Expat Parent Schools Guide

PICK ME UP, I’M FREE!

SCHOOLS | FAMILY | ACTIVITIES | DREAMS

Expat Parent

2015/2016

Hong Kong edition

Real people Real stories

Jump to the front School places solved

inside HONG KONG’S NEW SCHOOLS

AFTER SCHOOL SORTED 12 PRINCIPals INTERVIEWED

ORIGINAL REPORTING

368

Recommendations

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Expat Parent Schools Guide | 1

what’s inside Expat Parent

Hong Kong edition

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New schools Five new international school campuses to open in 2018

12

School visits Exclusive entry into Hong Kong’s school halls

14 Kindergarten 20 Primary 30 Secondary 40

P.20

After school activities Fun activities for the kids

52

Tuition Classes to brush up academic skills

56

Places to take kids

P.30

P.58

Activities to keep small and big kids busy

68

Dreams What did you want to be when you were a child?

P.14

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P.18

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Editor’s letter

Expat Parent

Hong Kong edition

Editorial

editorial@fastmedia.com.hk

Senior Consultant Editor Jane Steer Consulting Editor Evie Burrows-Taylor Editor Annie Wong Contributing Editor

Callum Wiggins

Shreena Patel

Design

kelvin@fastmedia.com.hk

Art Director Kelvin Lau Senior Graphic Designer Jack Yip

W

elcome! We are delighted to bring you a guide that is packed with useful information and tips on finding the best education for your child.

We are proud to say that the guide is full of original reporting from some of Hong Kong’s best writers, who personally visited these schools and stepped in to speak to the teachers, principals and students. You’ll find exclusive reporting on a selection of the top schools in the city (p.12), professional tuition services (p.52) and expert advice from school principals (p.15). We’ve also included some fun after-school activities (p.40) and great places to take kids (p.56) over the weekend and during the school term.

Every parent wants to know where to send their child to school. But what school is your child suited to? The answer varies. There are many considerations - reputation, curriculum, location, and cost to name a few. Each school aims to provide a unique curriculum, allowing students to reach their full potential, and at the same time providing a well-rounded experience.

Remember, only you know what’s best for your child.

Happy learning and good luck!

Sales & Marketing

Annie, Editor

ads@fastmedia.com.hk

Head of Sales & Marketing Karman So Sales Manager Oliver Simons Sales & Marketing Executive Alastair Grigg Sales & Marketing Executive John Lee

Accounts Manager Connie Lam connie@fastmedia.com.hk

Office Security Cat the dog

Three amazing things we learned in this issue 1. Five new schools are coming to Hong Kong in 2018, offering a whopping 4,270 school places (p.6) 2. 17% of the world’s perfect IB scores came from Hong Kong in 2015 (almost double of last year!)

3. As of 2014, Hong Kong has over 7000 tuition centres across the city (p.52)

Contributors Adele Brunner Carolynne Dear Hannah Grogan Arshia Bhatia Oscar Webster Contact us Admin: 3568 3722 Editorial: 2776 2773 Advertising: 2776 2772

Published by

Publisher Tom Hilditch tom@fastmedia.com.hk

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Fast Media Ltd LG1 Kai Wong Commercial Building, 222 Queens Road Central, Hong Kong

Printer Apex Print, 11-13 Dai Kwai Street, Tai Po Industrial Estate, Tai Po, Hong Kong

www.fastmed ia .com . h k Expat Parent Schools Guide is published by Fast Media Limited. This magazine is published on the understanding that the publishers, advertisers, contributors and their employees are not responsible for the results of any actions, errors and omissions taken on the basis of information contained in this publication. The publisher, advertisers, contributors and their employees expressly disclaim all and any liability to any person, whether a reader of this publication or not, in respect of any action or omission by this publication. Expat Parent cannot be held responsible for any errors or inaccuracies provided by advertisers or contributors. The views herein are not necessarily shared by the staff or publishers. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher.

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new schools

Breaking new ground Five new international school campuses will open their doors in Hong Kong.

Carolynne Dear gets the early lowdown.

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new schools

|7 College Hong Kong Expat Malvern Parent Schools Guide

new schools

HOng Kong’s New schools

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ive international schools are due to open campuses in Hong Kong by September 2018, helping to combat the city’s increased demand for international school places. Between them, the five schools will provide 4,270 places, with 3,490 at primary and 780 at secondary level for the city.

With more expat families choosing to make their lives in Hong Kong, schools are facing growing pressure to accommodate them.

In addition to several newcomers, which will be opening their inaugural Hong Kong campuses, the SAR will also see some of its international school stalwarts expanding over the next few years.

Opening campuses in Hong Kong for the first time are two elite British public schools, Shrewsbury School and Malvern College, which have both been granted greenfield sites. Shrewsbury International School will be situated in Siu Chik Sha, Tseung Kwan O, and

Opening soon Malvern College Hong Kong will be off Tolo Highway near the Science Park in Sha Tin. A third newcomer, ESOL Education, has been allocated premises on Ma Chung Road in Tai Po and FIS is to open its fifth campus in Tseung Kwan O town centre.

The first to open will be ESOL Education’s American School Hong Kong (ASHK) in September 2016.

ESOL Education has been running schools with American- and British-accredited curricula in the Middle East and the Mediterranean for 40 years.

ASHK will be a non-denominational, notfor-profit school offering the US Common Core curriculum with a strong STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) focus delivered by North American teachers. It will initially open a primary school for children from kindergarten to Grade 6, and ESOL aims to expand this to a full K-12 programme,

Newcomers Shrewsbury School and Malvern College are elite day and boarding schools

NEW CAMPUS AND SCHOOLS

Malvern College Hong Kong

New Territories American School Hong Kong

French International School

Kowloon

The Harbour School

Hong Kong Island

Shrewsbury International School

Malvern College Hong Kong Off Tolo highway, Tai Po, www.malverncollege.org.uk.

The Harbour School Ap Lei Chau estate, www.ths.edu.hk.

Shrewsbury International School Siu Chik Sha, Tseung Kwan O, www.shrewsbury.ac.th.

American School Hong Kong Ma Chung Road, Tai Po, www.esoleducation.com.

French International School Tseung Kwan O town centre, www.fis.edu.hk.

Newcomer Woodland PreSchools group has opened a new preschool in Kennedy Town and expanding Woodland Beachside in Repulse Bay with a new campus offering a traditional preschool curriculum to complement the existing Montessori facility.

Opened on August 26 right next to Repulse Bay beach, the new Woodland Beachside Pre- School has a sun, sand and sea theme. Located on the second floor of the Dairy Farm Shopping Centre on Beach Road, the 8,000 sq ft school has bright, contemporary classrooms, indoor and outdoor playgrounds and parking facilities.

Woodland PreSchools has adopted an “old Hong Kong” theme as the decor of the Kennedy Town PreSchool campus, which is located near the new MTR Station. The preschool has two indoor playgrounds and creatively themed areas for imaginative play.

Both schools offer classes for children from six months to six years in English, Mandarin and bilingual, and follows a traditional curriculum covering the key learning areas of communication and language, physical development, personal, social and emotional development, literacy, mathematics, understanding the world and expressive arts and design.

