Kiangsu & Chekiang School

What do you think?

I've heard there is an international part and a local part. We are thinking about school for our kid and I wanted to know if anyone has any comment.

It is difficult to get in?

The application process for KCS has finished for the school year 2011/2012. I applied for the nursery section...80 spots for over 3000 applicants. Unless your child does exceptionally well at the interview, there is very little chance of getting in.


The International section doesn't require an interview, but it is much more expensive. If you are very keen on sending your child to KCS, then it is worth investigating the international section.

My son attends the local sction of KCS and has been there since N1 - currently in P5. We wanted our son to be fluent in Mandarin so this was one of the few choices at the time (my wife is Taiwanese, I am from UK). The school has ticked all the boxes - he can read, write and speak fluently - but it is a hard slog. The curriculum focusses on vocabulary and oral chinese until P1 then noticeably switches to written and reading chinese characters from then. The teaching style is quite traditional ie. heavy focus on tests and exams, but I have found the teachers very approachable and open. One problem has been the quantity of homework means it is important to have fluent chinese speaker and writer at home. This responsibility falls on my wife (my chinese is hopeless) which can cause problems. I understand the local side run two sections a morning school (8am to 1am, and alternate Saturday mornings) and a 5-day 8am to 3pm, the 5 day option has less homework.


Let me know if you want any more specific information

My kids go to KCIS. Prospective students for P2 and up requires an assessment. The waiting list is now over 500....


I am very happy with the school in terms of a clear and proven curriculum, and a strong discipline atmosphere, and a very strong chinese curriculum everyday. What Topol above mentioned is very accurate. I don't write or read much chinese and don't speak any mandarin. So I have to hire a tutor three times a week right now to keep up with the pace for my kids. Not easy.


In general I only have one complaint about the school, lack of facility in the Braemar Hill campus. Very old and no open area for KCIS students to run around, and no swimming pool...etc.