This is one of the most complete school websites that I have ever reviewed. I keep asking myself what else could I want to know about this school and the city and country in which it is located? The answer? Not much, other than making sure that all the figures add up. They have some contradictory figures on the number 
of buildings the school has which puzzles me, but other than that, this website is incredible. The school emphasizes on its website the amount of energy that is around the school and all of the things happening there.
WAB is a non-profit English language international school. The school was founded in 1994. It is an IBO World School that educates students from Nursery to Grade 12 (ages 3-18). WAB has approximately 1,400 students from 56 countries and regions. There are approximately 100 students at each grade level. US citizens make up the largest block of the student body followed by South Koreans, Brits and Australians. There are 38 languages or dialects spoken as a first language – English is the largest, followed by Korean.
Mission and Goals
WAB’s mission: “to educate our children to reach their full potential in a warm and caring community that fosters excellence and responsibility.”
WAB subscribes to the IB program which seeks to develop students who are:
• Inquirers
• Thinkers
• Communicators
• Intellectual risk takers
• Knowledgeable
• Principled
• Caring
• Open-minded
• Well-balanced
• Reflective
These educational goals are common to all schools that use the IB program. Really, any good teacher will work to achieve these goals with their students, but with the IB people, this becomes something of a mantra. Well, more on IB in an upcoming review.
WAB is a high tech school. All students use wireless laptops as an essential tool in their daily learning. The Middle School works on a 1:1 laptop environment and most students own their own laptops; the rest borrow them from the school. High school students are required to have their own laptop.
The school is built on a park-like campus and is committed to developing its facilities, programs and reputation. WAB has six separate buildings ; Early Childhood, Elementary School, Middle School, HUB – Sports, Arts and Technology Center, Properties Department and the High School.
WAB Curriculum
Early Childhood
The EC program is based on PYP and Reggio Emilia approach.
Elementary School
The school uses the PYP for students from Kindergarten to Grade 5. WAB supports over 10 home languages with an after school program.
Middle School
WAB uses the MYP for students in Grades 6-8. The Middle School program is centered around these areas of development: intellectual development, moral development, physical development, social development, emotional/psychological development.
High School
The school uses MYP for students from Grades 9-10 and the IBDP for students in Grades 11-12. Students may work for an IB Diploma, a WAB High School Diploma, or a combination.
Counseling
The school provides academic and emotional counseling for students including career counseling.
China Engagement
The school actively integrates the study of the host country in its program. This has an academic component as well as a community service component. All students in Grades 6-12 participate in a week-long China Studies field trip to different regions of China.
Student Programs
WAB has an extensive lineup of programs that were developed to provide a balance between educational needs and intellectual, social, moral, and aesthetic needs. These include:
- After School Activities
- Interschool Sports
- Choir, Band and Drama
- Cultural and Academic Activities
- Student Council and Student Leadership Programs
- Recreation and Adventure Programs
WAB also works on developing a strong sense of community and a positive relationship with the community through a variety of outreach programs and special activities.
Facilities
The school has some impressive facilities that include:
· 3 Gymnasiums
· 1 Swimming Pool
· 1 Adrenalin Fitness Center
· 2 Astroturf sports fields
· 1 Athletics track
· Tennis courts (5)
· Indoor and Outdoor basketball courts
· Vertex Climbing Wall
· Theaters (3)
· Libraries (3)
· Computer Labs
· Science Labs
· Music, Dance and Drama studios
· Specialist classrooms
· Dining courts and cafes
Employment at WAB
WAB is looking for teachers who are upbeat, passionate about teaching and learning, interested in living in China and learning about it, working as a team at a school that values its teachers. WAB has 174 full and part time teachers from 18 nationalities. A number of middle management positions are available at WAB and include Grade Level and Department Leaders/Coordinators among others. These positions carry an annual stipend of $500-$3200 per year.
