Cogdel Cranleigh School Changsha vs WES Academy (Changsha)

	C Cogdel Cranleigh School Changsha Changsha, China	W WES Academy (Changsha) Changsha, China
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year RMB 87,400 - 148,000	Fees / year RMB 135,000 - 170,600
Age range	Age range 3 - 18 years	Age range 2 - 18 years
Type	Type —	Type Co-educational, Co-educational (boarding)
Curriculum	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels, Advanced Placement (AP)	Curriculum IB (PYP), Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge (Secondary), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels, IBCP (International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme), IB (DP), EYFS (Early years foundation stage)
Pupils	Pupils 1,800	Pupils —
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language English, Mandarin	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened —	Opened 2010
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Cogdel Cranleigh School, Changsha is located at No.117, Lixin Street (Langli Block), Changsha Economic and Technological Development Zone, Hunan, China. The campus covers 124 mu (20.42 acres) with a total floor area of 84,000 square metres and a student capacity of about 1,800. It comprises elementary school, junior high school, and senior high school, with bilingual instruction in Chinese and English in small groups. It operates an Academy Boarding System and an Optional Class System, and offers a twelve-year international education program.	Location No. 8 Dongyi Road, Changsha Economic and Technological Development Zone, Hunan Province, China. The school is located within the Changsha Economic and Technological Development Zone, a designated development district in Changsha. It serves foreign children and operates as the MOE-approved international school in Hunan that uses English as the primary language of instruction.
Stages	Stages elementary school, junior high school, senior high school	Stages The school offers Early Years, Primary, Lower Secondary, High School, and Higher Education. It serves foreign children aged approximately 2 to 18 years.
School type	School type Private school; twelve-year international education program; bilingual instruction (Chinese and English); Academy Boarding System; Optional Class System	School type Co-educational. Boarding facilities are available for students.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support —	Additional learning support Detailed SEN provisions are not publicly published by the school.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation United Kingdom (affiliated with Cranleigh School, Surrey)	Country affiliation Affiliated with the Singapore-based WES Group; established in partnership with the Changsha CETZAC and WES Group of Singapore.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation No religious affiliation is indicated in the school's published materials or accreditation listings.
School day structure	School day structure —	School day structure The school year runs from August to June. Publicly published start times for the school day are not listed on the site; the calendar and policies indicate a full-day international programme.
Bus service details	Bus service details —	Bus service details Information about a school bus service is not publicly published on the school's pages; families should contact Admissions for transport options. The school can be reached at +86-0731-8691-4921 or info.cwa@wes-group.org for transport inquiries.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application and registration fees - Application / entrance assessment fee: RMB 500 (one‑time, payable at application/assessment). - Returning‑student re‑enrolment / registration fee (where applicable): RMB 5,000 (one‑time, non‑refundable for some re‑enrolment cases). Tuition fees by school year (per term and per academic year) - Primary (elementary) program: RMB 43,700 per term; RMB 87,400 per academic year (two terms). - Middle (junior high) program: RMB 55,700 per term; RMB 111,400 per academic year (two terms). - Senior high (international high school) program: RMB 74,000 per term; RMB 148,000 per academic year (two terms). Boarding (residential) fees - Primary and middle school boarding: RMB 5,700 per term. - Senior high boarding: RMB 5,900 per term. Billing schedule and payment terms - Tuition and boarding fees are charged on a per‑term (per‑semester) basis and are payable at the start of each term. Payments for one term cover that term's tuition and, if selected, boarding. - One‑time, start‑of‑enrolment charges (for example: uniform, bedding, entrance fee, campus card top‑up) are billed on admission or at initial registration. Other costs and typical additional fees - Uniform (full set): approximately RMB 3,015 (one‑time, initial purchase). - Bedding set (bed linen / mattress / duvet etc.): approximately RMB 1,280 (one‑time). - Meals / canteen: Grades 1–2 nutrition meals + snacks: RMB 57 per day; Grades 3–12 use a campus stored‑value system with students selecting dishes and paying from their campus account. Meal costs for older students depend on consumption. - Examination and external assessment fees (IGCSE / A‑Level / IB / AP exam registrations): charged separately as exam/entrance fees and vary by subject and exam session (parents should budget separately for external exam registration and marking fees). - Textbooks, course materials, optional enrichment activities, school trips, health insurance and personal items are typically charged in addition to tuition and should be budgeted for by families. Refunds and withdrawal - No school‑published, detailed