Ningbo Life English News

Ningbo International School has moved to Jiangdong and re-opened on 25th August 2008. Now the closest International school to Ningbo city centre, NBIS has come of age with enrolments well over 100 students. This is a substantial increase from the school's modest opening enrolment of 6 students in the Zhuangshi campus on 1st September 2005.

Mr John Turner, the foundation Principal of Ningbo International School (NBIS), has applauded the development of the new campus, saying it is an outstanding example of a modern international school. Mr Turner said that the new NBIS has outstanding buildings, grounds and resources, but most importantly, NBIS has maintained its agreement with the South Australian Education Department to use their world class, fully accredited, internationally respected curriculum.

“This means NBIS students are able to use one of the best programmes in the world, which is taught in Australia and many Commonwealth countries. A feature of the curriculum is the flexibility given to educators to incorporate local culture and issues,” said Mr Turner.

“Australia is regarded as a world leader in education, and South Australia is at the forefront of education in that country,” said Mr Turner. “To be able to introduce the South Australian curriculum to all classes from Toddlers to Senior Secondary gives our students a huge advantage.”

NBIS employs South Australian teachers highly recommended by the South Australian Education Department and experienced with the curriculum. “The success of the South Australian curriculum we are using is seen in the high number of students who achieve university entrance in Australia and other universities throughout the world,” said Mr Turner.

Growth in student numbers at NBIS has been steady but recently, with the school’s move to the city, interest has ballooned. Parents comment positively on the spacious, colourful classrooms, attractive buildings and surrounds but more so the small class sizes and innovative policy of providing two fully qualified teachers per class. This enables intensive in-class support for those who need it while ensuring others are challenged and extended. The pupil teacher ratio at NBIS is 4:1.

This year the school has recruited extensively to cater for the more than doubling in size since last June. Six additional Australian teachers have been recruited with two more to follow. An additional four Chinese teachers have also been recruited. Teaching staff for the new year will comprise 22 teachers, including 14 native born English speakers from South Australia.

NBIS provides a warm, family friendly environment in which parent participation is valued and encouraged.

Fees at NBIS are modest when compared with other international schools. While not the cheapest school in Ningbo, fees are a far cry from the more expensive, about half the fees charged in Hangzhou and a third of what is charged in Shanghai.. The full fee schedule is available on the website.

Another feature of NBIS which is popular with parents is the school’s policy whereby students engage in Chinese language and cultural studies for one hour of every day, with the remainder of the curriculum taught in English.

Students at NBIS come from 27 different countries - 16% from Korea, 14% from Australia, 9% from the UK and 9% from the Americas. Several students board in the boarding house which is situated within the main school building. Other students travel to and from school each day in the school’s fleet of air-conditioned buses.

Interested parents are invited to visit the new NBIS at 151 Lamei Lu, in Jiangdong. GoogleEarth (29°54’.00” N 121°36’.00” E) enables easy navigation. Mr Turner can be contacted by phoning 0574 8761 1005. Additional information can be found on the school website www.nbis.net.cn.