schools, founded in 2004 and now part of Nord Anglia Education. It is a school for the children of foreign nationals, drawing a community from more than 50 nationalities, and teaches the British curriculum from the early years through to a sixth form that offers both the IB Diploma and A Levels. To see where it sits among the city's other options, start with the Shanghai city hub.
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and exam boards | English National Curriculum, IGCSE in upper secondary, IB Diploma and A Levels in sixth form |
| Stages | Early years to sixth form, ages 3 to 18 |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Accreditation | Council of International Schools (CIS) and Cognia; part of Nord Anglia Education |
| Fee band | Upper for Shanghai |
| Campus area | Huacao, Minhang district, in Greater Hongqiao |
Curriculum and academics
BISS Puxi follows the English National Curriculum through primary and lower secondary, moves into the IGCSE in years 10 and 11, and then offers an unusually broad sixth form in which students can choose between the IB Diploma and A Levels. That dual sixth form pathway is a genuine point of difference in the city, letting families pick the route that best suits their child rather than committing to one system. Mandarin runs throughout the school, supported by a substantial language team.
As a Nord Anglia school, BISS Puxi adds enrichment collaborations with partners such as MIT, Juilliard and UNICEF. For a wider view of how it sits against the city's other strong programmes, read our editorial guide to the best international schools in Shanghai, and ask the school for its recent IGCSE and Diploma results and university destinations.
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British International School Shanghai Puxi fees
BISS Puxi sits in the upper part of the Shanghai market, in line with the other premium foreign passport schools. Our Shanghai international school fees guide sets out the city's bands, and a flagship Nord Anglia school of this kind typically sits near the top of the range, with the sixth form the most expensive stage. The school sets its own schedule and resets it each year, so confirm the current figures directly.
Beyond tuition, budget for a registration fee, a refundable deposit, a capital or facilities levy and optional bus and meals. Model the full annual figure with our fee calculator, and put BISS Puxi against alternatives on our compare tool before you decide.
Admissions
The school year starts in August, and BISS Puxi runs a main August intake with rolling admissions through the year where places allow. The school asks for prior school reports and an age appropriate assessment, and as a school for the children of foreign nationals its eligibility follows Chinese regulations on passport and residency.
Popular year groups can carry waiting lists, especially entry into the IGCSE and sixth form years, so apply early. Confirm space in your child's year group, and prepare passport and academic records ahead of your move.
Location and who goes there
The campus is in Huacao, in the Minhang district on the western side of the city, within the Greater Hongqiao area that forms the residential heartland of expatriate west Shanghai. Specialist facilities on site include science laboratories, a maker space, performance spaces and a swimming pool. The school draws heavily from the international housing compounds of Minhang and Hongqiao, where many longer staying British and other expatriate families live.
For families weighing BISS Puxi against the city's American and IB focused options, the deciding factors are usually the English National Curriculum base, the rare choice between A Levels and the Diploma at sixth form, and the Nord Anglia enrichment programme. To compare the full range of options, including fees and where families cluster, return to the Shanghai city hub.
British International School Shanghai Puxi reviews
We do not yet hold any verified parent reviews for the British International School Shanghai, Puxi. GlobalSchoolGuide is an independent guide and no school pays to be listed, so we publish a rating only once we have gathered enough verified first hand accounts to be fair to both the school and to the families reading them. We would rather show nothing than show an invented score.
If your family has attended BISS Puxi we would value your account of admissions, the IGCSE, A Level and IB pathways, teaching and value for money. Share it through our school reviews hub and we will add verified contributions to this page.
Frequently asked questions
How much are British International School Shanghai Puxi fees?
BISS Puxi sits in Shanghai's upper fee band, in line with the other premium foreign passport schools, and the sixth form is the most expensive stage. Budget on top for a registration fee, a deposit, a capital levy and optional bus and meals, and confirm the current schedule directly as it is reset each year.
What curriculum does British International School Shanghai Puxi follow?
BISS Puxi teaches the English National Curriculum through primary and lower secondary, the IGCSE in upper secondary and a sixth form pathway of the IB Diploma and A Levels, with Mandarin taught throughout.
Who can attend British International School Shanghai Puxi?
As a school for the children of foreign nationals, BISS Puxi serves a roll drawn from more than 50 nationalities. Eligibility follows Chinese regulations on passport and residency, as with other foreign passport schools in the city.
When do British International School Shanghai Puxi applications open?
The school year starts in August and BISS Puxi runs a main August intake with rolling admissions where places allow. Apply early for popular year groups, especially entry into the IGCSE and sixth form years.
Is British International School Shanghai Puxi a good school?
BISS Puxi is one of the longer established British schools in Shanghai, part of Nord Anglia Education, with CIS and Cognia accreditation. We publish ratings only from verified reviews, so weigh recent IGCSE and Diploma results, curriculum fit and a campus visit.