For details, enquiry@woodlandschools.com, 2559 4855, 2/F, 35 Beach Road, Repulse Bay, www.woodlandschools.com.

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new schools 10 tips for placement success Rebecca Merrett, Director of Marketing Admissions and Communications, Nord Anglia International School

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Plan ahead Despite what many people say, don’t feel the need to rush your application.

The date of the application is only one thing that admissions officers consider when offering places.

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Give them a call Get in touch with the admissions team of your chosen schools. This will help you determine whether the school is a good fit for your child.

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Ensure a good level of spoken and written English As you child moves up the school system, stricter language criteria will be enforced.

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French International School.

offering the International Baccalaureate Diploma in grades 11 and 12, as well as the US High School Diploma.

Like Harrow School, which opened its Hong Kong campus in 2012, British newcomers Shrewsbury School and Malvern College are elite co-educational day and boarding schools. The original schools are both located in England’s West Midlands.

Shrewsbury is one of England’s oldest independent schools, established in 1552 under Edward VI as a grammar school for the local town. Old boys include naturalist Charles Darwin, authors Samuel Butler and Nevil Shute, and BBC broadcasters John Peel and Michael Palin.

Its first international school opened in Bangkok in 2003, offering a British education for children aged three to 18.

In Hong Kong, Shrewsbury International School will be a primary campus for up to 850 students about a 10-minute walk from Lohas Park MTR in Tseung Kwan O. Due to open in 2018, applications should begin in late 2017 and tuition fees will be about $170,000 a year.

Malvern College, which celebrates its 150th anniversary this year, has about 1,000 students aged three to 18 at its original site in Worcestershire. Old Malvernians include Narnia novelist C.S. Lewis, BBC broadcaster Jeremy Paxman and Malaysian Prime Minister Mohammad Najib Abdul Razak.

Due to open in September 2018, Malvern College Hong Kong will be its fourth international venture. It opened Malvern College Qingdao in 2012, Malvern College Chengdu opens this summer, and Malvern College Cairo is aiming for a September 2016 opening.

Malvern’s Sha Tin campus will open with 380 primary places, rising to 960 places for children aged six to 12. It will offer the IB Primary Years Programme and will prioritise international families, reserving 90 per cent of places for pupils with foreign passports. Tuition fees are expected to be up to $160,000 a year.

Also due to open in September 2018, the new FIS campus will offer up to 950 primary and junior secondary (ages 11-14) places in its French and International streams in the first five years.

“This is a dream come true,” says the president of FIS’ executive committee, Arnaud de Surville. “This is a wonderful opportunity to integrate into the New Territories’ community.”

Finally, The Harbour School has also been granted a site on Ap Lei Chau Estate near Aberdeen, due to open in September 2016. The new campus will allow the school, currently located in Kennedy Town, to expand from 180 to 500 primary places. It also hopes to add a high school section in future.

Old Malvernians include Narnia novelist C.S. Lewis

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Be patient There is certainly a very high demand for international school places in Hong Kong, but the city is fastmoving, and places do become available.

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Check the school out online All international schools have up-todate information online. You could find the answer to a lot of your questions are already out there.

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Find out if the school offers parent information sessions If offered, these sessions can be a great way to meet the team.

Bring your child!

It’s important that your child see the school for themselves.

Complete the application form neatly Schools spend time making sure forms are easy to complete, and it’s important that you complete them neatly.

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There’s no need to prepare for the assessment Schools do not want to see children that have been “groomed” for a school interview. They want children who are happy and inquisitive.

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Be relaxed for the assessment The general aim is to get to know students better and understand the way they learn.

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open day

SCHOOL VISITS Expat Parent has exclusive entry into Hong Kong’s school halls and we’re here to tell you what’s going on.

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open day

Original reporting from Carolynne Dear, Hannah Grogan, Adele Brunner, Evie Burrows-Taylor, Callum Wiggins and Shreena Patel.

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school visits

KINDERGARTEN

EtonHouse students enjoy music time.

EtonHouse Tai Tam

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Allison Banbury, EtonHouse Principal

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stablished in Singapore in 1995, the EtonHouse Group has almost 100 schools across Asia, including China, India and Japan. Inspired by innovative educational practices in Reggio Emilia, Italy, it encourages young children to construct an understanding of their world while developing social, cognitive, emotional, physical and creative skills.

Led by principal Allison Banbury, EtonHouse Tai Tam has enjoyed a successful first year, and is establishing itself as a strong choice for international families. According to the EtonHouse philosophy, the environment is the third teacher and the school’s campus maximises its proximity to nature, with large bay windows offering magnificent views of Tai Tam harbour and the surrounding countryside. The connection with nature continues through the choice of natural and

At EtonHouse the environment is the third teacher sustainable materials for furniture, fittings and toys. Children are encouraged to use their own imagination during play time, rather than play with toys that offer little chance for exploration and creative thinking.

EtonHouse follows an enquiry-based method. Rather than teaching an established curriculum, teachers observe and listen to each child’s interests, then plan lessons that allow children to explore their own thinking and solve problems. Teachers are there to facilitate learning rather than just impart knowledge, which requires sophisticated

school visits

PRINCIPAL’S TIPS Seven tips for choosing a kindergarten Selecting a kindergarten that is a good fit for your child can be exciting as well as overwhelming. As a parent, you want to be confident that you decide on the right program for your little one, but how do you make the best choice?

Ms Sandra Hite, Principal of ESF International Kindergarten, Tung Chung is here to help.

Pupils outside International Kindergarten, Tung Chung.

1

Always inquire about practical matters first. When visiting kindergartens, evaluate practical issues specific to your family’s needs. These include proximity to your home or work, transportation, cost, and staff/child ratio.

2 EtonHouse Tai Tam.

interaction with the children and asking pertinent, thought- provoking questions.

Children then have opportunities to find the information for themselves.

Each child at EtonHouse has his or her progress recorded in a portfolio regularly updated by the teachers and available for parents to view and make comments. This better involves parents in their child’s learning and reinforces the school’s open-door policy.

Each class has native English and Mandarinspeaking teachers, providing children with an immersive bilingual learning experience.

The curriculum gives the teachers a chance to observe individual children, which allows them to make sure the next steps are put in place for their development.

1/F, Red Hill Plaza, 3 Red Hill Road, Tai Tam, 2353 5223, www.etonhouse.com.hk.

The powerful interactions between talented teachers and children have the most profound effect on learning. The best kindergartens will employ teachers with early childhood degrees, experience working with young children and proven expertise. It’s important that the family is welcomed into the program, encouraged to stop in, receives frequent communications about their child’s learning and development as well as information on the school’s curriculum and events.

3

The best kindergartens embrace new practices and design inquiry based programs where children can be curious and explore. We now know that creativity, problem solving, collaborating, and communicating well are important for our learners to succeed.

4

The most important factor to consider when making the decision about a child’s first school is one’s own instinct as a parent. Choose the school where you believe your child will be happy, safe, secure and thrive as a learner.

