Suzhou Innovation Academy: Right School for Your Kid?

Introduction

Suzhou Innovation Academy is a top international school from the Qidu Education Group. It grew from a school started in 1994, so it has a long history. It teaches the IB program to create future leaders for the world. By mixing the best of Eastern and Western teaching, it helps students support national development.

Admitting your child here helps them get into top universities worldwide. The school uses the famous IB program, has small classes, and modern buildings. It teaches students to be creative and solve problems, getting them ready for success in the future and helping them become great global citizens.

This guide explores the school's curriculum, tuition and other fees, how to apply, and what student life is like.

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Suzhou Innovation Academy Curriculum, Admission Requirements, Tuition Fees & Other Details

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Historical Development

The story of the school comes from the Suzhou International Foreign Language School. Here are the key dates:

1995: The Suzhou International Foreign Language School was started. It was one of the first private international schools in East China.
2003: The school started to use and learn about international school programs.
2008: The school successfully ran the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) program.
2014: The school became a candidate for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IBDP). It also started the American High School program.
2019: Suzhou Innovation Academy (SIA) was officially started. It was approved as an IB World School by the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO).
2021: The school added the A-Level program. This gave students more study choices.
2022: The first group of students finished school. They had great academic success. All of them got into top 50 universities in the world.

Curriculum

The school’s main program is the IBDP (International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme). This program is known all over the world and helps students get ready for university. It gives students a "holistic and balanced education" using six subject groups and three main parts.

1. Six Subject Groups

Studies in Language and Literature: This includes Chinese and English.
Language Acquisition: This is for learning a second language, like French or Spanish.
Individuals and Societies: This includes History, Geography, Economics, and Psychology.
Sciences: This includes Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Computer Science.
Mathematics: The mathematics curriculum has classes like Mathematical Analysis and Applied Mathematics.
The Arts: This includes Visual Arts, Music, and Drama.

2. Three Core Components

Theory of Knowledge (TOK): This class helps students think about what knowledge is and where it comes from. It helps them think better.
Extended Essay (EE): This is a long research paper (4,000 words). Students pick a subject they like to write about. It teaches them how to research and write for college.
Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS): Students must do 150 hours of creative things (like art), 150 hours of physical activity (like sports), and 150 hours of community service (like volunteering). This teaches them to be responsible people.

3. Additional Programs

The school also offers A-Level (from the UK) and VCE (from Australia) programs. These choices help students who want to study in different countries, like the UK or Australia.

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Admission Information & Process

Target Students

The school mainly accepts students who have finished Grade 9 and students who are in Grade 10. Other students can sometimes transfer to the school if they meet the school's needs.

Admission Process

Step 1: Application & Document Submission: Students give the school their papers. This includes their test scores, a paper about themselves, and letters from teachers.

Step 2: Entrance Examinations:

Written Tests: There are tests in English and Math. The math test checks mathematical fluency in topics like algebra and geometry.
Interview: You will talk with the principal only in English. This is to see how well you speak, your analytical thinking, and your problem solving skills.

Step 3: Admission Decision: The school decides who to accept based on scores. Test scores from your old school are 40% of the choice, the written test is 30%, and the interview is 30%.

Admission Requirements

Academic: Your test scores from your old school must be high enough to get into a general high school in Suzhou.
Language: You must be good at English, with a score like IELTS 6.0.
Comprehensive Qualities: You should have good study habits, work well with others, and be open to different cultures.

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Learning Environment

The Suzhou campus is a beautiful place to learn, located on Yangcheng Lake. People call it the "Castle Campus" because the buildings are pretty and there are many trees. It is a boarding and day school. The school has very good facilities.

There are modern classrooms that use technology in the classroom, special science labs, and a large library with books in Chinese and English. There are also labs for students to learn about robots and coding. Many Native English teachers work at the school to help students learn.

For students who live at the school, the rooms are safe and comfortable. The cafeteria serves healthy food planned by a food expert.

Tuition and Miscellaneous Fee

These fees are for the 2025-2026 school year.

IB Program (FP/DP): RMB 210,000/year (This pays for class, books, and some activity fees).
A-Level Program: RMB 120,000/year (This pays for class and books).
VCE Program: RMB 120,000/year (This pays for class and books).

Miscellaneous Fees:

Boarding: RMB 10,000-20,000/year (This is for the rooms, which have their own bathrooms and laundry).
Meals: RMB 20,000/year (This is for healthy food).
Competition Fees: You pay for these if you decide to join a contest.

Extracurricular Activities

The school wants students to grow in many ways. Students can join activities in school contests, arts, sports, and community service.

Academic Competitions: The school has teams for math and science contests.
Arts & Sports: Students can do drama, make movies, or join sports teams like basketball, swimming, and rowing.
Community Service: Students can join charity clubs, help the planet, and learn CPR.
Signature CAS Projects: As part of the IB Diploma, students do 150 hours of creative work, 150 hours of activity, and 150 hours of service. For example, they can learn about world problems like climate change.

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Latest Graduation Outcomes

The Class of 2025 did very well. All students got into a top 50 university in the world. This shows great student progress. Some of the schools they went to are Imperial College London and the National University of Singapore.

The average score for the IB Diploma was 38 out of 45, which is much higher than the average score in the world. Half of the students got a top score of 'A' on their big projects.

What to Consider before Admitting Your Kid?

Suzhou Innovation Academy Considerations diagram with admission and policy factors

Suzhou Innovation Academy is a school for boys and girls on the Suzhou campus. It is a new IB World School that helps students get ready for the future.

The school wants to be a place for inspiring learners. It helps them be creative and solve problems. The school believes students are the architects of their future and prepares them for the world.

Here are a few factors you need to consider before admitting your kid

Curriculum and Academic Fit

The school uses the IB program from Year 1 to Grade 12. It helps students learn by asking questions and solving real problems. This is different from the Chinese National Curriculum. The IB diploma is known by top colleges around the world. It is important to see if this creative way of learning is a good fit for your child.

Admission Process

To apply, you fill out a form online and send school papers. Students may need to take an English test and have an interview. The school accepts students from all over the world, but it can be hard to get in. It is best to apply early. If your child has special needs, ask the school if they can help.

Tuition and Financial Aspects

This school costs a lot of money. It is like other big international schools in China. The school fee pays for classes, books, and some activities. You have to pay extra for things like the school uniform, trips, and living at the school. It is important to plan for all these costs before you decide to join.

Facilities and Boarding

The school campus is new and modern. It has special labs for science and Design Technology. The school is good at Technology Adoption to help students learn. Students can also choose to live at the school. The school works to keep them safe and happy. There are also many clubs for arts, tech, and helping the community.

Student Life and Community

The school has students from many different countries. Classes are small, so each student gets more attention from the teacher. This helps with good classroom management. The school also cares about making students feel happy and safe. It teaches them good values. The city of Suzhou is a friendly place for families to live, with nice parks.

Reputation and Performance

As a new school, it does not have a long history of student scores. It is hard to find reviews from old students. But the school says it has a new way of teaching. You can check reviews from teachers, like an IB Maths Teacher, to see if it is a good place to work. This can show if the school is strong.

Location and Lifestyle in Suzhou

Suzhou is a beautiful city. It is safe and has clean air and good hospitals. It is also close to Shanghai, which makes travel easy. For people who do not speak Chinese, it can be hard to talk to others. Families thinking of moving here should think about the cost of living and finding a place to live.

Conclusion

Suzhou Innovation Academy is a great international school where students do very well. The school is good at teaching and helping students grow.

However, it can be hard to find information about the school. If you want to learn more or join the school, it is best to talk to them directly. This will help you get the right information.