Australian International School Hong Kong
AISHK Annual Review
2019
Table of Contents 3 Our Mission 4 Board Chairman’s Message 6 Head of School Message 8 Head of Primary Message 11 Primary Curriculum 13 Head of Secondary Message 14 Secondary Curriculum 16 Academic Results and Pathways 20 Parent Satisfaction Survey 25 Finance Committee Report 26 Financial Summary 27
Facilities Committee Report
28 Governance Commitee Report 29 Development & Fundraising
Committee Report
Our Mission To provide a world-class international school where students, through active participation, achieve their personal best and graduate as skilled, influential and responsible international citizens.
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Board Chairman’s Message Professor Richard Petty Board Chairman On behalf of your Board of Governors, welcome to the 2019 edition of the Annual Review. For many years I have had the pleasure of serving and being part of the AISHK community, holding a position on the AISFL Board since 2004, and I am delighted to share a message in this publication. Your Board of Governors comprises members of the Australian Community in Hong Kong who, on a volunteer basis, convene to discuss, forecast and facilitate action on a range of strategic initiatives which guide the direction of the School. There are various Board Committees which are made up of Governors, School Executive Members, and other volunteers who are recruited for their proven experience and knowledge within relevant fields.
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The Committees are: The Governance Committee led by Mr Ken Gordon (resigned late 2019), who review and renew School policy, and ensure prudent and transparent management. The Finance Committee led by Mr Andrew Macintosh, which has ultimate responsibility for the School’s finances. The Facilities Committee led by Mr Adrian Jenkins, which monitors and advises on the School building’s ongoing maintenance, expansion and capital projects. The Development and Fundraising Committee led by Dr Joseph Lee, supports the Development Office and considers marketing, communications, stakeholder engagement and major fundraising strategies.
I am thankful to the community for warmly welcoming me during my first year as Chair of the AISFL Board. The Board works collaboratively with the School Executive, representatives of the Parent Association, and the community at large to advance AISHK.
Several colleagues left the Board this year, and we welcomed several others. Gautam Dev left the Board in July, Charles Ng left in October, and Veronica Monaci and Ken Gordon attended their last meeting in November, all having made great contributions to AISHK.
At the forefront of our minds, at all times, is our mission to ensure that the best possible education is provided to the students in the School’s care, and that they are given every opportunity to develop and grow to their full potential in a caring and supportive environment.
Adrian Jenkins joined the Board in February, Kym Fortescue joined in May and Jenny Huang joined in October, providing further depth and experience around the board table in fields of expertise that are key to the ongoing success of the School. the Board’s commitment to maintaining sound governance and a balanced Board membership which reflects the diversity of AISHK.
AISHK is fortunate to have a wonderful and dedicated staff who, under the outstanding guidance of Head of School, Mark Hemphill, are committed to this mission. 2019 presented difficult and unexpected circumstances; despite this, the efforts of the school staff and leadership have not wavered. I wish to express sincere appreciation for the support of AISHK parents who entrust their children to the School. In 2019, parents of students in years 2, 6, 9 and 12 were invited to complete the MMG Parent Survey. This year, the survey resulted in an excellent response rate with 178 parents completing the survey; a 61% response rate. Thank you very much to all parents who took the time to complete the survey. The School and Board are very pleased with the results which indicate that we have made significant improvement across all areas. Key outcomes of the Parent Survey are further detailed in this Annual Review.
The support of the AISHK community is one of our defining factors which sets us apart from other schools. This unity is critical to the success of our School and has been pivotal in seeing us overcome many challenges in 2019. I express my sincere gratitude to students, teachers, staff and parents for your ongoing contributions to the School and for your support and dedication this year. As the School approaches its 25th Anniversary in 2020, I encourage us all to build further on our strengths and celebrate our place in Hong Kong as a leading international school. I wish you all a safe and relaxing break and I look forward to seeing you next year.
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Head of School Message There is little doubt that 2019 has been a significant year in Hong Kong’s history, with unprecedented change to the fabric of our wonderful city. 2019 was not without some challenges and a degree of uncertainty, however, in the face of adversity we have all united as a school community and supported one another in true Australian fashion. Although the year started smoothly and the first half of the year was much like any other school year, from July to December was like no other we have experienced. As a result of the experiences of the second half of the year, we could easily view 2019 from a negative perspective. However; given the challenges we all experienced, in retrospect, 2019 proved to be an incredibly successful year for AISHK. Throughout 2019 I was extremely impressed by how all members of our community coped with the evolving and largely unfamiliar situation. During some very difficult times, our teachers remained steadfast and committed to the cause of caring for the students and providing them with the very best learning experiences possible, whilst ensuring that the wellbeing of the students was foremost in all our efforts. Our parent community showed incredible faith in the school. During some very disruptive and stressful times, parents overcame many challenges which would ordinarily be a simple aspect of their daily routine, for example, transporting students to school and supporting and caring for them. Most noticeably, I was so impressed with our students’ ability to adapt, to be flexible, and their unwavering positivity. In sometimes difficult circumstances, we continued as normal, with very little disruption to our daily routines and programmes. These experiences of adjusting and responding to a rapidly changing world have developed many of the skills which will assist our students to be successful in the future.
