At Nanjing International School, 3-Way Conferences bring students, parents, and teachers together to reflect on learning, celebrate growth, and discuss next-step goals. These conversations happen across the year at our school, including full-day conferences after Quarter 1 and Semester 1 reports, with additional invitational conferences when targeted support is helpful, ensuring every learner is known and supported.

Current research reinforces why we put the student at the centre of all our conferences, as such meetings amplify student voice, deepen engagement, and strengthen teacher-student collaboration – conditions linked to improved academic outcomes and social-emotional growth. Research shows that family engagement more broadly correlates with higher achievement, attendance, and motivation.

What do our parents expect during 3-Way Conferences?

• In Primary, student-curated evidence of learning is used to anchor discussion in authentic work. In Secondary, students reflect on their recent work and growth.
• Clear, student-voiced goals.
• Brief follow-ups, such as advisory check-ins or micro-reflections, to revisit progress and adjust supports.

These steps align with best-practice guidance for international school conferencing and home-school partnership, as well as our school’s mission to be an inclusive learning community where every learner feels seen, heard, and valued. They also directly advance our award-winning learning strategy of elevating Student Voice and Student Choice and Bursting the Bubble so that learning is owned by students, supported by families, and connected to the wider world.