WASCZ丨Excels in Hurun Education’s 2023 China School Rankings

The schools featured in this ranking hail from 23 cities across China. On average, these schools established their international curriculum in 2010, boasting an average history of 14 years. The average student population per school is 1100. We are honored that WASCZ is among this esteemed group.

Mr Hoogewerf, Chairman and Chief Research Officer of Hurun Wealth, remarked, “The schools listed in this ranking are recognized as the most esteemed international schools in China by their peers. We hope this list serves as a valuable reference for parents seeking to enroll their children in international education, as well as for admissions officers at global universities and teachers at international schools.”

Last year, Mr Hoogewerf personally visited WASCZ and participated in an interview covering topics such as trends in international education, the impact of artificial intelligence on education, and advice for graduates.

WASCZ, established in 2012 along the picturesque shores of West Tai Lake, is the first sister school of Wycombe Abbey School, renowned as the “NO.1 academic school in the UK.” Currently, we have over 1200 enrolled students. The school adopts a co-educational model for students aged 3-18 and offers a boarding programme for students aged 8 and above.

With more than ten years dedicated to holistic education, the school not only provides over 20 internationally recognized IGCSE and A Level courses to cultivate outstanding academic abilities but also offers nearly 20 music and over 30 sports programmes, as well as challenging extracurricular activities and enriching study trips. Through these programmes, we aim to explore the talents and potential of each student and enhance their core competencies and global perspectives.

In May last year, the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee held its fifth collective study session on building a strong education nation. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized the need to improve the strategy of opening up education to the outside world, coordinate efforts to attract talent and send talent abroad, and effectively utilize world-class educational resources and innovation elements to make China a globally influential education centre.

In response to this call, WASCZ has not only recruited talent from around the world to form an educational team with high academic qualifications and multicultural backgrounds but also actively promoted cultural exchanges and mutual learning among outstanding youth worldwide.

Whether through initiatives such as “the Belt and Road” Scholarship, the International Scholarship, or the “Xilingshi” Scholarship, which aims to inherit the spirit of Chinese civilization, WASCZ strives to support the dreams of every child. Moreover, all ten graduating classes have successfully enrolled in prestigious universities in the UK, US, Canada, Australia, Switzerland, Singapore, Hong Kong, or Macau, with a large number of students furthering their studies at leading institutions such as Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College London, and New York University.

“Since the beginning of the pandemic until today, international schools have faced many challenges, but the schools on this list have overcome these difficulties and made significant strides forward,” said Mr Hoogewerf at the fifth annual Hurun Education Principal Luncheon held in Shanghai, where the top 100 schools were announced.

During the pandemic, WASCZ’s compelling campus life, where teachers and students live together 24/7, led to it being awarded the “International School of the Year” accolade by the Boarding Schools Association (BSA) in 2022. With such recognition and praise from peers and Chinese families alike, WASCZ is determined to forge ahead and strive for excellence.

Every school has its own unique qualities and soul. Education is not about right or wrong; it’s about suitability. As Mr Hoogewerf advocates to parents: “Rankings are only for reference. The best school is the one that suits your child the most.” We look forward to meeting more families, walking together, and building dreams hand in hand.