Mr Mark Hemphill Head of School
We often hear the phrase ‘being agile’ and this has certainly been the case in 2019 as together we carefully navigated a changing Hong Kong. 2019 was another incredibly successful year for the AISHK community as the school grew from strength to strength and firmly cemented itself as one of the very best international schools in Hong Kong. We enjoy an enviable reputation for: • Our focus on the wellbeing of our students which is our number one priority • Our promise to deliver a balanced education • Our academic results • our broad extra-curricular program and, most importantly • Being an inclusive, happy school Some of the major achievements of 2019 include: • Successful attainment of NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) recognition to be able to offer the NSW HSC for the following 5 years (valid until 2024) • Important preparation work for our IB Self Study and review in 2020 • Significant school wide improvement in all areas across the school in the MMG Parent Survey. MMG staff commented that our results exceeded many of the very best independent schools in Australia. • Appointment of a Director of Student Wellbeing and further development of our student wellbeing programs • Restructure of the Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE) and Sport Departments to enhance our sporting program • Continued strengthening of our relationship with Association of Independent Schools of NSW (AISNSW who continued to provide high quality Professional Learning for all teachers. We enjoy an outstanding reputation with AISNSW as one of the best independent schools in the state
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• Development of a strong relationship with Growth Coaching International (Australia) which involved training and mentoring of Executive and Middle Leaders to develop and foster their leadership skills skills utilising a coaching model • Development of staff Professional Learning groups which were cross divisional and cross faculty working on the The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Seven Principles For Effective Learning • Repainting of the pool area in our Aquatic Centre • Continued emphasis on developing sustainable practices by ensuring all publications such as The Lion Rock magazine, Yearbook and student reports are all electronic, and significantly reducing printed materials overall. During 2019, the relationship between the School and the Parent Association (PA) continued to be a strength of AISHK under the excellent leadership of PA President, Veronica Monaci and her supportive Executive Committee. In 2019 the PA hosted very successful community events such as the Welcome BBQ in January, the Mothers’ Day Lunch in May, the Summer Soiree in August, Father’s Day Breakfast in September and Jingle and Mingle in December. Given the unique nature of 2019, a conscious decision was made for the PA to focus on friendraising and providing social opportunities, rather than on fundraising. Significant planning and preparation for the 2020 25th Anniversary Ball was undertaken by the PA Executive during 2019. The 2019 Annual Report provides an overview of the year by providing reports, information and data. There are reports from the Primary and Secondary Divisions, from the different Board Committees and financial statements for the 2019 year. The financial reports highlight the very healthy position the school is in and, along with the other reports, validate that AISHK is an incredibly successful school, an excellent learning environment for the students and provides outstanding community support for Australian families living in Hong Kong.
AISHK is governed by a highly capable and supportive Board of Governors. These governors all serve the school on a voluntary basis and dedicate countless hours of their time, contributing their invaluable expertise and vast experience to ensure that the very highest standards of governance are achieved and maintained.
Again in 2019, for the second consecutive year, the quality of the AISHK Board was recognised when the AISFL was awarded the Hong Kong Institute of Company Directors Award for Board of the Year in the Not-ForProfit sector. We are very fortunate to have the support of such dedicated school governors. The true culture of a community often emerges during times of challenge and this was certainly the case for AISHK. Our sense of community, the Australian value of mateship, our support for eachother and a willingness to “get on with the job” and do what needs to be done without fuss, came to the fore. Although 2019 may have been a very challenging year, thanks to a very committed, talented and dedicated teaching staff, a very supportive parent body and undoubtedly the very best students in the world, we overcame adversity and emerged from 2019 as a stronger and more united school.
