Scottish school opens branch in Shenzhen

British boarding schools setting up operations in China are on the rise as more expatriate families and wealthy Chinese parents choose to send their children to international institutions. For some Chinese, it's a symbol of prestige.

Later this month, Merchiston International School will open its doors as the first school in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, to offer student living arrangements along with a British education.

The school is the first overseas campus for the 185-year-old Merchiston Castle School, a top-ranked independent school in Scotland's capital, Edinburgh.

The boom in China's rising middle class means more Chinese parents can afford to send their children to international boarding schools to study under a Western education model. They hope it will land the students a place at a prestigious Western university.

Secondary education, in schools such as Eton and Harrow, has become a major attraction for the wealthiest Chinese, according to Hurun, an organization that compiles an annual list of the richest people and companies in China.

Located in Longhua district in northern Shenzhen, the school can cater to 1,200 students aged 5 to 18. Lessons will be taught in English and pupils from grades 1 to 9 will follow the English national curriculum, with additional access to Mandarin language learning. Senior students will study for the IGCSE and A-levels.

With accommodations for 600, the senior school will be exclusively for boarding students.

Of the teaching staff at Merchiston International School, 80 percent are from the United Kingdom.

The school also highlights the importance of co-curricular activities and sports, with the aim of developing students' talents across a diverse range.

Chris Lynn, head of the school, said: "We will nurture our students and develop their talents through a diverse range of interests - music, drama, art, Sinology, science and technology - as well as mainstream sports including football, swimming, basketball, tennis and rugby. We will also provide opportunities for adventure and outdoor activities such as horseback riding, sailing, skating and golf, among others."

According to the Centre for China and Globalisation, the number of international schools on the Chinese mainland almost doubled to 597 in 2015 from 2013, with enrollment rising 28 percent to 236,400 students.

Harrow, a British institution founded in 1572, opened a Shanghai campus in 2016, following one in Hong Kong and another in Beijing. London independent school Dulwich College, with a history dating to the 17th century, operates five campuses in China.

Merchiston International School's development came after a year of collaboration with Chinese investor Lyu Jianjun. Lyu's son attended the boarding school in Edinburgh.