Online School & Homeschool in Beijing

International curriculum information for Beijing families

For Beijing families — the same honest answer as Shanghai, and the reasons behind it.

This page sets out the regulatory position rather than making an offer, because in mainland China that is the responsible order. Beijing holds the capital's diplomatic community, the country's leading universities and an established international school sector. It also sits under the Double Reduction policy, which bans for-profit tutoring in academic subjects for students in compulsory education and places a strict ban on foreign teachers physically based outside China teaching students in China. Smartious is a for-profit provider whose teachers are based outside China. We therefore do not enrol compulsory-education-age students resident in mainland China for subject teaching.

Challenges Beijing families face

The Double Reduction policy bans for-profit academic tutoring for students in compulsory education.
It places a strict ban on foreign teachers physically based outside China teaching students in China.
Institutions may not use foreign curricula, and overseas education materials are subject to review.
Advertising for training institutions is banned on mainstream media platforms.
Mainland international schools operate under their own enrolment rules, which families must confirm directly.

Why Beijing families choose Smartious

The constraint stated before the offer: We put the Double Reduction policy in the opening paragraph rather than in a footnote or not at all.
Built for a posting that moves: Diplomatic and corporate families leaving Beijing can set up a single pathway that continues unchanged in the next country.
Hong Kong and Macau are separate systems: Both Special Administrative Regions have their own education systems and regulators, and we serve families there in the ordinary way.
No claim we have assessed your position: We have not. Any family who believes their circumstances fall outside the policy should take their own advice before contacting us.
We would rather lose the enquiry: A family who enrols on a claim that turns out to be wrong carries the consequence. We are not willing to trade that for revenue.

The position is the same across mainland China and we set it out in full on our Shanghai page. In short: compulsory education comprises six years of primary followed by three of junior secondary; the Double Reduction policy of 24 July 2021 bans all forms of for-profit tutoring in academic subjects for students receiving compulsory education, with subject-based training covering mathematics, foreign languages including English, physics, chemistry, biology, history, geography and Chinese literature; reporting indicates it is also likely to apply through upper middle school; it places a strict ban on foreign teachers physically based outside China teaching students in China; institutions may not use foreign curricula, and overseas education materials are subject to filing and review. Smartious is a for-profit provider with teachers based outside China teaching a foreign curriculum, so we do not enrol compulsory-education-age students resident in mainland China for subject teaching. We hold no mainland licence, are not a registered mainland school, and do not teach toward the gaokao. Mainland international schools operate under their own enrolment rules which vary and which families must confirm directly with the school and the relevant authority. Diplomatic families should also note that their own status may bear on which framework applies to their children at all — that is a question for their mission and their own advisers, and we would not attempt to answer it.

Not offered in mainland China.

Where a family's circumstances permit, live online delivery runs on a five-hour offset with evening classes in China falling in our afternoon. In mainland China this is subject to the constraints set out above.

Beijing holds the capital's diplomatic community, the country's leading universities and an established international school sector — within a regulatory framework for off-campus subject teaching that directly constrains providers based outside China. Mainland China runs UTC+8, five hours ahead of our teaching base.

Family situations we work with

Families seeking to understand the regulatory position before making enquiries.
Diplomatic households whose posting will move them to another country.
Families relocating to Hong Kong or Macau, where the education systems are separate.
Households whose circumstances may fall outside the policy and who intend to take their own advice first.

Beijing communities and nearby areas

Chaoyang · Shunyi · Haidian · Dongcheng · Xicheng · Tianjin · the capital region

Common questions from Beijing families

Can our child in Beijing study with Smartious?

If they are of compulsory-education age and resident in mainland China, we do not enrol them for subject teaching. The full reasoning is on our Shanghai page and in our China legal section.

We are a diplomatic family — does that change anything?

It may bear on which framework applies to your children, but that is a question for your mission and your own advisers. We have not assessed your position and would not claim to.

We are posted onward next year — can you help then?

Yes. Setting up a pathway that continues unchanged into the next posting is exactly the kind of continuity planning we do well, and we are glad to discuss it ahead of a move.

Guides for families in China

What parents say

Rated 4.9 out of 5 on Google from 130+ reviews. Read our Google reviews

“What I love most about Smartious is how they make learning enjoyable. The tutors use engaging methods that keep children interested throughout the lesson. My child now looks forward to studying instead of avoiding it.” — Google reviewer, Google review