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Head of Primary Message Having completed my first full year, I really do feel connected to this special community. AISHK is a wonderful place for students and their families and I feel absolutely privileged to be a part of this school. What I have loved most about AISHK is our focus on student wellbeing as this continues to be a strength of the School. The employment of a Director of Wellbeing, Kiely Murphy, for the first time has helped our strategic approach to student wellbeing and ensuring continuity of this from Primary into Secondary. This year, we have introduced many new initiatives including joining schools across Australia in recognising the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence (NDA) – Bullying. No Way! 2019 saw the introduction of STAR Cards to staff and students from Reception to Year 12. The purpose of STAR Cards is to encourage all members of the AISHK community to openly express gratitude toward each other through our school values, by exchanging cards. Mental Health Awareness month took place in October and the school re-established the much-loved Jump Jam and Peer Support from Prep to Year 6. The most important benefit of our focus on wellbeing is ensuring that we do all we can to help students feel connected, safe and comfortable at AISHK. Research shows that this sense of belonging improves academic learning. This year, we have also continued to strengthen our alignment to the Australian Curriculum. We introduced Health lessons which are co-taught by the classroom and the Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE) teacher. We have aligned Library lessons to the class programme around Geography and Information Literacy, providing students with enhanced connections across subjects. We commenced the task of updating our Scope and
Mr Brendan Kean Head of Primary
Sequence documents beginning with History and Geography in the second half of this year. This work ensures that students are receiving similar learning experiences to students in Australia. We have also focussed on the how we teach with Professional Learning sessions dedicated to inquiry learning. One of the many benefits of an education in Hong Kong is the focus on Chinese language learning. To enhance the programme this year, we invited a group of volunteer parents to meet early in the year to discuss and welcome their perspectives on ways to enrich our Chinese programme. As a result, this group of parents have helped purchase new books for the Library and have been reading Chinese books to students during Chinese Story Time on Friday afternoons. The new books and Story Time have been a great success for students and we are aiming to continue these initiatives in 2020. 2019 was a year of great professional growth. Primary staff worked closely with Philippa Miller from AISNSW exploring problem solving within Mathematics. We also spent time unpacking our History, Geography and Science curriculum with Sue Pike from The Association of Independent Schools of NSW (AISNSW). We focused on ensuring that students were exploring real life scenarios aligned with these three curriculum areas whilst maintaining the integrity of each specific discipline. Brian Parker, one of the creators of SHARP reading spent three days with Primary staff, refining our practices and ensuring that our students are taught the most effective strategies for both decoding and comprehending when reading. Our Middle Leaders and School Executive were involved in several days of professional learning with a focus on coaching. This was invaluable in continuing to create an environment where incremental growth occurs.
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Another area of focus for 2019 was the Professional Learning Communities (PLCs). Our PLCs involved staff groupings across the entire school focusing on areas highlighted in the OECD guidelines for effective schools. This led to greater levels of collaboration, higher levels of lateral thinking as well as significant exploration of current practices with a focus of adding value for the future.
These teachers have provided wonderful, dedicated service to the students and families of AISHK and we wish them all the very best in the future. They will be missed by the whole school community.
As educators, we are truly fortunate to have a school environment which encourages and supports collective growth.
We look forward to building on this success for another great year in 2020.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the dynamic learning environment of Primary at AISHK in 2019.
I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge our departing teachers, which include Carl Ohlson who has worked with AISHK for 20 years, Matthew Price who has worked with us for four years, Sue Blumenthal who has been with us for two years, and Rachel Austin and Rose Millington who have worked with us for two terms and one term respectively.
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Primary Curriculum 2019 was another amazing year during which the Primary Division continued to build on our strong foundation of teaching and learning, which is highly respected throughout Hong Kong. Several new initiatives were implemented which aligned directly with our school’s strategic plan. The Parent Workshops were extremely popular amongst our community this year, which included two sessions focussed on Mathematics, followed by sessions covering Reading in Early Childhood and Reading in Years 3-6. Writing Workshops were postponed to 2020 and the new year will also see the introduction of workshops related to Chinese and Information Technology studies. Continuing the theme of parent involvement within Primary learning, we offered a wide range of opportunities, some of which included the daily interactions in Reading Club, classroom support in Early Childhood, assistance with excursions and the Year 6 Beijing camp, Chinese and Book Week celebrations, sporting carnivals, Maths Problem Solving Day, reading of Chinese stories in the library at lunch times as well as the large range of Parent Association events. The partnership between school and home is vital in supporting student growth and at AISHK we are fortunate to have parents working collaboratively with teachers. There were many academic highlights in 2019. Our NAPLAN results in Years 3 and 5 were once again outstanding when compared with Australian national averages. These results are further detail in this publication. Each year, a number of AISHK students participate in International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS). This year, within the Primary Division, we achieved 23 first place medals which is an outstanding result.
