CATS Global Schools expands in China

A new campus dedicated to developing aspiring creatives and performers

CATS Global Schools (CGS), a leading education group committed to inspiring the next generation of world shapers, has opened a new campus in the Baoshan District of Shanghai – CSVPA China – dedicated to developing the skills and confidence of young artists and performers.

At the start of the academic year (Sept 2021), the campus, which has a capacity of 800 students, welcomed its first Chinese and Foreign national students offering a pathway to Art & Design, Drama and Music programmes.

Students at Grades 10 and 11 (ages 14-16) spend two years following a British or American arts-based curriculum on campus, with all lessons taught in English, before progressing to another CATS Global School in the UK/US to complete their final year/s of high school.

Students can develop their skills at over 20 extracurricular clubs including K-Pop Dance, Design, Table Tennis, Bioengineering and Computer Science. A popular club is Perfume D.I.Y, where students mix their own unique scents by researching and experimenting with raw materials. The club members also then look at how they can brand, market and sell the product developing their enterprise skills.

The impressive modern, purpose-built campus is designed to encourage and develop students’ creativity. In addition to its 45 classrooms, two lecture theatres, and computer labs, the school boasts nine drama and music studios, 10 art and design studios, and specialist studios for observational drawing, engraving, fashion design, sewing, 3D design, graphic & illustration, jewellery design and photography.
The new 19,000 square metre campus is equivalent in size to just over 3.5 football pitches and also offers a number of multi-use spaces too including a rooftop sports area, an outdoor running track, a canteen and a sports hall. The boarding residencies offer a safe and secure environment with double rooms and small dormitories, all of which are en-suite and air-conditioned.
Talking about the expansion, Chris Stacey, CEO of CATS Global Schools, comments:

“We have seen an increasing demand for high quality, in-country provision in China.

“Despite the global pandemic and travel restrictions, students still want to experience an international education. In addition to benefiting from a rich arts-based curriculum, students at CSVPA China focus on developing their critical analytical, enterprise and human skills to prepare for tomorrow’s world.

“It’s important, now more than ever in the current climate, that students in China have the opportunity to experience an international education, and they can do this in-country at a campus with outstanding facilities and first-class teaching before progressing to a UK/US school to complete their high school education.”

The campus replaces the previous smaller school that was based in the Minhang area of Shanghai. It joins the group’s other campus in the Pudong District of Shanghai, CATS China. Students at the Pudong campus follow the same educational model – local preparation in English before they progress to a UK/US school – the only difference is that students follow an academic as opposed to an arts-based curriculum.