What should a class look like if it is to inspire children’s inner motivation?

Step into YWIES Tongxiang Primary and you will find that the classroom is no longer a place for one-way instruction and rote memorisation. Instead, it becomes an interactive “laboratory of discovery”, filled with opportunities for exploration, practice and meaningful engagement.YWIES Tongxiang Primary is grounded in China’s National Curriculum for nine-year compulsory education and enriched by a bilingual learning framework, inquiry-based teaching and a holistic approach to education. This enables children to move from passive recipients of knowledge to active explorers, gradually taking ownership of their learning as they grow in knowledge, skills and character.

01

Bilingual Learning: Where Communication and Thinking Come Naturally

Language is more than an object of study. It is a tool for thinking and a bridge for communication. At YWIES Tongxiang Primary, bilingual learning is woven into both classroom learning and everyday school life.

Chinese lessons are built around four core areas: language accumulation, critical thinking, reading and communication, forming a progressive learning pathway. Each morning, students recite classical poems and explore open-ended questions from the “Thinking Treasure Box”, developing their language skills and broadening their thinking.  Through the “One Book a Month” whole-book reading programme, students progress from simply “reading the story” to exploring “how it is written” and “what it means”. Reading challenges and sharing activities involving teachers, students and parents help to create a strong culture of shared reading. Students write one piece each week, while selected work is compiled into a monthly magazine, building confidence through celebration and continued encouragement. Learning skills such as dictionary use are taught through challenges, competitions and collaborative activities, encouraging students to take greater ownership of their learning.

For students learning Chinese as an additional language, activities such as situational dialogue, picture-and-character matching and short drama performances help them develop confidence in expressing themselves in real-life contexts.

English learning also focuses on practical use. Through games, role-play and interactive strategies such as Think–Pair–Share, students use English to express ideas, communicate with others and build connections. English is also integrated into mathematics, science, social studies and the arts. As students explore scientific concepts, reason through mathematical ideas and engage in creative work, they encounter and use academic English naturally. In this way, language learning and knowledge-building take place together.

The school provides adaptive teaching based on students’ levels of attainment, offering appropriate support and challenge for learners with different starting points. This enables teachers to respond more effectively to individual learning needs.

02

Inquiry-Based Learning: Nurturing Independent Thinkers and Lifelong Learners

More important than memorising answers is learning how to ask meaningful questions. At YWIES Tongxiang Primary, project-based learning and cross-curricular inquiry are integrated into everyday teaching. Students are encouraged to observe the world like researchers, ask questions, test ideas and seek solutions in real-life contexts. Step by step, they develop independent thinking and the capacity for lifelong learning.

In science lessons, students learn to think like scientists. Through the Science Discovery Moments programme, they experience the complete process of asking questions, forming hypotheses, conducting experiments, recording findings and reflecting on results. From observing seeds grow to exploring sound, light, electricity and magnetism, students make abstract scientific thinking tangible, practical and meaningful.

Mathematics learning extends far beyond memorising formulae and completing repetitive exercises. It helps students understand the world and solve real-life problems. In a picture-book mathematics lesson combining Mid-Autumn Festival culture with bilingual communication, students explore the concepts of equal sharing and division through the mooncakes and glutinous rice cakes sharing story. In the “Calendar Detectives” activity, students work collaboratively to investigate five years of real calendars, discovering the patterns of long months, short months and February. Younger students use construction toys and manipulatives to build models of numbers, progressing from hands-on exploration to abstract understanding and developing number sense and foundational calculation skills.

Social studies extends learning to the relationship between individuals and society. Through activities such as designing a school magazine and developing business plans, students learn about division of labour and collaboration while developing self-management and teamwork.

03

A Diverse and Balanced Curriculum System: Nurturing Well-Rounded Individuals

Holistic education means nurturing children’s intellectual, physical, aesthetic and emotional development. YWIES Tongxiang Primary offers a broad curriculum encompassing academic learning, the arts, sport and wellbeing, enabling students to discover their interests and develop their potential through a rich range of experiences.

Music and the arts provide children with opportunities to express emotions and experience the world. Violin, a distinctive compulsory subject within the Yew Chung Yew Wah educational tradition, is introduced from the early years within the bilingual learning environment. As students learn bowing, fingering and performance techniques, they develop concentration and self-expression. Ensemble playing and stage performances further help them build confidence. Music lessons combine singing, dance, percussion and creative props, encouraging students to explore rhythm and timbre while experiencing the joy of music and collaboration. In art lessons, students are encouraged to discover their own ways of expression through observation, imagination and creative work. Through drawing, crafts and other artistic activities, they develop aesthetic awareness and sustained creativity.

Sport lessons develop far more than physical fitness; they also build character. Through games, athletics, swimming, gymnastics and ball sports, students improve their coordination, strength and sporting habits. Through teamwork, taking responsibility and overcoming challenges, they learn to respect rules, fulfil their responsibilities and face setbacks. The curriculum also focuses not only on helping students learn how to win gracefully and respond calmly to mistakes and failure.

Ethics and law lessons begin with everyday life. Through topics such as washing hands before meals, table manners and identifying spoiled food, students develop health awareness, respect for rules and positive habits. The school also offers Life Skills and Wellbeing lessons, which support students in developing self-awareness, emotional regulation and positive relationships. This gives them a healthy and positive emotional foundation when facing academic and personal challenges.

04

Distinctive Features of the Primary Department: Comprehensive Support from Learning to Personal Growth

Through thoughtful academic management and a comprehensive support system, YWIES Tongxiang Primary brings its educational philosophy to life in students’ everyday learning and school experience. Together, these initiatives provide continuous support from the classroom to activities beyond the classroom, and from academic development to social growth.

A Seamless Transition from Kindergarten to Primary

For children preparing to enter primary school, the school has designed a caring transition programme that places equal emphasis on familiarity and experience. Children are given ample opportunities to experience primary school life, become familiar with the school environment and learning routines, and make the transition with greater confidence and ease.

Common Assessments in Chinese, Mathematics and English

To maintain high academic standards, Chinese, mathematics and English are assessed through common school-wide tests. These assessments help the school track students’ learning progress and understanding, evaluate teaching effectiveness and provide continuous feedback on both student development and classroom practice.

A Tailored Homework Club: Differentiated Support for Individual Development

The Homework Club offers two forms of support to meet the different needs and developmental rhythms of each child:

01  Homework Support: Teachers provide attentive guidance throughout the process, helping students develop concentration, positive learning habits and neat, accurate handwriting.

02  Academic Extension: Students who require additional support receive targeted guidance, while those ready for greater challenge are offered extension activities that broaden their thinking.

The “Shining Parents” Programme: Real-Life Sharing that Broadens Horizons

Every Friday assembly features a “Shining Parents” session. Parents from a range of professions and industries are invited to share their knowledge and experiences with students. These sessions broaden children’s horizons, foster respect for every profession and create meaningful connections between school and the wider world.

Through engaging inquiry-based learning, a rigorous and diverse curriculum, and the dedicated support of experienced Chinese and Foreign teachers, YWIES Tongxiang is committed to helping every child build a strong academic foundation, develop the confidence to communicate across languages and cultures, cultivate scientific rigour and critical-thinking skills, and nurture a rich inner life through the arts and sport.

When a child discovers the joy of exploring the world in the classroom, they have already embraced limitless possibilities for the future.

Book a School Visit

We warmly invite you and your child to visit YWIES Tongxiang, meet our teaching team and experience our international learning environment first-hand.

Scan the QR code to contact our Admissions Officer and book your school visit.