Mr Cameron Reed Dean of Studies, Primary character parade. Our Chinese Week celebrations allowed us to highlight many of the cultural components of Chinese tradition and language. The tweaking of Images of Greatness toward an Australian Stories focus enabled greater alignment with the ACARA curriculum and highlighted a great variety of Australians. From a pedagogical perspective, we disaggregated History, Geography and Science, allowing for a greater focus on teaching subject specific skills and knowledge. The inclusion of co-teaching for Digital Technology and Library since 2017 has enabled us to have purpose-built learning experiences in these areas. Co-teaching also expanded into the area of Health, as home room teachers work with our PE department teachers, with focus on healthy living and healthy choices. There were numerous other highlights throughout 2019, however, it would be remiss of me not to mention our amazing Early Childhood Musical, Stella the Starfish. Every student in Early Childhood sang and danced whilst telling the story of Stella. A huge thank you to the Early Childhood staff, Visual and Performing Arts Department as well as our parent community for supporting this event. Planning for 2020 is well underway and the calendar is already quickly filling. I look forward to seeing you all in the new year. In signing off, I would like to wish each of you a restful break with plenty of opportunity for family time or to read a good book.
Our Book Week celebrations entered a new stage with our Secondary students also participating in the book
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Head of Secondary Message Congratulations to all Secondary students, their teachers and support staff on a successful and yet challenging 2019. Whilst disruptions in Hong Kong during the second half of the year meant that many assumed routines were adjusted, both students and staff persevered and continued to provide a safe and supportive learning environment at AISHK. The Class of 2019 public examination results were outstanding and brought a great sense of reward to those students. 91% of the graduates achieved an ATAR above 70 and half of those students had an ATAR ranking above 90. The International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IBDP) students had an average of 36 points and 70% of New South Wales Higher School Certificate (NSW HSC) students scored in the top two bands (5 or 6) in at least one subject. 59% of HSC students were listed in the NSW Distinguished Achievers List, and the school ranked 52nd in the state of NSW. The graduates have embarked on their tertiary pathways to more than 18 universities across Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Hong Kong and Canada. Further details regarding the academic results of the Class of 2019 are included later in this publication. The student leadership by prefects of clubs and activities kept the programmes active and promoted school improvement and success. The Student Representative Council (SRC) also sought to better engage the students through its membership and class participation. A highlight of their work was a closer collaboration with the Primary SRC, which included a shared leadership of and participation in Jump Jam events. The SRC has also been very supportive of service learning work undertaken across the School. The prefects, lead by School Captains, Pamela Murphy and Temana Short, and Vice Captains Iris Yuan and Sahil Mahbubani, contributed to student life in significant ways exhibiting a broad range of skills and social behaviours. Community Service continued successfully in 2019 with excellent leadership from the YES Club and a connective
Mr Howard West Head of Secondary
involvement of our Primary SRC in some of the activities. The Service Expo in September brought over a dozen NGOs into the school to help students explore service learning opportunities and the evolution of service entrepreneurship at AISHK. The student learning programmes for Years 7 to 10 and the senior HSC and IB courses continued to keep students busy and prosper their success throughout the year. With over 300 Merit Certificates given to students who achieved outstanding effort grades, from the reporting cycle each semester, the commitment to effort is recognisable as a hallmark of student engagement in their learning. Many thanks and gratitude go to the staff for their untiring efforts in supporting the meaningful learning of the students and working to aid their success. The Heads of Year and Heads of Departments have shown great reserves of energy and commitment in their leadership work with both students and teachers. We sadly mourned the sudden death of our much-adored Art Teacher Ms Amanda Sze in November. Her very brief battle with cancer was shocking, but her loving family and her loyal friends were by her side for the duration of her illness. The departing Secondary teachers are to be thanked for their valued contribution to AISHK, in some cases over many years of service: Ms Nicole Voss, Mr Drew Skellern, Mr Joe Wilson, Ms Meg Rowe, Mr Robert White and Mrs Nikelle Gordon, and PE assistant Mr Nathan Boon. Their collegiality, engagement and friendship are wellremembered and much-missed. After 24 years of service to AISHK, we celebrated the retirement of Mr Chris McCorkell, who as a teacher, year level leader, IB Coordinator and Dean of Studies, has made an enormous contribution to the school, including the writing and setting to music of the school song ‘Flame of Australia’ in 1997. Thank you to all for a successful 2019 school year and I look forward to seeing you all in 2020.
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Secondary Curriculum Throughout an at times challenging 2019, our focus remained firmly on fostering an enduring love of learning in our students, while building a culture of excellence where they are able to achieve their personal best in all aspects of school life. Outcomes from NAPLAN testing once again showed that our students continue to meet performance benchmarks well above comparative New South Wales state outcomes across all key numeracy and literacy criteria. Similarly, results data from our first round of mandatory Year 10 New South Wales Education Standards Authority (NESA) Minimum Standards testing confirmed that standards across the Secondary division in numeracy, reading and writing remain high and well above the benchmarks identified by NESA. Data from public examinations in the International Baccalaureate (IBO) Diploma Program and the NESA Higher School Certificate (HSC), referenced elsewhere in this publication, continue to compare most favourably with state, national and global measures of performance.