refund schedule for the 2026/27 academic year was located in publicly available admissions materials. Comparable international K‑12 schools in China commonly operate a term‑based refund scale (for example: full refund if withdrawal occurs before term start, partial refund if before a defined cutoff date, and no refund after a later cutoff), and deposits or non‑refundable registration fees are commonly retained for administrative costs. Parents should expect that refunds and penalties will follow an established written policy administered by school finance/registrar. Fee payment options - Common, accepted payment channels for schools operating in China include bank transfer to the school's designated account, campus payment platforms that accept Alipay and WeChat Pay (stored‑value campus accounts / ‘face‑scan' canteen systems), and online payment gateways tied to the school's billing system. Credit card acceptance varies by school and may be limited or routed through a bank payment gateway; parents commonly pay by bank transfer, Alipay, or WeChat Pay. Other practical fee notes for budgeting - Expect separate, termly or annual charges for optional co‑curricular activities, instrument hire or music lessons, competitive team travel, and external standardised testing; these are charged in addition to the headline tuition and boarding figures. Brief summary of availability of published fee details - The figures provided above reflect term‑based tuition, boarding and common one‑time charges as published in recent admissions and school information materials for the 2025/26–2026 period on public education portals and admissions guides. A school‑specific, itemised 2026/27 official fee schedule was not located in publicly indexed admissions pages at the time of this check; the amounts above are those published for the current/recent admissions cycle and are presented here as the operational fees parents should expect when budgeting.	Fee details —
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements The school has an Academy Boarding System.	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options The school has on-site campus dining facilities (canteen).	Food options —
House system	House system —	House system The school has four Houses: Neptune, Mars, Mercury, and Titan. Each House has House Leaders, Captains and Vice-Captains. Every pupil from Grade 1 to Grade 12 and staff is assigned to a House, with siblings placed in the same House to foster family loyalty. The House system complements academic life by encouraging a wide range of disciplines within a competitive environment, and house points accumulate throughout the year to crown a Champion; the approach aligns with IB values driving the school ethos.
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership The school operates as part of the WES International Community and is associated with the WES Group (info.cwa@wes-group.org). The campus is located at No. 8 Dongyi Road, Changsha Economic and Technological Development Zone, Hunan Province, China.
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details Primary School follows the Primary Years Programme (PYP). Cambridge IGCSE and A-level courses are offered at senior levels.	Curriculum details Changsha WES Academy uses a staged, internationally oriented curriculum across Early Years, Primary, Lower Secondary and High School. The Early Years segment runs Pre-Nursery, Nursery and Pre-Kindergarten under EYFS, while Kindergarten follows the Cambridge Primary curriculum, with all stages aligned to the IB framework. The Primary Years Programme (PYP) runs from Grade 1 to Grade 5, blending the Cambridge Primary Curriculum with the IB framework; core subjects English, Mathematics and Science follow Cambridge, with weekly instruction in English and Chinese. Lower Secondary (Grades 6-8) follows the Cambridge Lower Secondary Curriculum for English, Mathematics, Science and Global Perspectives, with a timetable including Art, Music, Physical Education, Dance, Drama and ICT, and two English strands: Mainstream and EAL. High School (Grades 9-12) offers IGCSE in 9-10, and A-Levels, IBDP, or IBCP in 11-12, with detailed subject options such as Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics and Computer Science for A-Levels and a six-subject IBDP program; IBCP is a vocational pathway. Specialist classes include Physical Education, Dance, Music, Visual Arts and ICT across stages.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression The College Application Center provides college counseling for grades 9–12, assisting with curriculum choices for further studies and college applications.	Higher education progression —
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning The school emphasizes engaging pupils in the co-curricular life and provides a supportive environment for learning. Pupils develop leadership and teamwork through clubs, activities and service. This co-curricular involvement supports personal growth alongside academic study.	Social & emotional learning The Early Years curriculum focuses on developing social-emotional understanding as part of its core aims. The program aims to help children think critically, solve problems, and express creativity within a nurturing, stimulating environment. The school's mission states an aim to cultivate responsible, curious, respectful, and reflective individuals and to support a balanced lifestyle with opportunities for service-learning experiences. A House system further supports SEL by creating a sense of belonging, leadership roles, and healthy inter-house competition aligned with IB values.
