About the Host School
Beijing National Day School was established in 1952 and has more than 5,500 Chinese students, from 12 to 18 years of age. Forty of our students actually come from overseas to pursue their studies in BNDS.
The school is extremely highly regarded, with the aim to pursue first-class education in Beijing and to ensure its status as a model school in China. Its educational philosophy is: 'Reform, Choice, Development and Harmony.'
Teaching excellence is achieved through dialogue and communication, moral education through understanding and communication, and management success through the guiding principles of efficiency and harmony.
The campus is extensive (over 156,000 square metres) and teaching conditions are excellent: three classroom buildings, one administration building, an arts centre building, a science and technology building, main library and international department library, students' dorm building, 6 cafeterias and a well-equipped gymnasium. The school wide campus intranet connects more than 1,100 computers, and 116 classrooms are equipped with large screen projection televisions and multi-media resources connected to the internet. The science and technology building has modern labs for maths, physics, chemistry, biology and also DNA research.
BNDS teaching staff possess high moral standards, vast professional knowledge, and excellent scientific research abilities. BNDS has 19 distinguished educators, 12 teachers possessing doctorate degrees, 90 teachers with master's degrees and 7-10 foreign teachers from the USA, UK and commonwealth countries. Additionally, 125 teachers have completed Masters courses. BNDS also has 110 teachers who are academic pioneers in Beijing or local areas to Beijing, 26 of whom have been recognized as national or provincial model teachers.
The A Level Centre
The A level Centre opened in August 2009. The International Centre has its own building within the school campus and can therefore develop its own ethos, alongside the whole school ethos and culture. The school's campus, as described above, is extensive with more of a university feel and appearance, compared to a traditional school. The International Centre has a range of laboratories, IT suites, studios, lecture theatres, study rooms, teachers' offices, faculty lounge and students' lounge
There are currently 160 students enrolled on the pre-A level and A level programme, but this number will increase substantially over the course of the next academic year and beyond.
We have students of exceptional ability, but as all students are new to the A level system they do initially demonstrate poor note taking skills and organisation skills. They do need time and coaching to adapt to a western style of teaching and learning. English language skills are also incredibly important, as the students with weaker English skills are obviously less able to pick up new information.
The extra-curricular activies run by the Centre include robot club, drama club and Excel club. The school has more than one hundred different clubs or selective courses for students to participate in.
The A Level Centre at BNDS is a small part of a very big school, but is of great importance to the school, and the management provide considerable time and support to help make it a success. After starting with six staff and 70 pupils in 2009, we all expect to see rapid growth over the next two years.
Lifestyle
The on-campus accommodation is excellent. The apartments, located about four minutes walk from the International Building, are will equipped (usually IKEA) and our expatriate teachers are very happy with the size of the apartments. The apartments are next to a school gate, with shops outside the gate, and there is a western style supermarket (Bon Jour) 9 minutes walk away and a large western style shopping mall 3 kilometres away with a Carrefour.
We are 12 kilometres directly west of Tiananmen Square, and in a Chinese part of the City. (The main expatriate area is just east of Tainanmen Square with a much higher, general cost of living). In the immediate area, we have shops ranging from a large traditional food and clothes market, to western style shops, supermarket and many bars and restaurants. Three kilometers away is a western mall with a large supermarket, cinema, nightclub and many restaurants.
We are 5 minutes walk from the very cheap and efficient subway system, which will take you to the centre of Beijing within 30 minutes and links to the rest of the city via the network of subway lines. We are on many bus routes, and taxis are both plentiful and cheap.
Most people are very surprised by how 'western' they find Beijing – in some areas there is very little difference to parts of London, Sydney or New York.
Staff can choose to experience a Chinese culture and lifestyle by staying locally, or join the western lifestyle by travelling 40 minutes to the east of the city (of course, most people have a balance of the two).
Stories of pollution and internet blocks are greatly exaggerated. Money can be sent out of the country, to a person, by Western Union soon after you arrive, but to transfer money to a bank account out of China requires a tax certificate, which currently takes two months to obtain: people with direct debits etc. need to be aware of this. Bookshops are mostly in town, so avid readers may want to bring a couple to keep them entertained until they discover the local suppliers.
Cultural experiences are plentiful, with Tiananmen Square, The Forbidden City, The Summer Palace (to name a few) and The Great Wall in close proximity. Other points of interest include Shijingshan District Beijing International Sculpture Park, Shijingshan Amusement Park, Military Museum and Beijing Badachu Park.
In an ancient city with a population far in excess of London, and a large and growing middle-class, there is no shortage of things to do, see, buy and experience - the main problem is choosing!
Teacher Case Study
Bryan Manditsch, Centre Principal and Teacher of Economics
I joined Beijing National Day School this academic year (August 2009). Previously, I taught for six years in Manchester, eight years in Kenya, eight years in Kuwait and three years in Qatar. The last two countries were as Principal of International Schools.
My role involves ensuring that staff have all the resources they require to do their job to the best of their ability. In addition, developing the Host School's understanding of the CIE system and UK teaching methodology, and ensuring good communication between all the stakeholders. A variety of systems also need to be developed within a new centre so that it can operate effectively in the short term, and to enable it to expand significantly in the long term.
Key benefits of working here are extremely dedicated students, great support from the Host School, a small staff, good resources and a huge and interesting city outside the door! Staff put in lots of hours, but find their jobs extremely rewarding.
There is a very large amount of work to do in setting-up a new Centre (especially working on the inter-relationships of all the stakeholders) which eats into my time, but there is more than enough to do in the free time I have. Despite the volume of work, it does not feel like a high pressure job.
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Student Case Study
What are the benefits for you personally in studying at the A level Centre?
I started my A level classes this year and I am 2 months into the programme. My life here is exciting and peaceful. I was starting to struggle in the Chinese system (although I have never doubted my study and other abilities) and this is the chance for a new beginning.
I prefer this kind of study – we don't have too much homework, which means we have time to read books and study by ourselves. A' Level classes are interesting – teachers don't just read the book, telling us definitions. It gives me a sense of achievement.
Here, I have more chance to take part in a range of activities I like. The teachers really want us to do things for class, the department and for experience. They also offer lots of opportunities.
Life here is peaceful. In the Chinese system there are so many students and I have so many friends – because of this, everyday other people's problems occupy my life. I cannot focus on myself and think about what I want, what I need to do.
What has been challenging?
I cannot feel a great improvement in my English yet and I worry about my general level now. The future is very uncertain and I do not know what kind of university to go to. Sometimes I am very confused.
In physics, some expressions are different from the expressions we learnt in Chinese: it is difficult to connect them. Sometimes we cannot understand questions in exams and exercises, even though we understand each word.
What are your plans for after you finish your A levels?
I'm going to the USA to continue my education. My major may be business, but I'm not sure yet about the universities I will apply for.
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