Ningbo International School (NBIS) offers an internationally respected Australian curriculum taught by outstanding Australian teachers in a world class learning environment. We cater for children and students from Toddlers to Year 10. NBIS is the only fully licensed international school in Zhejiang Province, and it has the enthusiastic support of the Ningbo and Zhejiang Governments, the South Australian Education Department, and the Zhejiang Wanli Education Group. Further information about the school is available on our website www.nbis.net.cn

NBIS is able to enrol students with foreign nationalities, including those from Taiwan, Macau and Hong Kong. We commenced operation on 1 September 2005. Consequently, at the moment we are small. English is the language of instruction throughout. Due to our low numbers we are able to provide intensive language support so students acquire English language proficiency very quickly. Our students also learn Chinese language and we provide optional courses in other subjects related to Chinese culture.

Our facilities are outstanding. Buildings and classrooms have been designed in compliance with strict South Australian standards of occupational health and safety. Not only are classrooms comfortable, in that they are carpeted and air conditioned, they are also very attractive and practical teaching areas, with space for formalised and informal instruction. Furniture has been custom built to our specifications and the rooms are equipped with computers and every conceivable aid required by teachers. We are progressively purchasing more resources for classrooms and our library.

Classrooms at NBIS are colourful, light, bright and airy. Desks are arranged in clusters rather than in rows, to facilitate group work and interaction between students. Student work is prominently displayed. Teachers tend to sit with the students rather than present lessons from the front of the class. There is a very strong relationship and respect between teacher and students and the warmth of this relationship can be felt on entering the room. Many visitors liken our learning environment to that of a family.

We believe that play is an important means of learning, and at NBIS we regularly combine work with play in our learning programmes. We have high expectations regarding quality and quantity of student work however, and the activities we provide have a strong focus on learning. NBIS students are routinely engaged in rigorous learning programmes.

Our grounds are exceptional, with artificial running track, tennis and basketball courts, grassed areas and hard play areas. We have a very good relationship with an adjoining Chinese International School and have full use of their Arts’ Centre, Gymnasium, farm and ovals. We have a science laboratory, home economics centre, and music suite (currently being equipped), and a fully equipped computer laboratory. We are developing a language laboratory and will shortly install computerised library management software.

We have a fully equipped kindergarten with attached nursery which caters for students from 3 years old. We are also able to offer child care facilities in our Toddlers’ Centre for children from 1 – 3 years old.

We have a very comfortable boarding house which provides excellent small dormitory accommodation together with study and leisure areas. Our House Mother is a warm and caring woman able to support children, comfort them when needed and if necessary discipline them in a firm but compassionate manner. Students have meals in our dining hall and we are continually monitoring the menu to cater for diverse tastes.

At the moment we have two very talented and experienced teachers from Adelaide, South Australia. We also have an experienced Kindergarten Director, also from Adelaide. With our expansion during 2006 we will be setting up classes for English speaking students, as well as maintaining the ESL classes for those with developing English language proficiency.

We have a strong formal link with the South Australian Department of Education and Children’s Services (DECS). Australia is a world leader in Education and DECS is at the forefront of education in Australia. Not only are we assisted by DECS in the recruitment of outstanding teachers, we also lease their curriculum, which is known as SACSA – the South Australian Curriculum, Standards and Accountability Framework. Our lease arrangement entitles us to on-going support in the implementation of SACSA.

SACSA is widely used in Commonwealth countries, and increasingly throughout the world. It is very well respected as a world class international curriculum, as it provides a learning programme from birth to Year 12. It is superior to the curricula used in many international schools, which tend to be an eclectic mix of programmes drawn from various countries. This approach has questionable merit, as it can leave wide gaps in student learning. In comparison, SACSA offers a well structured and  coherent programme while providing opportunities for educators to capitalise on the diverse cultural, backgrounds of students. In an international school such as ours this is a great advantage. Another advantage of SACSA is the strong emphasis placed on assessment and reporting to parents to give an accurate picture of student achievement and development.

Detailed information on SACSA is available on their website http://www.sacsa.sa.edu.au/splash.asp

As a part of our philosophy of supporting students and families, we are able to assist families find accommodation in Ningbo and we can provide door to door transport for students from city locations.

Please visit our website or contact the school (+86 574 87611005) for further information.