Chen Xiaochun

654789759@qq.com

SHEN Wai International School (SWIS) received a plaque presented by the Council of International Schools (CIS) on Thursday for its successful accreditation in June this year. Now the school is the first in Shenzhen to be accredited by both CIS and Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

Currently there are 28 CIS accredited schools in China and only two in Shenzhen including SWIS. There are only four WASC accredited schools in Shenzhen including SWIS. SWIS is also an IB World School for the Primary Years Program, Middle Years Program and Diploma Program.

Helena Sobulis, CIS school support & evaluation officer, explained that CIS is one of the worldwide leading organizations for international education and is dedicated to a significant mission: to inspire the development of global citizens through promoting cultural immersion and high-quality education.

“Shen Wai International School has successfully demonstrated that it is strongly aligned with the standards. The school is vision-led and vision-focused. It has definitely shown that it is committed to high-quality teaching and learning. It provides extensive opportunities for students to become global citizens. It reaches international standards also in operation practices that support high-quality learning,” said Sobulis.

“As a close SWIS community, there are a lot of reasons to feel proud of ourselves. But we know it’s not the end of our journey. All of us will try our best to work together to make SWIS a real world-class international school,” said Ally Wu, school director of SWIS, during her speech.

SWIS Early Years and Primary Principal Anna Laurenson told the Shenzhen Daily that the CIS accreditation makes a big difference for teachers, parents and students.

“For new teachers looking for a job, if I see CIS accreditation, it tells me that this school is a good quality school; same for students leaving the school. There are many students who get high scores, and then the school they apply for will look at other things. They look at which system they are in, which kind of school they are in,” explained Laurenson.

SWIS Early Years and Primary Assistant Principal Bradley Ringrose disclosed that obtaining the accreditation was not an easy process. “They have a list of standards. We have to show an evidence to justify that we meet each standard.”

“They went into every little part of the school to make sure it wasn’t just curriculum that was good and safe, but also facilities, child protection... it’s very comprehensive. Do we have the right signs on the right doors? It really guarantees that your facility and institute is a world-class institute.

“Everything you could possibly imagine, they look into it and check whether it works,” added Ringrose.