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The National Curriculum for England is respected and recognised around the world. Used by more than 30,000 schools, it combines the highest academic standards with innovative learning approaches fit for the 21st century.
We’ve successfully delivered a British curriculum here at BSB Shunyi for more than 20 years. But what are the benefits for our students? And how does the English National Curriculum set our young people up for International Baccalaureate Diploma and university success?
Established in 1988, the English National Curriculum – which is the cornerstone of the UK education system – is now extensively used in international schools.
The curriculum delivers exceptionally high academic standards, while also developing the transferable skills our young people need to thrive in a modern, globalised world. It’s structured into ‘Key Stages’, each of which has clear outcomes for students. These stages provide a strong framework and enable clear progression.
As well as being academically rigorous, the English National Curriculum is renowned for providing a ‘broad and balanced’ education. This is because children study the full breadth of subjects up to the age of 14. They then move on to the two-year IGCSE programme. IGCSEs are one of the only programmes that offer internationally recognised qualifications in every single subject at this age level. Consequently, they are highly prized by the best schools, colleges, and universities – from South Korea to the USA, and everywhere in between.
We believe the English National Curriculum has many benefits for learners. In fact, one of the main reasons for the curriculum’s global popularity is the equal emphasis it places on both academic rigour and personal development.
One of the English National Curriculum’s main strengths is its clear structure. It’s divided into five interconnected Key Stages, which build on each other year on year to ensure progression.
This means, from the Early Years Foundation Stage through to the end of Key Stage 3, we’re able to clearly measure each student’s progress, and assess them against key curriculum benchmarks. Both our teachers and parents can track how well a student is doing, too. This structure also helps us to identify areas for improvement.
The ‘broad and balanced’ design of the English National Curriculum also nurtures important future-proofed skills, such as leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, global awareness, digital literacy, breadth of thinking, and creativity.
The curriculum places a premium on personal, social, health, and economic (PSHE) education, too. The framework of excellence, respect, and good manners, all hallmarks of the curriculum, ensures that personal growth is central to education. This enables us, as a school, to achieve our goal of educating our students not just academically, but also morally, culturally, socially, and physically.
When it comes to delivering a British curriculum overseas, BSB Shunyi is not alone. In fact, more 8,000 international primary schools currently teach the English National Curriculum. One reason is that the curriculum’s framework allows for the introduction of localised and international elements.
These include our STEAM collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and performing arts programme with The Juilliard School. Both programmes are integrated into our curriculum, across the Key Stages. This enriches our students’ experience, while still delivering the full requirements of the curriculum.
Universities, colleges, and employers hold the UK education system in high regard. IGCSEs are, for example, widely recognised as the gold standard of education for 14 to 16-year-olds.
The familiarity of the curriculum is also reassuring for families. This is particularly important in the transient world of international education. The fundamental structure and assessment processes of the English National Curriculum are the same anywhere in the world, which enables a child to make a smooth transition across borders.
At BSB Shunyi, we believe the National Curriculum for England is the best possible preparation for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.
Having successfully dealt with the academic demands of IGCSE exams and coursework, our students understand what it takes to succeed. They’ve worked hard, shown resilience, and embraced transformative learning experiences. They’ve also began to specialise – and excel – in the subject areas they’re interested in. And with a breadth of ‘soft skills’ gained through the curriculum’s PSHE framework, they really are ready for the challenge of the IB Diploma.
Our IB Diploma leads the way in China when it comes to seeking a place at one of the world’s top universities.
With the skills nurtured by our English National Curriculum in their back pockets, our students can fully immerse themselves in a personalised IB Diploma journey. The Diploma itself features six key subject groups – Language and Literature, Language Acquisition, Individuals and Societies, Sciences, Mathematics, and The Arts – as well as three core components: Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS), Theory of Knowledge (TOK), and an Extended Essay.
Our IB Diploma experience also promotes the moral, cultural, mental, and physical development of our students – much like the English National Curriculum. It ultimately develops confident, curious, active learners, who have the skillset and mentality to create a bright future at university or college – and beyond.
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For more information on the National Curriculum for England at BSB Shunyi, please get in touch with us at [email protected].
The British School of Beijing, Shunyi Campus offers the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), which is renowned for its active learning approach. This method is integral to early childhood education, providing young learners with a solid foundation for their future academic and personal development. At BSB Shunyi, active learning means children learn by doing — through a thoughtful blend of teacher-guided activities and independent exploration that develops both their academic skills and their love of learning.
The British School of Beijing recently hosted BritMUN 2025, a Model United Nations (MUN) event that highlights the exceptional organisational and leadership skills of our students. This year's conference was a remarkable success, attracting student delegates from many different schools across Beijing, including the British School of Beijing, the International School of Beijing, Dulwich College Beijing, and Beijing World Youth Academy.