Nord Anglia School (NAS) Beijing vs Western Academy of Beijing

	N Nord Anglia School (NAS) Beijing Beijing, China	W Western Academy of Beijing Beijing, China
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year RMB 205,000 - 245,000	Fees / year RMB 146,500 - 376,700
Age range	Age range 6 - 18 years	Age range 3 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational, Co-educational (boarding)	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum Chinese National Curriculum, IB (DP)	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP)
Pupils	Pupils 1,440	Pupils 1,400
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size 22
Instruction language	Instruction language English, Mandarin	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 2025	Opened 1994
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Address: Beijing, Shunyi District — Gaoliying Yingyou Street No. 30 (school gives a campus map on its website). The campus is in the Shunyi (Gaoliying) area, described as near villa/residential neighbourhoods and occupying about 53 acres; the school lists weekday office hours on the campus page.	Location WAB's campus is in Laiguangying, Chaoyang District (10 Lai Guang Ying Dong Lu), northeast Beijing — about 500 m off Jingmi Lu. The school is near bus stops on Jingmi Lu and is reachable from Line 15 (Cui Ge Zhuang) with local buses to the Ma Nan Li stop; visitor parking is available on campus.
Stages	Stages The school is a 6–18 provision split into Primary (6–12 years), Lower Secondary/middle (13–15) and Senior/High School (16–18). The site describes progression through Chinese national curriculum content with bilingual delivery and senior options that include international pre‑university pathways.	Stages WAB is an Early Childhood–Grade 12 international school, organised into an Early Childhood Center, Elementary School (Junior/Senior Grade 1–Grade 5), Middle School and High School (Grades 9–12). The school follows IB programmes across the sections.
School type	School type Co‑educational day and boarding school: the website states the school offers both day (走读) and boarding (寄宿) options, with separate male/female boarding areas and 5‑day and 7‑day boarding arrangements described. The school is a private bilingual (Chinese–English) school in the Nord Anglia network.	School type WAB is an independent, non-profit international school and an authorised IB World School. It is co-educational and operates as a day school (no boarding facilities).
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support The site describes differentiated and personalised teaching (use of assessment data to create individual learning pathways, ‘分层教学' and targeted programmes to close gaps) and specific English‑language support elements for learners at different levels. For students with significant or specialist additional needs the website does not publish a detailed SEN policy online; parents are advised to discuss individual requirements with admissions/staff.	Additional learning support WAB uses an integrated student-support model; services include learning support, English as an Additional Language (EAL), counseling, educational psychology and psychological services, and access to therapies such as speech and occupational where needed. Teachers work with the Student Support team and parents to create individualised plans and reasonable adjustments.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation The school is part of the Nord Anglia Education global group (listed on Nord Anglia's global network page) — it is not presented as affiliated to a single national curriculum authority beyond its bilingual delivery of the Chinese national curriculum alongside international pathways.	Country affiliation The school is an independent international school founded to serve the expatriate community and is not affiliated with a particular country.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation No religious affiliation is stated on the school website; the school presents itself as a bilingual international school without a faith designation.	Religious affiliation WAB is nonsectarian and does not have a religious affiliation.
School day structure	School day structure The website outlines a typical day split into morning lessons, a managed lunchtime, afternoon lessons and after‑school activities; boarding students have evening study time and organised social/activities. The campus page lists general opening hours (weekdays around 08:30–17:00). Exact daily start/end times by year group are not published on the public pages — check with admissions for precise timetables.	School day structure Standard school hours are 8:30am–3:20pm Monday–Friday. Elementary and Early Childhood bell times and break/lunch windows are published (for example, ES morning break and a lunch window around midday; detailed bell times are available on the school's ‘School Day' page).