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) The school does not publicly disclose information regarding Special Educational Needs (SEN) provision or whether it operates as a specialist SEN institution.
English as an additional language	English as an additional language Language Acquisition (English as a second language) is part of the Junior High curriculum. Courses are delivered bilingually, Chinese and English, in small groups.	English as an additional language The school describes English as the language of instruction and provides weekly language instruction in English and Chinese in the Early Years, indicating bilingual language support. There is no explicit, publicly posted, dedicated EAL programme or EAL staff description on accessible pages. The bilingual language arrangements are evident in the Early Years section, which notes weekly language instruction in English and Chinese. This suggests language-support approaches but without a separately named EAL service.
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing Mental wellbeing is addressed through SEL-related elements such as social-emotional learning, a nurturing environment, and a balanced lifestyle emphasis in the school's mission. The House system and IB-aligned values contribute to a sense of belonging and community, supporting students' emotional and social wellbeing. The mission also emphasizes a balanced lifestyle and service-learning, which contribute to holistic wellbeing.
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding The school maintains safeguarding documents, including a Child Protection policy and a Board Policy Manual, listed under WES Policies with November 2024 dates. The policies page confirms the existence of these documents and their November 2024 updates, indicating formal safeguarding and child protection provisions. Specific policy content is not publicly posted on accessible pages, but the existence of these documents demonstrates a formal safeguarding framework.
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview The school is located at No.117, Lixin Street, Changsha Economic and Technological Development Zone (Langli Block). It covers 124 mu (20.42 acres) with a total floor area of 84,000 square metres and accommodates up to about 1,800 students. The campus comprises elementary school, junior high school and senior high school. Courses are delivered bilingually in Chinese and English in small groups, with an Optional Class System and Academy Boarding System. It is a private school offering twelve-year international education programs. The campus features a campus restaurant, student dormitories for primary and secondary students, and a 600-seat Crystal Theater with LED display.	Facilities overview Changsha WES Academy is located at No. 8 Dongyi Road, Changsha Economic and Technological Development Zone, Changsha, Hunan Province. It serves foreign families aged 2 to 18 and is the only international school in Hunan Province approved by the Ministry of Education to provide English-language instruction for foreign children. The school is accredited by CIS, IBO, and Cambridge, and is a member of ACAMIS. The Primary Years Programme, spanning Grades 1–5, is offered, blending the Cambridge Primary Curriculum with the IB framework. Specialist classes are available in Physical Education, Dance, Music, Visual Arts, and Art. Extra-curricular activities include House-activities, Co-curricular Activities (CCA), and After School Activities (ASA).
Sports facilities	Sports facilities The campus has sporting facilities for football, basketball, baseball, golf, fencing, tennis, athletics and swimming.	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities Cogdel Cranleigh School Changsha officially became an IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) candidate school in July 2020. The school is a candidate for the Middle Years Programme (MYP) and is pursuing IB authorization.	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities The school emphasizes co-curricular life and offers CAS (co-curricular activities) as part of the programme. A College Application Center provides consistent and personalized guidance for students in grades 9–12.	Extra curricular facilities The school offers extra-curricular activities including House-activities, Co-curricular Activities (CCA), and After School Activities (ASA).
