Qingdao Baishan School Earns ICA Recognition Status: A Milestone of Excellence in International Education

Qingdao Baishan School Earns ICA Recognition Status: A Milestone of Excellence in International Education

       Qingdao Baishan School is proud to announce that, as of June 2025, we have officially achieved Recognized School status from the International Curriculum Association (ICA) for both our International Primary Curriculum (IPC) and International Middle Years Curriculum (IMYC) programs. This prestigious recognition places us as the only ICA Recognized School in Mainland China. It sets us on track to become just the second ICA Accredited School in the country by 2027.

A Journey of Growth and Commitment

      Our ICA journey began in 2021, when we first adopted the IPC and IMYC curricula as part of our commitment to delivering a truly global education. These internationally respected frameworks are designed to nurture holistic development through thematic, student-centered learning that builds international mindedness, personal growth, and academic rigor.

      In June 2024, we took a significant step forward by becoming an ICA Candidate School. This launched a year-long process of self-reflection and program-wide improvement. During this period, our staff engaged deeply with ICA’s quality standards, focusing on teaching practices, curriculum implementation, and whole- school alignment.

      One of the most impactful outcomes of this journey was the creation of a new Mission Statement and Shared Vision for Learning, which now serve as a guiding compass for our community. These statements will continue to support our efforts through the full ICA Accreditation process and beyond, ensuring we remain focused on meaningful, student-centered education.

Transforming Practice, Strengthening Community

       As part of our improvement efforts, we launched several key initiatives in the 2024–2025 academic year. These included Differentiated Work Time (DWT) to personalize learning experiences and monthly Personal Learning Goal assemblies in the IPC, which fostered character development and self- awareness in our younger learners.

       Our teachers committed themselves to refining their professional practice, always with the goal of improving student outcomes and creating engaging, inclusive classrooms. This culture of continuous learning extended beyond the classroom, with leadership, staff, students, and families all playing critical roles in preparing for the digital recognition visit.

A Rigorous and Rewarding Evaluation

       The official ICA digital recognition visit took place on June 5 and 6, 2025. The IPC program was reviewed on the first day, followed by the IMYC program on the second. Over the two days, evaluators conducted comprehensive observations, including classroom visits, lesson walkthroughs, and interviews with teachers, students, and families.

       Though the standard reporting timeline is six weeks, we received word of our successful recognition just one week after the visit—an encouraging testament to the strength of our community and the quality of our program.

       The ICA’s report was overwhelmingly positive, highlighting numerous strengths and offering thoughtful recommendations for further growth. As part of the ICA process, we will now develop a strategic improvement plan based on this feedback. Our next major milestone will be an in-person ICA accreditation visit in June 2027, where we aim to achieve full Accredited School status.

Looking Ahead with Purpose

      The ICA accreditation framework is not just about meeting benchmarks; it’s about building a school culture that embraces continuous improvement, reflective practice, and alignment with a shared educational vision. These principles now guide everything we do at Qingdao Baishan School.

      We are incredibly proud of our teachers, students, and families, whose dedication, openness, and collaboration have made this recognition possible. More than a badge of honor, this milestone highlights the extraordinary learning that takes place in our school every day—and inspires us to continue growing.

The future is bright at Qingdao Baishan School, and we are just getting started.