5

Children play in a variety of ways.

It allows children to develop independence, which prepares them for future schooling. We also know that focusing on relationships is critically important for children to form a healthy identity, sense of belonging, and to value family and culture.

A nurturing environment that recognizes the uniqueness of each child and offers developmentally appropriate learning opportunities will be a place where each child can reach his or her potential.

6

Parents should pay attention to the developmental stages that their children are progressing through. Putting pressure on children to move through them too quickly does not make them smarter or more capable in the long run. It can also have a detrimental effect on self esteem. Enjoy your children: play with them, read to them, give them your time and attention. This will have the greatest impact on their learning.

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Research the schools you are interested in on the web and using the Expat Parent Schools Guide. And finally, visit them with your children and don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Ms Sandra Hite, Principal of ESF International Kindergarten, Tung Chung

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school visits

Children enjoy the creative environment of Hamilton Hill.

Hamilton Hill International Kindergarten

H

amilton Hill International Kindergarten was opened at the beginning of 2015, by founder Alex Keys. His goal was to fill a gap in the Hong Kong international kindergarten market for a really good speechand drama-based curriculum.

The Hamilton Hill curriculum focuses on making its students more confident and creative, as well as making them lateral thinkers and risk takers, supported by the friendly environment and community of the school.

Some may be familiar with the name Hamilton Hill from Marvel comic series, Batman. The school is named after the mayor of the hero’s home, Gotham City. Keys says that this helps to separate the kindergarten from its competition. With Batman and other heroes adorning the school’s hallways, the kindergarten’s interior has been designed to have an atmosphere that empowers and motivates students to feel confident and achieve their goals.

The unique speech and performance arts curriculum helps deliver a special kindergarten experience for the students.

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Hamilton Hill focuses on making its students confident and creative Unlike other more traditional institutions, Hamilton Hill aims to provide an introductory education that brings out the differences in its students. Its focus on the arts, Keys says, means that the school may be responsible for discovering a new singer, poet or artist. Keys, who hails from England, was an actor himself, before starting his career in education in Hong Kong.

Potential students are put through an assessment, making sure that they are placed at the right level. The assessment consists of children being observed at play with their peers and the school’s teachers.

New beginners are expected to have some understanding of the English language, so that they can be properly accommodated during their time at the school.

Hamilton Hill offers English Phonics playgroups for students from 18 months to four years old, including K1 and K2 classes, and various summer courses in July and August each year. The summer courses promise to deliver adventure and fun-filled activities for students from two to 10 years old, with a different theme each week.

Hamilton Hill chooses to set goals and targets from the outset, later creating lessons tailored to achieving these outcomes.

Students are equipped with necessary skills, such as numeracy, literacy and Mandarin, however, because the focus is on the building of confidence through performance arts and drama, there is a gentle push for students to learn and think out of the box in other areas.

While the kindergarten’s main priority is to work on the skills necessary for placement in a good primary school, local or international, Keys says that what makes his school different is the importance placed on giving children a well-rounded education.

1-3 Ching Wah Street, North Point, 3461 9750, www.hhik.co.

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school visits

Bebegarten

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Space is key at Bebegarten.

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ducation, education, education. We all know it’s important but are we getting it right? In Hong Kong, children as young as two-and-a-half are being trained for kindergarten interviews; some are even taught how to pick things up. Fear of losing at the starting line means the pressure on both parents and children to spend more and learn faster is mounting. Is this really giving children the best start in life?

The team at Bebegarten thinks it’s time for an alternative approach. Launched in 2013 in Wong Chuk Hang, Bebegarten specialises in early years education for children aged six months to six years. “Bebegarten was launched as a much-needed platform for change in the city”, says Head of Curriculum Ginny Humpage.

The 10,000 square foot space in One Island South contains a large reception area, five classrooms, a designated baby room and playground for under-threes, an art studio, a performing arts studio, a large play area for children to blow off steam, and a feeding and changing room. It’s clear that everything here, from the bespoke curriculum to the low door handles, has been carefully designed with the children in mind.

school visits Being guided by the children is all very well, but how do you ensure discipline and good behaviour, you might ask. Humpage believes children who are empowered and listened to behave responsibly. “There is no such thing as a naughty child”, she says, “and there is usually a reason for negative behaviour. Perhaps they didn’t get a good night’s sleep or don’t feel they’re being heard.

These things can make a child grumpy and disruptive. That’s why it’s important to have trained specialists. It’s our job to find out the cause and help to address it.”

Bebegarten follows a bespoke ‘emergent’ curriculum, “The Language of Children”, designed to constantly evolve in response to the changing needs and interests of children, parents and teachers. Each day at Bebegarten begins with morning aerobics.

Healthy snacks are prepared by a nutritionist so there are no sugary sweets or turkey twizzlers in sight. English is the main means of instruction but the school does offer bilingual programmes in mandarin putonghua for under threes. In line with its inclusive approach, the school also employs a Special Educational Needs Coordinator to support teachers and families with children who have additional needs.

Whilst it may not be all about school

Bebegarten pupils blow off steam.

admissions for the team at Bebegarten, the statistics do not disappoint. In the school’s two years of operation, the majority of its 73 primary leavers have obtained places at their first choice primary schools. “There is a lot of panic throughout Hong Kong about primary school interviews”, says Humpage. “They want happy, confident, sociable children who can communicate effectively and who have not been rehearsed.” She adds, “I’ve always been

confident that children coming to Bebegarten will have a very good start in life. Our goal is to make sure each child who leaves here is confident, happy, capable and socially welladjusted. If a child is all those things, anything is possible.”

Unit 301-305, Level 3, One Island South, 2 Heung Yip Road, Wong Chuk Hang, 3487 2255, www.bebegarten.com

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school visits

primary

Nord Anglia students making some noise.

Nord Anglia International School

H

ong Kong’s Nord Anglia International School is a flagship campus for the group, Nord Anglia, which operates 31 premium educational institutes in 18 countries, including China, Singapore, and several countries in Europe, where the group began in Britain 25 years ago.

Located in refurbished premises in Lam Tin, an updated and modernised version of the original structure remains. A new walkway links the two sides of the school and a swimming pool is underway for next year.

The school has students in years one to seven and eventually hopes to expand into a through school. It’s licenced to open year eight and nine classes in the next two years, in its current location. It is also bidding on another site that could enable it to open years 10 to 13 in future, with a view to eventually offering IGCSEs and the IB diploma.

Class sizes are small, with a maximum of 22 children in a class and the school currently has 24 classes, some of which still have places.

A limited number of individual and corporate debentures are available, starting at $400,000, depreciating by 12.5 per cent every year.

Brian Cooklin, Principal of Nord Anglia, says

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the majority of the school’s students are new to Hong Kong, while some switch from other schools. “We are playing our part in making sure families are able to take employment and feel secure that their child is in the school they want them to be educated in,” Cooklin says.

The staff is also international, with Cooklin, who hails from Scotland, employing teachers from Hong Kong, Britain and around the world.

