Education News Roundup September 2026: Top News from Shanghai's Top Schools

This month's school news highlights strong IGCSE results, university admissions and student opportunities across Shanghai and Hangzhou. Schools including YCIS, SAS, Dulwich and SUIS share academic and university updates, while BISS, German School Shanghai and Shanghai French School focus on university preparation, language learning and career exploration. Harrow, HIS and several kindergartens also mark anniversaries, cultural celebrations and hands-on learning activities.

How YCIS Shanghai's IGCSE Top Achievers Find Their Own Pace

At YCIS Shanghai, top results are only part of the story. Olivia from the Puxi campus and Caia from Pudong both achieved full A*/A grades in their IGCSEs, but their journeys extend well beyond the transcript. Olivia went from never having played volleyball to captaining the school team, while a conversation with a senior student inspired her to launch a student media club. Caia, meanwhile, challenged herself with Coordinated Science and Music despite considering herself a humanities person. Their stories show how curiosity, perseverance and the freedom to learn at their own pace can turn unfamiliar challenges into confidence, leadership and lasting growth.

The Shanghai American School Class of 2026 Eagles Take Flight

As universities around the world have recently begun a new school year, the Class of 2026 has taken its next steps at colleges and universities across North America, the United Kingdom, Europe, and Asia Pacific. After receiving more than 1,000 incredible university offers, SAS graduates have headed to nearly 90 institutions, including seven of the eight Ivy League schools. Fifteen students are attending Ivy League institutions, 90 are attending U.S. News Top 30 National Universities, 13 are attending U.S. News Top 30 Liberal Arts Colleges, and 58 are studying at QS World University Rankings Top 50 universities. Beyond rankings, their choices reflect a wide range of interests, programs, and ambitions. Wherever their journeys lead, we look forward to following their stories as the Class of 2026 begins its next chapter.

How SUIS Gubei Helps Students Navigate the Global University Landscape

For international university applications, knowing what's changing can be just as important as getting the grades. SUIS Gubei's University Guidance Counselling team has been keeping close to the source, welcoming admissions teams from UCL, the University of Calgary, Boston University, Michigan State University and the University of Leeds, while attending major counselling conferences in the UK and US. From new interdisciplinary degrees to personal statement reforms and evolving international student policies, the team is bringing the latest admissions insight back to campus—helping students make clearer, more informed choices about what comes next.

Fortune Kindergarten Welcomes Autumn with New Beginnings

Fortune Kindergarten welcomed children back to campus with a playful first-day celebration filled with age-appropriate games, creative activities and plenty of time to reconnect with friends and teachers. From toddlers taking their first brave steps into school to K2 students stepping up as role models, each group explored the new semester at its own pace. The day ended with a hands-on "Growth Leaf" craft, giving every child a chance to share their hopes for the months ahead and begin another season of friendship, discovery and growing together.

Dulwich College Shanghai Celebrates Strong 2026 IGCSE Results

Dulwich College Shanghai  2 loctions in Shanghai

Dulwich College Shanghai is celebrating a successful 2026 IGCSE cohort, with 50% of grades at its Pudong campus awarded A* or above and a 100% pass rate at Puxi. The results reflect students' commitment, together with the guidance of teachers and support from families, while highlighting the College's focus on both academic achievement and wider personal development. From 2027, students will be able to choose between the IB Diploma Programme and A-Levels as they continue towards university and beyond.

BISS Puxi's Oxbridge Day Explores What Makes a Strong Applicant

This year's Oxbridge Day at BISS Puxi brought the Oxford and Cambridge experience to campus through keynote talks, academic discussions and mock interviews led by Oxbridge graduates and interviewers. Students explored the universities' tutorial and supervision systems, considered what makes a strong applicant and tested their thinking through challenging questions. The focus was less on memorising answers and more on developing original ideas, asking better questions and engaging with subjects beyond the classroom—skills students can continue building as they prepare for their applications.

German School Shanghai Expands Support for Students Learning German

German is the starting point for joining German School Shanghai and a requirement for the German International Abitur. From kindergarten onwards, the school's German as a Foreign Language (DaF) and German as a Second Language (DaZ) programmes support complete beginners and students with existing language skills across both campuses. DaF is free in kindergarten and costs RMB 30,000 per year from primary school, while DaZ fees range from RMB 5,000 to RMB 15,000 annually depending on the level of support required. Both programmes are available for a maximum of three years and are delivered by qualified teachers and native speakers through targeted, individualised instruction.

Shanghai French School Students Explore Future Careers at WorldSkills 2026

Grade 9 students from Shanghai French School visited WorldSkills Shanghai 2026, exploring careers ranging from robotics and aeronautics to pastry-making and carpentry. The world's largest international vocational skills competition brought together nearly 1,400 competitors from 68 countries and regions across 64 skill categories, giving students a closer look at the skills and expertise behind different professions. The visit also included meetings with French officials and offered students a chance to discover new career possibilities, reflect on their interests and broaden their future ambitions.