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History Cogdel Cranleigh School Changsha (CCSC) is a collaboration between Hunan Future Group and Cogdel Education Group, promoting international education for over twenty years. It is the fourth Cranleigh School alliance campus, following the London, Abu Dhabi, and Chengdu campuses. CCSC is located at No. 117, Lixin Street, Changsha Economic and Technological Development Zone (Langli Subdistrict), covering 124 mu (20.42 acres) with a total floor area of 84,000 square metres and a capacity of about 1,800 students. The school comprises elementary, junior high, and senior high sections, with courses delivered bilingually in Chinese and English in small classes. Optional Class System and Academy Boarding System are implemented, and it offers a twelve-year international education program.	History Changsha WES Academy was established in 2010 through a partnership between the Changsha National Economic and Technical Development Zone Administrative Committee (CETZAC) and Worldwide Education Services (WES Group) to provide international education for expatriate and SAR families in Hunan. It opened on 1 September 2010 as an elementary school for Grades 1–5 at a temporary site, with the Early Years programme beginning on 14 February 2011. In February 2011 the campus moved to a purpose-built site at the Dongyi–Beidou corner in Xingsha, expanding facilities and enrolment. The school was approved by the PRC Ministry of Education as an international school and earned IB World School status for the Primary Years Programme in May 2014; it is also a Cambridge International Examinations centre and a member of the Council of International Schools. By the mid-2010s it began expanding to include middle school, with classes through Grade 9 by around 2018.
Community	Community Cogdel Cranleigh Changsha emphasizes active engagement in the school's co-curricular life. The school seeks to involve every pupil in co-curricular activities to support holistic development. Campus features include a campus dining hall and student dormitories, with the main entrance marking the school's campus community. News and Activities showcase events such as annual performances and newsletters, reflecting an active, connected school culture. A College Application Center provides college guidance for students in grades 9–12.	Community Changsha WES Academy has a diverse international community with students and staff from more than 20 countries and regions. The school hosts cultural and community events as part of student life, including celebrations such as Chinese New Year with the expatriate community. It participates in international school networks, being a member of CIS and ACAMIS (ACAMIS membership noted in 2023), which supports inter-school collaboration and events. The campus is located at No. 8 Dongyi Road in Changsha's Xingsha district.
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association The high school department established its first Parent-Teacher Association on January 28, 2021. This marked the formal involvement of parents in the high school community. The PTA functions as a channel for parent engagement within CCSC's community life.	Parent teacher association Public materials do not describe a formal Parent Teacher Association (PTA) for Changsha WES Academy. Parent involvement is described in terms of participation in the school community and in connection with co-curricular activities (CCA), House activities, and After School Activities (ASA). The school lists Extra-Activities, House-Activities, CCA, and ASA as components of student life, indicating opportunities for family engagement through volunteering or participation. The bilingual community page notes a student/teacher community of over 400 people from more than 20 countries, reflecting the scale of the family and parent community. ACAMIS membership (as of 2023) suggests a network of peer schools with shared events that may involve families.
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual The school is a candidate school for the IB Middle Years Programme.	Academic & intellectual Co-Curricular Activities (CCA) are part of WES International's holistic education. CCAs run on Wednesday afternoons and are designed to align with the IB Learner Profile, extending learning beyond the formal curriculum. The offerings include Health & Well-being options such as Football, Meditation, Dance, and Table Tennis, as well as cognitive and academic tracks like Maths Activities, Logical Thinking, Chess, and Chinese Literature. The program emphasizes developing academic and social skills through inquiry, reflection, and collaboration.
