In partnership with:
Half-day Learning Experience — Shenzhen
Unlocking Every Learner's Potential
Whole Child Assessment and Data-Informed Practice
Shen Wai International School, Shenzhen
Saturday, November 7, 2026 | 12:45PM - 6:30PM
Other Location: Shanghai (Oct 24)
Attend with a colleague!
Date
Saturday
November 7, 2026
Time
12:45PM - 6:30PM
including an optional 90-minute social hour
Venue
Shen Wai International School
Shenzhen
Cost
FREE
Thanks to our sponsor, Renaissance
This event is possible thanks to our host school, Shen Wai International School, and the generous sponsorships of Renaissance. Their support makes it possible for us to bring together educators and school administrators for an afternoon of shared learning and collaboration, at a reduced cost to you.
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How can educators understand what students truly know and can do when language development may influence how learning is demonstrated?
Every learner brings a unique combination of linguistic, cultural, academic and personal strengths. Understanding their progress requires educators to look beyond a single score and consider multiple forms of evidence together.
This event will explore how language proficiency, cognitive development, academic attainment, learner confidence and social-emotional wellbeing can contribute to a fuller understanding of each learner.
Participants will consider how to use this understanding to make more accurate, equitable and responsive decisions about instruction, intervention and whole-school practice.
Schools are encouraged to attend in pairs.
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This event is designed for educators and school leaders responsible for understanding learner progress and improving classroom or whole-school practice.
It is particularly relevant for:
English teachers
Classroom practitioners
Heads of school and senior leaders
Academic and learning leaders
Curriculum and teaching and learning leaders
Coordinators
Assessment and data leads
Bilingual programme leaders
Inclusion and student support leaders
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Schools are encouraged to register two colleagues, ideally representing different roles or perspectives.
Attending together will help colleagues develop shared language, compare what the learning means for their school and support implementation after the event.
For example, a school might send:
An English teacher and an assessment coordinator
A classroom practitioner and an inclusion leader
A curriculum leader and a head of school
A data lead and a bilingual programme leader
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In bilingual and international schools, learners bring different linguistic, cultural, and academic strengths. This workshop will help educators look beyond surface-level metrics and use holistic assessment and responsive, data-informed practices to better understand and support each learner.
Discover how education solutions can support whole-child assessment and help schools create more personalised learning experiences for students in multilingual environments.
Understand a holistic assessment framework that integrates linguistic, cognitive, and social-emotional dimensions.
Identify root causes, including whether language barriers may be contributing to apparent learning needs.
Build a consistent school-wide approach to using data, from baseline assessment to intervention.
Implement responsive, differentiated practices in mixed-ability multilingual classrooms.
Connect with peers to exchange educational insights.
Keynote Speaker
Host
Sophia Androu-Erriah
Deputy Head of Teaching & Learning - EY/Primary at ISA Sciency City International School Guanzhou
Serving as the Deputy Head of Elementary at ISASC. Sophia is originally from London, UK where she obtained her PGCE and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). She has worked across 3 continents, as both, an Early Years and Primary teacher, as well as, holding various leadership roles relating to department leadership, curriculum development, and staff development in UK state schools, British international schools, and bilingual schools.
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Sophia graduated from the University of Birmingham, UK, where she obtained her bachelor’s degree (BSc) in Psychology, later completing her Master’s degree (MSc) in Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuropsychology and worked in the field of psychology before making a career change to the teaching profession.
In 2022, Sophia was awarded her National Professional Qualification for Senior Leadership (NPQSL) by the Department for Education, UK. Her specialisms include cognitive/emotional/social development in young children, developing curriculums that are accessible and contextually relevant, supporting students with English as an Additional Language (EAL), as well as mentoring staff to reach their professional aspirations through a coaching approach.
Sophia believes that all children should be given the opportunity to thrive along their own individual paths and in a safe, secure, and stimulating environment.
