Cogdel School Chengdu (Cogdel School Chengdu) is an international school located in Anren Ancient Town, Dayi County, Chengdu, with 80 years of history. The school provides a 12-year K-12 programme covering primary, middle, and high school, offering mainstream international courses including IGCSE, A-Level, and AP (IB-PYP candidate school, IBDP application in progress). It is an official CAIE examination centre, Edexcel official examination centre, Cambridge English KET/PET official examination centre, College Board AP authorized school, and holds Cognia global accreditation.

The school's mission is to "cultivate leaders who walk the world with pride." Led by principal Amy Lu (Lu Kun), a Tsinghua University alumna and former technology investor, the school enrols approximately 100 students per year, maintaining a small-scale, high-quality model with a track record of university admissions success.

The school is located at No.247 Section 2 Yingbin Road, Anren Town, Dayi County, Chengdu, within the nationally rated 5A Anren Ancient Town scenic area. The buildings are heritage-listed Republican-era architecture, earning the campus its reputation as "a school hidden in 80 years of scholarly heritage." The campus is tree-lined with squirrels and peacocks roaming freely.

Many parents and students fall in love with the campus the moment they step through the gates -- the school calls this the "love at first sight" reason. The campus is equipped with modern laboratories, art studios, Innovation Hub (maker space), startup coffee shop, multi-sport fields, professional photography studio, and digital media creation lab.

Cogdel School Chengdu holds multiple internationally recognized accreditations:

• Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) IGCSE/A-Level Official Examination Centre
• Pearson Edexcel IGCSE/A-Level Official Examination Centre
• Cambridge English Assessment KET/PET Official Examination Centre
• College Board (USA) AP Course Authorized School
• IB-PYP (Primary Years Programme) Official Candidate School
• Cognia Global Accreditation for International Schools
• Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Operating Centre
• Ministry of Education China-International People-to-People Exchange Centre "Special School"

Recent awards: 3 consecutive years of Pearson "Outstanding School Award," 2026 Cambridge East Asia "10 Year School Award," 2026 Top 100 International School Brand Value List.

Cogdel's faculty is known for being "hardcore." Key data: 40% of teachers graduated from UK G5 and US Ivy League universities, 60% from China's C9 top universities; 60% hold Master's or PhD degrees; 100% have overseas study or work experience; 100% hold official A-Level/AP teaching certifications.

The management team consists of experienced Chinese and international educators: Principal Amy Lu (Tsinghua University aerospace engineering, CEIBS MBA); multiple vice principals hold University of Nottingham PGCEi, Michigan State University Master of Education degrees and 15+ years of international education experience.

The high school implements a "1+N Mentor System" -- 1 homeroom mentor plus specialized mentors in academics, competitions, and admissions, creating a customized development plan for every student.

Principal Lu designed Cogdel around three education pain points:

First, breaking the single assessment system. Cogdel uses the "8-Dimension Competency Portfolio" instead of traditional report cards -- tracking Vision, Learning Ability, Physical & Mental Health, Intrinsic Motivation, Innovation, Leadership, Collaboration, and Responsibility.

Second, connecting school with society. Through project-based learning, career exploration starting in Grade 6, the Investors' Classroom, and Career Fairs, broadening students' horizons.

Third, making soft skills development scientific. Using engineering logic, tracking leadership by semester, recording every step of growth with data.

In short: using engineering logic to design future-ready education.

Full K-12 international curriculum coverage:

• Primary (Grades 1-5): IB-PYP + National Compulsory Education Curriculum integration, dual-track
• Middle (Grades 6-8): National curriculum + international school-based curriculum (integrated UK Key Stage 3)
• High (Grades 9-12): IGCSE + A-Level (21 subjects), AP courses; IBDP application in progress
• US University Dual-Enrolment (URP Design Thinking)

The primary school has four core features:

Dual-Track Development -- Chinese and Mathematics benchmarked against top-tier public schools, while integrating international teaching methods.

IB-PYP Inquiry -- Six transdisciplinary theme inquiry units developing critical thinking, creative thinking, communication skills, and cross-disciplinary research ability.

Differentiated English -- Cross-grade instruction with foreign and Chinese teachers collaborating, immersive bilingual environment, KET highest level by Grade 5.

Personalized Customization -- "One Student, One Group" feedback mechanism: weekly academic summaries, monthly PYP inquiry reports, three-way conferences each semester.