Bus service details	Bus service details The school operates a school‑bus service (the site lists an operations contact for ‘校车及餐饮事宜'), and third‑party admissions summaries note routes covering parts of Shunyi and Chaoyang with published bus‑fee bands. If you need specific routes, pick‑up points or current fees, contact the school's Operations/Transport team directly (contact details appear on the site).	Bus service details WAB runs a student bus service to and from campus; buses typically arrive between 8:00–8:30am and afternoon buses depart around 3:25–3:30pm. The school also offers ASA (after-school activity) buses and a limited ‘late bus' service; families must communicate changes to the Transportation Manager and follow the school's procedures for bus changes. Public city bus lines and subway connections are also listed for families using public transport.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application fees - The school's public admissions information does not publish a separate, one‑time application fee or registration amount. Tuition fees by year group (amounts per academic year and per term) - Primary (elementary): Annual tuition RMB 205,000 — charged as two equal term payments of RMB 102,500 each. - Lower secondary (middle school): Annual tuition RMB 225,000 — charged as two equal term payments of RMB 112,500 each. - Upper secondary (high school): Annual tuition RMB 245,000 — charged as two equal term payments of RMB 122,500 each. Billing schedule and payment terms - Tuition is presented and billed on a per‑term basis (school states fees are charged by term, with the two term amounts shown on the admissions page). Specific invoice dates, penalties for late payment, and any early‑payment discounts are not published on the publicly available pages. Boarding fees (where applicable) - Five‑day boarding: RMB 50,000 per year. - Seven‑day (full) boarding: RMB 70,000 per year. Other costs and typical additional charges - The school's public pages do not list fixed amounts for application/registration deposits, school uniform pricing, bus or meal fees, or individual exam/activity charges. The operations department handles bus and catering matters (contacts published). Families should expect that optional services (school bus, catering, uniforms, some exams or optional activities) may incur additional fees not itemised on the public admissions page. Refund information - No detailed refund or deposit return policy for tuition, registration deposits or boarding fees is published on the school's public admissions or terms pages. Fee payment options - The school's public website does not list specific payment methods (credit card, bank transfer, electronic wallets). For invoicing and payment arrangements, the school publishes a finance contact (phone and finance@nasbeijing.cn) — payments and accepted methods are handled through the Finance Office.	Fee details Application fees - Application fee: RMB 2,100 per applicant (non-refundable). Annual tuition fees (by year group) — published for 2025–2026 - Early Years (3/4 years old, half day): RMB 146,500 per year. - Early Years (3/4 years old, full day): RMB 246,500 per year. - Junior Grade 1 – Senior Grade 1: RMB 293,100 per year. - Grades 2–5: RMB 314,300 per year. - Middle School (Grades 6–8): RMB 333,500 per year. - High School (Grades 9–10): RMB 367,100 per year. - High School (Grades 11–12): RMB 376,700 per year. Per-term (per-semester) guidance — calculated - WAB's academic calendar is structured in two semesters. The per-term figures below are calculated by dividing the published annual fee by two to provide a per-semester amount (this is an inferred per-term breakdown for database use; WAB publishes annual fees). - Early Years (half day): RMB 73,250 per semester (RMB 146,500 ÷ 2). - Early Years (full day): RMB 123,250 per semester (RMB 246,500 ÷ 2). - Junior Grade 1 – Senior Grade 1: RMB 146,550 per semester (RMB 293,100 ÷ 2). - Grades 2–5: RMB 157,150 per semester (RMB 314,300 ÷ 2). - Middle School (Grades 6–8): RMB 166,750 per semester (RMB 333,500 ÷ 2). - High School (Grades 9–10): RMB 183,550 per semester (RMB 367,100 ÷ 2). - High School (Grades 11–12): RMB 188,350 per semester (RMB 376,700 ÷ 2). Billing schedule and payment terms - Returning students: full annual tuition is due by April 30, 2025. - Newly admitted students: tuition fees must be paid within 21 calendar days of the invoice date. - A non-refundable portion of RMB 30,000 of the annual tuition is required each school year to secure a student's enrollment. - Prorated tuition is available for students enrolling after the October break: a 10% reduction of tuition per calendar month applies from October (excluding the non-refundable RMB 30,000). - Late payments incur a surcharge of 2% per month on overdue balances. Boarding fees - Boarding is not applicable; WAB does not operate a boarding programme. Other costs and common additional fees - Laptops and calculators: students are required to purchase their own laptops and calculators (cost borne by the family). - Lunch and snacks: not included in tuition; lunch purchases via SmartCard typically range from RMB 30 to RMB 45 per meal. - Optional/extra-cost items not covered by tuition: intercity travel for competitions, conference-related travel, individual music lessons, additional