Today marks the start of another year of one of our community's most valued traditions, as Britannica International School Shanghai welcomes parents back for the fourth year of its Parent Education Programme — a series of weekly lessons that bring parents directly into the learning experiences their children have every day.
Now firmly part of the rhythm of the Britannica school year, the programme reflects something we believe deeply: that education is strongest when it's a partnership. When parents understand not just what their children are learning, but how they are learning it, they are better equipped to support, encourage, and engage with their child's journey — both at home and in the classroom.
What's on Offer
Starting this week, parents can choose from a diverse range of subjects, each led by one of our own experienced teachers:
From language acquisition to creative expression, the programme has been thoughtfully designed to mirror the breadth of experiences our students themselves enjoy — and to give parents a genuine taste of what a Britannica classroom feels like.
A Reflection of Our Community
Perhaps what stands out most about the programme is what it reveals about who we are as a school. With language classes spanning Spanish, Mandarin, and English at multiple levels, alongside creative outlets like Art and Choir, the Parent Education Programme is a direct reflection of the wonderfully diverse, multilingual, and multicultural community that makes up Britannica. Parents joining these sessions will be learning not only from our teachers, but often alongside other families from different backgrounds and starting points — building connections across our community in the process.
Understanding How We Teach
For many parents, these sessions offer something equally valuable: insight into our teaching methods. Sitting in Ms. Marin Ortega's Spanish class or Mr. Edwards' English session isn't just about picking up new vocabulary — it's an opportunity to experience firsthand the interactive, communicative approaches our teachers use every day with students, and to see how our curriculum encourages confidence, participation, and genuine understanding rather than rote learning.
We believe that when parents can say “I sat in that classroom, I tried that method, I understand why it works,” it changes the conversations that happen at home about school — and strengthens the trust between home and school that every child benefits from.
We look forward to welcoming back many familiar faces — and some new ones — in these classrooms over the coming weeks.
