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The Juilliard–Nord Anglia Performing Arts Programme is celebrating its 10th anniversary as of today, marking a decade of transforming education through the performing arts. Launched in 2015 through a pioneering collaboration between Nord Anglia Education and The Juilliard School, the programme has become a key part of Nord Anglia’s educational approach, enriching school cultures, transforming classrooms, and inspiring a new generation of confident, creative global citizens.

There is no destination – it’s all about YOUR journey. This has been my mantra for as long as I can remember. So many people equate my success, or my “destination,” to the Gold medal—a marker to show the world my success. However, Gold medals are elusive. They can prey on your mind; you can try too hard and get injured.

The rules are the rules—except when, as is often the case, they are open to interpretation. Rules play a crucial role in sport, and referees, umpires, or adjudicators are frequently cast as the villains as they make split-second decisions that can change the course of an athlete's performance.

Humour is an essential element of elite performance. It provides a natural release from the pressures of a demanding schedule and plays a crucial role in navigating the ups and downs of the competitive world of athletics, business, or even school.

Elite performers transform strategy into execution to achieve their desired outcomes. In this blog, I’ll share personal insights about my journey toward earning that Great Britain jersey and my dreams of gold.

Having the Shanghai Dutch School within BISS is a unique part of our international community. But what is learning like there? We ask the Head of Dutch School, Marloes Manni, five questions to understand how different the classes are from the rest of the school.

The moment I felt my hamstring pull, I knew I had pushed myself too far. The Sydney Olympics represented years of preparation and a once-in-a-lifetime chance to achieve my goals. In just one training session, my dreams were shattered. Little did I know, this marked the beginning of my long journey back to fitness, ultimately leading to my Olympic gold four years later in Athens.

As an elite athlete, I was meticulous about nutrition, recovery, and maintaining the right balance to achieve peak energy levels during competitions. I discovered that my energy was influenced not only by my diet but also by the people I surrounded myself with. Positive energy from like-minded individuals amplified our collective drive.

There’s no crystal ball for decision-making. At various points in life—whether you’re a student choosing courses, a professional considering a career move, or facing a personal crossroads—difficult choices arise. This was my reality as I approached the end of my athletic career, forcing me to confront the inevitable.

The British International School Shanghai, Puxi is proud to celebrate the remarkable achievements of its 2025 IGCSE cohort. This year’s students have once again demonstrated exceptional academic performance, achieving results that significantly exceed UK national averages.

Over 20 years of competing against the best in athletics, I was always striving to improve. In just over 10 seconds, I needed to explode into action, be aggressive yet in control, and push myself to my limits while remaining completely relaxed. There’s no time to think; everything must happen at a subconscious level, executed with supreme control and confidence. So, how do we express and build true confidence?

As a junior athlete beginning my journey in athletics, I was part of a group of young British athletes with the potential to transition from under-20 junior ranks to senior competition. As a young sprinter, I faced a particularly challenging progression through age groups. The U23 category was in its infancy, lacking established competition. Many athletes, including myself, attempted to leap directly from junior to senior categories.

As a professional athlete, I was fortunate to have access to exceptional coaches who mentored and challenged me to reach my full potential. The gold medal we won at the 2004 Olympics is a testament to the collective effort of many individuals who supported me through difficult times and encouraged me to push my limits.

BISS was delighted to welcome England and Liverpool football legend, Emile Heskey, to the school. Inviting students for a unique football camp experience, the event was organised as a collaboration between Nord Anglia Education, Liverpool FC and its sponsors, Standard Chartered Bank.

The British International School Shanghai, Puxi, opened its brand new Golf Training Centre: a state-of-the-art facility featuring two hitting bays installed with the latest Garmin R50 simulators, and a large putting green for children to practise. Principal Andrew Lancaster gave an opening speech, followed by a session with Pro. Jovick Lee (PGA coach), who gave the children a lecture on using the cutting-edge equipment, sparking excitement among budding golfers.

The BISS community's fundraising efforts during the Charity Ball in April 2024 has helped to fund life-saving heart surgery for three young children. Read their stories here.

The D1 BISS Lions Girls Volleyball team participated in the SISAC Plate Tournament at the French School of Shanghai on Saturday 26 October. Entering the tournament as the 6th seed, the Lions finished their western division season with a record of 2 wins and 6 losses.

BISS is celebrating 20 years of premium British international education in Shanghai next year. For this anniversary, we’ve reached out to our alumni to see what direction they took after BISS, and how our school proved to be the perfect pathway for their dream careers.

On Friday afternoon, students in Years 8 and 9 demonstrated their mastery of spelling through taking part in the English Spelling Bee.

We recently received the very exciting news that three of our students have won special awards for their exceptional performances in last summer's Pearson Edexcel IGCSE examinations — ahead of 70,000 students globally. The Pearson Outstanding Learner Awards recognise students who have achieved the highest marks in subjects in their country or across the whole world.