"Recently, we noticed many of the parents of students newly joining us are from the pharmaceutical sector. Perhaps it is a result of our location or the features of Shanghai's economy as a whole," she says.

Many expat parents appreciate that Chinese language courses are mandatory in early years for everyone who attends, says Qiao.

"China is an increasingly influential participant on the global stage. Parents see it as a significant, competitive advantage for their children to master the Chinese language, which is the most spoken worldwide and perhaps the most difficult to learn," she says.

Students can also select Chinese culture studies courses, which are a combination of history, geography and moral education.

"Celebrations and activities are held on the campus for all the important traditional Chinese festivals — Dragon Boat Festival, Lantern Festival and Mid－Autumn Festival," says an eighth－grade student from the UK at Wellington College International Shanghai, who asked to be identified as Benjamin. "This allows us to experience the local culture."