Mr Chris McCorkell Dean of Studies, Secondary The introduction in 2019 of Professional Learning Communities across the school has led to greater opportunities for staff to come together to share bestpractice pedagogical approaches. Our middle management leadership team also engaged in a coaching program offered by the highly regarded Growth Coaching International organisation. The work undertaken was aimed at equipping our leaders with a range of strategies designed to enhance the quality of professional conversations within their own teams. As always, our Performing Arts department provided numerous opportunities throughout the year for our students to demonstrate their amazing dramatic and musical talents. Meanwhile, the annual Science Fair once again demonstrated the importance of student agency, with the many and varied displays providing a wonderfully engaging platform for this.
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AISHK athletes continue to shine in their various fields of sporting endeavour. While victory is to be savoured, competing fiercely but fairly and accepting the disappointment of defeat with the utmost good grace and modesty is, in itself, a lesson in life in a broader sense. An emphasis in Mathematics teaching this year has been on ‘mathematical freedom’ which promotes flexibility and creative adaptive thinking. These same attributes can be seen in our design technology, economics and business classrooms where our budding politicians, entrepreneurs and captains of industry continue to be inspired by their teachers and excited by what might be.
As a school, we continue to reflect on the range of practices and approaches used to foster a more studentcentred classroom and promote excellence. In doing so, we must build on the lessons learned to ensure that our programs invigorate and sustain student engagement. While our academic results are but one measure of success, we are about much more than that; we continue to strive in our endeavours to nurture young minds to seek fulfilment as positive, caring and empathetic individuals who can genuinely make a difference to the world in which they live.
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Class of 2019 Academic Results and Pathways AISHK provides a premier international education for students from Reception to Year 12. Senior secondary students have the option to undertake either the New South Wales Higher School Certificate (NSW HSC) or the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IBDP), creating seamless pathways to universities and tertiary institutions around the world. Each year, results in public examinations continue to successfully place AISHK students in quality universities and tertiary institutions around the world.
18+
Areas of study by 2019 graduates Arts Business Commerce Criminology Design Double Degree Economics Education Engineering
International Studies Law Music Production Media & Communications Medicine Science Sports Management STEM Veterinary Medicine
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Different universities attended by 2019 graduates IB Students
HSC Students
Class of 2019 Tertiary Destinations Australia Australian Institute of Music Griffith University International College of Management, Sydney Macquarie University Monash Univeristy Queensland University of Technology University of Melbourne University of New South Wales University of Queensland University of Sydney University of Technology Sydney
New Zealand University of Otago Victoria University of Wellington
Hong Kong The University of Hong Kong
United Kingdom University of Bristol University of Surrey University of Westminster
Canada University of British Columbia
Disclaimer: Tertiary placements listed are correct as at June 2020. Please note that a number of Northern Hemisphere tertiary offers are pending for AISHK graduates.
Our Many Measures of Success 59%
28.5
World Average IB Score
36
AISHK Average IB Score
HSC Students Listed on NSW Distinguished Achievers List (27% in 2018)
AISHK achieved a NSW HSC school ranking of
52nd
in the state
AISHK students scoring above the global IB average
100% AISHK IB students scoring an ATAR of 80 or above
100% AISHK students achieving an IB score of 30 or above
96%
5X
AISHK achieved 5 times the NSW school median success rate for Band 6
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Combined HSC and IB ATAR Outcomes The Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) is a number between 0.00 and 99.95 which indicates a student’s position relative to all the students in their age group.
aishk record:
85%
of students achieved an ATAR of 80+ (64% in 2018)
100%
Pass Rate for IB and HSC
99.85
Highest ATAR
89.9
Median ATAR (85.25 in 2018)
>69
13%
of students achieved an ATAR of 99+ (10% in 2018)
70-79 80-89 90-100 ATAR Score Range
32%
of students achieved an ATAR of 95+ (31% in 2018)
45%
of students achieved an ATAR of 90+ (41% in 2018)
Disclaimer: All results are accurate as at February 2020
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University Destinations AISHK Alumni are accepted into the world’s best universities, including those in Australia, Hong Kong, UK, across Asia, USA, Canada and throughout Europe. The following map shows the tertiary education destinations of our students over the past 6 years.
