2024年，面對教育全球化的趨勢以及國家對國際化人才的迫切需求，越來越多的家長開始意識到，在新時代背景下成長的孩子，即將面臨的是越來越激烈的國際競爭。國際在線教育頻道《教育會客廳》名校訪談節(jié)目系列報道，通過對話國際化學校負責人，深入挖掘?qū)W校的教育理念與背后的育人故事，讓家長與校長零距離接觸，感受最有溫度的國際化教育。

近日，常州威雅學校執(zhí)行校長David Aitchison接受國際在線教育頻道第十五屆國際教育擇校咨詢會專訪。

　　常州威雅學校執(zhí)行校長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?

請介紹一下學校的基本情況？國際化辦學特色以及優(yōu)勢是怎樣的？

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.

常州威雅學校位于江蘇省常州市，以其領(lǐng)先的全人教育理念和國際化辦學模式而聞名。作為一所國際化的全日制寄宿學校，我們將中西方課程精髓相結(jié)合，確保了我們的學生能夠體驗到兩種教育模式中的精華，為他們在全球背景下的成功之路做好充分準備。在今年，我們再次獲得了COBIS榮譽認證，這是一個具有國際高標準的認證標志，代表著我們的教學實踐、卓越課程以及全人關(guān)顧體系符合了全球公認的辦學標準。

在常州威雅，我們堅信“每一個孩子都卓越”，這種使命反映了我們致力于幫助學生在學術(shù)、社會、情緒等各個領(lǐng)域不斷發(fā)展的承諾。我們相信，每個學生都有機會茁壯成長，為了踐行這一點，我們?yōu)閷W生提供了小班教學以及個性化的學習成長計劃，以滿足不同學生發(fā)展需求。除了學術(shù)之外，我們同樣注重通過發(fā)展一系列從運動、音樂，到科技、戲劇等課外拓展活動來塑造學生的品格與韌性。

常州威雅的學生們不僅僅是卓越學術(shù)成就的締造者——他們被培養(yǎng)為富有同理心、責任心的全球公民。我們的校園文化中，鼓勵學生們進行團隊合作，并接受各種挑戰(zhàn)及失敗，這些都在我們?yōu)閷W生提供的充滿快樂、安全以及幸福的學習環(huán)境中進行。通過這些實踐，我們得以培養(yǎng)出那些在競爭激烈的全球環(huán)境中不斷進取、并發(fā)展社會責任感、在個人和學術(shù)旅程中取得成功的優(yōu)秀學子。

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

教育就是生產(chǎn)力 請問貴校的教育新質(zhì)生產(chǎn)力體現(xiàn)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，我們信奉具有前瞻性的全人教育理念，以培養(yǎng)學生成為未來的變革者。我們充分認識到，教育不僅僅是死記硬背，而是激勵學生積極參與到現(xiàn)實世界中的議題中，批判性地思考未來。我們的學生積極參與著學校的各種拓展課程與活動，在那里，他們會辯論與探索具有意義的全球議題，例如人工智能、環(huán)境可持續(xù)以及全球公民身份等。這些討論會鼓勵學生的好奇心與創(chuàng)造力，使他們不斷培養(yǎng)必要的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)力與溝通技巧，這些技能將會伴隨他們終身。

除此之外，我們同樣非常重視創(chuàng)新與創(chuàng)業(yè)精神。通過商業(yè)競賽，學生們會組成團隊來解決現(xiàn)實世界中的問題，并共同設(shè)計出創(chuàng)造性的解決方案。這些項目培養(yǎng)了學生們的積極心態(tài)，幫助他們在競爭激烈的全球經(jīng)濟背景中，取得成功所必備的合作技能。在這些比賽中，學生們能夠了解到不同產(chǎn)品的市場趨勢，通過團隊合作、財務(wù)管理等技能，為未來實踐積累經(jīng)驗，并不斷培養(yǎng)他們在領(lǐng)導(dǎo)力與創(chuàng)新能力方面的自信心。

除了結(jié)構(gòu)化的學術(shù)學習之外，我們也鼓勵學生們?nèi)オ毩⑻剿魑磥淼臒狳c話題。許多學生主動地接觸他們所感興趣的領(lǐng)域，研究科學技術(shù)是如何塑造產(chǎn)業(yè)與社會的。這種自主式學習會幫助他們發(fā)展對終身學習的熱愛，并不斷適應(yīng)這個飛速變化的世界。

我們的教學方法能夠有效確保學生在發(fā)展學術(shù)知識之外，也同樣培養(yǎng)出應(yīng)變能力、解決問題的能力以及創(chuàng)造力，成為積極主動的社會貢獻者。他們將有信心面對未來的不確定性，并采取行動，勇于承擔責任，不斷發(fā)展這些未來領(lǐng)導(dǎo)者與革新者的關(guān)鍵特質(zhì)。

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?

秋季這個學期很多家長關(guān)注如何能選擇到適合自己孩子的學校，選擇學校時應(yīng)該注意些什么？請您分享下？

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.

在家長們?yōu)楹⒆舆x擇合適的學校時，總是需要慎重考慮種種因素，這同樣也是一個重要的決定。父母能做到的最重要的事情之一，就是讓孩子們也參與到這個選擇的過程中來。傾聽你的孩子想要什么，哪些價值觀是一所學校必不可少的——畢竟，他們將會在學校里度過漫長的日子。在參觀校園的時候，可以帶著你的孩子，這樣他們就可以身臨其境地體驗學校，并確定是否想要真正進入這里。學校同樣也應(yīng)該鼓勵和激勵學生，使每一位來到這里的孩子對進入學校后的生活感到期待與興奮。

如果你們有感興趣的項目——比如高階學術(shù)課程、藝術(shù)或體育項目，我們也可以為你們安排與負責這些領(lǐng)域的教學人員會面。你們可以盡情地像他們提問，比如他們將如何幫助你的孩子出類拔萃，以及他們會在學生追求個人目標時提供哪些支持等，這些對話可以為你們的選擇提供有效的參考價值，你們可以了解到學校是如何去培養(yǎng)學生的潛力，并確保他們獲得課堂內(nèi)外的成功。

進入學校后的過渡階段同樣也很重要，尤其是當你的孩子需要在兩種不同的教育系統(tǒng)間轉(zhuǎn)移。例如，從國內(nèi)的公立學校過渡到像常州威雅這樣的國際化學校時，可能需要花費一定的時間去適應(yīng)。每個孩子都會按照自己的節(jié)奏去進行調(diào)整適應(yīng)，因此，給予他們一個舒適的空間來適應(yīng)新的環(huán)境是很有必要的。卓越的學校會提供強有力的全人關(guān)顧來幫助孩子渡過這個階段，確保他們從進入校園的第一天起，就感覺到安全與舒適。

最后，如果有機會的話，可以在校園參觀期間向校長介紹你自己。在常州威雅，執(zhí)行校長總是親自會見每一組來訪的家庭，這不僅使父母與孩子感受到溫暖與歡迎，也確保了學校能夠深入了解每個家庭的需求與期望。與學校的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)團隊建立聯(lián)系，可以讓父母相信，學校會為了孩子做出最正確的選擇。一所學校的文化、領(lǐng)導(dǎo)力與社區(qū)意識和它所提供的課程同樣重要，都能夠幫助孩子提供最適宜的成長環(huán)境。

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

請用一句話給擇校學子送祝福。

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.

父母為你的教育付出了許多，請一定要充分利用這些機會，因為他們?yōu)槟氵x擇了常州威雅，這證明你被賦予了深深的愛和支持。