FAQs

Do you have a waiting list? If so, how are admissions prioritised?

We do have waiting lists. Placement on a waiting list is determined by the date the application and fee are received, and priority is given as follows:

• a child of a full-time faculty member
• a qualified sibling of a current student who has completed the application process
• a child transferring from another Dulwich College International school

If an applicant does not obtain a place during the term for which he or she has applied, the applicant will be automatically transferred to the waiting list for the following term. At the end of the academic year an applicant’s name will be transferred to the appropriate year level for the new academic year. Waiting list positions are not disclosed to parents. Waiting lists are common for entry into most year levels. We always advise early application.

What admissions testing do you do?

• Do you test all children before admission? 
• What kind of test is it?   
• How long does it take?  
• How long does it take to get the results? 
• I do not plan to visit Suzhou before we move. Where can my child be tested?

DUCKS

All applications to Foundation Stage (Nursery and Reception) are reviewed by the Admissions Committee before the child is offered a place. . Any previous school reports, observations and assessments should be made available to the College at this time. Where possible it is strongly recommended that the child spend a morning or day with their peer group class in advance of admission so that the College can gauge the child’s level of readiness. Applicants who cannot be assessed in person will be admitted on a provisional basis at the discretion of the Admissions Committee. 

Junior School

Students applying for Junior School (Years 3 to 6) undertake assessments to ensure they can access the curriculum. Students are required to take the Cognitive Abilities Test (CAT), consisting of verbal, quantitative and non-verbal assessments and an English as an additional language assessment. The Admissions Officer will arrange a time for the student to sit the assessments and communicate this to parents. You should allow at least half a day for your child to complete these assessment tests.

Senior School

Students applying for Years 7 to 11 in Senior School are required to take the Cognitive Abilities Test (CAT), consisting of verbal, quantitative and non-verbal assessments. Applicants will be interviewed by the Head of Admissions. All students will sit an English as an additional language assessment. The Head of IB  will interview all candidates applying for a place in Year 12 or 13 and make a recommendation to the Head of Senior School.

Overseas Candidates

Special arrangements can be made for the entrance assessments to be administered remotely. Contact our admissions team for more information.

Assessment Results

We will usually be able to tell you within a few days whether we will make the offer of a place. We do not release the results of the assessment tests. Students are permitted to re-sit the assessment tests after 6 months have passed.

What are your class sizes?

The maximum number of students in each class is as follows:

The College reserves the right to increase the maximum number of students in each class under special circumstances with approval from the Head of College.

Can my child eat lunch at school?

Yes. DUCKS, Junior School and Senior School each have their own restaurant facilities.

Who are your caterers?

Sodexo

How much do lunches cost per day?

• DUCKS: 29RMB   
• Junior School: 30RMB 
• Senior School: 34RMB

Do you serve food with nuts?

No. We are a nut free school.

Can my child bring lunch to school?

Your child may bring their own packed lunch to school if you prefer but please remember that it must be nut free.

What kind of food do the children eat?

We serve a wide variety of healthy dishes with a mix of Western and Asian choices.

Do you have a school uniform?

All students (excluding Year 12/13 students) at Dulwich are required to wear the school uniform. The school uniform is different for warm and cold weather, and students should adhere to seasonal requirements. Please be sure that all items are clearly marked with the student’s name. School uniform can be purchased from online uniform shop.

What are your school hours?

Students are expected to be in school for registration at 8.10am and school finishes at 3.30pm.

Do you offer bus service?

Yes, school bus service is available with pick-up locations across Suzhou.

What if my child stays at school late for activities? Can he or she still get a bus home?

If you have paid for school bus transportation for your child, a late bus service is provided when they have after-school activities.

How much are the bus fees?

Please refer to the School Bus Fees table in the Fees page. The cost of bussing is not included in the tuition.

We only enrol students whom we know we can support. We enrol students with learning challenges when the information available indicates that the student’s learning needs can be met by the services we provide.

Our team will consult students and parents to conduct all necessary assessments and review copies of all previous reports and records. We request that parents provide all information available to enable our admissions review team to make an accurate decision about learning support services and admission.

At Dulwich College Suzhou, we appreciate the cultural diversity that non-native English speakers bring to our school and we are able to support a percentage of students who are non-native English speakers. Applicants who speak languages other than English should be able to demonstrate age-appropriate academic proficiency in their native tongue. Our admissions team may request that students be assessed on their ability to handle the academic challenges of English before an admissions decision is made.

The following is a guide to the amount of homework your child can expect to get each week. This does not include reading time.