Xiwai founders and Advisory Board members are passionate about contributing to the development of education in China . A number of the school's Advisory Board members hail from the private sector, and draw upon a wealth of knowledge and experience, including such eminent individuals as Mr John Thornton, ex- President of Goldman Sachs and Nicholas Rockefeller, from the Rockefeller Foundation. Others have a lot of experience in the area of education, both in China and in the West, and at such prestigious educational institutions as Fudan University , Harvard University , Yale University , Oxford University and Leeds University . They include such respected scholars and educators as Professor Tony Saich, Harvard University; Dr Laura Newby, Oxford University; Professor Xu Tian, Yale University; Professor Dai Weidong, President of Shanghai International Studies University; Mr Tang Shengchang, Principal of Shanghai High School; Mr Rong Xinmin, ex-Acting Principal of Shanghai International High School (affiliated to Shanghai International Studies University); and Professor Ye Lan from East China Normal University, a well-known Chinese education expert.

    Xiwai has opened its doors wide in order to recruit the most highly qualified and dedicated teaching and administration team. A look at the composition of Xiwai teaching staff (including kindergarten and primary section staff) reveals that more than 98 % possess at least a Bachelor's degree; more than 40% hold a Master's or Doctoral degree from home and/or abroad; a high percentage have had experience studying and working in the U.S., the U.K., Australia and New Zealand; and over 60% are competent in bilingual education. We thus have a range of excellent, committed teachers in the classroom, representing a balance between the young and energetic, and the highly experienced, to enable students to benefit from a variety of teaching styles and approaches. The school has, in addition, invited municipal and district researchers, as well as subject experts from East China Normal University and Shanghai Normal University , to advise and help coordinate the school's academic programmes.