Daniel Legault
Head of School at Shen Wai International School
Daniel Legault is the Head of School at Shen Wai International School (SWIS) in Shenzhen, China. He has served as an educational leader and teacher in China, Japan, Korea, and Venezuela. He has a Masters of Educational Leadership from Michigan State University and a number of other education-related degrees and certificates from Canada and Australia. Daniel is active with school accreditation and has served on and chaired numerous WASC and CIS school visiting teams. He is also an IB Educator and has developed IB Programmes in two China based international schools.
Agenda
Agenda subject to change.
12:45PM - 1:00PM
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Arrival and check-in. Participants will also have an opportunity to view product highlights from Renaissance and GL Education.
1:00PM - 1:15PM
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The host will introduce the purpose of the event, establish PeerSphere’s peer-sharing ethos and set the stage for open professional discussion.
1:15PM - 2:00PM
2:00PM - 3:00PM
Strand 1: Baseline Foundations
Primary & Secondary focused Case-Studies & Groupings
Explore how to establish effective literacy baselines that provide meaningful information about learner comprehension and skills.
The session will include a school-based case study illustrating how baseline information can be interpreted and applied.
Strand Moderator
Strand 2: Cognitive and Wellbeing Insights
Primary & Secondary focused Case-Studies & Groupings
Explore how reasoning assessments and attitudes-to-learning data can help educators identify academic potential and factors that may be affecting learner progress.
The session will include a case study from a school in China serving multilingual learners.
3:00PM - 3:30PM
Keynote Presentation (45 min)
How can educators understand what students truly know and can do when language development may influence how learning is demonstrated?
This keynote introduces a holistic assessment ecosystem that brings together reading ability, reasoning capacity and learner confidence. It explores how integrated baseline data can help teachers make more accurate, equitable and responsive instructional decisions.
The session includes a 40-minute presentation and a five-minute transition.
Breakout Session 1: Assessment (60 min)
A short introduction will frame the assessment approach before participants choose one of two parallel strands.
Jordan West-Pratt
Dean of Students and Community Life, Vanke Meisha Academy Shenzhen
Refreshment Break (30 min)
3:30PM - 4:30PM
Breakout Session 2: Best Practice in Schools
A short introduction will frame data-informed classroom practice before participants choose one of two parallel strands.
Strand 1: Differentiated Literacy Instruction
Primary Focus
Explore how baseline insights can be translated into responsive and personalised literacy strategies that meet learners where they are within multilingual and mixed-ability classrooms.
Strand Moderator
Sophia Androu-Erriah
Deputy Head of Teaching & Learning - EY/Primary at ISA Sciency City International School Guanzhou
Dr. Kiki Xiang
Vice Principal, Shenzhen International Foundation College
Strand Moderator
Strand 2: Whole-School Practice
Primary & Secondary focused Case-Studies & Groupings
Explore practice tools and intervention strategies that support a coherent school-wide approach.
Participants will consider how academic leaders can build a data cycle connecting baseline assessment, progress monitoring, intervention planning and strategic decision-making.
Strand Modertator
Anna Liu
Avenues China
Daniel Legault
Head of School (Academics), Shen Wai International School
4:30PM - 5:00PM
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Renaissance representatives, event contributors and participants will reflect on key insights from the afternoon and consider practical next steps.
5:00PM - 6:30PM
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Continue the conversation over drinks and light bites.
This optional 90-minute social hour provides an opportunity to exchange ideas and build deeper professional relationships with educators and school leaders.
About Renaissance
Since 1986, Renaissance’s mission has remained the same: To accelerate learning for all children and adults of all ability levels and ethnic and social backgrounds, worldwide. Today, more than 40 percent of US schools rely on Renaissance solutions for data and insights to equitably move learning forward. As technology continues to change, and as teachers and students connect in new ways, their commitment to accelerating learning is unwavering—both inside and outside the classroom.
Learn with Peers at
Shen Wai International School
29 Baishi 3rd Road, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, China
Daniel Legault
Head of School
Join us in Shenzhen
Saturday, November 7, 2026 | 12:45PM - 6:30PM
Shen Wai International School
Good assessment does more than measure attainment. It can help educators uncover strengths, understand possible barriers and make more responsive decisions about teaching and support.
Consider bringing a colleague from your school!