Message from Principal

Our student council has been involved in Pfrang’s “Giving Tree”, raising money to support students less fortunate than they are; Our Christmas Fair raised money to support Hopeful Hearts; students from our Ballet Club took part in the Nanjing International Club Christmas Benefit Concert; during Book Week, with the help of our parents and the generous support of Obido Books, collected books worth more than 20,000 rmb. All in the name of charity.

Whilst we have always been proud of our strong academic record – more about which Mrs. Witt-Williams shares in her article – the British School of Nanjing has never been solely about exams and tests. We are proud of how we equip our students for the world that is out their waiting for them. We want our students to be change-makers and raising awareness, as well as funds, for important issues is one way they can be. We encourage our students, through groups like the student council, to tackle issues, develop an awareness of the needs of people from across society, and to cultivate a spirit of service.

And whilst these activities might become a little more noticeable around Christmas, this work continues throughout the school year. Residential trips, like those in our Senior School to Cambodia and Tanzania, form part of this, with students raising funds and taking part in life-changing construction projects designed to support local communities. Our students have also organised and run their own assemblies in school over the last twelve months, promoting everything from gender equality to multiculturism and being global citizens. This coming summer, two of our older students will, again, join others from across Nord Anglia Education schools to take part in the UNICEF Summit in New York, learning about the impact of the global goals on real people.

Through our project, ‘Share a Dream’, we are working to ensure that all the good we do – both as a school but also as individuals – is recorded and recognized. Share A Dream helps facilitate the good work happening in every Nord Anglia school community and gives students and teachers the power to effect positive, lasting change around the world. The first phase of has seen the student-led “Share a Dream Team’ create termly reports cataloguing the funds raised, the goods donated and the hours offered to impact change through the site and share these reports with students and parents. Phase two, launching soon, will allow individual students to log their role within these events creating their own “Curriculum Vitae” of social responsibility and community engagement that follows them through their school career and on to university -  all part of our ambition to ensure “Social change takes flight in our school” throughout the year and not just for Christmas!