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative Arts and creative CCAs include Arts and Crafts, Sketching, Embroidery, Handcrafts, and Choir. These activities promote open-mindedness, inquiry, risk-taking, and reflection, and they support international-mindedness and cross-cultural interaction. The CCAs provide structured creative outlets that complement classroom learning and encourage collaboration among students.
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language Chinese Literature is offered as a CCA to support language development and cultural engagement. CCAs in this category emphasize cross-cultural interaction and international-mindedness, helping students explore different cultures through creative and scholarly activities. The Chinese Literature track provides reading, discussion, and analysis opportunities that complement language study.
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies Social and hobby CCAs include Chess, Board Games, Lego, Media Club, and Space Travel Simulation. These activities provide informal, interest-based opportunities for students to build peer relationships, practice teamwork, and develop strategic thinking. The CCAs are designed to be enjoyable while reinforcing skills such as collaboration and communication.
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional With four Houses, the school uses a House system that assigns House Leaders, Captains, and Vice-Captains to encourage leadership and service. This structure provides formal leadership opportunities and a platform for student-driven events and competitions. House points track achievement across disciplines and reinforce the IB values that guide school life.
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing The school has a co-curricular life that is active and vibrant.	Lifestyle & wellbeing Wellbeing activities include Meditation and other health-oriented CCAs such as Football, Dance, and Table Tennis. After-school activities (ASA) also offer Winter sports, including Rugby, Fitness & Basketball, and Skateboarding. The program focuses on physical health, mental well-being, and balanced development.
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision Instruction is delivered in English and Chinese with bilingual delivery across the curriculum.	Language provision English is the language of instruction across the curriculum for foreign students aged 2–18. Chinese is taught as a language and cultural component, with weekly language instruction in both English and Chinese across the Early Years and Primary programmes. The Primary Years Programme uses the Cambridge Primary Curriculum for core subjects (English, Mathematics, Science) and is aligned with IB, indicating language support and international framework integration. The school emphasizes developing the mother tongue and cross-cultural understanding within an English-mid framework.
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching Courses are delivered bilingually in Chinese and English in small groups.	Bilingual teaching Changsha WES Academy uses English as the language of instruction for foreign students aged 2 to 18. Chinese language and culture are integrated into the curriculum, and the school supports development of students' mother tongue alongside English. In the Primary Years Programme, core subjects are delivered in English while Chinese is taught as a language and cultural component, with Cambridge Primary Curriculum and IB alignment.
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards - ACAMIS membership (2023). Changsha WES Academy became a member of ACAMIS, a regional association of international schools, reflecting recognition and access to regional collaboration. - IELTS Star Model School (April 25, 2025). The British Council of Education awarded the school the title IELTS Star Model School, recognizing excellence in English language education and IELTS preparation.
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations 1) IB World School (International Baccalaureate Organization). The school is an IB World School and the first IB World School authorised in Hunan Province, indicating it offers IB programmes and adheres to IB standards. 2) Council of International Schools (CIS) accredited international school. The school is an accredited member of CIS, reflecting adherence to CIS standards and participation in the CIS community. 3) Cambridge International (Cambridge International Education, Cambridge IGCSE/A Level). The school is a Cambridge International School authorised by Cambridge International Education, enabling Cambridge IGCSE and A/AS Level offerings. 4) ACAMIS member (Association of China and Mongolia International Schools). The school is a member of ACAMIS, facilitating regional collaboration and events among international schools. 5) Microsoft School. The school is the only Microsoft School authorised in Hunan Province, reflecting integration of Microsoft technology in learning.
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions —	Admissions The admissions process starts with collecting the student's basic information. Admissions staff review the student's academic background and personal details. They assess the student's circumstances and strengths to tailor an approach. A preliminary higher-education plan is drafted that outlines potential pathways for the student.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships WES Academy does not publish a school-based scholarship program in its admissions materials.
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist There is no published information about a waitlist or pool system for admissions.
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