Academy Overview
1. What is the curriculum at Beijing Chaoyang Kaiwen Academy? Which grade levels are taught?

Beijing Chaoyang Kaiwen Academy (CKWA) provides a bilingual teaching and learning environment for children from Kindergarten to Grade 12, which combines the best features of the Chinese and International Curriculum. Up until Grade 9, pupils follow a programme based on the Chinese National Curriculum yet enhanced by the Cambridge International (CAIE) Curriculum. In Grade 10 pupils prepare for International GCSEs across a range of subjects. In Grades 11 and 12 they choose the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme .

 

2. What are the particular features of Beijing Chaoyang Kaiwen Academy?

CKWA offers a unique combination of an outstanding bilingual education, an engagement with the International Baccalaureate Curriculum and an outstanding Co-curricular programme, all supported by exceptional, world class facilities across every area of the school.

 

The IB Curriculum lies behind our educational philosophy throughout the school. It comes to full prominence in the Secondary School when pupils may choose to study for the IB Diploma, which is recognised by educational institutions all around the world. It is the ideal choice for students who wish to attend an overseas university.

 

Our Bilingual Education helps students become competent and proficient language learners, who are able to thinking comfortably in their second language. Our students are taught by both Chinese and International teachers, who often work together in the same classroom.   

 

Arts and Physical Education Teaching: Arts and physical education courses for all students assist them to grow as well-rounded young adults. To this end, Kaiwen Academy includes arts and sports as required courses in our curriculum. The campus has state of the art 4G soccer fields, basketball courts, indoor tennis courts, exceptional track and field facilities, an Olympic standard ice rink, a 50 metre indoor swimming pool, and other athletics facilities. Artistic facilities include multiple piano rooms, numerous rehearsal rooms and dance studios, small and large theaters, and more. Through required art and PE courses, along with specialized training in specific areas, Kaiwen Academy teachers and coaches will help students build strong bodies, and develop poise and grace. The school experience will teach them how to follow rules, appreciate fair competition and teamwork, stay grounded, and to face any challenge with courage and perseverance.

 

Full Boarding School: “Life is Education.” “Education is life.” Kaiwen Academy uses a mixed-grade family style boarding system to help students develop self-management skills and a sense of independence, while still ensuring ample time for studies and activities. Each boarding house is composed of students from different grades and classes. They will live together with foreign and Chinese front-line teachers. We encourage interaction between students from different grades to give students a sense of community with their schoolmates and help them to learn how to get along with others.

 

 

3. What facilities are provided on the campus?

The campus covers an area of 170,000 m², all of which is school facilities. This includes outstanding educational facilities, such as classrooms and laboratories, as well as art, gymnasium, and library facilities. All classrooms are equipped with the most cutting edge air purification and smog reduction facilities.

 

The school has separate male and female boarding houses. All have twin rooms with en-suite bathrooms. Each boarding house also offers ample living spaces, laundry rooms, and study areas, and is supported by an on-site doctor who is available for medical concerns 24 hours a day.

 

4. What is special about our Arts and Sports curriculum?

CKWA is equipped with the most outstanding physical facilities (see question 5). However our excellence comes not only from facilities but also form the people and the connectedness of our school.

 

Our arts and sports courses, then, are led by specialists who are trained in cutting edge international educational theory. Our sports staff are drawn from around the world, as well as from China and all hold specialist coaching qualifications. Our arts teachers have built outstanding experience in the best art schools across the globe.

 

Our staff and facilities are further supported by partnerships with some of the best sporting and artistic organisations in the world. In football we are partnered with Manchester City, the English Premier League Champions, whilst our baseball programme is supported by Major League Baseball in the United States. In arts, we have been delighted to confirm a newly formed partnership with the Globe Theatre in London – perhaps the most renown theatre in the world, built on the site at which Shakespeare’s plays were first performed. All in all we aim to offer all of our pupils the opportunity to receive training and competitive experiences through a number of youth athletic and arts clubs offering Drama, Music, Football, Baseball, Tennis, Basketball, Ice Hockey and Water Sports clubs. Through such a programme we hope to help every student discover their untapped potential.

 

5. What kinds of facilities are included on the campus?

Academic Buildings: Our primary, middle, and high school sections of the school each have their own independent academic facilities, which are specifically designed to meet the needs of our students as they progress through the school.

 

Comprehensive Laboratory Facilities: The school benefits from 21 complete state-of-the-art science laboratories and DT classrooms.

 

Libraries: Our primary and secondary divisions each have their own independent library, providing students with the opportunity to research and study independently.

 

Physical Facilities: Indoor facilities are extensive with a 23,000 m² integrated gymnasium, a 3,100 m² primary school gymnasium, a 200-meter indoor running track (designed to be smog free), a professional standard ice rink, and a 50-meter 8-lane swimming pool. Outside facilities range from a 400-meter, 8-lane circular running track, filed event athletic facilities, basketball courts and soccer fields.

 

Arts Center: Our dedicated arts facilities provides 7 professional vocal classrooms, over 50 piano rooms, 14 professional dance studios, and 3 rehearsal rooms. Additionally, our arts centre provides an 8,600 m² independent performance center, a 220 seat black-box theater, and an 800 seat professional theatre.

 

Cafeteria: Our two on campus cafeterias offers comfortable eating environments that are separated into a primary school and a secondary school location. They can support up to 1600 students at a time, providing them with safe, nutritious, and fresh food.

 

Student Dormitories: We offer comfortable boarding accommodation as an option for upper primary and secondary pupils. Children are accommodated in twin bed rooms that follow the British boarding school system, whereby they are supported by committed caring teachers.

 

 

6. Is the school currently certified by any overseas educational institutions?

Beijing Chaoyang Kaiwen Academy is an International Baccalaureate Organization candidate school, a process which we expect to complete in January 2020. Additionally CKWA is an approved centre for the Cambridge Assessments International Education Programme, allowing us to prepare our pupils for Cambridge iGCSE.

 

7. Is there a School Open House Day at Kaiwen? When can the parents visit the school?

The school arranges regular Open Days but also welcomes independent visitors by arrangement on other dates. Please contact our admissions department to make arrangements for a visit.

 

Teacher Qualifications
1. What are the qualification of the teachers at Beijing Chaoyang Kaiwen Academy?

The school employs experienced, highly qualified Chinese and overseas teachers with IB or international education experience.

 

Chinese teachers come from international schools or have received overseas educations and are capable of delivering bilingual classes. Most overseas teachers are from native English speaking countries.

2. What options are available to students who have difficulty in their studies or in choosing classes?

Tutors will be available for each student for regular communication and personalized guidance in their studies. They will frequently up date their understanding of their students’ academic performance and will provide guidance accordingly. Kaiwen Academy also has professional guidance counselors, guidance lectures for class selection, and professional career counseling classes, all designed to help students find their own paths and plan the steps needed to realize their dreams.

3. What is the ratio of teachers to students?

The ratio of teachers to students will be 1:6 during the first year, and will be 1:7 in subsequent years.

4. What is the ratio of Chinese teachers to foreign teachers?

The school aims to provide a ratio of Chinese teachers to foreign teachers at 1:1.

Curriculum
1. How will KWA arrange Chinese and English courses?

CKWA Primary School uses curricular expectations which are aligned with the Chinese National Curriculum (CNC), Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) and CKWA’s unique educational framework. The blend of these standards prepares primary students to take the Cambridge Primary Progression Tests and the Cambridge Primary Checkpoint at the end of Stage 6 (Grade 5). CKWA Primary School provides a distinct bi-lingual education for all students. As students progress through each grade level, targeted instruction helps them to grow in their English proficiency levels and Chinese linguistic-cultural understanding.

2. What curriculum system will Beijing Chaoyang Kaiwen Academy adopt?

The high school curriculum uses the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.

3. How does Kaiwen allocate the grades?

Kaiwen implements a 5-3-4 system. The primary school includes grades 1-5, the middle school includes grades 6-8, and the high school includes grades 9-12.

4. Is there any after-class tutoring?

Our teachers will provide appropriate after-class tutoring according to students’ individual needs. They will be happy to answer any questions the students may have regarding the academic courses in Chinese or English. Two class advisers will monitor students and advise them on learning and living at Kaiwen.

Policy
1. What is the admission policy for out-of-town students?

Beijing Chaoyang Kaiwen Academy is a boarding school and accepts nonresident students in Beijing. We follow the integration admission policy in Jing-Jin-Ji Area.

2. Does Kaiwen have age restrictions for admission?

Students entering school in 2017 must have been born on or before August 31, 2011.

3. At which grade will Kaiwen begin admitting students? How many classes will be in each grade? How many students will be admitted in total?

In 2017, the following grades are open for enrollment: Primary School: Grades k-5; Middle School: Grades 6-8; High School: Grade 9; each class accepts 24 students.

4. When can I submit my application? Are entrance tests required?

Students are expected to make an appointment for an interview beginning in late March 2017. Students applying for Grade 1 are required to take a cognitive ability test, and students applying for Grade 2 or above are required to take Chinese, English and comprehensive ability assessment tests.

Tests
1. What is included in Chaoyang Kaiwen’s entrance tests?
  • A Comprehensive Academic Abilities Exam (Chinese and English)
  • Student interview (Chinese and English)
  • Parents interview
2. How are students expected to prepare for the entrance examinations?

No special preparation is required. The entrance tests aim to determine each student’s basic learning abilities and personal qualities at different stages before entering our school. They are expected to have English language abilities that correspond with their current developmental stage. Students should be themselves; they don’t need to spend a lot of time preparing.

3. What is the emphasis in the parent interview?

We ask parents to attend the interview in order to gain a better understanding of the student and the parents’ education expectations and understanding of an international education.

4. What should I do if my child’s English is not good?

An ESL course will be provided for students who meet Kaiwen’s admission requirements but have inadequate English proficiencies.

5. Are there entrance tests for Grade 1 and Kindergarten students?

Entrance tests for Grade 1 and Kindergarten are conducted through interviews and activities.

6. Are students evaluated by their scores or comprehensive performance?

Kaiwen’s evaluation system is holistic and comprehensive.

Other Items of Importance
1. Are the Beijing Chaoyang Kaiwen Academy facilities environmentally friendly?

Kaiwen uses high quality air purification and smog reducing systems. On days when the outdoor pollution is particularly serious, we can use our independent, self-contained air purification system to clean the air to an extremely high level of efficiency, providing students with a safe, healthy, and comfortable learning environment.

2. Will Kaiwen organize study trips and other activities during vacations?

Kaiwen will cooperate with a variety of domestic and foreign clubs and overseas schools to give students the opportunities to travel, learn, and broaden their horizons during vacations. Furthermore, during the school year excursions in and around Beijing will be part of the learning experience for students as they gain greater understanding of the subject matter they learn.

3. Is it required for Kaiwen students to live in the student dormitories?

Dorm living is an important part of students’ lives. Kaiwen will help students learn life skills appropriate to their age, including time management, study methods, financial planning, social and emotional learning, and other important life management skills.

 

Boarding is encouraged for students in Grade 3 and above. Parents may make the decision according to their specific circumstances.

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