REDSTAR Hangzhou June 2020

广 告 • 教 育 // EDUCATION /
be aiming for once they graduate from
university. Is globalisation itself coming
into question, as nations retreat and
look inwards for security and a return
to more prosperous times? This is why
it is important to educate children not
only with requisite knowledge, but
also with the skills that can be applied
to any job, any task and any industry.
To develop children who are lifelong
learners. Skills such as problemsolving,
teamwork, critical thinking,
leadership, being resilient in the face of
challenges; all of these can be applied
broadly, and, more importantly, we can
continue to focus on teaching them at
this time.
During times of crisis it is reassuring to
see a stable education being provided
to students. Wellington College
International Hangzhou combines
world-class facilities and resources,
highly qualified and carefully selected
teaching staff, together with a
rigorous curriculum and values-based
educational philosophy to teach the
skills students clearly need in the
21st century. Through the sports, arts,
drama, sciences, co-curricular activities
and over 200 school activities,
students experience a range of
opportunities that push them to their
limits, stretch their imaginations and
teach them that trying hard and ‘failing
forward’ is often more important than
getting it right the first time. This type
of holistic education - which values
both academic and non-academic
achievement is crucial not only now
but also in the years ahead.
Does providing a holistic
education sacrifice
academic progress?
There is a common misconception that
providing a holistic education, where
children are happy coming to school,
means that students are relaxed and
are not progressing academically. We
believe the opposite is true; providing
a holistic education does not imply a
relaxed attitude towards academics,
and in fact will result in even better
academic performance. The research
shows that students with high levels
of emotional wellbeing are more
motivated to study, have more energy,
are more independent, more resilient
to challenges and overall perform
better academically than in schools
where students are given enormous
pressure to cram for tests. Furthermore,
as previously outlined, a holistic
education also provides opportunities
for students to develop skills that will
serve them well beyond university.
An increasing trend shows that the
world’s top universities are looking
beyond pure exam results, and are
additionally focusing on attracting
well-rounded students who can
demonstrate a passion for life, a
commitment to contributing to the
university community, and who are
able to learn beyond textbooks,
taking ownership of their own study
pathways. Wellingtonians leave the
College inspired by the world around
them, ready to take full advantage of
all the opportunities waiting for them
at university and as a result they are
competitive applicants.
myredstar.com 55