Celebrates 10 Years with "10 Years, 10 Voices"Harrow Shanghai

Harrow Shanghai marks its 10th anniversary in 2026 with "10 Years, 10 Voices," bringing together students, alumni, teachers, families and school leaders to look back on a decade of the school community. The celebration features personal stories from members of the Harrow community, student performances, a carnival with games, food and traditional dragon and lion dances, as well as student-made decorations and displays of memorabilia from the school's founding years. The anniversary also highlights the school's values of Courage, Humility, Fellowship, Honour and Leadership, with activities across the campus reflecting on the people and experiences that have shaped Harrow Shanghai since it opened in 2016.

HIS Named In Top 20 International Schools In China by KingLead 2026 Rankings

Hangzhou International School (HIS) has been named among the Top 20 Schools for Children of Foreign Personnel in China in the 2026 KingLead China International School Innovative Competitiveness Rankings, receiving an AAAA rating for innovation competitiveness. The school was also recognized in the 2026 Forbes China International School Annual Selection, with its Early Childhood/Kindergarten and Upper-Year programs both ranked among China's Top 30. The recognition highlights HIS's focus on future-ready learning, with students taking part in design projects, service initiatives, China trips, film productions, science investigations and performing arts.

NAIS Pudong Brings Family Stories into the Classroom

NAIS Pudong's "Living Legacies" activity invited Year 1 and Year 2 students and their families to bring meaningful family memories into the classroom. Year 1 students explored and shared their stories in English, while Year 2 students used Chinese, giving them opportunities to practise listening and communication, organise their ideas and build confidence through personal experiences. The activity connects classroom learning with students' own lives, using family stories as a way to develop language skills and encourage students to learn from each other.

Concordia Shanghai Welcomes the New School Year with a Splash

Concordia Shanghai brought families together for its annual Back-to-School Splash Bash, an afternoon of water games, live performances, food, crafts and student-led charity booths. From dunk tanks and water battles to the marketplace and PSO Green Market, the community enjoyed one last taste of summer while reconnecting after Back-to-School Nights and celebrating the start of a new school year. The event was made possible by the contributions of parent volunteers, students, faculty, staff, performers and local vendors.

What a Night! WISS Sundowner Brought the Fun

WISS Sundowner brought students, families, staff and the wider Shanghai community together for an evening of live music, games and international food. Highlights included performances by The Pearl's Red Star Band and WISS students, alongside pony rides, bouncy castles, a dunk tank and flag football. Guests sampled Italian, Chinese, Mexican and Vietnamese dishes, while the event's social media campaign added a little friendly competition, with the top-liked entries winning an AI tiger. With WISStival coming up in November, the school has already announced its next big community celebration.

MEINS Adds New Parkour Space for Active Learning

MEINS has added a new parkour park, giving children a dedicated space to move, explore and learn through active play. With support from their teachers, children can climb, balance, jump over obstacles and practise on horizontal bars, trying new challenges at their own pace. The activities help develop strength, coordination, balance and body control, while also encouraging confidence, independence and perseverance. The new space provides opportunities for children to stay active, build physical skills and enjoy learning through play with their classmates.

Melody Celebrates Mid-Autumn Festival with Kids' Cultural Activities

Melody Jingan Shuangmei Childcare Center celebrates the Mid-Autumn Festival with a family-focused event introducing young children to the traditions of the holiday. Activities include a themed lesson with Mid-Autumn vocabulary and picture books, DIY mooncake crafts, and a Hanfu fashion show where children can experience traditional Chinese culture through dress and hands-on activities. The event offers a mix of learning, creativity and cultural activities for young children and their families.

September Thematic Exploration & Cultural Celebration at Magnolia

At Magnolia Kindergarten, the new school year began with a September programme exploring the Six Elements of Life: Fire, Light, Water, Air, Earth and Tree. Children across different age groups took part in hands-on trips, from visiting a fire station and aquarium to exploring light and shadow, astronomy, greenhouses and plant life. The month also included a shared Mid-Autumn Festival celebration, where Chinese and international students enjoyed traditional stories, music, games and crafts together. Through outdoor discovery and cultural exchange, Magnolia gives young learners plenty of opportunities to connect classroom learning with the world around them.

Still searching for the right school in Shanghai? Our regularly updated School Open Days Full Listis one of the easiest ways to explore upcoming campus tours, info sessions, and admissions events across the city.

SmartShanghai hosts Shanghai's largest English-language Education Directory, used by more than 75,000 parents every year to research international schools, bilingual schools, kindergartens, and education services. Schools in our network regularly share their latest news, events, and admissions updates with us, with selected highlights featured in our monthly education roundup. Want your school featured? Get in touch with us anytime.

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