Europe
Canada
University of British Columbia University of Toronto
usa Berklee University, Boston Boston University California State University San Marcos Colorado University Drew University George Washington University Long Island University Notre Dame University University of California, Berkeley University of California, San Diego University of Chicago University of Illinois University of Nevada, Reno University of Texas
United Kingdom Brunel University Cambridge University Cardiff University Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London City University of London Durham University Hult Business School, London Imperial College London Kings College London Lancaster University London College of Fashion London School of Economics Loughborough University
Royal Holloway St. John’s College, Cambridge University College, London University of Birmingham University of Edinburgh University of Exeter University of Leeds University of London University of Manchester University of Sheffield University of Sussex University of The Arts, London University of Westminster University of York Warwick University
South Africa Stellenbosch University
AISHK 1 of 16 1 of 30
schools worldwide to offer HSC & IB IB World Schools in Hong Kong to offer the diploma programme
Copenhagen Business School Glion Hotel School, Switzerland Les Roches (International School of Hotel Management) Swiss Hotel Management School University of Berlin University of Gottingen
China
Tsinghua University
Hong Kong Singapore
Singapore Management University
The Chinese University of Hong Kong The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Savannah College of Art and Design The University of Hong Kong
Australia
Australian Institute of Musin Adelaide University Australian Catholic University, Sydney Australian National University Australian School of Music Ballarat University Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School Charles Sturt University Curtin University Deakin University Flight School South Australia Griffith University International College of Management, Sydney James Cook University LaTrobe University Macquarie University
Monash University Queensland University of Technology RMIT University Swinburne University of Technology The Hotel School Sydney University of Canberra University of Melbourne University of New South Wales University of Newcastle University of Notre Dame Massey University University of Queensland Otago University University of Sydney University of Auckland University of Technology, Sydney University of Western Australia Victoria University of Wellington University of Western Sydney Whitecliff College of Art and Design University of Wollongong
New Zealand
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2019 NAPLAN Results Year 3 | % of Students Achieving Top 3 Bands
Relative bands of achievement for Year 3 are Bands 2-7. The top 3 bands are 5, 6 and 7.
Year 5 | % of Students Achieving Top 3 Bands
Relative bands of achievement for Year 5 are Bands 3-8. The top 3 bands are 6, 7 and 8.
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In 2019, Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 undertook the annual NAPLAN (National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy) tests. The purpose of NAPLAN testing is to determine if educational outcomes have been achieved by students. Within Australia it is used to inform government policy and curriculum planning. 2019 AISHK NAPLAN results placed our student cohort well above the NSW outcomes.
Year 7 | % of Students Achieving Top 3 Bands
Relative bands of achievement for Year 7 are Bands 4-9. The top 3 bands are 7, 8 and 9.
Year 9 | % of Students Achieving Top 3 Bands
Relative bands of achievement for Year 9 are Bands 5-10. The top 3 bands are 8, 9 and 10.
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Parent Satisfaction Survey Objectives
AISHK commissions MMG Education to conduct a research based review of the views, perceptions and satisfaction of the School’s parent body. The review is extensive and covers most elements of the AISHK value proposition and assists with research informed data to monitor and track performance.
Parent Survey Results: Overview of Key Areas The ‘MMG Wheel’ below reflects the average scores for all parents across key areas. Parents noted ‘very high’ scores for 9 of the 10 areas and a ‘high’ score for the remaining area. The overall score is ‘very high’ (82%).
79%
83%
79%
83%
8 71%
Overall Satisfaction
Academic Program
Spor
MMG 2019
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2019 Survey Outcomes
In 2019, parents with students in Years 2, 6, 9 and 12 were surveyed with a total of 178 parents completing the survey. This equates to a 61% response rate. Thank you very much to all parents who took the time to complete the survey. We have made significant improvement across all areas and it has been a testament to the school and its community that we have been able to end the year on such a positive note. We are pleased to share an overview of the results as follows.
2019 AISHK 2/6/9/12 Parents - Comparison
AISHK Year 2/6/9/12 Parents: Top Level Comparisons 2018-2019 83%
79%
79%
83%
82%
79%
81%
83%
82%
79%
7
74%
71%
nts - Comparison 2019 AISHK with Previous 2/6/9/12 Parents Years - Comparison with Previous Year Overall
Academic
Sport
Satisfaction Program with Previous Years Parents - Comparison
82% 79%
82%
MMG 2019
79%
82% 74%
79% 79% 79%
83% 79%
81% 81%
81%
Management Communications
79%
80%
Community
Co-Curricular
Student Wellbeing
82% 2018 2/6/9/12 Parents81% 80% 79% 78% 79% 78%
Management Com
81%
82%
81% 76%
Reputation
Loyalty
76%
82% 79% 82%
80 78
78%
All
Engagement Management rt Co-Curricular Communications Student Community Management Reputation Communications Loyalty Commun Wellbeing Engagem 2019Engagement 2/6/9/12 Parents
2018 2/6/9/12 Parents
2019 2/6/9/12 Parents
2019 2/6/9/1
Very Low
Low
Moderate
High
Very High
<50%
50% - <60%
60% - <70%
70% - <80%
80%+
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Committee Reports
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Finance Committee Report
Mr Andrew Macintosh Chair of Finance Committee
Finance Committee Members:
In the absence of any external or government financial support,
Mr Andrew Macintosh
there is an ever-present need for the Committee to balance
Mr Tom Corkhill
considerations of affordability with the cost of providing a
Dr Dan Hooley
high-quality education.
