To ensure that students can reach their full potential and achieve
academic excellence, a number of inter-related elements are required
to be in place. These include:
• A sound, well resourced curriculum;
• Experienced, caring teachers;
• School wide monitoring of student and school achievement.
At the Western Academy of Beijing, we ensure that our standards
make clear the expectations of the curriculum. Achievement Standards
are reference points against which student achievements can be qualitatively
and quantitatively measured and reported.
Achievement Standard data is gathered throughout the year, to
ascertain "snapshots" of each individual student's level
of knowledge, skills and abilities in Reading, Writing, Spelling
and Mathematics. All students participate in these assessments unless
they are from non-English speaking background and have been given
a non-English speaking level, or have specific learning difficulties
that require intensive one-to-one support during the length of the
assessment.
Annual assessments against international benchmarks indicate that
the standard of reading for students at WAB is excellent. The cohort
of students who speak English as a first language and who have spent
time at the school, show higher standards of achievement in reading
than the typical cohort on entry.
30% of students are significantly above their chronological age
(18-35 months above), while 15% are outstanding readers (36 months
or more). Students at WAB are also achieving very high standards
in spelling. Some 24% of newly enrolled students are below standard
for spelling - after a year or more at WAB, only 10% of students
are below.
Achievements in Science and Mathematics in WAB are higher than
international standards. A total of 65% percent of students perform
in the top 30% range of achievement in Science and a total of 57%
of students perform in the top 30% range of achievement in Mathematics.
Specific program strengths by grade level show higher than average
results in every area of Science and Mathematics skills and understanding,
with very significant areas of strength in Measurement and Space
in Mathematics, and overall, particularly high achievement in Middle
School classes.