Nord Anglia links its schools to encourage collaborative projects around the world “We offer a version of the English National Curriculum that has been tailored to Hong Kong. For example, we have daily Mandarin classes for all children up to year five, and after that the children will have it three times a week. We also introduce Spanish as another language. This means that we teach the three most widely spoken languages in the world.”

He adds that the school has a multicultural mix of more than 30 different nationalities.

Extending this multicultural theme is Nord Anglia’s Global Classroom concept, which links the group’s 31 schools via the internet and encourages collaborative projects between children around the world. Children in Hong Kong studying geography of mountains, for example, can talk directly to classes in Swiss schools about the Alps. It’s an idea that takes the international school concept to a whole new level.

11 On Tin Street, Lam Tin, 3958 1488, www.nordangliaeducation.com.

school visits

TALKING HEADS Q&A with Principal of Nord Anglia, Brian Cooklin What are the challenges of being a principal?

There are many. A great part is the variety.

[Then there’s] the amount of form filling, dealing with regulations and ordinances that is time consuming. In any job of leadership, a major aspect is managing people: members of staff, parents and children. It’s a huge range of different interpersonal situations and skills you need to deploy in different ways with different groups at different times.

What do you like most about Hong Kong?

I like the fact that you can turn a corner and come across a temple where people are bringing their babies to be blessed, and there’s a fancy French restaurant next door, and an Italian down the road and somebody else is making this, that or the other.

As a child what was the best advice you were given by a teacher?

My history teacher was inspiring because he basically threw the books out. He used to say, “What do you think of this particular event in history and why do you think it worked out like that?”. And he was very funny.

Any tips for de-stressing?

My way of de-stressing is to go to the gym.

The other is to have a sense of humour.

What quality do you value most in people?

It comes down to trust and loyalty. That you can depend on a person in every respect.

Do the kids at school have any nicknames for you?

Some of the younger children have difficulty saying Mr Cooklin so it’s become Mr Cookie.

Brian Cooklin, Principal of Nord Anglia

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school visits

International Montessori School campus.

International Montessori School

S

tep into any classroom at the International Montessori School (IMS) in Stanley and you’ll find a hive of activity. Some children lie on their tummies on the floor solving mathematical problems using different-sized blocks, others are clustered around a teacher, talking about book choices.

Busy as it is, however, there is a pervading sense of calm, independence and total absorption.

“The Montessori method isn’t just about playing,” says co-founder Anne Sawyer, who set up the first school in 2002 with partner Karin Ann. “Kids have a natural thirst for knowledge and they want to work in a way that is stimulating as well as fun. The approach, particularly at the younger levels, is multisensory so the classrooms are stocked with a lot of well-designed materials that encourage children to touch, feel, experiment

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There is a pervading sense of calm, independence and total absorption and learn.

The purpose-built campus comprises 50,000 square feet of tailor-made facilities.

There are 30 light and spacious classrooms, children’s kitchens with low-level sinks and counters, multi-purpose rooms and a vast indoor gymnasium. Outdoors is a basketball court and small soccer area, an undercover play area, a children’s garden and a playground with climbing frames.

Currently, there are 250 children at the Stanley school, which has capacity for 500 pupils, and two permanent teachers in each

bilingual class of up to 25 children. Following Montessori philosophy, classes are in three mixed-age groups with three- to five-yearolds, six- to eight-year-olds and nine- to 11-year-olds together. Research shows this has many advantages: older children solidify their knowledge by teaching younger ones, giving them confidence and a sense of pride, and the little kids, who look up to them, often take in more than if they were listening to a teacher. As the groups within a class are flexible and there are no grade limits, it is an inclusive system, for gifted and special-needs children alike.

Because everyone is mixed age and ability, nobody feels different or singled out because of their talents or lack of them. Every child is allowed to develop at his own pace and completes each level to their maximum potential with no sense of failure. Essentially,

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school visits

TALKING HEADS Q&A with International Montessori School co-founder, Anne Sawyer What do you enjoy most being a principal?

Interacting with the different parts of our community. I love being able to chat with a student, join a PTA class parent coffee morning or catch up with staff.

What has been the most memorable event of your career?

The night we were awarded the Stanley campus will always be a highlight! Jumping around with Karin, but not being able to tell anyone until the documents were officially signed, sealed and delivered. And, of course, walking into this gorgeous campus.

What do you like most about Hong Kong?

Hong Kong is home. I love that it is Asian enough to be interesting and Western enough to feel comfortable, and I can explore both sides of Hong Kong. I love that it’s not perfect and a little dirty, has a huge personality and a lot of humour.

What is your greatest fear?

The idea that I might not dare greatly enough. Before IMS started in 2002, I saw a sign that asked “What would you do if you weren’t afraid to fail?” It was great to be able to answer, “I’m doing it!”

Children learning the Montessori way.

Every child is allowed to develop at their own pace with no sense of failure in a Montessori classroom, you’ve got 24 brothers and sisters pushing and pulling you to learn.”

Stanley’s dual-language, English/ Putonghua environment works in two streams – first and second language – with a full-time Chinese teacher assigned to each class. Montessori elements have been added to the strong Chinese programme to make it interesting and enjoyable.

“We wanted a strong dual-language school with small Chinese-language groups

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tailored to ability. In addition, we are an international school and we have many families for whom English is not their first language. Chinese is something that unifies them”, says Ann. The largest cohort of IMS graduates take up secondary-school places at the Chinese International School although Sawyer and Ann have good relationships with all secondary schools to ensure the children go somewhere that suits them.

Phase III, Ma Hang Estate, Stanley, 2566 7196, www.montessori.edu.hk.

Anne Sawyer (Left) and Karin Ann (Right) International Montessori School co-founders

Tell us a secret about yourself.

I was expelled from my first nursery school at age three for painting another child’s glasses. I took my teacher literally when she said, “Go paint something.”

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school visits

YCIS’ outdoor campus facilities.

Yew Chung International School

T

he classrooms are buzzing at Yew Chung International School (YCIS) as students get ready for a community open day. Art lessons are in full swing as students and teachers select pieces to be shown, and technology students polish off mini wooden speakers they have been crafting all term. “Do you want me to show you?” enthuses one student as I peer around the classroom door.

Co-principal Iyad Matuk is justly proud of his Kowloon Tong-based school.

“Multiculturalism and a strong bilingual learning environment are at the core of what we are,” he says. “We have teaching staff from about 25 different nationalities, and we welcome students from all over. Whether they come here as Hong Kong locals or from further afield, they leave with the skills to flourish globally.”

Yew Chung International School’s primary section provides an international education for students aged five to ten years. Each year has multiple classes, with places ranging from 120 to 150 per year, and 780 places in total.

Fluency in English and Chinese are considered fundamental to the 80-year-old group that also operates international schools in Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Qingdao and California’s Silicon Valley. Primary students are immersed in a bilingual learning environment, supporting the school’s commitment to proficiency in English and Mandarin. During a typical week, students spend 75% of their

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learning time using English and the remaining 25% using Chinese, with some lessons co-taught each week. Co-teaching is one of Yew Chung’s special features and the school considers itself a pioneer of this teaching method.