after-school swim lessons, and home language programs. - Enriched Inclusion Program Fee (if applicable) is non-refundable. - Transportation: standard WAB school bus service within the designated WAB network is provided without an additional tuition charge. - Any school uniform costs or optional activity fees are treated as additional charges when applicable (families should expect occasional optional fees for external activities or equipment). Refund information - Application fee (RMB 2,100) is not refundable. - RMB 30,000 of the annual tuition is non-refundable. - The remaining portion of the annual tuition (the refundable Grade Level Tuition Fees) is refundable according to a tiered schedule when the Admissions Office receives written withdrawal notice. The published refund schedule (examples of key cutoff points) is: on or before May 30, 2025 — 100% of the refundable portion; August — 90%; September — 80%; October — 70%; November — 60%; December — 50%; January — 40%; February — 30%; March — 20%; April — 10%; May and June — no refund. Specific dates and percentages are published by the school. Refunds require return of the original WAB fapiao and must be claimed within three months of the student's last school day. Fee payment options and instructions - Invoices are issued in RMB. WAB accepts bank transfers in RMB or other currencies (families should ensure the full invoiced amount is received after any bank charges). The school provides CITIC Bank account details and requires the invoice number or student number to be included with the remittance. SWIFT code and account information are published with invoices. Overseas RMB cash deposits may also be accepted. - Card payments: overseas debit/credit cards incur additional fees (example published rates: Visa/Master 2.8%; AMEX 3.0%; JCB 3.5%). Local credit/debit card handling fees are also noted (example: 0.6% for local credit cards plus RMB 20 administration on debit transactions). All bank fees are the payer's responsibility. - Fapiao (official Chinese tax receipt) will be issued for tuition only after full payment; WAB Finance issues fapiao on request and provides instructions for corporate and personal payers. Notes for records - The figures above are WAB's published annual tuition rates for 2025–2026 and the school's published payment and refund rules. Per-term numbers shown under “Per-term (per-semester) guidance” are calculated by dividing the published annual tuition by two to align with WAB's two-semester calendar and to provide a per-semester amount for database use (this division is an inferred breakdown; WAB's official invoices are issued as described above).
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options —	Food options —
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership —
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details NAS Beijing delivers a bilingual 6–18 programme that implements the Chinese national curriculum across primary and secondary grades while integrating internationally recognised teaching methods and project‑based learning. Primary (ages 6–12) follows the Chinese national primary curriculum and covers language and literature, mathematics, science, humanities, arts, physical education and moral/ideological education in a bilingual, immersion‑style programme. Lower secondary (ages 13–15) continues the Chinese national junior‑middle curriculum delivered bilingually with cross‑curricular themes, project‑based learning and discrete science subjects (biology, chemistry, physics). Upper secondary (ages 16–18) includes a two‑year preparatory pathway and a “high‑school multi‑path” that the school describes as offering globally recognised options — the site references IB programmes and runs IGCSE/ A‑Level tracks as routes to university. The curriculum scope also explicitly includes STEAM and performing‑arts partnerships (MIT, The Juilliard School), a broad extracurricular and boarding programme, and certified university‑guidance services to support progression to global universities.	Curriculum details Western Academy of Beijing delivers the full IB continuum: Primary Years Programme (Early Years–Grade 5), Middle Years Programme (Grades 6–10) and the IB Diploma Programme (Grades 11–12). In Early Years and Elementary students follow the inquiry-based PYP framework (ages 3–12) with transdisciplinary subject coverage and a PYP Exhibition as an extended inquiry. Middle School runs the MYP across Grades 6–10 with eight subject areas taught concurrently, MYP objectives and assessment approaches, and a culminating Personal Project. High School (Grades 11–12) offers the IB Diploma Programme: students choose subjects across the six DP groups and complete the DP core (Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay and Creativity, Activity, Service) with a wide range of SL/HL course options. WAB's curriculum covers literacy/language and literature, language acquisition, individuals & societies, sciences, mathematics, the arts, design, PHE and school-wide social‑emotional learning, and it is informed by additional reference standards such as ACARA, CEFR and HSK while providing personalised pathways and experiential learning opportunities.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression —	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 —	Social & emotional learning —
