• All international teachers must be licensed through the British Columbia (Canada) Teacher Regulation Branch which has strict requirements for licensing.
• Many Maple Leaf teachers are dually certified, both in their home country and through British Columbia.
• Mandarin teachers are licensed with the relevant provincial and national authorities.

• British Columbia consistently ranks among the highest-ranking systems according to PISA (OECD) testing.
• The BC model of education is based on a “Know-Do-Understand” model to support a concept-based competency-driven approach to learning.
• British Columbia’s curriculum brings together two features that most educators agree are essential for 21st-century learning: a concept-based approach to learning and a focus on the development of competencies, to foster deeper, more transferable learning. These approaches complement each other because of their common focus on active engagement of students. Deeper learning is better achieved through “doing” than through passive listening or reading.

• All English-language subjects and curriculum are prescribed by the BC Ministry of Education and Child Care:
• English Language Arts
• Mathematics
• Science
• Social Studies
• Physical and Health Education
• Arts Education (Visual Art, Drama, Dance, and Music)
• Applied Design, Skills, and Technologies (ADST)
• Career Education
• Students also receive daily Mandarin instruction, either as a Chinese-as-a-Second-Language class or as an Academic option. Maple Leaf has devised its own Mandarin leveling curriculum and textbook series to best suit the needs of all international students.

• The British Columbia Education System primarily emphasizes classroom-based assessment. Classroom assessments are an integral part of the instructional process and can serve as meaningful sources of information about student learning. Feedback from ongoing assessment in the classroom can be immediate and personal for a learner and guide the learner to understand their misconceptions and use the information to set new learning goals.
• There are several benchmarking assessments that the schools use throughout a year:
• Students in Grade 4 and Grade 7 write a Foundation Skills Assessment (FSA) assessing literacy and numeracy progress – this is through the BC Ministry of Education and Child Care.
• Students in Grade 9 write a Maple Leaf Language Proficiency Test in preparation for entrance to High School.
• Students in Grade 1 – 12 write the YCT and HSK Mandarin assessments in May. These are international Mandarin benchmarked tests, with strong achievement permitting international students access to Chinese universities if desired.
• Students may also participate in school-based School-Wide Writes, School-Wide Reads, and Numeracy Assessments. This data is used to guide instruction at the classroom level and aid school-wide learning efforts.

• Children can readily transition between the three Foreign Nationals’ Schools (Dalian, Wuhan and Yiwu) as all three schools operate the same program.
• If your child moves to British Columbia, their progress will seamlessly transition, as annual academic progress is reported to the BC Ministry of Education and Child Care.
• If your child moves to any other international school, we will provide the necessary documents (report cards, transcripts, etc.) to ensure a successful transition. Our schools have many years of experience in supporting international families.
• If your child finishes Grade 9 (in Dalian or Wuhan), students can study at the international Maple Leaf World Schools operating in those cities, along with boarding facilities.

• Both Dalian and Wuhan finish their BC Curriculum programs in Grade 9; however, students can study at the international Maple Leaf World Schools operating in those cities. Students will graduate with a Maple Leaf World School Diploma which is dually recognized by UK-Enic and Cognia. This certificate will provide access to top-ranked international universities.
• Yiwu provides the BC Curriculum program all the way through Grade 12, providing students an opportunity to graduate with the British Columbia Dogwood Diploma, an internationally recognized graduation certificate providing access to top-ranked international universities.

• All Maple Leaf Foreign Nationals’ Schools are day-schools with no boarding facilities.

• Tuition rates may vary slightly year-to-year between campuses. Please contact the Principal or Admissions Office of the relevant campus for more details.

• The school year begins in September each year, with enrollment being open throughout the year.

• Foreign Nationals’ Schools adjust their teaching levels based on student numbers – with class sizes generally around 12-15/homeroom.

• In the BC Program, entrance ages are determined by birth year. Students entering Kindergarten in September must be 5 years old by December 31^st of that year.  For example, all students entering Kindergarten for the 2022-23 school year must be born in 2017.  Students born in 2018 will register for Kindergarten entrance for the 2023-24 school year. 
• Pre-Kindergarten is offered in some Foreign Nationals Schools. This is not considered part of the BC program; however, it is a school-readiness program that is designed to prepare students to enter into Kindergarten.  This full-day program is available to 3- & 4-year-old students in Dalian. Wuhan offers Pre-Kindergarten to 4-year-old students. Yiwu does not offer a Pre-Kindergarten or Kindergarten program.

• An English Language Assessment is completed on all students meeting the following criteria:
  • The student’s primary language is a language other than English
  • The student is Grade 2 age or older (students of Grade 1 age or lower are informally assessed)
• Interviews are conducted with all students and family members to ensure that our school is a proper fit for a student candidate.
• A decision on acceptance is generally completed within 48 hours. All applicants will be notified of the school’s decision.  Successful applicants will receive an acceptance letter from the school. 

Parents will need to provide the following items for the application:

• A completed MLFNS application form with a colour photo of your child
• Original passport and visa of student and parents (passport or PR Card must be from a foreign country. Chinese nationals are not permitted)
• Medical check (local service providers are listed in the application)
• Report cards from the last 3 years
• Attendance certificate from previous school (if not included on report card)
• Make an appointment for the English Entrance Exam (Only for G2-G9 students)

• Student uniforms are mandatory at all ML schools.  A complete kit is available for purchase through our office.  Students will have both formal and informal uniforms.  A schedule is set by the homeroom teacher to determine formal and informal uniform days.

• Only in Dalian. Bussing services are provided for all students.  Our busses meet specific industry standards and come equipped with seatbelts, a certified driver, and a bus supervisor.

• All campuses are in safe areas and secured with high fences and 24-hour security personnel on site. All guests must make an appointment, sign-in, and receive a guest pass before entering the campus.

• Yes, All classes are mixed gendered.