A Look Back at the First Semester of the 24-25 Academic Year

At the beginning of this term, we were delighted to introduce exciting changes to our campus. We updated facilities and spaces through multiple maintenance and renovation projects over the summer to create an even more welcoming environment for our staff and pupils, adding fresh vitality to the campus. As pupils eagerly returned to school, they were greeted by a revitalised campus that offered delightful surprises at every turn.  

Six pupils from Wellington College Hangzhou participated in the finals of the 2024 Botball International Educational Robotics Conference at the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing. The competition attracted nearly 2,000 pupils from more than 20 regions in China and from countries such as the United States, Austria and Malaysia. In the fierce finals, our two teams won gold medals with their excellent performance. The competition was thoroughly covered by CCTV-13 and BRTV.  

Pupils from Wellington College Hangzhou have continued their outstanding performance from previous years, marching into their new academic journey with excellent results. In the IGCSE exams, our overall A*/A rate for IGCSE was 87.3%, far exceeding the UK's national average of 21.7%, setting a new record. In the A Level exams, 55% of our pupils achieved A*/A grades, while only 27% of pupils in the UK reached this standard.

It is worth mentioning that Viktoria, one of our Senior School pupils, achieved a tie for the highest score globally in IGCSE mathematics, deserving the honour of a true star pupil.  

According to the latest list published by Forbes China, 3% of the top 100 private international schools in China are from Hangzhou, and Hiba Academy Hangzhou ranks 1st among all bilingual schools in Hangzhou listed and 53rd in China, which is more than an honour as it encourages and drives us to move forward. 

To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China, the primary school of Hiba Academy Hangzhou organised a series of activities. Through these events, we paid tribute to China’s remarkable achievements and provided our pupils with patriotic education and cultural immersion. The pupils deepened their love for the country, enhanced their understanding of national culture, and strengthened their sense of mission and responsibility as the youth of a new era. 

Among the various sports offered on campus, swimming is undoubtedly one with unique charm. Our swimming lesson starts from EY4 as we aim to allow more pupils to engage with the sport and develop a passion for swimming. Adapted to differentiated teaching, our swimming coaches provide targeted support to pupils in mastering a range of basic knowledge and skills, including water safety, play, swimming techniques, life-saving skills and artistic swimming. 

After months of preparation, Wellington College Hangzhou successfully held its second TEDx Youth event, ‘The Power of Redefinition,’ which was launched, led and organised entirely by the pupils from Wellington College Hangzhou. There were six speakers for this event, including pupils and staff, each exploring different aspects of the concept of ‘redefinition.’  

For Daniel, a career in education is not an accidental choice, but a steadily travelled journey that led to his life passion. 

“This is my 23rd year within the education industry and I learn new skills every single year. I learn from the environment I am in and the culture there, and I have experienced teachers that I am working with, over a period of time I've learned from them and gradually I've realised I'm now the experienced teacher and I have the opportunity to share my best practice with teachers in wonderful environments in the school like Hiba.”     

In early November, Hiba Academy Hangzhou (Nursery) dedicated a week to celebrating the joyous occasion of World Nursery Rhyme Week. This fantastic week-long event was packed with a series of delightful and immersive activities that aimed to ignite a passion for nursery rhymes, enhance language skills, and create treasured memories for both children and staff.    

In the enchanting autumn season, pupils from the Senior Schools at Wellington College Hangzhou ventured beyond the campus and the city to immerse themselves in nature through wilderness hikes, push their limits with activities like jetboating, zorbing and ziplining, and to revel in the splendour of glaciers, valleys and islands under starry skies. Our annual Changemakers Trips are designed to give pupils real-life experiences that are aligned with the topics and subject content delivered in school. Pupils saw for themselves the locations and features they had studied in textbooks and met experts from different fields of study.    

In late November, the final of our annual Pianist of the Year for 2024 took place in the Grand Theatre at Wellington College Hangzhou. The piano's vibrant and spirited melodies, like a breath of fresh, crisp air, awakened the senses of teachers, pupils and parents alike, signalling the close of the year 2024. The competition was planned and organised by the music department to present a platform for pupils to showcase their talent and challenge themselves.   

In an internationalised school, the role and commitment of a music teacher extends far beyond merely teaching children a few songs, as some might presume.  

Even the act of learning to sing transcends the act itself. A music lesson with Mon encompasses his entire educational philosophy in practice: developing perception and appreciation of beauty, acquiring skills, forming habits, integrating interdisciplinary knowledge and fostering leadership and collaborative abilities.  

November was an exciting month at Wellington College Hangzhou as we welcomed the arrival of the extraordinary 'Big Gold Box' into our community. 

'The Big Gold Box', created by Shared Studios, is not just a physical structure but a gateway to the world. It ingeniously bridges distances, making it feel as though participants are seated across from each other in the same room, regardless of their geographical locations. This state-of-the-art setup is a testament to the innovative spirit that Wellington College in the UK continually champions, bringing unparalleled educational experiences to our pupils. 

Pupils from Wellington College Hangzhou, the only internationalised school in Zhejiang Province invited, went to Beijing to meet the world-renowned UN Messenger of Peace, British zoologist, primatologist and animal conservation pioneer, Dr Jane Goodall.  

In early December, Dr Goodall visited China to join many Chinese youths passionate about the environment and animals. They gathered to celebrate the 30th anniversary of her ‘Roots & Shoots’ programme taking root in China. 

Our annual Maths Week, orchestrated by the maths departments of the schools, successfully concluded in early December. With the theme ‘Maths in the Digital Age: Innovation Through Numbers’, it aimed to inspire pupils to explore the close link between mathematics and our modern world, particularly its pivotal role in artificial intelligence.  

Hiba Primary organised an array of enriching field trips for the pupils, which were designed to broaden their horizons, instil a love for learning, and create unforgettable memories. These field trips are meticulously planned to complement the curriculum, fostering a deeper understanding of the subjects taught in class, and helping develop critical life skills such as teamwork, problem-solving and adaptability.  

As Wellington College Hangzhou enters its seventh year, the Class of 2025 has once again demonstrated their exceptional academic prowess with outstanding offers. A total of 29 offers have been received as of 17 January. Among all the graduates, nearly half have been offered places at universities ranked in the global top 20, 70% have received offers from universities in the global top 50, and one particular pupil has been admitted to the world's number one hospitality management institution.