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History —
Community	Community —	Community —
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions 1. Initial enquiry and conversation with Admissions team — Start by submitting the online enquiry or calling the admissions office to introduce your family and ask for available year/grade places. The school's website provides a dedicated enquiry form and lists direct admissions contacts (names and numbers) whom you can request a campus visit or an application link from. Expect the team to ask about your child's current year group, planned entry date and whether you require boarding; keep these details ready when you first contact them. 2. Campus visit (optional but recommended) — The site encourages a accompanied campus visit so you and your child can meet teachers and see facilities; visits are arranged through the admissions team. During the visit, ask specifically about daily schedules, boarding arrangements (5-day vs 7-day) and transport or meal provision since these affect fees and routines. If you rely on Beijing local school-registration (学籍) services, raise this at the visit so the school can explain whether they will create or transfer a local学籍 for your child. 3. Submit the online application form and supporting documents — Complete the school's online application (you can save progress and return later); the form accepts up to five children and up to three guardian profiles. The admissions page asks applicants to “provide the required documents” with submission of the online application; the site does not list every document item by item, so prepare typical materials (passport or ID, recent school report, and any relevant assessments or medical/visa documents) and confirm the exact list with Admissions before uploading. If you experience technical issues with the online form, the page gives an email for admissions support. 4. Assessment and family interview — After the application is processed the school arranges a family interview with school staff; for many applicants there will also be an academic assessment or age‑appropriate screening. The admissions page describes a one‑to‑one academic feedback process, so expect specific feedback on your child's strengths and areas for support after assessments. If your child's English is limited the school notes that personalised language support and staged expectations are provided, but you should ask what transitional help is available for your child's age/grade during the interview. 5. Offer of place and formal offer letter — If the school decides to offer a place they send a formal offer/acceptance letter by email; the admissions page describes an official “录取通知书” being issued on successful applications. Read the offer carefully for the grade offered, any conditions (for example, required catch‑up work or additional language support), the deadline to accept the offer, and the sum and deadline for any deposit or initial fee required to secure the place. If you need a written fee invoice for visa, employer or reimbursement purposes, confirm the finance contact details before you proceed. 6. Confirm acceptance, pay fees and complete enrolment administration — To secure the place you must confirm acceptance and pay the required fees by the deadline; the admissions page explicitly notes that payment confirms the student's place. The site shows the school charges per academic year by stage (see fees summary) and gives separate boarding fees for 5‑day and 7‑day boarding; contact the Finance office for invoices, payment methods, and receipt/receipt‑invoicing details. Once payment is made, the school will guide you through start‑of‑term steps (timetables, uniforms, medical forms and any required orientation), so keep communication open with admissions and boarding (if applicable) until your child starts.	Admissions 1. Submit an enquiry (OpenApply enquiry form). Start by submitting the online enquiry form (OpenApply) so the Admissions team has your basic family details and can set up an account for you; this lets you save progress and return to the application. Parents should use the same email address they plan to use for official communications and check spam folders for replies. 2. Complete the OpenApply application (one form per child) and upload documents. Each child needs a full OpenApply application with supporting documents (school reports, passport copies, student and parent statements, and a confidential teacher reference); check the online checklist so nothing is missed. Be prepared to pay the non-refundable application fee (listed on the school's fees page) and note that WAB requires a non-refundable portion of tuition (enrollment deposit) once a place is accepted. Parents should confirm their child's birthdate against WAB's August 31 cut-off and have scanned copies of passports and recent school reports ready. 3. Admissions review and timeframe. After you submit a complete application, the Admissions team reviews documents to understand academic background, language needs and any support requirements; the school aims to respond within a few working days but the review can take longer (for example if additional documentation or specialist reports are needed). If your child has identified learning support needs, expect the review to include follow-up with student-support staff. Parents should upload full and clearly legible documents and respond quickly to any Admissions requests to avoid delays. 