Multiculturalism and a strong bilingual learning environment is at the core of YCIS The group was established in 1932, when the first Yew Chung Kindergarten was set up in Hong Kong. The territory now has eight campuses including preschool, primary and secondary sections.

Colourful murals feature prominently around the school, and every year the school welcomes a handful of full-time professional artists-inresidence to take over art lessons and introduce the children to new ideas, perspectives and techniques. As well as art, these artists-inresidence develop skills in dance, theatre, film direction, sculpture and digital art.

Students have a broad range of extra curricular activities available most days of the school week. These range from sports, arts, music, hobbies to games options, to name a few. From the upper primary years, sports

teams compete with other schools in city leagues. YCIS students are able to make full use of indoor and outdoor on-campus learning areas. The swimming pool and full-sized auditorium, located at the nearby Secondary campus, are also used by primary students.

The school boasts a strong music and drama programme, and every year presents a full stage production taking in many subject areas. Students get involved with set design, lighting, costume design, acting, singing or the full orchestra. Past highlights have included Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, The King and I, Godspell and The Sound of Music.

Music features prominently in the primary curriculum, including violin lessons, designed to increase the development of the left-side of the brain at a critical age. The school follows research showing that there is a significant relationship between honing musical listening skills and language tone advancement.

According to studies, the left side of the brain enhances a child’s spatial-temporal reasoning skills, and can also promote mathematical dexterity and memory span.

YCIS also operates a highly successful inschool Individual Instrumental Programme (IIIP) for students in years 1-9. Private rooms are made available during school hours. All music tutors are screened and approved, and are there to help the all-round child development,

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school visits which is at the heart of the Yew Chung philosophy.

Last but by no means least, the school is no slouch in sport. Boasting a 25m indoor pool, YCIS fields teams in football, basketball, swimming, badminton and athletics. As well as Yew Chung inter-school competitions, it also takes part in the International Secondary School Federation of Hong Kong competition and takes on other local international schools in ACAMIS (Association of China and Mongolia International Schools) tournaments. The mythically inspired school house system – Sabre Tooth, Dragon, Phoenix and Unicorn – underpins inter-school sporting competition.

Yew Chung’s team of Co-Principals, one Western, the other Chinese, leads each school section of YCIS (Early Childhood, Primary, Secondary). Together they head up the school’s academic team, providing continual support to the welfare of the students. Representing the school’s blend of East and West.

Students adopt a worldview at YCIS.

PRINCIPAL’S TIPS 1. What are the important considerations when choosing a primary school?

With many different types of primary schools in Hong Kong, it is important that parents first decide on the type of education they wish their children to have, in terms of values and approaches. For example, it could be a religious school, a local one using the local language or an English medium school with an international curriculum. It is also important that, as parents, you feel comfortable and welcome at the school, and have a good idea of the principal and staff’s philosophy and approach to learning. Have a look at the school’s Mission and Vision statements as these will tell you a lot about what the school thinks is important. Ensure that its beliefs are in line with your own.

2. What is the most important consideration?

That you trust the school to do a good job, to nurture your child and make the best decisions for them.

3. As a parent, how did you choose a school for your child/children?

My children went to the local primary school, with many of their friends and neighbours.

I did not have the wide choice of schooling that parents in Hong Kong have.

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3 To Fuk Road Kowloon, 2338 7106, www.ycis-hk.com

Choosing a primary school with Ms Sandra Webster, Principal of ESF Bradbury School 4. Why are these important factors to consider?

Schooling is a big and very important part of family life. Parents place their precious children in the trust of a school to take care of them, as well as to nurture them into learners and well rounded people. The goal of a primary school should be to instil each child with a love of learning. After all, primary school is just one of the first steps in a very long educational journey and we want our students leaving us excited about what’s to come.

5. What are the things parents should look out for in the early stage of a child’s education?

Teachers who care for and understand children and what is developmentally appropriate for them, who know how to break learning into small, achievable steps and who can support and, hopefully extend, all learners. A principal and senior leadership team that parents feel they can talk to and who will listen to them. Look at classroom environments - are they bright, attractive and engaging to learn in, is the school clean and well cared for? Will your child be safe in that environment?

6. Any more tips on choosing an appropriate school?

Yes, look at the school’s website. Look for and read the Principal’s Blog, ask around for recommendations, but most of all, follow your gut instinct about which school is right for you and your child.

7. What makes a great primary school?

A good primary school has a heart for their students and endeavours to make the best decisions for them everyday. It has open communication with parents and they are welcomed into the school as partners. It also has high quality staff who understand learning, are excited by their profession and always seeking to improve their practice.

Additionally, the school should serve as a community hub and have a family feel about it, no matter its size.

Ms Sandra Webster, Principal of ESF Bradbury School

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school visits

secondary

Harrow International’s vast sports field.

Harrow International School

S

teeped in four centuries of tradition, the original Harrow School in London, England, has been a household name virtually since its foundation under Elizabeth I. With much anticipation, the Hong Kong school opened in September 2012.

Fast-forward three years, and while the dust around Harrow International Hong Kong has settled, it still retains an aura of being the new kid on the block. “We are a new school but we have the feel of something far more established because we have a 400-year history to draw on,” explains headmaster Mel Mrowiec, who came directly from Harrow School in England, where he was head of geography and the school’s first ever deputy headmaster. “We’ve tried to build on the ‘Harrow-ness’ that underpins the school, and balance those traditions and philosophy with the nature of Hong Kong, and being an international entity.”

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We’ve tried to build on the ‘Harrow-ness’ that underpins the school Situated on the Gold Coast, near Tuen Mun, the imposing, semicircular white stucco building is based on the architecture of the Royal Crescent in Bath, England, and is a contrast to the modern high-rises in the neighbourhood. All traditional-style vaulted ceilings and columns on the outside and stateof-the art facilities within. Harrow Hong Kong is set in 3.6 hectares of grounds, including a full-sized Astroturf pitch, swimming pool and sports centre. The school currently has 1,030 pupils, ranging from fledgling K1s to mature year 13s on the cusp of flying the nest, but with more construction – and consequently

more facilities – on the horizon, full capacity has yet to be decided.

Before the school opened, it was rumoured that the majority of students would come from the mainland. While Harrow embraces all nationalities, mainland Chinese children are only accepted if their parents have invested in Hong Kong, and the school has capped the number of Hong Kong passport holders at 50 per cent of the student body.

The school is divided into the Lower School (early years K1 and K2 and pre-prep years one to five) and Upper School, which includes the preparatory school (years six to eight), senior school (years nine to 11) and sixth form (years 12-13). It follows the British National Curriculum leading to external exams in the final years; IGCSEs in year 11 and A-Levels in year 13. However, Mrowiec believes Harrow’s style of teaching sets it apart from the rest.

school visits Owing to its boarding-school ethos, the school day is long and even day pupils don’t finish until 5pm, because extra-curricular activities are integrated into the timetable.

Students can take part in their chosen sports for up to five hours a week, plus an extra hourlong session after school.

