Western Academy of Beijing

Western Academy of Beijing

WAB logo

Western Academy of Beijing logo
Location
10 Laiguangying East Rd.
Chaoyang District, Beijing 100102
People's Republic of China
Information
Type IB International School/Private School
Religious affiliation(s) Nonsectarian
Founded 1994
Director Dr. J. Courtney Lowe
Deputy Director John D'Arcy
Division Principals Casey Cosgray (ES), Marina Frias-Gavidia (MS), Melanie Vrba (HS)
Grades Nursery–12
Enrollment 1,500+
Student to teacher ratio 8:1
Campus type Large Private Campus
Color(s)              Red, Black and Yellow
Mascot WAB Tiger
Newspaper Lianxi (official), The Inkblot (student)
Website WAB.edu

The Western Academy of Beijing (WAB, simplified Chinese: 北京京西国际学校; traditional Chinese: 北京京西國際學校; pinyin: Běijīng Jīngxī Guójì Xuéxiào[1][2]) is a school located in Beijing that was founded in 1994. The school provides education from Nursery to Grade 12. WAB uses the IB PYP (IB Primary Years Program) until Grade 5, IB MYP (IB Middle Years Programme) up to and including Grade 10, and the IB DP (IB Diploma Program) for Grades 11 and 12. WAB was an Olympic Educational Model School for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Out of the 500 schools across China who were awarded by Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games as an Olympic Educational Model School, WAB was one of the 120 schools awarded as an Excellent Example.

In 2013 Mike Embley, the headmaster of the British School of Beijing (BSB), stated that WAB was, along with BSB and the International School of Beijing (ISB), one of the top three English-language international schools in Beijing, all having long waiting lists.[3] Citing Embley's definition of two lower tiers of Beijing Anglophone international schools which have vacant student spaces, Tristan Bunnell, the author of The Changing Landscape of International Schooling: Implications for Theory and Practice, stated that this was an instance of the idea of "'superior' and 'inferior' schools" shared by teachers and parents.[4]

Facilities

WAB has an Early Childhood Center, Elementary School, Middle School and High School. The school has three libraries: the Sabina Brady library, the Red Scroll, and the Green Sky Studio. The HUB is the sports, arts and technology center of the middle and high schools. Other facilities include:

WAB sports a FIFA approved field with a track. It is also said to be one of the best rugby fields in mainland China. The school has just improved the tennis courts, and moved the basketball courts.

Technology

WAB offers a 1:1 laptop environment (for Grade 3 - 12) with wireless access across the school. Students in grade 6 and up are required by the school to own their own Apple Macbook. The school utilizes a number of IT systems for education, including but not limited to Moodle, PowerSchool, and WordPress. Drupal-powered public news sites and community portals are also integrated into regular school life.

The high school's Tiger Sports Network also provides a livestream to watch most high-school sporting matches.

WABX

WABX is WAB's extra-curricular program, including sports and various other activities. WAB participates in multiple interscholastic sporting competitions, including the ACAMIS (Association of Chinese And Mongolian International Schools,) ISAC (International Schools Association in China), EARCOS and APAC (Asian Pacific Athletic Conference). Sports consists of: Rugby, Football (Soccer), Tennis, Badminton, Cross Country, Track and Field, Volleyball, Basketball, Swimming, Baseball, and Softball.

Year Team Competition Final Position
2011 Boys Soccer APAC 1st
2012 Boys Soccer APAC 1st
2013 Boys Soccer APAC 1st
2014 Boys Soccer APAC 1st
2015 Boys Soccer APAC 1st
2015 Boys Rugby APAC 2nd
2016 Boys Rugby APAC 1st
2016 Soccer APAC TBD

The Arts

Music including Bands and Orchestras, Drama and Art are also taught at the Western Academy of Beijing.

Student Life

The school has many global citizenship projects, which are actively involved in the local, national and the international community. Each division (Elementary School, Middle School and High School) has its own student government, known as the "Student Council" or "StuCo" for short. The school is also involved in the world competition, "World Scholars Cup" or "WSC" for short, which both middle school and high school students have been actively involved in for more than four years.

WAB also has many extra-curricular clubs such as:

WAB is also one of the first international schools in Beijing that has a half paper and half electronic yearbook starting from the Middle School in the 2012 - 2013 school year.

Accreditation

WAB is accredited by many associations, such as International Schools Athletic Conference (ISAC), The International Baccalaureate (IBO), National Center for Curriculum and Textbook Development (NCCT), New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), Association of China and Mongolia International Schools (ACAMIS) and the Council of International Schools (CIS), East Asia Regional Council of Schools (EARCOS), Asia Pacific Activities Conference (APAC).[5] The Middle School Student Council was a part of the accreditation process that has taken place November 2013.

References

  1. ↑ "Directions to WAB." Western Academy of Beijing. Retrieved on August 17, 2015. "Western Academy of Beijing 10 Lai Guang Ying Dong Lu, Chao Yang District, Beijing 100102, P.R.C.[...]北京市朝阳区来广营东路10号 北京京西学校 邮政编码:100102"
  2. ↑ "Schools Approved by the Ministry of Education For Enrolling Children of Foreign Nationals" (Archive). Ministry of Education of China. Retrieved on August 17, 2015.
  3. ↑ Stefonek, Jonathan. "Passion for teaching English-style grows in Beijing suburbs" (Archive). China Daily. 7 October 2012. Retrieved on 2 October 2015.
  4. ↑ Bunnell, Tristan. The Changing Landscape of International Schooling: Implications for Theory and Practice. Routledge, June 27, 2014. ISBN 1317814495, 9781317814498. p. 101.
  5. ↑ "Accreditation and Memberships". Western Academy of Beijing. Retrieved 2016-05-28.
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