4. Interview / assessment stage (if required). WAB will schedule interviews or assessments as appropriate: language assessments for students from JG1 who are not native English speakers and math placement testing for Grade 10+ applicants; other assessments or conversations may be used to check fit and to identify required support. Prepare your child by explaining the purpose of the assessment (it is to place them correctly and identify support needs, not to “pass/fail”) and bring originals of documents to any on-campus meetings. If your child needs English-language support, ask Admissions about the school's EAL arrangements before enrollment. 5. Decision, offer and enrolment paperwork. Admissions decisions are made by a committee (section leaders and support teams) and families are notified by OpenApply email; a formal offer will include invoicing instructions, deadlines and the non‑refundable enrollment amount (the tuition page lists payment deadlines and the 30,000 RMB non‑refundable portion required each year). Newly admitted families must meet the invoice payment deadline (typically within 21 calendar days for new students) and returning-student payment deadlines are published annually; review the Tuition & Fees page for proration rules (e.g., reductions for mid-year entry) and late-payment surcharges. Parents should read the Tuition & Fees Terms & Conditions carefully before accepting an offer.
Scholarships	Scholarships The school publishes a scholarships programme that was open for September 2025 entry and lists four award categories: (1) Academic Excellence, (2) STEAM, (3) Performing Arts, and (4) Sports. The admissions page indicates applicants could apply for those awards (it includes a link to the scholarship application form) and describes the scholarships as a separate application process — you should check current availability and exact eligibility criteria, deadlines and assessment arrangements because the page refers specifically to 2025 intake. Scholarship applications typically require evidence of achievement (examples, audition/portfolio, trial sessions or assessed performance) and will be assessed separately from normal admissions; contact Admissions or use the scholarship application link on the school page to confirm current rounds and application materials. If you want official, current details (eligibility, award value, whether the award is partial or full fee remission, and how long an award lasts), ask the Admissions or Finance offices directly — their contact details are on the school site.	Scholarships WAB's public website does not advertise a general, school-wide tuition scholarship or needs-based financial-aid program for families; the official Tuition & Fees pages and Admissions materials describe fees, deposits and limited fee-related policies but do not list routine tuition scholarships. There are a few exceptions and related supports to be aware of: the Swiss School Beijing section (a WAB section) has a Tuition Fee Discount Policy for Swiss families; the school also publicises project and student grants (for example Global Citizenship / changemaker grants that fund student projects, not tuition), and staff contracts commonly include dependent tuition benefits for employees' children. If you need information about any exceptional financial support or one-off awards, contact Admissions directly (they can confirm whether any limited bursaries, discounts or staff-dependent rates apply and advise on documentation and eligibility).
Waitlist	Waitlist The school website's admissions pages do not describe a formal waitlist or central “pool” process. The published admissions flow covers enquiry, application, assessment/interview, offer and then confirmation by payment, but it does not state how the school manages oversubscription or a waiting list. If you are concerned about availability for a particular year/grade (especially mid‑year or for popular year groups), contact the Admissions team directly — the website lists phone numbers and emails for Admissions and for the Finance and Boarding offices to get an up‑to‑date position on vacancies and any informal holding/priority lists the school may operate.	Waitlist WAB does use a waitlist approach when the requested grade is full. Admissions policy and the Swiss School section both note that places are offered based on availability and that later applications are more likely to be waitlisted; when a place opens, Admissions will contact waitlisted families through the OpenApply system. Your position on the waitlist depends on timing, the completeness of your application and the school's assessment of fit and support capacity, so submitting a complete application early improves your chances. OpenApply (the platform WAB uses) also supports explicit “Waitlisted” statuses and re‑application workflows, which is how WAB typically manages offers, notifications and any subsequent moves from waitlist to offer. If you're time-sensitive (for relocation or visa steps), tell Admissions your preferred timelines so they can advise on realistic likelihoods and timing.
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