Wycombe Abbey School in Hangzhou, WAS Hangzhou Private School

• Location: Hangzhou, China,
• Year of foundation: 2021,
• Number of students: about 600,
• Language of instruction: English, Chinese,
• Type of education: blended.

Wycombe Abbey School in Hangzhou (WAS Hangzhou) — an international school offering secondary education programs for students aged 3 to 18. The academic system is based on a combination of Chinese and British curricula, allowing students to study in two languages — English and Chinese, gradually preparing them for admission to leading universities around the world. Starting with the EYFS stage in preschool and primary school, students move on to studying IGCSE at age 14, A-Level — at age 16, and then receive an international diploma, a certificate of secondary education.

Opened in 2021, WAS Hangzhou continues to expand and develop to provide the best learning conditions for children of different ages. Currently, around 600 students study here, some of whom are representatives of other nationalities and countries. They are guided by highly qualified teachers and specialized staff, among whom there are also various cultures and nationalities — many teachers have experience teaching abroad or educating foreign students in China.

WAS Hangzhou pursues the goal of comprehensive development of each student, therefore, simultaneously with the main academic disciplines, it offers a rich leisure program. A wide range of thematic events, dozens of clubs and sections, trips to China and abroad — all this will help students find their strengths, reveal talents and realize them in the best conditions. Children grow up in an atmosphere of comprehensive support, thanks to which they achieve excellent results both in studies and in extracurricular activities that interest them.

At the heart of WAS Hangzhou's activities lies the idea of holistic education: interdisciplinary, project-based, cooperative learning and research in classrooms develop students’ ability to be independent, work in a team and solve problems, while extracurricular activities and field trips provide each student with the opportunity to collaborate with classmates, analyze problems from different perspectives, develop their innovative abilities and cultivate key character traits such as self-respect, confidence and perseverance. By solving various tasks both in class and outside of it, students comprehensively develop and acquire important life values, including those related to academic studies, physical and mental health, empathy for others, social and cultural identity.

Children grow up in an atmosphere of comprehensive support from teachers and specialized staff. They receive special attention during exam preparation: students are provided with individual consultations, seminars on university selection and the admission process, career coaching sessions, thematic master classes led by leading specialists and many other events that allow them to competently design their future academic path.

The academic structure of WAS Hangzhou includes several levels:

• Kindergarten — kindergarten for children aged 3-6,
• Primary School — elementary school: grades 1-6,
• Middle School — middle school: grades 7-8,
• High School — high school: grades 9-12.

WAS Hangzhou residences offer comfortable living conditions, allowing students to spend maximum time on campus focusing on their studies and hobbies. The dormitories are well-furnished, equipped with bathrooms, recreation areas, and rooms where mentor staff members also reside.

In the future, the residence plans to expand the number of rooms to accommodate up to 960 students simultaneously.

A rich extracurricular program runs in parallel with the main curriculum, effectively complementing it and offering students the opportunity to discover their strengths in art, sports, and social activities. Thanks to the diverse campus infrastructure, WAS Hangzhou provides students with conditions for playing team sports and swimming, visual arts, photography, design, drama, vocals, and other areas. In addition to thematic clubs and sections, students have access to national and international competitions: The Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Model United Nations, Math Competition, World Scholars Cup, and many others. To achieve excellent results and earn awards, students participate in regular local and overseas trips, study robotics and other STEM disciplines, attend scientific conferences, and run a school newspaper.

• Member of the Council of British International Schools (COBIS) and the Boarding Schools' Association (BSA),
• Bilingual education — in Chinese and English,
• Comprehensive university pre-admission counseling programs,
• Successful admission to leading universities in the USA, Canada, Great Britain and other countries, excellent graduate statistics,
• Bronze award in the "Educational Institution Architecture" category at the International Design Competition in 2023,
• Rich extracurricular program with opportunities to participate in national, international competitions, awards, and contests.

The WAS Hangzhou learning campus is located in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, covering over 100,000 square meters of green space with more than 84,000 square meters built up. The design of the academic and residential buildings won a prestigious award at the International Design Awards (IDA) in 2023 and boasts facilities such as:

• A lake at the heart of the campus, landscaped gardens,
• A Chinese Culture Center with specialized art studios,
• A Forest School for younger students,
• A sports center including indoor game and gym halls, a swimming pool, outdoor team sport venues,
• An Arts Center with music, drama, fine arts, and STEM discipline studios.

Each classroom is equipped with a traditional chalkboard, an interactive whiteboard with a projector, and specialized studios feature high-tech equipment for project work and experiments.

The academic calendar includes 9 study months: from the beginning of September to the end of June. Students attend classes on weekdays, rest on weekends, national and international holidays, during seasonal vacations. The daily schedule consists of mandatory academic studies and electives based on interests — for example, students in middle school have a school day that lasts from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

The annual cost covers expenses for the full curriculum, most campus events, and some academic resources. Additionally, you need to pay for:

• Administrative deposits and fees, including tuition, school uniform, bus fare, exams, and more,
• Registration fees,
• Accommodation in a residence hall, meals,
• Some extracurricular activities,
• Individual classes,
• Personal expenses.

Admission to WAS Hangzhou takes place in several stages:

• Filling out online documents: registration form, medical form + submitting the required academic and personal documents of the applicant,
• Passing the CAT4 test, attending an online interview with school leaders,
• Receiving a letter of admission, after which the process of оформление visa documents begins,
• Obtaining a visa, arriving on campus and starting studies.

To date, nine preschool groups, 24 primary classes, and 12 classes for middle and high school education operate at WAS Hangzhou. Admission of new students is limited by the number of available places and takes place in accordance with the high academic standards of WAS Hangzhou (quite strict and selective).

Students of WAS Hangzhou achieve excellent results during their studies and upon completion successfully pass exams and continue their academic path at leading universities in the UK, USA, Canada and other countries. According to statistics, 92% of students receive admission letters from QS TOP50 universities, including University College London, Imperial College London, University of California Los Angeles. Students enroll in dozens of different specialties: psychology, mathematics, sociology, chemistry, business, English language and others.

WAS Hangzhou accepts foreign applicants to grades 9-12. To apply, you must provide:

• Personal documents: passport, health insurance and medical certificates. Foreign citizens need a visa to study in China, which can be obtained with the help of the admissions committee staff,
• Academic transcripts for the last two academic years,
• A letter of recommendation from one of your teachers or mentors from your previous school.

Since classes in high school are taught in English, applicants need a high level of English proficiency confirmed by an international certificate.

WAS Hangzhou offers a full tuition scholarship awarded to students with outstanding academic achievements from their previous school. It is available to applicants admitted to WAS Hangzhou in grades 9-12.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision