2024年，面对教育全球化的趋势以及国家对国际化人才的迫切需求，越来越多的家长开始意识到，在新时代背景下成长的孩子，即将面临的是越来越激烈的国际竞争。国际在线教育频道《教育会客厅》名校访谈节目系列报道，通过对话国际化学校负责人，深入挖掘学校的教育理念与背后的育人故事，让家长与校长零距离接触，感受最有温度的国际化教育。

近日，常州威雅学校执行校长David Aitchison接受国际在线教育频道第十五届国际教育择校咨询会专访。

　　常州威雅学校执行校长David Aitchison

Question 1: Could you introduce the basic information about your school? What are the key features and advantages of your international education approach?

请介绍一下学校的基本情况？国际化办学特色以及优势是怎样的？

WAS Changzhou is a leading international and holistic education provider located in Jiangsu Province. As the only full-boarding school in Changzhou with British heritage, we combine the rigor and structure of the UK curriculum with the rich cultural depth of the Chinese National Curriculum. This dual focus ensures our students experience the best of both educational worlds, preparing them for success in both local and international contexts. We are proud to hold COBIS accreditation, a mark of international quality, which reassures families that our teaching practices, curriculum, and pastoral care meets globally recognized standards.

Our mission, “Every child can excel,” reflects a commitment to helping students develop in all areas—academically, socially, and emotionally. We believe that every student deserves the opportunity to thrive, and to support that, we offer small class sizes and personalized    learning plans to cater to individual strengths and needs. Beyond academic excellence, we place significant emphasis on developing character and resilience through an array of extracurricular activities, ranging from sports and music to robotics and drama.

Students at WAS Changzhou are prepared to be more than just high achievers—they are nurtured to become compassionate and responsible global citizens. Our school culture fosters collaboration and encourages students to embrace challenges and learn from failures, all within a safe and supportive environment. Through this approach, we cultivate individuals who are ready to thrive in a competitive global landscape, develop a sense of   social responsibility, and succeed in their personal and academic journeys.

常州威雅学校位于江苏省常州市，以其领先的全人教育理念和国际化办学模式而闻名。作为一所国际化的全日制寄宿学校，我们将中西方课程精髓相结合，确保了我们的学生能够体验到两种教育模式中的精华，为他们在全球背景下的成功之路做好充分准备。在今年，我们再次获得了COBIS荣誉认证，这是一个具有国际高标准的认证标志，代表着我们的教学实践、卓越课程以及全人关顾体系符合了全球公认的办学标准。

在常州威雅，我们坚信“每一个孩子都卓越”，这种使命反映了我们致力于帮助学生在学术、社会、情绪等各个领域不断发展的承诺。我们相信，每个学生都有机会茁壮成长，为了践行这一点，我们为学生提供了小班教学以及个性化的学习成长计划，以满足不同学生发展需求。除了学术之外，我们同样注重通过发展一系列从运动、音乐，到科技、戏剧等课外拓展活动来塑造学生的品格与韧性。

常州威雅的学生们不仅仅是卓越学术成就的缔造者——他们被培养为富有同理心、责任心的全球公民。我们的校园文化中，鼓励学生们进行团队合作，并接受各种挑战及失败，这些都在我们为学生提供的充满快乐、安全以及幸福的学习环境中进行。通过这些实践，我们得以培养出那些在竞争激烈的全球环境中不断进取、并发展社会责任感、在个人和学术旅程中取得成功的优秀学子。

Question 2: Education is a form of productivity. Could you share how your school embodies new educational productivity?

教育就是生产力 请问贵校的教育新质生产力体现在哪些方面？

At WAS Changzhou, we embrace a forward-thinking educational philosophy designed to develop students into future change-makers. We recognise that education is not just about memorising facts but about inspiring students to actively engage with real-world issues and think critically about the future. Our students participate in school societies where they debate and explore key global topics, such as artificial intelligence, environmental sustainability, and global citizenship. These discussions encourage curiosity and allow students to develop essential leadership and communication skills that will serve them well in university and beyond.

We also place a strong emphasis on innovation and entrepreneurship. Through business competitions, students work in teams to tackle real-world problems and design creative solutions. These projects nurture an entrepreneurial minDSEt and help students develop the collaborative skills necessary for success in a competitive global economy. In these competitions, students learn about market trends, teamwork, and financial management—providing them with practical experience and fostering confidence in their ability to lead and innovate.

Beyond structured learning, students are encouraged to explore future-focused topics

independently. Many of our students take the initiative to areas that interest them in their   own time, investigating how technology is shaping industries and societies. This culture of self-directed learning helps students develop a love of lifelong learning and prepares them to adapt to a rapidly changing world.

Our approach ensures that students develop not just academic knowledge but also the resilience, problem-solving abilities, and creativity required to become proactive contributors to society. We prepare students to embrace uncertainty, take initiative, and act with responsibility—key attributes for the leaders and innovators of tomorrow.

