Profile
Beijing World Youth Academy (BWYA) is an independent, international, day school located in Beijing. Founded in 2001 with a small cohort of students studying the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, it has now grown into a large K-12 school with over 1100 students. BWYA has developed a reputation for academic excellence coupled with a strong sense of community. We educate students with English and Chinese as the main language of instruction, as well as with a commitment to the Chinese government education policies for national students. BWYA is authorised with International Baccalaureate Organisation (IB), Cambridge International Examinations (CIE), and accredited by Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). The school is also a member of Association of China and Mongolia International Schools (ACAMIS) and East Asia Regional Council of Schools (EARCOS).
Mission
Beijing World Youth Academy strives to provide members of our community excellent learning opportunities that incorporate critical investigation, exposure to different cultural perspectives and assessment against objective criteria. Our mission is to develop principled, open-minded thinkers who are capable of integrating with diverse international communities and who are empowered to shape their environs for the improvement of quality of life for themselves and others.
Values
As a school community, these are our values:
- Compassion
- We respect and empathise with the rights, opinions, culture and feelings of others.
- Trust
- We believe that honesty, integrity and reliability in ourselves and others, forms the cornerstone of our community.
- Solidarity
- We value harmony and oneness while recognising the individuality of each person in our community.
- Collaboration
- We recognise that the development of the student is the shared responsibility between the student, the family and the school.
Schoolwide Learner Outcomes
We have adopted the International Baccalaureate ® (IB) Learner Profile, which describes a broad range of human capacities and responsibilities that go beyond academic success, as our Schoolwide Learning Outcomes as part of our commitment to help all members of the school community learn to respect themselves, others and the world around them.
As learners we strive to be:
- Inquirers
- We nurture our curiosity, developing skills for inquiry and research. We know how to learn independently and with others. We learn with enthusiasm and sustain our love of learning throughout life.
- Knowledgeable
- We develop and use conceptual understanding, exploring knowledge across a range of disciplines. We engage with issues and ideas that have local and global significance.
- Thinkers
- We use critical and creative thinking skills to analyse and take responsible action on complex problems. We exercise initiative in making reasoned, ethical decisions.
- Communicators
- We express ourselves confidently and creatively in more than one language and in many ways. We collaborate effectively, listening carefully to the perspectives of other individuals and groups.
- Principled
- We act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness and justice, and with respect for the dignity and rights of people everywhere. We take responsibility for our actions and their consequences.
- Open-minded
- We critically appreciate our own cultures and personal histories, as well as the values and traditions of others. We seek and evaluate a range of points of view, and we are willing to grow from the experience.
- Caring
- We show empathy, compassion and respect. We have a commitment to service, and we act to make a positive difference in the lives of others and in the world around us.
- Risk-takers
- We approach uncertainty with forethought and determination; we work independently and cooperatively to explore new ideas and innovative strategies. We are resourceful and resilient in the face of challenges and change.
- Balanced
- We understand the importance of balancing different aspects of our lives — intellectual, physical, and emotional — to achieve well-being for ourselves and others. We recognise our interdependence with other people and with the world in which we live.
- Reflective
- We thoughtfully consider the world and our own ideas and experience. We work to understand our strengths and weaknesses in order to support our learning and personal development.
Rationale
This policy outlines the requirements for student admission, transition and promotion at our school.
Guiding Principles
The following principles are adhered to in the decision-making processes outlined in this document:
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We are non-discriminatory. We are welcoming towards students irrespective of ethnicity, race, gender, or other quality unrelated to success in the programmes we offer.
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We only deny admission, transition and promotion to students if we are not in a position to provide adequate support, if it is necessary for the safety and well-being of other members of the school community, or if it is necessary to maintain the quality of the service we provide.
Policy and Implementation
Admission
Beijing World Youth Academy holds a non-discriminatory admissions policy that caters to both Chinese and foreign students. We provide equal educational opportunities for students who demonstrate academic and social readiness for the programmes we offer.
Applicable grade levels
BWYA accepts applications for admissions into K-classes and Grades 1-11. Since grade 11 and 12 form part of a two-year programme, we generally do not admit students into Grade 12.
While applications for admissions into K-classes, Grades 2-6 and Grades 8-11 need to be submitted to and processed by the Admissions Office, applications for Grades 1 and 7 must be submitted to the Chaoyang Education Commission, in which case acceptance into BWYA is solely determined by the mandated lottery conducted by the government.
Enrolment is conducted on a rolling admissions basis subject to space availability.
Age is a consideration for admissions. The following age groups determined by government regulations on the Chinese compulsory education are used as guidelines for admissions and placement.
| Grade | Age |
|---|---|
| K | 5 |
| 1 | 6 |
| 2 | 7 |
| 3 | 8 |
| 4 | 9 |
| 5 | 10 |
| 6 | 11 |
| 7 | 12 |
| 8 | 13 |
| 9 | 14 |
Testing
To ensure applicants find success at BWYA, we use external standardised tests and internally designed assessments to determine whether language proficiency, knowledge and skills are appropriate for the grade applied to. In addition, we conduct interviews and other activities to assess social and emotional readiness. For application to our K-class, we only assess social and emotional readiness.
Determining admission
Admission is determined by the following criteria:
- The applicant’s age is appropriate to grade applied to as outlined in the table above.
- The applicant’s assessment results demonstrate an academic capacity appropriate to the grade level requirements. This includes adequate academic English language proficiency and knowledge and skills in the subjects tested.
- The applicant demonstrates social and emotional maturity appropriate for their age and grade level during the interview.
- All documents and information required law have been supplied.
Special educational needs
BWYA is an academically selective school whose focus is on preparing students for success in tertiary education institutes, however we may offer limited places to students with mild learning difficulties or unobtrusive individual needs. Students and guardians are responsible for sharing any known learning difficulties or special educational needs during the admissions process so that we may effectively assess whether we are in a position to provide support, and, if so, determine the most effective way of doing so.
Transition
Grade 5 and grade 10 students do not automatically transition to the next grade level. Rather, their transition depends on the following assessments:
Grade 5 to Grade 6
- A teacher reference confirms that the student has developed social, emotional readiness for Grade 6.
- DRA and MAP results show that the student is able to meet the academic demands of Grade 6.
- The English writing test results demonstrates language proficiency conducive to success in the Grade 6 English medium academic environment.
- Student interview results demonstrate sufficient interpersonal and academic communication skills to interact effectively with teachers and fellow students.
Grade 10 to the Diploma Programme
- Subject grades are conducive to success in the demanding IB diploma or IB courses high school tracks at our school.
- English grades demonstrate language proficiency conducive to success in an English medium academic environment.
Promotion
Promotion is to move a student up by one grade upon their successful completion of studies at the end of a school year. At BWYA, students in Grades 1- 4, and Grade 11 automatically progress to the next grade level. Grades 6-9 students must demonstrate readiness for the academic and social demands of the next grade level.