The majority of teachers are Australian with Canadians, Brits and Americans next. 153 of their teachers are overseas hires. WAB is very specific in what they are looking for in their teachers. The list below should give the prospective teacher a very clear idea of what it takes to be a successful candidate at WAB. Do you have what it takes?
- A good match in applicant’s skills and expertise and WAB’s needs.
- A good match to WAB’s educational philosophy and pedagogy.
- A good fit with WAB’s culture.
- The right chemistry and a good transition
Here is the general profile for what WAB is looking for as listed on their website.
* Experienced and qualified teachers
* Fits WAB’s Philosophy and Values
* High level of professionalism and commitment to the school
* Child focused - warm, caring and supportive
* Team player – collaborative
* Ability to become part of a community and work with parents
* Flexible and adaptable
* Commitment to ongoing professional growth and development
* Skilled in IT
* Intercultural sensitivity
* General interest in China
* Stable in personal life
* Experience in school events and extra curricular activities programs
* Experience in coaching sporting teams and/or performing arts
* Experience in outdoor education & recreation programs
* Experience in school development
* Experience in and knowledge of inquiry based learning
* Able to balance high demands of work with personal recreational pursuits
* Preference to teachers trained in IBPYP, IBMYP and IB Diploma, First Steps programs
Pedagogical Profile
* IB – PYP, MYP or Diploma experience (or similar) - please see our IB pages for more information
* Inquiry-based and hands-on learning
* Using local context and environment to enhance learning
* Stimulating Classroom environment
Desirable Professional Experiences and Practices
* Multi-cultural approach or experiences
* Experience and/or training in working in an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) environment
* Experience in meeting needs of individual students and differentiating teaching techniques
* Experience in inquiry approach to teaching and learning
* Experience in activity based and hands on learning
* High level IT skills and experience in integrating IT across the curriculum
* Experience with contemporary practices in English and Mathematics
* Experience with authentic assessment practices
Salary and Benefits
Initial Salaries run from RMB 20,709 to RMB 25,459. The maximum step on the salary schedule for new teachers is Step H for teachers with at least nine years of experience. The current maximum salary is RMB 29,938 for teachers with 11 or more years of experience. So I would be at the maximum after three years of teaching there.
Benefits include:
- Relocation airfare
- Shipping charges and insurance
- Housing – serviced apartment with basic furnishings, utilities, local phone calls, broadband. Teachers may rent on their own up to a maximum amount determined by their contract. Single teachers receive $1,000 a month.
- Settling in allowance - $200 on arrival
- R&R Travel allowance
- Travel Allowance in case of death
- Chinese Income Taxes
- Pension/Retirement Plan – the school matches your 6%
- Visa, Residence Permit and Expert Card
- Health Insurance – comprehensive with medical evac provision
- Personal Accident and Disability Insurance
- Professional Development
- School Fees – Dependent’s Tuition Support
A teacher at Step H would receive RMB 4,151 for travel allowance. This is at 7.70 per dollar.
WAB prefers candidates to send email applications. A form is online . WAB attend the recruitment fairs. Interview appointments may be pre-scheduled ahead of the fairs.
Generally it is difficult to obtain an international school position if you are a single parent, but WAB hires single parent teachers, which is a definite plus. I wish more schools did this.
Teachers at WAB generally teach 30 periods of 40 minutes each week. They have 10 non-contact periods for planning and meetings and preparation. Teachers are expected to serve on at least 2 committees per year. They are also expected to provide two after school activities per year.
So here it is: the biggest review of a school that I’ve done. This school sounds really interesting. They expect a lot from their teachers, but the support offered also sounds excellent. The pay and benefits are good, but certainly not at the top of the scale. I would guess based on my experience overseas that a teacher could save a good amount of money working here. If you want to spend some time in China, this school sounds like a definite possibility. What I find very impressive with WAB is the way that they lay everything out on their website. I like a school that let’s you know what they expect and what they will give in return. You should check out their impressive website.
