The World International School (WIS)

The World International School (WIS) is a purpose-built campus in south-eastern China,

in its earliest stage of development, with construction having been funded by bank
loans secured by the school founder. It serves the local expatriate community (mainly
from car manufacturing industries) and a growing number of local students. It serves
students from 3 to 18 years of age, but the largest numbers of students are currently in
the primary years. With 320 students, approximately half boys and half girls, the school
is based on the English national curriculum, but will offer the PYP, MYP and IB Diploma
Programme as they are authorised to do so. Additionally, it has applied to be a member
of ECIS, and will seek accreditation in due course. It is a fee-paying school and has no
other source of income, though the local government did provide the land at no cost.
The plan is for the school to grow to 750 students by the end of the third year of
operations.

Andrew Dolling was appointed by the board as the school’s founding Head of School
(head teacher). Andrew had four years of previous leadership experience as the High
School Principal in an English curriculum school in Africa, and this experience of living in
another culture has helped in his adaptation to life in China.

Ronald Chan, the board chair, is a successful and exceptionally busy company CEO.
He returned to China after his university years in England, and he was the chair of the
search committee that selected Andrew as head.

The board’s constitution allows for 14 members. The Head of School has a non-voting
(ex-officio) position on the Board. The other members are elected from the school
community, and are all parents of children at WIS. Being a new school in a new
community, most board members do not have previous experience of serving on a
school board.

The case studies for this course draw on the first year of operations at WIS, including the
transition into the second year, such as preparing the budget, etc.