“This is a big site for Hong Kong, but it’s still not big enough for the very traditional games afternoon where everybody does sport, so we need to stagger it,” Mrowiec says. “We believe the skills from doing sport, music, art, drama and so on complement and enhance what goes on in the classroom.”

Harrow, he continues, is not all about academics. With its vision statement, “leadership for a better world”, the school aims to make sure students leave with the motivation and skills to become effective leaders, defined as making a positive difference to the lives of others.

He also wants to empower students with the skills, confidence and self-esteem to make informed decisions on their own.

“Too many schools are focused solely on the achievement of high public examination results,” Mrowiec says. “Students can look well qualified on paper, but when you meet them in an interview you get turned off straight away because they haven’t got any personality. Ultimately, if you want to get

Weekly boarding suits Hong Kong because families get the best of both worlds into one of the elite universities, you have to convince a tutor sitting on the other side of the interview table that you’re interesting and engaging, that you can be inspiring. We genuinely inspire children to want to learn.”

Another fascinating aspect of Harrow is its optional boarding, which starts in year six. Just over half of all students currently board and although there are some full boarders, who

TALKING HEADS Q&A with Headmaster of Harrow International School, Mel Mrowiec What has been the most memorable event of your career so far?

The way the team here engaged with the challenge of setting the school up is probably at the top. Hong Kong is a very demanding environment. The expectations of this particular school have been sky high even before it opened. To be able to pull all that off is pretty special.

What quality do you most value in people?

It has got to be honesty and integrity and what I call constancy. I think it’s very difficult to live and work with people if you don’t know where you stand.

A-Levels or IB? I’ve never had a hang up about either one.

Some people seem to think that if you’re an IB school, it means you’re automatically a good school. We marginally favour A-Levels because of the ability to choose a number of subjects that you’re genuinely interested in.

Any tips for destressing?

Personally, I like to keep very fit and active and I think that helps. You need an alternative focus and it has always been sport for me in all sorts of ways. Sport has always been a fundamental part of my life.

What talent would you most like to have?

The ability to sing. It’s a standing joke in our family. I’ve got four daughters and they all think it’s hilarious that I can’t sing.

What do you like most about Hong Kong?

I think the diversity is great and I enjoy working with the local people - they are the people I work closest with. I’m amazed at their dedication and their desire to do their jobs really well to make this an amazing school.

Mel Mrowiec, Harrow International School Headmaster

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secondary

Students of Harrow International School.

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secondary remain at school at weekends, most board weekly.

Like many other schools, every pupil is assigned to a house for competition and activities, but at Harrow this extends to living arrangements. There are four boys’ and three girls’ houses. Up to three younger pupils share a room while older children have the luxury of their own space, often with an ensuite bathroom. Children share with others in their year group, changing rooms and roommates every half term to promote communication and the experience of learning to get on with all kinds of characters.

While the school is co-ed, the accommodation is strictly single sex with each house presided over by a house master or mistress, who has rooms off the recreation room, a comfy space with sofas, a pantry and A/V equipment.

“Weekly boarding suits Hong Kong because families get the best of both worlds, particularly when both parents work full time,” Mrowiec says. “Children get the intensity of the boarding experience but also have weekends for family time.”

38 Tsing Ying Road, Tuen Mun, 2824 9099, www.harrowschool.hk.

PRINCIPAL’S TIPS

Choosing a secondary school with Belinda Greer, CEO of the English Schools Foundation

1. Ensure a high level of English language Students have to be able to access the curriculum so a good level of English is essential to success at an international secondary school in Hong Kong.

2. Choose the best environment for your children As a mother of five boys myself, I’m aware that parents know their children best. Choose an environment where you believe they’ll feel safe, confident, happy, and somewhere they will want to learn.

4. Look for a strong sense of community It’s important that a school has a strong student voice and that pupils feel like they’re part of the school. Make sure the school offers a good programme of extra-curricular activities. I think as a parent, you should feel there is a strong community for you as well, so look for PTAs and school councils.

Belinda Greer, CEO of the English Schools Foundation

3. Make sure the school has high professional standards Choose a school with a strong academic performance. Make sure it’s somewhere that has exceptional teachers because that’s what makes the difference. While the physical learning environment is important, the teachers using it are more important.

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school visits

TALKING HEADS Q&A with Hong Kong Academy Head of School, Stephen Dare Why did you become a teacher?

It was accidental, fortuitous in some sense.

I used to spend a lot of time working with children and young people in sports programmes and playgroups and I was asked why not keep that going.

What do you enjoy most about your position?

Every day is different. I love that I’m in an organisation that is very people focused whether that’s students, teachers or parents. I enjoy doing something I find fulfilling and feel is worthwhile.

Hong Kong Academy campus.

Hong Kong Academy

H

ong Kong Academy (HKA) in Sai Kung is the epitome of a modern international school.

With soaring ceilings, acres of glass, stylish décor and state-of-the-art facilities, it is a far cry from the typical schools of yesteryear with their narrow corridors, cramped classrooms and murky colour schemes.

Designed initially by GHD and completed

by LDAsia (Llewelyn Davies Hong Kong), the 23,000-square-metre, purpose-built campus opened in August 2013, and is a model for sustainable school design. It is one of the only schools in Hong Kong to be accredited as a BEAM platinum-rated building, with key green features including rainwater harvesting, low-E glazing on windows to reduce the amount of heating and cooling required and energy-efficient air-conditioning. Bold graphics announce the various departments and areas, and spacious, open-plan classrooms are equipped with Scandinavian-style furniture and Apple Macs.

Facilities include an awe-inspiring 350-seat theatre with a recessed orchestra pit that can be covered to provide extra floor space, plus professional lighting and sound systems, and dressing rooms. Add to the mix an enormous sports hall, all-weather sky pitches and wellstocked music rooms and you get an idea of how high HKA has set the bar.

Founded in 2000 and previously located on Stubbs Road and in Kennedy Town, HKA is a

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private, independent, non-profit, international school. It can accommodate about 650-700 students ranging from three-year-olds in the pre-kindergarten classes to 18-year-olds about to graduate from Grade 12.

“We are seeing the most growth in the secondary school as the primary school, which was established before we moved to Sai Kung, is full,” says Head of School Stephen Dare. “Since coming to this new campus, the interest in secondary school places has been considerable, and we anticipate the secondary school will be full in the next three to five years. The maximum class size is 22. One reason we are keen to stay a middle-sized school is that we think it is good for learning. The teachers get to know the kids well and nobody slips through the cracks.”

The purpose-built campus is a model for sustainable school design The secondary school at HKA operates on a grade system similar to that in the US and Australia, and is a fully authorised International Baccalaureate school, offering the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and IB Diploma. It operates a debenture system requiring only one debenture per family, regardless of the number of children attending the school.

What do you like best about Hong Kong?

I love living in Sai Kung. I’ve always dreamed about having a home overlooking the ocean and since coming to Hong Kong, I’ve lived in four places with sea views.

Best advice you’ve been given?

Always try to grow and don’t try to be someone you’re not.

What are your hobbies?

I play squash. I like to travel. I like kicking back with a glass of wine and reading.

Simple pleasures.

What talent would you most like to have?

