School Accreditation

In July 2009 Sha Tin College was awarded accreditation from two highly respected accreditation agencies: the Council of International Schools (CIS) and The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

The Council of International Schools (CIS) took over responsibility for the Accreditation Service which the European Council of International Schools had been offering to schools since 1970.  CIS is an independent, non-profit, membership organisation of approximately 500 international schools in approximately 110 countries throughout the world.  It serves the interests of some 340,000 young people, a constituency which represents many nationalities with varied cultural, religious, and linguistic backgrounds.  CIS also includes universities and colleges to which students from international schools apply. Presently, there are just over one hundred and eighty CIS member schools that have been granted accreditation status.

The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) is one of the six regional accrediting associations in the United States and is composed of three commissions: (1) the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities, (2) the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, and (3) the Accrediting Commission for Schools. The Accrediting Commission for Schools extends its services to 3500 K-12 grade level public, independent, church-related, and proprietary schools within California and Hawaii in the United States, East Asia, Australia, and the Pacific Islands.

The awards were given after an extensive school self-evaluation which was carried out over an eighteen month period. The full school self-evaluation programme consists of three main stages: a self-study conducted by the staff and other members of the school community, an evaluation by a visiting team, and the follow-up programme carried out by the school under CIS monitoring.  This last stage is to implement the findings of the self-study and the valid recommendations of the visiting team.

The school self-study was conducted in 2008-09 and the team visit took place in March 2009. The team visit was led by Mr Peter Mott, Director of Zurich International School, assisted by ten colleagues from other schools around the world. The College was awarded accreditation by both agencies in July 2009.

The visiting team report is an extensive document (115 pages) and commended the school in many areas.  The Visiting Team clearly viewed the school very positively. Amongst others, the Visiting Team commended:

• The school for having generated a comprehensive statement of the values, qualities,
and attitudes students are expected to develop and which the school commits to
nurturing.

• The teaching staff for their enthusiasm and commitment to enhancing the learning
experience of students through a variety of methodologies within a supportive and
caring environment.

• The teaching staff for helping students achieve consistently high I/GCSE results.

• The excellent working relationship between the Principal and the School Council.

• The students, staff and administration for the good-humoured, warm and supportive
relationships that are fostered in the school.

• The administration and staff for promoting student participation in a wide and growing
number of school clubs and activities.

In order to move the school forward the accreditation agencies and the visiting team made numerous recommendations, which the school is now carefully considering. These recommendations will form the basis of the school’s development plan, for short, medium and long term implementation.

By adopting a well planned, carefully structured development programme the school will be able to build on its’ strengths and continue to improve. To quote from the visiting Team Report “Sha Tin College is an academically solid school on the verge of opening a new chapter in its history”. It is an exciting and stimulating time for students, parents and staff as we move forward together.