在常州威雅，我们信奉具有前瞻性的全人教育理念，以培养学生成为未来的变革者。我们充分认识到，教育不仅仅是死记硬背，而是激励学生积极参与到现实世界中的议题中，批判性地思考未来。我们的学生积极参与着学校的各种拓展课程与活动，在那里，他们会辩论与探索具有意义的全球议题，例如人工智能、环境可持续以及全球公民身份等。这些讨论会鼓励学生的好奇心与创造力，使他们不断培养必要的领导力与沟通技巧，这些技能将会伴随他们终身。

除此之外，我们同样非常重视创新与创业精神。通过商业竞赛，学生们会组成团队来解决现实世界中的问题，并共同设计出创造性的解决方案。这些项目培养了学生们的积极心态，帮助他们在竞争激烈的全球经济背景中，取得成功所必备的合作技能。在这些比赛中，学生们能够了解到不同产品的市场趋势，通过团队合作、财务管理等技能，为未来实践积累经验，并不断培养他们在领导力与创新能力方面的自信心。

除了结构化的学术学习之外，我们也鼓励学生们去独立探索未来的热点话题。许多学生主动地接触他们所感兴趣的领域，研究科学技术是如何塑造产业与社会的。这种自主式学习会帮助他们发展对终身学习的热爱，并不断适应这个飞速变化的世界。

我们的教学方法能够有效确保学生在发展学术知识之外，也同样培养出应变能力、解决问题的能力以及创造力，成为积极主动的社会贡献者。他们将有信心面对未来的不确定性，并采取行动，勇于承担责任，不断发展这些未来领导者与革新者的关键特质。

Question 3: Many parents are concerned about how to find the right school for their child this fall. What should they keep in mind when choosing a school?

秋季这个学期很多家长关注如何能选择到适合自己孩子的学校，选择学校时应该注意些什么？请您分享下？

Choosing the right school for your child is a deeply personal decision that requires thoughtful consideration of many factors. One of the most important things parents can do is involve their child in the process. Listening to what your child wants and values in a school is essential—after all, they are the ones who will be spending their days in that environment. When visiting schools, take your child with you so they can experience the atmosphere firsthand and determine whether it feels right for them. Schools should inspire and motivate students, so it’s essential that your child feels comfortable and excited about the prospect of attending.

If there are specific programs you are interested in—such as advanced academic tracks, arts, or sports—arrange to meet with the staff responsible for those areas. Ask them how they will help your child excel and what support systems are in place to guide students in achieving their goals. These conversations can provide valuable insights into how the school nurtures student potential and ensures their success both inside and outside the classroom.

It’s also important to consider the transition process, especially if your child is moving from a different educational system. For example, transitioning from a Chinese public school to a British curriculum school like WAS Changzhou can take time. Every child adjusts at their own pace, and it’s essential to set realistic expectations and give them the space to settle   into their new environment. The right school will provide strong pastoral care to support

your child through this transition, ensuring they feel welcomed and comfortable from day one.

Lastly, if you have the opportunity, introduce yourself to the headmaster during your school tour. At WAS Changzhou, the headmaster makes it a priority to personally meet with visiting families. This not only helps parents feel welcomed but also ensures that the school leadership understands the individual needs and aspirations of each family. Building this personal connection with the school leadership can give parents confidence that they are making the right choice for their child. A school’s culture, leadership, and sense of community are just as important as its curriculum in providing the right environment for students to thrive.

在家长们为孩子选择合适的学校时，总是需要慎重考虑种种因素，这同样也是一个重要的决定。父母能做到的最重要的事情之一，就是让孩子们也参与到这个选择的过程中来。倾听你的孩子想要什么，哪些价值观是一所学校必不可少的——毕竟，他们将会在学校里度过漫长的日子。在参观校园的时候，可以带着你的孩子，这样他们就可以身临其境地体验学校，并确定是否想要真正进入这里。学校同样也应该鼓励和激励学生，使每一位来到这里的孩子对进入学校后的生活感到期待与兴奋。

如果你们有感兴趣的项目——比如高阶学术课程、艺术或体育项目，我们也可以为你们安排与负责这些领域的教学人员会面。你们可以尽情地像他们提问，比如他们将如何帮助你的孩子出类拔萃，以及他们会在学生追求个人目标时提供哪些支持等，这些对话可以为你们的选择提供有效的参考价值，你们可以了解到学校是如何去培养学生的潜力，并确保他们获得课堂内外的成功。

进入学校后的过渡阶段同样也很重要，尤其是当你的孩子需要在两种不同的教育系统间转移。例如，从国内的公立学校过渡到像常州威雅这样的国际化学校时，可能需要花费一定的时间去适应。每个孩子都会按照自己的节奏去进行调整适应，因此，给予他们一个舒适的空间来适应新的环境是很有必要的。卓越的学校会提供强有力的全人关顾来帮助孩子渡过这个阶段，确保他们从进入校园的第一天起，就感觉到安全与舒适。

最后，如果有机会的话，可以在校园参观期间向校长介绍你自己。在常州威雅，执行校长总是亲自会见每一组来访的家庭，这不仅使父母与孩子感受到温暖与欢迎，也确保了学校能够深入了解每个家庭的需求与期望。与学校的领导团队建立联系，可以让父母相信，学校会为了孩子做出最正确的选择。一所学校的文化、领导力与社区意识和它所提供的课程同样重要，都能够帮助孩子提供最适宜的成长环境。

Question 4: In one sentence, could you offer a blessing or well wishes to students choosing schools?

请用一句话给择校学子送祝福。

Your family works hard to ensure you get these opportunities—make the most of them, because if they have chosen WASCZ for you, you can be certain that you are deeply loved and supported.

父母为你的教育付出了许多，请一定要充分利用这些机会，因为他们为你选择了常州威雅，这证明你被赋予了深深的爱和支持。