SmartShanghai met with Ed Beechey, Western Co-Principal atYew Chung International School of Shanghai, to hear his thoughts on education, what makes YCIS stand out, and what parents should consider when choosing a school in Shanghai. As part of our education directory, we think it's best to hear directly from the people leading these institutions. Here's what he had to say.
Watch the video below:
Can you briefly introduce yourself and your background in education?
I've been in education for over a decade, with most of my career spent in China. My journey began as a Secondary History teacher in the UK, and that classroom experience remains central to how I approach education. I believe teaching is the heart of a school and that it's about helping students engage with ideas and find their place in the world.
Before becoming a school leader, I held senior roles in international schools in Beijing, Shanghai, and Hangzhou. I joined YCIS Shanghai Puxi in 2023 as Head of Teaching and Learning, where I worked closely with the leadership team to improve academic standards. My focus has been on consistency, challenge, and maintaining high expectations.
What makes YCIS Shanghai Pudong unique in the education landscape?
What drew me to YCIS Shanghai and continues to keep me here is its genuine commitment to a bicultural model of international education. When I first visited the Puxi Secondary campus in 2017, I was impressed not just by their unique Chinese programme but by their true embodiment of East meeting West. It's not just a concept—they live it every day.
This vision resonated deeply with me, both personally and professionally. My wife and I are raising our son in a bicultural home, and we want his education to reflect that rich, integrated experience. YCIS's commitment to student-centered learning, critical thinking, and creativity aligns perfectly with my own philosophy, but I also believe these values thrive best when supported by strong foundational knowledge and disciplined effort.
What sets YCIS apart is how well it balances these elements, and as Co-Principal, I'm excited to continue building on this foundation.
What are you most proud of at YCIS Shanghai Pudong?
What I'm most proud of at YCIS Shanghai Pudong is the strong, supportive culture we've built here. I've had the privilege of working closely with Dr. Sissy Shen and the leadership team, and together we share a deep commitment to ensuring that every child is not just known and valued, but genuinely cared for. That foundation of care is at the heart of what makes this school so special.
However, care alone isn't enough. We're focused on elevating our academic rigor and pushing our students further. That's why we're enhancing our English programme, creating more stretch-and-challenge opportunities for high-achieving students, and using data to personalize learning. These aren't just new initiatives—they're part of a broader shift to ensure every decision we make is centered around one core question: does this set our students up for success?
When families walk through our gates, I want them to feel both the warmth of our community and the confidence that this is the place where their child can truly thrive.
What's something new or exciting happening at YCIS Shanghai Pudong this year?
This year, we're particularly excited about how our EdFutures initiative is evolving. The world is changing rapidly, and with AI becoming a central part of our students' futures, we're focusing on making our curriculum more flexible and ensuring our students are not just tech-savvy, but tech-wise.
Through EdFutures, we're connecting classroom learning to real-world fields like medicine, robotics, urban planning, and even interplanetary science. These aren't just trendy topics, but serious, structured extensions of our curriculum to prepare students for careers that may not even exist yet. To support this, we've developed our own platform with AI tools to help both students and teachers.
But we're also keenly aware that, while technology is essential, it's equally important to nurture qualities like integrity, perspective, and judgment. That's why our approach to international education isn't about detaching students from their culture, but about grounding them within it, preparing them for an ever-changing world while staying rooted in the values that matter most.
What advice would you give to parents choosing a school in Shanghai?
When choosing a school, I think it's important for parents to look beyond the rankings or the prestige of a school and focus on the community and the culture it fosters. At YCIS Shanghai, we have a strong foundation, and I truly respect what has been built here. My role is to work with the team to continue building on that, making sure every student is not only challenged academically but also supported as a whole person.
What does a typical day look like for your students?
Every day at YCIS Shanghai Pudong is different. Our educational programming and extra-curricular activities are as varied as they are wide-ranging. In the younger years, we personalise the curriculum so students and teachers can pursue emerging interests through inquiry. Yet certain hallmarks define a YCIS school day: English and Chinese language learning; rigorous programmes in Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies; and a STEAM programme that extends students in and beyond the classroom. We also take pride in our holistic pastoral care, including a daily mentoring programme and an integrated Lifeskills curriculum that drives character development and supports wellbeing. There is never a dull day at YCIS.
What's one thing you wish more people knew about YCIS Shanghai Pudong?
We have been in Shanghai for over three decades, making us the city's longest-standing accredited international school, and we are part of a network of schools with almost a century of history in high-quality, progressive education. In an educational marketplace that is relatively new, I want people to know that YCIS Shanghai is a progressive school that remains at the forefront of educational innovation while firmly rooted in China and Shanghai. This brings a history, legacy, experience, and a deep commitment to our community that are unrivalled, and I am very proud to be part of it.
