Admissions Guidelines

Western Academy of Beijing offers learning opportunities to eligible families who identify with our school’s spirit. As an inclusive co-educational school WAB’s diverse student population represents a range of nationalities, languages, economic and cultural background and abilities.

WAB’s mission of connect, inspire, challenge and make a difference is the cornerstone by which we interact as a community.

Application Review Process

Each application is thoroughly evaluated by the Admissions Committee, which comprise of Admissions Team Members, School Principals, Counselors, Learning and Language Support Teachers. Once the application has been reviewed, the Admissions representative will contact the applicant’s family to notify them of the Admissions Committee’s decision.

The Admissions Committee grants some priority to returning applicants (Alumni) and siblings of enrolled students.

The school year consists of 2 semesters. The first semester commences in mid-August and the second semester in mid-January. For students applying to start on the new school year in mid-August, a limited number of available spaces are offered as early as February, with the bulk of the offers made from April to June. However, we continue to offer places as they become available right up to the start of the school year.

For students applying for the January semester, we start to offer places as soon as our families notify us that they are leaving mid-year. This can occur anytime between September and January.

We understand that families may relocate to Beijing throughout the school year and so, depending on space availability, we do admit students mid-semester. However, in order to facilitate time table scheduling and course availability, we do recommend that High School students enroll either at the beginning of the school year or at the beginning of the second semester in January.

If we are unable to offer spaces at the desired start date, we encourage parents to keep in touch with the Admissions Office if they wish to re-apply for either the following semester or next school year.

Placement

Class placement is based on the student's educational background and their age on August 31. In exceptional cases, and only with the approval of the Head of School, a student may be placed in a different grade. Any initial placement is tentative, and the school may either advise a change of grade level or class after the student’s abilities have been assessed or, in certain circumstances, may withdraw the placement.

Class Size

Support Services

We believe students learn best in a caring and inclusive environment. We strive to help every student reach their full potential, and use a collaborative approach to address the developmental and readiness levels of students. With this in mind, the Admissions department works closely with the Support Services team in evaluating applications of students who may require these services, to ensure WAB can meet the academic, social and emotional needs of all students.

English Language Support

Applicants to Grade 1 and above for whom English is not the primary language at home will be assessed to determine whether or not they should be enrolled in the English as an Additional Language (EAL) and/or English for Academic Purposes (EAP) programs. This assessment may take the form of a file review, a review of a writing sample, or an on-site written and oral assessment.

No class in Grade 1 or above may have more than 25% of children in the EAL/EAP program. This ratio does not apply to the Early Years and Kindergarten classes.

Learning Support Program

Students are eligible for admission if it is believed that WAB can meet their emotional, social, physical and academic needs. At each grade level, WAB can offer enrollment to a limited number of students with mild learning difficulties who will require the assistance of our Learning Support Center.

WAB does not have separate classes for children with learning difficulties. Therefore, a primary consideration in offering enrollment will be the student’s ability to access the regular curriculum with limited support. WAB is also able to accept some students with minor physical disabilities.

In accordance with the general admissions policy, the school reserves the right (in consultation with the parents) to conduct all necessary assessments and obtain copies of all previous reports and records. We will offer a provisional place only to those students who we believe can benefit from the educational program we provide.

Enrichment Support Program

WAB believes that while all our students have strengths that must be valued and promoted, there are students whose educational needs are different from their age peers due to the nature of their gifts. WAB curriculum provides a flexible range of options to assist gifted students to maximize their potential.

Learn more about WAB’s student Support Services.

Admissions Criteria & Priorities

WAB is registered as a School for Children of Foreign Nationals in Beijing, and therefore is unable to consider admissions of Chinese national that is permanently residing in mainland China in accordance to current authorities’ rules and regulations. As an inclusive school, WAB determines admissibility through a range of means which are shared fully with prospective families. To be considered for enrollment to WAB, families must be able to document that they fulfill the requirements stated in ONE of the following categories, and Beijing Municipal Education Commission (BMEC) approval may be required.

In order to provide the best learning experience for our diverse student body, admissions priority is given in respective order. Admissible applicants with a higher-priority status will be admitted before those with lower priority status when space availability is limited in a grade level.

Priority 1

Foreign passport-holding families with at least one parent holding a Chinese-issued working/diplomatic residence permit and student holding a corresponding dependency Chinese residence permit.

Priority 2

A) China – Hong Kong/Macau/Taiwan permanent residency families with at least one parent and the student holding travel permit(s) to Mainland China .

B) Foreign passport-holding families with at least one parent holding a valid Chinese-issued working/diplomatic residence permit or Foreigner’s Permanent Residence card of the PRC, OR the student holds a Chinese reunion residence permit.

Priority 3

Chinese passport-holding families where both parents and the student hold a valid foreign permanent residency permit and proof of living abroad for more than one year with relevant residence and learning certificates.

Within priority categories, special consideration may be given to:

Applicants of faculty members
Applicants who have enrolled siblings
Returning students
Applicants from alumni families
Applicants with a high level of English proficiency

WAB reserves the right of final interpretation of the above provisions. A Chinese translation is provided in PDF format.