Professor Richard Petty The Committee benchmarks AISHK against other international The Finance Committee oversees financial planning and
schools in Hong Kong, in terms of a range of financial indicators.
management for the School and offers advice to the School
Working with the School Executive, the Board and other
Foundation Board on financial matters. It also makes
stakeholders continue to identify ways in which the School
recommendations to the Board regarding tuition fees,
might operate more effectively and efficiently.
debentures and capital levy rates, staff salary levels, capital expenditure, operating expenditure (including professional
In addition to the dedication of staff, a collaborative effort is
development) and other sources of funding.
made by stakeholders to build and maintain a vibrant school community. The School also benefits financially and otherwise
The Committee oversees the development and management
from volunteers including parents and friends of the School,
of operating budgets and a range of other matters. The
members of the Parent Association, Committee members,
Committee also meets and liaises with external auditors to
and members of the Board â&#x20AC;&#x201C; all of whom support the school
ensure that the School complies with Hong Kong reporting
willingly, happily and without receiving or expecting any
requirements.
personal, financial reward.
The Committee works with stakeholders to ensure that
As a result of this untiring work, on behalf of the Board, I am
sufficient investment is made to create a dynamic teaching and
pleased to report the Foundationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s finances remain in a strong
learning environment, and is dedicated to attracting, retaining
position, and the School is well-positioned to continue with the
and rewarding the best talent from Australia and around the
financial resources to deliver a quality Australian education in
globe.
Hong Kong.
The Committee continues to facilitate the growth and
As Chair of the Finance Committee and on behalf of the Board,
development of the School, while recognising financial
I thank all who have helped the Committee, and the School, in
constraints and a challenging financial environment.
2019.
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Australian International School Foundation Limited
Financial Summary
Preliminary Summary of Income and Expenditure Year Ended 31 December 2019
Figures in $000â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
2019
Turnover
168,809
Other Income
28,229 197,038
Staff Costs
135,497
Educational Services
4,183
Administration Expenses
8,696
Facilities Management
12,798
Other Expenses
16,818 177,992
Surplus and Total Comprehensive Income for the Year
19,046
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Facilities Committee Report Facilities Committee Members: Mr Adrian Jenkins Mr Steve Palfrey Mr Ian Marsh Ms Lowan Chu
Enhancements were made in the following areas: •
The Facilities Committee convenes on a regular basis to: • • • • •
Review the monthly facilities report from our facility management company ISS Eastpoint Plan and review the operations and maintenance for all facilities of the AISHK campus Plan and review all Operational Health and Safety (OH&S) and security issues relating to the campus facilities Plan for future upgrade projects such as maintenance, renovations, and new facilities Liaise with and seek advice from professional architects with regards to major building projects
All aspects of the campus are taken into consideration, including but not limited to classrooms, bathrooms, gymnasiums and the Aquatic Centre. The committee is tasked with ensuring the entire facility is run smoothly, safely and efficiently, all to serve the school community as best as possible. As the building ages, we recognise that costs relating to maintenance will rise and upgrades will be regularly reviewed. It was a busy year for the Facilities Committee, focusing on a number of significant projects for completion in 2019. Throughout the year, regular meetings were held with project managers to plan and organise the tender process for these projects. Contractors were appointed and commenced work at the end of 2019.
Mr Adrian Jenkins Chair of Facilities Committee
•
•
The Innovation and Design Centre Early 2019 saw the completion of the 7th Floor Innovation and Design Centre which is now a fully functioning and utilised area, equipped with new furniture and machinery. The area has been reconfigured to create additional, contemporary and innovative learning spaces. Chillers The second of two chillers was installed in early 2019. These chillers replace 20-year-old equipment and are responsible for regulating the cool air in large, communal areas of the school. Aquatic Centre At the end of 2019, maintenance work was undertaken on the roof of the Aquatic Centre to further enhance its durability. Repainting of the internal walls and ceiling were also completed at the end of 2019.
As we look ahead into 2020 the Committee is considering enhancements to the 3rd and 4th Floor classrooms to further improve learning environments. The air conditioning units will also be replaced in line with our maintenance schedule. The Facilities Committee will liaise with an appointed project manager to oversee this capital project. I would like to take this opportunity to express my thanks and gratitude to the hard work of our members, who have given of their time and invaluable expertise. It has been a pleasure to serve as Chair of the Facilities Committee in 2019 and I look forward to the implementation of further enhancements to AISHK in 2020.