Cogdel has designed a systematic "smooth primary-to-secondary transition":

• Grade 6 joins the Middle School division early -- starting secondary science courses while continuing IB-PYP inquiry
• China-West fusion curriculum -- Maths and Sciences based on the national curriculum, integrated with UK Key Stage 3; science lab ratio increased to 40%
• Early career planning -- Grade 6 initiates subject exploration, personal assessment, and career exploration
• English intensification -- CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) approach; PET achieved by Grade 8
• Full competition coverage -- 100% student participation in AMC, BPhO and other international competitions

The high school is built around "free course selection":

• Full offering of IGCSE, A-Level (21 subjects), AP and other mainstream international courses, with free combination across humanities, sciences, and arts
• IELTS specialist custom language courses -- complete standardized English test preparation on campus
• "1+N Mentor System" -- 1 homeroom mentor plus specialized mentors
• US University Dual-Enrolment (URP Design Thinking) -- earn overseas university credits while in high school
• On-campus support: subject tutoring, new student bridging programme, exam preparation plans, and competition coaching

Yes, the "Global Art School Programme" is open to Grade 9 students with a customized pathway.

Curriculum: "2 years IGCSE + 2 years A-Level" structure. Covering five pathways: Fine Art, Architecture, Animation, Illustration, and Music.

Results: Art exam A/B rate exceeds 90% (far above global average); 100% of graduates in the past 5 years received QS Art & Design TOP10 offers; top A-Level Art & Design scores in China for two consecutive years.

"One Student, One Timetable" is Cogdel's core practice of personalized education. The school uses departmentalized scheduling -- classrooms are fixed by subject, and students move between classrooms.

A real example: a Grade 5 student whose English is at primary level but physics, chemistry, and biology have reached secondary level. The school designed a cross-division personalized timetable -- English and humanities in the primary division, science classes crossing into the middle school for experiments and research.

In high school, this manifests as "21 A-Level free combinations + differentiated English + 1+N mentor customization."

The admissions process has five steps:

1. Consultation -- Discuss your child's grade, learning background, interests, and family priorities
2. Campus Visit -- Experience the campus, curriculum, student support, and boarding life
3. Assessment -- Academic testing (Maths, English), student interview, parent interview, portfolio review (art applicants)
4. Admissions Discussion -- Curriculum pathway, university direction recommendations, and admissions communication
5. Enrolment -- Confirm enrolment, submit registration and entry documents, prepare for pre-term bridging

The school enrols year-round with rolling admissions. Main entry points are September (autumn) and February (spring).

Entry requires a comprehensive evaluation including academic testing (mainly Maths and English), student interview, and parent interview.

Different grades have different focus areas: lower grades emphasise learning potential and behavioural habits; higher grades focus on academic foundations and university pathway alignment. Art applicants need to submit a portfolio.

The school follows a "matching admissions" principle -- not looking at scores alone, but whether the student aligns with the school's educational philosophy and development model.

Specific fees vary by division. Please call the admissions hotline at 400-803-6661 or book a campus visit for detailed information.

Principal Lu shares candidly: from primary through high school, the total investment of one to two million RMB buys three things, not just certificates:

Time optimisation -- Finding direction earlier in a more suitable system, avoiding wasted detours.

Long-term abilities, not short-term scores -- Learning how to learn, express, and face uncertainty. These soft skills generate compounding returns throughout life.

Family relationship savings -- Parents are no longer the ones nagging about homework every day. The parent-child relationship returns to one of support and companionship.

In short: value is a question of fit, not absolute price.

Principal Lu identifies three key questions to ask before making the switch:

First, what is the nature of your child's "pain"? Is it "can't learn" (the knowledge itself is too difficult) or "won't learn" (they've lost interest in the learning approach)?

Second, what kind of learner is your child? A "slow warm-up" type needs stable environments and long-term relationships; an "explorer" thrives on change and novelty.

Third, is the family ready? Do parents understand and align with international education philosophy? Are they willing to let go of score-focused anxiety?

The school offers a 2-week "Academic Bridging Camp" each August, run by the high school's full subject team, to help new students transition smoothly.

Three key differences:

Breadth of assessment -- The public system uses written exam scores as the sole standard; Cogdel uses the 8-Dimension Competency Portfolio.

Connection to society -- Cogdel connects students to the real world through project-based learning, career exploration, and Career Fairs.

Level of personalization -- Departmentalized scheduling, one-student-one-timetable, 1:3 student-teacher ratio, ensuring every child receives focused attention.

Cogdel builds leadership development around five core competencies:

• Critical Thinking -- Classrooms ask "what is your evidence?" rather than encouraging standard answers
• Creativity -- STEM projects, art creation, business plans; encouraging "no precedent" innovation
• Collaboration -- Cross-age, cross-discipline project-based learning; learning to listen, compromise, and lead
• Communication -- Bilingual expression as the foundation; clear articulation of viewpoints
• Citizenship -- Rooted in China,走向 the world; caring about social issues as a global citizen

Cogdel implements a scientific device management system, with the core principle that "self-discipline and freedom are two sides of the same coin."

Management approach: boarding students hand in phones to life mentors upon return each Sunday; no student may carry phones during daytime on weekdays; 30 minutes of phone use every other evening to contact family; course-specific devices available by teacher request.

