A school of thought

A reflection of the academy's student-oriented teaching philosophy is the Chinese characters of the school's name inscribed at the entrance to the campus. They are written by several fifth graders of the school. This is something that rarely happens in China, where most schools would rather have their names written by prestigious calligraphers or celebrities.

Beijing Academy was founded with a mission to be a modern top-level school in Beijing style and with a Chinese temperament, as well as the vision and a care for the whole world, according to Xia. Therefore, he has devoted all his effort to helping the school realize this goal.

"Chinese education has developed rapidly over recent decades, with dozens of curriculum improvements. We have already abandoned the teaching method of issuing tons of tests and homework just for a good score," he said. "Even though we need to learn from developed countries, we should also have full confidence in our own education system."

China's K12 education has undergone a sea change in recent years, the stereotyped "duck-stuffing "type of teaching, mostly, no longer represents China's modern education paradigm.

At Beijing Academy, students take learning trips every semester to other places, including Shaanxi and Henan provinces, to experience Chinese history and culture. They spend time participating in plenty of arts and sports clubs at school to further develop their interests.

Meanwhile, teachers at the school prepare the students to be ready for the national college entrance exam, or gaokao, as well as applications for overseas universities.

"Our students are respected and loved, because only then can they truly learn to love others and contribute to the world when they are able," Xia added.

Situated in Beijing's Chaoyang district, where local authorities are channeling more resources to develop the district into Beijing's international "name card", Beijing Academy also plays a pivotal role in bolstering international education exchanges.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, education experts and scholars from the US, Britain, Canada and Australia visited the school every year to exchange insights and ideas, something that will continue when normalcy returns, Xia said.

According to the school's future blueprint, it plans to accept international students to cater to the needs of expat residents in Beijing by offering high-quality education with Chinese characteristics.

Contact the writer at dujuan@chinadaily.com.cn