I wish I could type well. I’m a one-hand typist and everyone in my family laughs at me.

What quality do you most value in your friends?

Tolerance. None of us is perfect. If people can accept you for who you are, see your good side and forgive the stuff that’s not so good, that makes for a lasting friendship.

Hong Kong Academy Head of School, Stephen Dare

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school visits The school embraces diversity and is committed to being inclusive with regard to both learning ability and culture, with students of more than 45 nationalities. New students are assessed purely to see what stage they are at rather than for the school to select the crème de la crème. Gifted students and those with ADHD, autism, dyslexia and other learning needs all work in mainstream classrooms with individual support when required.

There is also a full-time occupational therapist and speech and language pathologist.

After almost a whole school year in the new campus, Dare feels HKA is going from strength to strength. About half the students are based in Sai Kung and Clearwater Bay, but there is still a sizeable Island community and a growing contingent from Kowloon. The bus system, which was a concern for parents before relocation, is apparently working very well.

“It’s like a family: there are some fantastic things and things you have to keep working at. And the HKA family is no different. On the whole, I’m very happy with where we are.

We are committed to fulfilling our mission statement, to growing and getting better and to providing a first-class education for our students. It’s really very simple.”

Wai Man Road, Sai Kung, 2655 1111, www.hkacademy.edu.hk.

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The Future of ESF We spoke to ESF CEO, Belinda Greer, about the foundation’s strategic plan for the next five years.

At ESF, we believe our vision is to make our students the best they can be.

We’ve spoken with the board, our advisory committees and parents, students and schools to work out where we’re heading, looking at our education offering, goals, finances and brand.

Education We’re looking ahead and it’s all to do with confidence. ESF is known for delivering excellent education and what impresses me is how we develop professional thinking in practice. We’re able to do this through having such a large network of schools, enabling us to run strong development programmes from the centre.

Goals We have real confidence in meeting the challenge of finding innovative, creative ways of working with students to ensure we get the very best. Obviously real education

is about a lot more than just achieving high academic standards, but these are important. This year we had our strongest set of results ever, with 17 students achieving the full 45 marks available through the IB, out of under 200 students who achieved the same worldwide.

Fees There’s been a lot of anxiety from parents about fee increases. While this happens every year, in 2016 the government will begin phasing out the foundation’s subsidy, starting with year 1. While the shortfall has to be made up, we will be ensuring that we make very good use of resources.

Brand We see ourselves as a key driver of best practice and learning in teaching. At ESF we’re non-selective in terms of academic ability, so we work with all of our students to help them be the best they can be, and will continue to strive for inclusive education.

We want to achieve exceptional learning outcomes for all of our pupils.

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school visits

Kellett School

K

Kellett School’s Pok Fu Lam campus.

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ellett School is a popular choice for families looking for a British-style international education in Hong Kong.

It was set up in 1976 by like-minded parents to provide high-quality teaching, rich in the arts and delivered in a small-school setting.

The first two classes had 44 mainly expatriate children and these families developed a strong sense of community that continues today.

In 1978, the school relocated to leased premises in Taikoo Shing and established the Kellett School Association, which was officially registered as an international kindergarten and primary school. Two years later, it moved to purpose-built premises at the Kellett School Pok Fu Lam’s current location in Wah Fu Estate. To meet the lack of international secondary places in Hong Kong, a senior school was established in 2007 to accommodate all the school’s year six students, and Kellett opened a second stateof-the-art campus in Kowloon Bay with spaces for 300 prep students and 600 seniors in 2013.

Applications are accepted at birth for reception and prep classes and two years prior to entry into the senior school. Applicants are placed on a waiting list and assessed when an offer of a place is imminent.

school visits Kellett operates on a debenture system (for details visit the website, www.kellettschool. com), with priority for siblings of existing students and children covered by a corporate debenture. Annual fees are $123,500 for the prep school, $160,800 for years Seven to 11 and $168,800 for years 12 to 13.

The Kowloon Bay campus is spacious and bright with sky-lit atrium spaces “We have a waiting list for almost all year groups [at the Pok Fu Lam campus], but we do have an occasional vacancy and we still have some vacancies in the senior school,” says principal Ann McDonald, who has been head of the school since 1996. “Quite a few families moved from Pok Fu Lam to the Kowloon Bay school and Sai Kung was already home to a number of Kellett families. With the opening of the new campus, this number has grown and we expect it to continue to grow year on year, along with our school.”

The Kowloon Bay campus is spacious and bright, with multi-functioning sky-lit atrium spaces containing living trees in both the prep

and senior sections. There are outdoor gardens, a sports pitch and running track on the roof, shaded outdoor areas for the prep students, plus sports halls, an indoor swimming pool with moveable floor that can be raised for younger children or lowered for water polo and other senior activities. There’s a world-class theatre with a moveable orchestra pit, black box dance studio and expansive music suites, plus an artist-in-residence programme. The teaching spaces have been built to support 21st-century learning with fully equipped science, design and technology labs, and separate libraries for the Prep and Senior schools.

Kellett’s teachers are recruited locally

and internationally. All have strong academic profiles and are proven within their specialist fields. Strong links with Britain are maintained to ensure the staff stays abreast of the best practice and public examination expectations.

“We strive to equip our students with the skills and knowledge to thrive in a rapidly changing workplace, and help them to develop not just social awareness but global awareness,” McDonald says. “This new campus supports our aims and goals and our top-quality teaching staff.”

Lam Hing Street, Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong, 3120 0700, www.kellettschool.com.

Kellett School’s theatre.

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after school activities

Let us play Fun activities for the kids

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after school activities

Faust International Faust runs drama workshops for children aged three to 18 at venues across Hong Kong. It introduces children to the world of theatre and creativity through fun, lively sessions, developing performance skills, theatre knowledge, teamwork, individual expression and confidence.

Classes are open to everybody, with no previous drama experience needed. It also organises productions at Hong Kong theatres.

2547 9114, www.faustworld.com.hk.

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after school activities

Hong Kong Basketball Academy HKBA offers young girls and boys one-on-one and small-group basketball coaching as well as summer camps. Group coaching is organised by age and coaches for individual sessions are chosen depending on the areas the player wishes to improve. Training is available throughout the week with six coaches at three locations - Stanley, Aberdeen and Sheung Wan. Classes start from $250 for an hour. www.hkbaallday.com, 6681 7774.

Bricks 4 Kidz Kids who like Lego will love Bricks 4 Kidz. It runs four age-specific groups for children from age two to teens to build projects and play with Lego, with special classes in Robotics and Stop Motion Animation for children aged nine and over. As well as building all sorts of amazing structures, young children use the alphabet, animals or numbers as they play,

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and older children are introduced to gears, axles, motors and battery packs. In Stop Motion Animation, children create their own characters, then script, storyboard, shoot and edit a short film. Classes are $200-$300 an hour, with holiday camps available.

65 Man Nin Street, Sai Kung, 6184 6229, www.bricks4kidz.com.

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after school activities Guitarist, Max Linnitt At 15 years old, guitarist Max Linnitt has a regular gig in Sai Kung. He goes to Sha Tin College.

