The other place

education

New school ties

Harrow International School in Hong Kong is this year’s new bug. Sai Kung checks out the venerable British public school’s latest campus.

On the surface, it’s nothing new. Pressed trousers, navy skirts, school ties, book bags, pencil cases, and laughter – business as usual at a place like Harrow International School in Hong Kong. Except that HIS:HK did not exist until a month ago.

Its campus is gorgeous – a 400,000 sq ft site nestled between mountain and harbour in a beautiful location near Tuen Mun. Its main building is modelled on the Georgian proportions of the Royal Crescent in Bath, England. It's a grand structure that cradles football fields and tennis courts and is large enough to house facilities for more than 400 boarders, a full teaching staff, and classroom facilities for about 1,500 students.

As Head Master Mel Mrowiec writes in an open letter on the school’s website, “Our aim is for Harrow International to enhance the educational choice available to parents in Hong Kong and to become a leading, prestigious, internationally recognised day and boarding school under the Harrow name.”

By all accounts, Harrow in Hong Kong should succeed with flying colours. It has two successful Asian sibling institutions in Bangkok and Beijing. In this year’s A-Level examinations, 20 per cent of Harrow International School Bangkok students scored A* and 50 per cent scored A*-A; at Harrow in Beijing, 16 per cent scored A* and 46 per cent scored A* -A. And last year at Harrow School for boys – the more than 400-year-old London public school that lends the Asian schools its name – 72 per cent of A-Level students received A* or A, with 30.7 per cent achieving A*.

It’s a familiar story to Jennifer Chung, general manager at ITS Educational Services. Although this is the school’s first year, she says the Harrow International School system has a powerful reputation for producing inquisitive and intelligent young leaders.

“There’s an expectation of high academics because of its strong ties with other international schools in the Harrow system,” she says. “But at the end of the day, [HIS:HK] is a new school and nobody is sure that it’ll be able to deliver 100 per cent of its academic expectations.”

Ruth Benny, head girl at school placement firm Top Schools, agrees. “It’s unproven and untested,” she says simply. She feels HIS:HK needs to operate for three to five years to establish a track record.

It’s a fact of which Harrow administrators are acutely aware. Every educator at the school, including Head Master Mrowiec, has a degree from a respected university – including the University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong – and many years’ experience at a similar school. (Mrowiec studied at Oxford University and was deputy head master at Harrow School in London prior to his appointment.) All of the school’s foreign language teachers are native speakers of that language.

It is an English-medium school that follow Britain’s National Curriculum. This means students take IGCSEs and A-Levels – dreaded exams in their own right – instead of the International Baccalaureate (IB) now typically offered at Hong Kong’s international schools. It offers both boarding or day-school attendance.

Jennifer Chung says it best: “It’s popular because of its brand name, but it’s all wait and see at this point.”

Harrow International School in Hong Kong opened on September 3, offering education from reception through sixth form. For details, visit www.harrowschool.hk.

the other place

An artist's impression of Harrow International School's Hong Kong campus.

ITS Education Services rounds up the deadlines for international-school applications.

Parents across Hong Kong are scrambling to meet admission deadlines for international schools for the next academic year. Don’t miss these dates for children seeking entry in August, 2013 (unless otherwise stated).

Australian International

School: applications open in December 2012 for reception entry in January 2014 (eligible for children born from May 1, 2009 to April 30, 2010).

Kellett School: Applications accepted from birth, and year round with no deadline.

Chinese International School:

applications close October 15 for reception entry (children born from September 1, 2008 to August 31, 2009). Closes February 28 for applications for years 1 to 6.

ESF kindergartens:

applications from October 1 to 31 for K1 entry (children born in 2010).

ESF schools (including

Renaissance College): central application process closed on September 30 for Year 1 and Year 7 entry. Late applications will be put on a waiting list. For other year groups, apply through central applications.

Hong Kong International

School: closes March 1 for all year groups. Applications are accepted two years in advance for reception entry – apply early.

Hong Kong Academy:

Applications accepted all year round with no deadline. Applications accepted one year before entry for pre-kindergarten 1 (children aged three on August 31).

When it comes to applications, some schools judge on pure academics while others are more holistic and consider family backgrounds. Almost all schools request children to attend a group assessment for the younger years, with a written assessment for older children. Some schools may call students back for a second round of face-to-face interviews.

Do your research and apply early. Some schools only accept online payment for the registration fee so attach receipts to your application. Submit only what schools request. There’s no need to compile portfolios for international schools.

Follow up with schools a week after you submit applications to make sure everything is in order. Demonstrate to a school that it is your first choice and the best fit for your child.

Don’t lie about your child’s first language. This will only prove difficult for your child on the day of assessments.

Apply to several schools that fit your educational values and your child’s character and academic ability. Don’t just file one application and put all your eggs in one basket. ITS School Placements has a team of professional, experienced educational consultants who provide knowledge and objectivity to help you decide on an appropriate school placement. Their new book, The Unique Hong Kong and Singapore School Guide 2012-2013, is out now and available for purchase at www.tuition.com.hk/ education-consultants.htm, es@tuition.com.hk.