BASIS International & Bilingual Schools • China expanded its footprint in Shenzhen, with the addition of three new campuses in August 2024. The opening of BASIS Bilingual School Guangming Shenzhen, BASIS Bilingual Kindergarten Nanshan, and BASIS Bilingual Kindergarten Futian brings our total number of campuses in Shenzhen to five and our network-wide presence to 13 schools across seven major cities in China.
BASIS International & Bilingual Schools • China takes the long view of what is required to build the best international and bilingual schools. Each new school is thoughtfully designed to create innovative learning environments that inspire students to reach their full potential. By also investing in the development and well-being of our teachers and managers, our schools deliver the highest quality learning experiences.
Dr. Mark Reford, BASIS Global CEO
Dr. Mark Reford, BASIS Global CEO, said, “Opening a new school is an extraordinary act of hope and trust. These new campuses are supported by the years of experience of all the BASIS Curriculum Schools across the United States and China, ensuring students receive a world-class education.”
BASIS Bilingual School Guangming Shenzhen: A State-of-the-Art Campus
BASIS Bilingual School Guangming Shenzhen is our second PreK to Grade 12 bilingual campus in Shenzhen, accommodating up to 1,500 boarding and day students. Located in the emerging science and technology hub of Guangming District, the school sets a new standard for educational excellence in the area.
The 18,000 square-meter campus features 45 standard classrooms, 8 science labs, art studios, music rooms, an indoor swimming pool, gymnasiums, a large design technology and maker space, a planetarium, and an exclusive building for early childhood, offering students abundant avenues to explore their interests and hone their skills.
Mark DiFabio, Founding Head of School at BASIS Bilingual School Guangming Shenzhen
At the school’s opening ceremony, Mark DiFabio, Founding Head of School at BASIS Bilingual School Guangming Shenzhen, encouraged students to make the most of their opportunities and to learn with passion and courage. “Michelangelo said that to be a good sculptor, you just remove what is not supposed to be there; you set free what was already there. The job of an educator is very much the same, we help you, our students, find your passions, to break free, to come alive, and write your own stories.”
BASIS Bilingual Kindergarten Nanshan: A Specialized Early Childhood Center
BASIS Bilingual Kindergarten Nanshan is our first early childhood-only campus in the BASIS International & Bilingual Schools • China network. Housed in the original BASIS International School Shenzhen building in Shekou, the 4,685 square-meter campus underwent extensive renovations to transform it into a specialized early childhood center.
It features engaging indoor and outdoor spaces, including dedicated classrooms for STEM, carpentry, cooking, music, dance, and theater. Year-round usable outdoor areas include a rooftop teaching garden, two age-appropriate playgrounds, a water sensory play area, a soccer pitch, and a basketball court. The school’s focus on early childhood education ensures that children develop a strong academic foundation to carry forward.
Tara McKenna, Founding Head of School, BASIS Bilingual Kindergarten Nanshan
Founding Head of School at BASIS Bilingual Kindergarten Nanshan, Tara McKenna, highlighted the significance of the school’s launch. “The opening of this flagship early years campus is not just a milestone, but a significant leap in the development of BASIS International & Bilingual Schools in China,” she said. “Our network of schools has laid the strong foundations on which we continue to build, and as the network’s first flagship ECE campus, it is a testament to our commitment to delivering a transformative, high-quality, and enriching early years program for our students.”
Tara also emphasized the school’s commitment to continuing the high standards set by its predecessor, BASIS International School Shenzhen. “There were memories made here, and this campus has gone through a renewal,” she said. “As we stand here today, we reaffirm our commitment to a campus of excellence. We are dedicated to ensuring every student’s academic, social, and emotional needs are not just met, but fulfilled.”
BASIS Bilingual Kindergarten Futian: An Innovative Early Childhood Campus
Situated in the heart of Shenzhen’s business district, BASIS Bilingual Kindergarten Futian is the network’s second school dedicated solely to early childhood education. The campus can accommodate 300 students in PreK1, PreK2, and Kindergarten.
The school offers flexible and interactive spaces that encourage exploration and discovery. The 3,836 square-meter building boasts a state-of-the-art STEAM lab, an extensive bilingual library, dedicated art and music studios, a reading hub, a child-friendly recording studio, an indoor adventure playroom, and a sensory sand pool. Its innovative design has earned multiple international awards, including the Red Dot Design Award 2022 and the IFI Design Silver Award in Education.
Joshua Barr, Head of School, BASIS Bilingual Kindergarten Futian
“The opening of BASIS Bilingual Kindergarten Futian marks a new era in early childhood education, where cutting-edge design and thoughtfully crafted facilities come together to create an unparalleled learning environment,” said Joshua Barr, Head of School at BASIS Bilingual Kindergarten Futian. “The school is designed to ignite the creativity and curiosity of our youngest learners and dedicated educators. This campus stands as a testament to BASIS International & Bilingual Schools · China’s commitment to delivering an exceptional, holistic education that nurtures every aspect of a child’s development.”
Visit our careers website to learn more about teaching with BASIS International Schools.
Join our new schools in our live webinar series to explore opportunities for the 2024-25 school year.
Register here: BASIS Bilingual School Guangming Shenzhen Webinar 2024
Register here: BASIS Bilingual Kindergarten Nanshan Webinar 2024
Register here: BASIS Bilingual Kindergarten Futian Webinar 2024
