High School – 2020/2021

High School

Welcome to High School

OCAC Suzhou High School began in August 2020 as a result of dividing the secondary into two divisions, Middle and High School. Our High School Division is comprised of Grades 10, 11 and 12.

The Grade 10 programme is an in-house designed hybrid curriculum which follows the MYP assessment framework and prepares the students for the IBDP. Grades 11 and 12 follow the IB Diploma Programme, which has been authorized since 2018 and will see its first graduating cohort in the summer of 2021. 

Pastoral care and student safe guarding is an important feature of student life in high school. To promote well-being and a balanced lifestyle, we offer an after-school Enrichment programme led by students, teachers, and outside providers, as well as a full athletics programme.   

Being a young, new division, we will continue to reflect on our programme and plan for improvements and opportunities for our students to thrive and succeed in their educational journey both here in Suzhou and beyond. 

Secondary Courses 2019-20 (English and 中文)
I have been working in international education for more than 16 years, with experiences in both teaching and school management. In each of the three schools I’ve worked, Suzhou International Foundation School, Suzhou High School Cambridge ALEVEL center and Dulwich International High School Suzhou, I was one of the core founding members as well as the key player on the school senior leadership team. I am very excited to join OCAC Suzhou, a school specially built for overseas returnees, children of leading talents and students who want to receive high-end international education. It’s my privilege to work with a professional multi-cultural team from over 20 countries, consisting of many IB trained administrators, certified administrators and examiners, who are passionate about education and in awe of their profession. Together, with Chinese origins and global originality, we cultivate life-long learners to meet the global challenges of the twenty-first century, tell Chinese stories on a global platform and create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.
Sophie Zhu Hong
Sophie Zhu HongChinese Head of High School
When I finished my Masters Degree in Psychology and Guidance and Counseling, I started my education career to work as a psychological and college Counselor and Head of Student Activities for 7 years. This made me realize the joys of working with high school students and getting to know my students well. My love for teaching started when I taught Psychologcial statistics in university and then I was introduced to the IB DP Psychology and Theory of Knowledge (TOK) courses years back. I have been a Diploma Programme (DP) Coordinator and TOK teacher for 6 years and I am honored to be given the same roles here in OCAC. Teaching these subjects and my involvement in the IB Educators Network as Examiner (for TOK and Psychology) and as IB Workshop Leader and School Visit Member has changed my attitude, mindset and thinking and it has made me more open-minded, confident and flexible. I wish for the students, teachers, parents and the rest of the OCAC community to experience their own personal life-changing impact of the IB.

I started with OCAC in March 2020 and I look forward to seeing everyone in our dynamic community. I would love to see our DP students graduate and develop into life-long learners and international-minded citizens of the world as they bring the IB Learner Profile and OCAC values wherever they may be.
Vanya Nario
Vanya NarioDiploma Programme Coordinator
Pastoral care provides a safe environment for students to explore ideas, feelings and concepts. In the High School of OCAC Suzhou, the pastoral team strives to foster the emotional, social and academic development of students.

The homeroom teachers track students’ academic progress and physical, social and emotional wellbeing closely to provide guidance and encouragement. Also, the homeroom teachers maintain high levels of contact and communication with the parents of our students. In this way, parents have been working closely with us and actively involved in supporting their children’s academic and personal development. In the meantime, the high school psychological counselor has been assisting the homeroom teachers in every way possible to support the students all the way through every aspect of their school life.

Our high school advisory program is an essential part of the pastoral care It is an 80-minute session that takes place every other week. The IB Learner Profiles and ATL have been incorporated into each advisory session, where students get to deepen their understanding as IB learners and develop skills to become more independent and principled lifelong learners.
Zhu Yinyin
Zhu YinyinPastoral Coordinator
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When I was recruited in a Talent- Program from Boston to Suzhou, the key concern I had was how to find a proper school for my kids, especially my daughter, who would be a high-schooler. The SIP Service Center recommended OCAC Suzhou. And I believe this has been the choice for many returning talents. In the past two years, we have witnessed the growth of OCAC Suzhou. Especially for the high school, from the principle Mr. David Brian, the homeroom teachers to the subject teachers, we have seen the devotion and commitment to try to provide IB teaching, a teaching connecting the classroom with real life, crossing different culture backgrounds, to the high school students. The low ratio of students to teachers allows students to get help from the teachers easily, and the boarding program makes it more like a big family. With high school separated from middle school, and a new senior school leadership team, we believe OCAC Suzhou will continue its unique IB teaching, overcome any challenges for a new school and help the high schoolers to further their dream to college education.
Parent TestimonialGrade 12 Parent

For additional resources related to our Middle and High School program (including curricula and info session PPTs), click here.