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WES Academy (Changsha)

China, Changsha

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees RMB 135,000 - 170,600
Ages 2 - 18 years
Type Co-educational, Co-educational (boarding)
Opened 2010
Bus Service No
Academic offering
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)
Taught languages English, Japanese, German, French, Spanish, Mandarin, English, Chamorro
Strengths Sport, Performing Arts, Visual and Creative Arts
Clubs Social and Hobbies, Arts and Creative, Community and Service, Leadership and Professional
Stages Preschool, Primary School, Middle School, High School, Sixth Form
Introduction

Changsha WES Academy (WES International) is a K-12 international school located in Changsha, Hunan Province. It was founded in 2010 and is the only international school in Hunan Province approved by the PRC Ministry of Education that uses English as the primary language of instruction for foreign children aged 2 to 18. The school is accredited as an IB World School and Cambridge International Education Centre and is a Council of International Schools (CIS) member. Programs span the IB Primary Years Programme, Cambridge Primary and Lower Secondary, Cambridge IGCSE, A-Levels, the IB Diploma Programme, and the IB Career-related Programme. The campus serves Early Years through High School, with specialist options in Physical Education, Dance, Music, and Visual Arts, and a range of co-curricular activities. English is the language of instruction; Chinese is taught as a subject across grade levels. The school emphasises small class sizes and a diverse, international staff from more than 20 countries. The campus is located at No. 8 Dongyi Road in the Changsha Economic and Technological Development Zone. For prospective families, the school offers both IB and Cambridge pathways and participates in ACAMIS, CIS, and IB networks.

8 Dongyi Rd, Xingsha, Changsha County, Changsha, Hunan, China, 410100

The Essentials

WES Academy (Changsha) has instruction in English.

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
The school offers Early Years, Primary, Lower Secondary, High School, and Higher Education. It serves foreign children aged approximately 2 to 18 years.

Type
Co-educational. Boarding facilities are available for students.

Additional learning support
Detailed SEN provisions are not publicly published by the school.

Country affiliation
Affiliated with the Singapore-based WES Group; established in partnership with the Changsha CETZAC and WES Group of Singapore.

Religious affiliation
No religious affiliation is indicated in the school's published materials or accreditation listings.

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
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.
Diving Deeper

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
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.
Fees

Annual tuition at WES Academy (Changsha) ranges from RMB 135,000 to RMB 170,600 for 2026/27.

Annual tuition at WES Academy (Changsha) is RMB 135,000. That works out at roughly RMB 135,000 for the early years, RMB 135,000 for primary, RMB 135,000 for secondary, RMB 135,000 for sixth form.
Academics

WES Academy (Changsha) teaches 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) for students aged 2 to 18.

Curriculum
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.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
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)
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 (EAL)
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 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
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.
Parent Experience

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
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 (PTA)
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.
Facilities

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).

Extra Curricular Facilities
The school offers extra-curricular activities including House-activities, Co-curricular Activities (CCA), and After School Activities (ASA).
Extra-Curricular Activities

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 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
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 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.

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
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.
Languages

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
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.
Reputation

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
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
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
WES Academy does not publish a school-based scholarship program in its admissions materials.

Waitlist
There is no published information about a waitlist or pool system for admissions.
School Events
The school has not added events
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