Going abroad involves a multitude of choices to be made. Among the subjects of importance, the choice of school for his children. In Shanghai, the offer in this field is abundant especially if as a parent you are open to the possibility of an international education. Indeed, if there are French schools in Shanghai, they are not the only solutions.

Establish an educational strategy based on your personal situation

There is obviously no precise age to say whether a child should be educated in a particular education system. Everything depends on his character, his ability to adapt and also on his learning facilities or difficulties. Nevertheless, the younger the child, the more easily he will adapt to his new environment. In other words, it is better to enter kindergarten in a Chinese school or primary in an international school.

the question of the language of instruction

If the language of the host country is a strategic advantage for the future of the child, choosing a school that really emphasizes learning it is the ideal choice. Another possibility may be a school where English is the language of instruction. Such a choice will quickly ensure the acquisition of Shakespeare’s language in the long term and in depth.

the length of your stay

If you know the length of your stay definitively, this criterion can help you in your decision-making. A short stay can be a great opportunity for your child to immerse themselves in a multicultural environment by enrolling them in an international school, especially if they are relatively young. On the contrary, if you do not know precisely the duration of your expatriation, opting for a French school will be for your child a guarantee of continuity in a context of strong change.

permanent, recurrent or one-off expatriation

Another element to take into account is whether your stay in Shanghai will be followed by another expatriation, a return to France or if it is for you to settle permanently in China. In the context of recurrent expatriations, the best option is to make an educational choice and stick to it as far as possible. In the case of occasional or permanent expatriations, your choice will be made above all according to your values, the age of the child but also and above all according to the school offer on site.

The pros and cons of each option

If you choose to enroll your child in an international school in Shanghai, you give him the opportunity to learn a second living language, English and/or Chinese, in immersion. It takes at least six months to see the first effects of this choice in terms of communication and understanding, unless your child already has solid notions. This educational choice generally requires a strong investment on the part of the parents in the school and with the teachers to understand the functioning of the establishment, the evaluation system, the expectations of the teachers, etc. It clearly implies intensive monitoring of the child’s schooling. One of the risks of this option is the relative loss of French. That is why, French children enrolled in international schools generally take French lessons in addition to their schooling, and this according to various and varied methods (distance learning, private tutors). Finally, in the event of a return to France, the child will once again have to experience a change in terms of methods and educational programs.

If you choose to enroll your child in a French school, the advantages are the absence of loss of reference in terms of educational methods, the continuity of programs and teaching in the mother tongue. However, learning a second language (English), or even a third (Chinese) will take a long time and not be as successful as in an international school.

Educate your children in Shanghai in a French school

The French School of Shanghai (LFS) is approved by the Agency for French Education Abroad (AEFE). It welcomes more than 1,500 students from the small section of kindergarten to terminale on two different campuses. The Qingpu campus is located 20 kilometers west of Shanghai. The premises are shared with the Deutsche Schule Shanghai. The Qingpu campus of the LFS educates children from kindergarten to 12th grade. The Pudong campus of LFS is located 35 kilometers east of central Shanghai. The premises are leased to the Shanghai Gold Apple Bilingual School. The LFS Pudong campus welcomes students from kindergarten to middle school.

Le Petit Lotus Bleu is located on the former French concession. It welcomes more than 200 children from 3 years old, for the nursery and elementary cycles. The welcome takes place in two Chinese partner schools: the Sunrise Montessori International Pre-School and the Shanghai Aiju Primary School . The Petit Lotus Bleu is approved by the AEFE.

There are also alternative solutions for educating young children (from 2 to 6 years old) offering bilingual teaching. This is the school Le Phoenix and Les petits ecoliers .

Educate your children in Shanghai in an international school

The offer is important and could be the subject of an article in itself! In other words, it’s a real market! If you are interested in this option, you really need to investigate. Your relocation agency can help you with this. Some of them, like Joanna Real Estate, even publish a guide to international schools in Shanghai. Finally, you should know that fairs are held every year where representatives of all the international schools in Shanghai come together to promote the programs of their establishments. These are the International Schools Fair organized by LittleStar Magazine and the International School Expo organized by Shanghai Family Magazine.