This system was collaboratively designed by students, parents, and the school after students proposed "we need the right to use devices."

Cogdel offers a rich whole-person development ecosystem:

Academic Competitions -- All students participate, including BPhO, SMC, AMC10, UKChO, NEC and more

Student Clubs -- Model United Nations, Robotics, Business Challenge, Financial Investment, Debate, Maker, Band, Drama, and more

Campus Events -- English Drama Festival, Science & Innovation Fair, International Culture Festival, New Year Concert, Panda Vision International Film Festival

Principal Lu firmly states that "sports are the primary source of confidence" -- because sports give children the most direct and honest feedback.

Sports teach three things: losing gracefully, persisting under pressure, and teamwork.

The school has built a multi-sport field and offers parkour, rugby, badminton, volleyball, tennis, and more.

Principal Lu has developed a complete methodology for "discovering and cultivating passion":

First, observe three signals -- 1) Flow state (enjoying the process more than the outcome); 2) Willingness to persist despite repeated failures; 3) Proactive desire to invest more time and energy.

Then cultivate passion through three steps -- 1) Let children try more; 2) Create safe environments (Innovation Hub etc.); 3) Connect learning with the real world.

The school emphasises: "True passion is not found -- it grows through safe trial and error."

Key data:

• Track record of Oxford and Cambridge offers and interview invitations
• 97% of graduates admitted to World TOP100 universities
• Art pathway: 100% of graduates in the past 5 years received QS Art & Design TOP10 offers
• Art exam A/B rate exceeds 90%, far above global average

UK: Cambridge, Oxford, LSE, UCL, and other G5 super-elite universities

US: Ivy League and Top 30 universities

Art: University of the Arts London (UAL), Parsons School of Design, Berklee College of Music, and more

Other: Canada, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong SAR -- top universities across all regions

Cogdel's university planning is a "through-train" programme from Grade 6 to graduation, not a last-minute push:

• Grade 6 -- Subject exploration, personal assessment, career exploration
• Career Exploration Courses -- Real company visits, STEM institution placements
• Dedicated Admissions Mentor -- Part of the "1+N Mentor System" with end-to-end tracking
• High School -- IELTS custom courses, 21 A-Level free combinations, dual-enrolment university courses

Cogdel builds its boarding environment around "family-style care." The standard configuration is 3-person apartments with natural wood furniture, ergonomic adjustable desks and chairs, and youth-specific orthopedic mattresses.

The school recently completed a full upgrade of 90+ rooms across two boarding buildings, with all furniture made from eco-certified natural wood. Students with special needs may apply for single or double rooms based on assessment.

Dining: Professional nutrition team providing customised menus with monthly world cuisine themes and weekly rotation of regional Chinese specialties.

Medical & Mental Health: 24-hour on-campus doctor and counselling psychologist; dedicated life mentors on every floor; "one student, one file" whole-person care mechanism.

Boarding management follows a "strict and scientific schedule":

• Morning: Wake up on time, breakfast, prepare for classes
• Daytime: Attend classes on the "one-student-one-timetable" system
• Evening: Evening study hall (with teacher support); 30 minutes of phone use every other evening to contact family
• Weekend: Boarding students participate in college-style boarding activities

The school positions boarding as a "lifetime ability incubator" -- an important educational setting for "learning to live, learning to care, and learning to grow."

Principal Lu's response: "If education only serves testing and filtering, children will never beat algorithms. At Cogdel, we give children the abilities that AI cannot take away."

Three "irreplaceable" abilities:

• Judgement -- In the Investors' Classroom, learning to "not worship credentials, not blindly follow concepts"
• Empathy -- Through drama, film festivals, and project collaboration, learning to understand others' emotions and perspectives
• Responsibility -- Through student council self-governance, community service, and Duke of Edinburgh Award programmes

Six differentiating advantages:

• 80-year heritage + modern international education -- A unique fusion
• "Engineering whole-person education" -- 8-Dimension Competency Portfolio
• Extreme personalization -- Departmentalized scheduling, one-student-one-timetable, ultra-low student-teacher ratio
• Hardcore faculty -- 40% G5/Ivy League, 60% Master's/PhD, 100% overseas background
• Tsinghua + investor background principal
• Small and selective -- Approximately 100 students per year

Admissions Hotline: 400-803-6661

School Address: No.247 Section 2 Yingbin Road, Anren Town, Dayi County, Chengdu

How to book a visit:

• Call the admissions hotline directly
• Message us on social media (search "Cogdel School" on WeChat/Xiaohongshu/Douyin)

Social media: WeChat Official Account & Video Account, Xiaohongshu, Douyin -- search "Cogdel School"; Principal's accounts -- search "Lu Kun"

The school regularly holds open days across all divisions, summer camps, and themed camps.