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Governance Committee Report
Mr Ken Gordon Chair of Governance Committee
Governance Committee Members: Mr Ken Gordon Dr Dan Hooley Ms Kym Fortescue Ms Tracy Gliddon Mr David Chan
The Nomination Committee continued its work in 2019, through which two new governors were appointed; Ms
The Governance Committee is responsible for reviewing and renewing school policies, as well as ensuring prudent and transparent leadership of the School.
In November, for the second consecutive year, the AISFL Board was nominated for and awarded the Hong Kong Institute of Directors Award for Board of the Year (NotFor-Profit category).
A focus of the Committee’s work in 2019 was reviewing the school’s operational policies and procedures to ensure they remain relevant and valid. The review covered a range of policies, including workplace discrimination, corporate fundraising, OH&S and Admissions. The Committee would like to thank Mr Mark Hemphill, Head of School and the School Executive for their constructive engagement and commitment to developing and implementing the highest standards of administration. A Strategic Planning day was held in October, attended by members of the Board and the school’s leadership team. The planning session provided an opportunity to assess the current situation and clarify the future direction of the school.
Jenny Huang and Ms Kym Fortescue. Ms Fortescue has kindly volunteered her time and expertise to serve on the Governance Committee.
The award is testament to and reflective of our School’s unique offering of an Australian education in an international context, our multicultural student body, and our school’s commitment to providing a wellrounded, balanced and happy learning environment for our students. It was an honour and a privilege to serve as Chair of the Governance Committee in 2019. I thank my fellow Committee governors who have served alongside me this year. I wish the incoming Chair of the committee every success in the role. I am very confident they will be well-supported by the very capable and dedicated committee in all ongoing duties. I look forward to maintaining a connection with AISHK and its continued success under the guidance of the AISFL Board.
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Development & Fundraising Committee Report Governance Committee Members: Dr Joseph Lee Mr Gavin McDougall Ms Natalie Glanville Ms Brigitte McNamara The Development Committee has this year worked together to establish and action various new strategies, and to further build on existing foundations for continued success. In line with recommendation from the AISFL Board of Governors, in 2019, the Development Committee was re-named the Development and Fundraising Committee (DFC). The Development and Fundraising Committee continues to be chaired by Dr. Joseph Lee, and supports the Development Office and considers marketing, communications, stakeholder engagement and major fundraising strategies. The Committee benefits from the expertise and community connections of Board members critical to the fundraising success of AISHK, and draws on support from staff, parents, and the entire School community. This year, by strategising with the committee, a campaign was devised and launched to promote a renewed Academic Scholarships program, which offers a number of scholarships for students from other schools, entering AISHK for Years 7-11. The program has seen successful scholarship placements for students in the 2019 school
Dr Joseph Lee Chair of Development Committee
year. The school also established a Bursary program which provides bursaries for students whose families are experiencing financial hardship. The Development and Fundraising Committee also works closely with the AISHK Development Office and its function in supporting the Parent Association (AISHK PA). This includes collaboration on community relations and events. 2019 was off to a positive start with our traditional Welcome BBQ, which was enjoyed by students, families staff and Board members. August saw the inaugural Summer Soiree take place at AISHK; an evening event which was an opportunity for parents and staff to gather informally, enjoy student performances, live music and great company with community members. Despite some disruption and challenges in Hong Kong, particularly later in the year, AISHK held a very successful and well-attended Jingle and Mingle event. The last community event of the year saw our whole school community end 2019 on a festive note, complete with Christmas carols, student performances, live bands, food and gift stalls. All proceeds from AISHK PA events are directed to enhancements of the teaching and learning environments for our students. The School thanks the community for their attendance and support of events and initiatives,
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which result in refurbishments to areas, such as the now fully-functioning and utilised 7th Floor Design and Technology area, the construction of which took place over the 2018-2019 end-of-year break. The Development and Fundraising Committee has continued to support the Development Office by advising on school marketing, communications and publications. This year the Development Office has placed greater emphasis on producing video content, and, in line with our aim to be an environmentally responsible school, The Lion Rock quarterly magazine along with many other printed materials have successfully transitioned to purely digital publications. This has resulted in a more interactive, versatile and sustainable publications, marketing and communications offering. The Yearbook has also significantly decreased in its printing volume and is available as now a digital publication. It has been a privilege to capture and convey the dynamic school life at AISHK.
Thank you to students, parents and staff who have contributed to school publications in 2019. I take this opportunity to thank The Development and Fundraising Committee members for their continued commitment this year. 2019 has seen some periods of disruption and unrest, resulting in the delay or adjustment of some events and plans. We thank our school family for the ongoing understanding and support. 2020 marks the Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 25th Anniversary and we look forward to celebrating this special milestone for the School, while further focusing on our strengths and building upon these for future improvement. I look forward to collaborating with the Committee and broader community in what will be a very special year ahead for the school.
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