SUSAN FANG

Founder and Director of UKGuardianship

What keeps Chinese parents up at night when considering sending their kids abroad?

The mainland Chinese have been sending their children to the UK for independent secondary and primary education for years, and have definitely grown more sophisticated over time. They can easily recite the list of schools in the Clarendon Nine, the Rugby Six and the Eton Twelve. They are also able to memorise the A* to A percentage of A level grades of their target schools, as well as these schools’ university destination lists both in the UK and the U.S. However, the truth remains that while Chinese parents are good at gathering the hard facts by themselves, they spend so much effort on scrutinising and comparing the “headline” statistics that they forget to ask themselves, ‘How does this serve my children and family? How does it serve me?’

On that note, it was refreshing, and reassuring, to see the top eight most popular questions voted by 830+ affluent Chinese mums about study abroad for minors were not driven by the pursuit of hard facts. In this Tencent-powered charity WeChat live that took place over the summer, I was delighted to be able to help Chinese parents who questioned what defined a good school, and wanted to prioritise wellness of their children and themselves.

Here’s a summary of what keeps modern day, high networth Chinese parents awake at night when considering sending their under-18s abroad, and my candid and encompassing advice to them:

Q: The study abroad journey is best embarked as early as possible?

A: If the purpose is to get the child seamlessly integrated into the British education system and society, then generally, yes. But this also depends on family circumstance. Key factors to consider: greater financial investment; challenge for less independent children; missing out on seeing your children grow; compromising with mother tongue proficiency.

Q: Highly ranked schools are good schools?

A: No. Rankings are often determined by exam results. An academic hothouse churning out A*s is not necessarily a good school. It just means the students there are highly proficient in sitting exams. To ensure that they remain top of the rankings, schools have to be super selective. Self-motivated, academically outstanding students do well in any school. Often, it’s students that make schools great, rather than schools that make students shine. On the other hand, if a school can help an F-grader to a B in a positive, non-pressure-cooker way, I would happily call that a good school.

Q: Parents can rest once kids are in good schools?

A: No. For a child to achieve their potential, family education is just as important as school education.

It’s all very well for the child to make their bed, proactively engage in conversations and not lock themselves in bedrooms playing computer games at night. If parents don’t instil the same habits at home, be it for guilt or convenience, then what’s been taught at school is in vain.

Q: Schools with few Chinese are better?

A: No. A school with few international Chinese may not have the expertise to care for such a cohort. For example, would they know Chinese students solve an equation in their head rather than writing out the process? Would they know Chinese students are brought up drinking hot water, so often carry a thermos?

Would they know that back home, Chinese students can leave school after end-of-semester exams, and find it perplexing to be asked to stay for pantos and sports days? Joining a school that doesn’t learn how to welcome Chinese students is not what I consider a good school.

Q: Studying abroad is for the purpose of getting a qualification and certificate?

A: No. If this is the only objective, they may as well stay in China. Studying abroad is much more than getting a qualification. It’s about getting an educated life: appreciating different cultures; making friends from all over the world; becoming proficient in English and possibly other languages; becoming independent; having the confidence to say things differently and call things out…

Q: Studying in the UK will automatically make you a better English language user?

A: Not necessarily. If students mingle outside the Chinese international circle, then yes, they would find their English proficiency levels up to a standard where speaking English would become as easy as breathing.

Q: There is no pressure when studying abroad?

A: No. Parents are disillusioned if they thought helping their kids escape “gaokao” (entrance exam to Chinese universities) would free them of all pressure. Competition is everywhere and certainly in the U.K. Especially if the aim is to get their children into the most academic schools and universities, not only would they compete with other Chinese kids (second-gen and international), but also many other internationals. The price is the same wherever you are if you want the best for your child.

Q: You can choose whatever subjects without consequences when studying abroad?

A: No. There are certain pre-profession degrees that require prerequisite school qualifications, and some A levels that ask for certain GCSE passes. Some Chinese parents think, because they are exiting the “gaokao” system, their kids can select ANY academic programme, course or subject. Trying new things as an extra-curricular activity is one thing, but choosing an academic subject is another. For example, a medical degree asks for A level Chemistry and sometimes Biology, with Maths to a certain standard at GCSE and above. To take A level Art, Music, Modern Foreign Languages, Design & Technology and Computing, most schools ask students to have done them at GCSE.