History

Since 2004, heads from schools in China and leading partners in education from around the world discussed ways to develop enhanced understanding and cooperation between schools. From these discussions grew the desire to create a formal association of selected leading schools, part of them from China and part of them from the West. The World Leading Schools Association was established in 2011 at the 5th World Leading Schools' Forum, which would eventually become the WLSA Global Educators Conference. 

WLSA Founding Members
Eton College
Harvard-Westlake
CHEER Foundation
Groton School
Geelong Grammar School
High School Affiliated to Fudan University
Beijing No. 4

WLSA has a rich history hosting events that bring together leading experts in the field of education to promote cooperation, academic exchange, discussion and research of innovative and stimulating educational topics. School heads, senior faculty, admissions officials, college counselors, students and others working in the field of education from secondary schools, universities and independent educational organizations have worked together at our conferences to support cultural awareness and understanding and to encourage meaningful, long-term collaborative activities across continents.   

Prior to the launch of WLSA at the 5th World Leading Schools Forum, New York, July 2011, International Forums of Leading Schools were hosted by the CHEER Foundation. These conferences were designed to act as a platform to support the world's leading head teachers in increasing international communication and co-operation between China and the West. These events appear on the timeline below.

Past Events
2019
July 19

2019 Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding Between WLSA and Tsinghua University

2019 Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding Between WLSA and Tsinghua University
July 18

2019 CAN Reception

2019 CAN Reception
July 17

2019 Launch of the WLSA Charitable Foundation

2019 Launch of the WLSA Charitable Foundation
July 17

2019 Global Educators Conference in Prague (CZ)

2019 Global Educators Conference in Prague (CZ)
May 14

2019 British Secondary Schools Conference in Shanghai

2019 British Secondary Schools Conference in Shanghai
2018
November 5

2018 CAN College Admissions Open Days

2018 CAN College Admissions Open Days
The 2018 College Admissions Open Days CAN events were held between 5 – 6 November at WLSA associate schools Millfield School and Oundle School in the United Kingdom.
July 16

2018 WLSA Student Conference and CAN Conference

2018 WLSA Student Conference and CAN Conference
The 2016 WLSA Student Conference and CAN Conference were held between 16 – 21 July 2018 at the Korea International School Jeju Campus on Jeju Island, South Korea.
May 27

2018 College Admission Network (CAN) Conference Tour

2018 College Admission Network (CAN) Conference Tour
The WLSA College Admission Network (CAN) brings together secondary school counselors and university admission officers from around the globe. The CAN Conference Tour took place in Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu and Xi’an, China between 27 – 31 May 2018.   Learn more about the College Admission Network.    
April 18

2018 Chinese Consortium at Tsinghua University High School (CN)

2018 Chinese Consortium at Tsinghua University High School (CN)
February 10

2018 Faculty Exchange at Lovett School

2018 Faculty Exchange at Lovett School
2017
July 7

2017 WLSA & CAN Conference

2017 WLSA & CAN Conference
In 2017 the WLSA and CAN Conferences were held in Shanghai, China between 7 – 10 July.
2016
April 4

WLSA Strategic Meeting at Eton College (GB)

WLSA Strategic Meeting at Eton College (GB)
March 15

2016 East to West Exchange at Harvard-Westlake (US)

2016 East to West Exchange at Harvard-Westlake (US)
March 14

2016 East to West Exchange at Cranbrook School

2016 East to West Exchange at Cranbrook School
February 22

2016 East to West Exchange at Geelong Grammar School

2016 East to West Exchange at Geelong Grammar School
February 9

2016 East to West Exchange at African Leadership Academy (ZA)

2016 East to West Exchange at African Leadership Academy (ZA)
February 9

2016 East to West Exchange at Oakham School (GB)

2016 East to West Exchange at Oakham School (GB)
2015
October 23

2015 East to West Exchange at Cranbrook Schools (US)

2015 East to West Exchange at Cranbrook Schools (US)
September 22

2015 Higher Education Admission Fairs in Beijing (CN)

2015 Higher Education Admission Fairs in Beijing (CN)
August 17

2015 Chinese Liberal Arts College Tour (CN)

2015 Chinese Liberal Arts College Tour (CN)
June 15

2015 Admission Conference (CN)

2015 Admission Conference (CN)
May 7

2015 British Secondary School Conference in Beijing (CN)

2015 British Secondary School Conference in Beijing (CN)
May 4

2015 British Secondary School Conference in Shanghai (CN)

2015 British Secondary School Conference in Shanghai (CN)
March 29

2015 Higher Education Admission Fairs in Shanghai (CN)

2015 Higher Education Admission Fairs in Shanghai (CN)
March 19

2015 East to West Exchange at Norfolk Academy (US)

2015 East to West Exchange at Norfolk Academy (US)