I started playing guitar at age seven, when I was at Clearwater Bay School. I practise every day (mainly the electric guitar) and I also teach beginners. I really like seeing people enjoy learning and I want to pass on my knowledge and experience.

I play both acoustic and electric guitars.

My dad made me learn the acoustic guitar before he bought me an electric one, but I spent a lot of time learning electric guitar riffs on the acoustic guitar. I really like old 1970s and 80s hard rock – I think that is why I have such a passion for guitar.

Rumple & Friends Clown around with Rumple & Friends’ Big Top Academy course. Run by Matt Combes and his team of professional performers, the twelve week course ($3000), includes drama, musical theatre and circus classes. Children aged three and above will learn new skills from juggling, stilt walking, plate spinning and acrobatics

while gaining confidence and teamwork. Weekly classes are held from September till December on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons with a finishing performance at the end of the course. 504-505 Enterprise Building, 228 Queen’s Road Central, 2582 0200, www.rumpleandfriends.com.

UU International Academy Children aged five and above can join the inline skating classes ($1200 for 8 classes) at Eastern King’s Road Playground or brush up on their Mandarin ($3200 for 10 classes).

Mandarin classes range from 6 months to 12 years old, specific for each age bracket.

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With no more than five students per class and a relaxed and self-learning approach, children learn social etiquette, storytelling through listening, writing, speaking and reading Mandarin. Details at www.uuokok.com.

My advice to beginners is to practise.

Ten thousand hours – just like The Beatles.

When you start playing the guitar, it can be very stressful. You might find you can’t play a chord because a string is muted or you can’t remember how to play a chord. You have just got to push through and you will be rewarded with results!

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after school activities Performer, Tommy Avery At 11 years old, Tommy Avery joins the cast as Kurt in The Sound of Music.

I started drama classes when I was nine after I played a fun role in a theatrical production of Glee at the French International School.

I decided to audition for The Sound of Music because I love the movie. I have watched it many times with my family and know a lot of the songs.

This is my first professional production, but the Faust shows were all performed at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts in front of large audiences. The thought of being in a professional cast is quite nerveracking and I feel slightly nervous about performing in front of such a large audience, but I am also excited at the prospect.

APS Soccer School APSS runs soccer courses for boys and girls aged five to 13 at all levels of ability, with girls-only sessions and squad programmes for talented players. Kinder kicks offers a fun introduction to the game for children under four. Talented players may be selected for

squad training and play in the Hong Kong junior Football League and Hong Kong Football Association Henderson League.

APSS also runs football camps during school holidays. Training locations vary. 2385 9677, www.apsoccer.hk.

Sol Passion Music Get funky with Sol Passion Music’s multidisciplinary music classes. One-onone classes are available for children aged thirteen and above in DJ, music production and songwriting. Classes range from intro, beginners, core and complete levels and focus on technique, music theory and crowd interaction for live performances. Classes start from $3600 for four classes. Details at www.solpassionmusic.com.

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My friends are thrilled for me and cannot wait to see the show. My family are also very excited and both my grandmas and other relatives are coming from New Zealand and Spain to see it.

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after school activities

Starlit Voice The only accredited exam centre in Hong Kong for the London Academy Of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) syllabus, Starlit Voice uses drama, literature and poetry to ignite children’s imaginations, improve communication skills and build confidence.

Starlit Voice offers small, tailored classes and are suitable for four-18 year-olds. Speech Festival classes and interview training are also available. Classes, including Starlit Spotlight, a Saturday drama club, are held at international schools throughout the territory, including Harrow International and Parkview Hong Kong.

2108 2182, www.starlitvoice.com.

Kiddynastix Kiddynastix is a children’s gym in Sheung Wan, offering active educational classes for children aged five months - five years of age. Classes focus on developing gross and fine motor skills as well as on sensory play. Classes are age specific and Kiddynastix also offers Baby Bonding classes and Cantonese classes for

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beginners. Children will be introduced to different developmental skills, such as spatial, tactile and body awareness. They offer six or 10 class packages and a trial class is $150, but waived if you sign up for a package. 5/F Tern Centre Tower 2, 251 Queen’s Road Central, Sheung Wan. 9741 2285, www.kiddynastix.com.

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after school activities I have been playing rugby since the age of eight.

When we came to back to Hong Kong from Taiwan, some family friends suggested I join Sai Kung Stingrays and it was one of the best decisions I ever made. My two sisters and I are still all playing today.

Rugby is such an engaging game. Some sports start and stop but rugby just keeps going. It’s constant action and can be really unpredictable. It keeps you on your toes. I play in both 15s and sevens teams. I prefer the 15s as it’s more of a team game but the sevens can be quite exciting.

Rugby Player, Hebe Talas The 15-year-old Sai Kung Stingray tackles girls’ rugby.

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I play inside centre. For my position you need good vision because when you receive the ball from the flyhalf, the other team is already charging towards you. Quick decisions need to be made about how you will play the ball.

I like the aggression of the sport. If you are having a frustrating day going to a training session and making tackles is fun. If you get tackled you have to get up and keep going, there’s no use lying on the floor and staying out of the game.

There are a good number of girls playing rugby in Hong Kong but it’s still not very popular in local schools. The girls’ game is actually very different to the boys’. Girls have to play more tactically because we don’t have that same strength or aggression. The boys game is more physical.

I was concussed once playing rugby. I took a knock to the head when I went down from a tackle. I didn’t know I was concussed until the end of the game when I wasn’t feeling very well. Scraped knees are the worst injury that we suffer from. If you care about nicelooking knees, don’t join a rugby team…

Time management can be difficult.

Sometimes I have rugby training four times a week on top of other sports and it can be difficult to balance studies and my sporting commitments. During exam periods I take time off from training and concentrate on my school work.

My advice to anyone thinking of playing rugby is just to give it a go. Don’t be scared.

Once you join the team and start playing you might just realise a love for the game.

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tuition

tuition

Classes to brush up academic skills.

British Tutors Individual or group lessons in a variety of languages including English, German, Latin and Spanish held at the student’s home or online. Tutors are matched to each child’s educational needs to form better rapport and match the teaching to a child’s learning style. Prices vary with location. Classes cover phonics, reading, comprehension and creative writing. Interactive holiday workshops are also available.

Unit D, 11/F, Ho Lee Commercial Building, 38-44 D’Aguilar Street, Central, 8191 2252, www.britishtutors.com.

HK Kidz Education Centre HK Languages offer exam preparation and language lessons including English, French and Mandarin for children aged one to 12.

The classes aim to develop a student’s oral and listening skills, as well as developing their competence and confidence. Summer programmes are also available for younger children, with immersion courses in science and discovery, creative writing and Cambridge exam preparation. 2877 6160, www.hklanguages.com.

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ITS Education Asia ITS offers educational support for children of all ages. It places importance on finding the right school for each individual child and offers continuity of service from admissions to IB tutorial support to university entrance help. It offers tuition in a wide range of languages (including Mandarin, Cantonese, English, French, Latin, Spanish and

German) as well as tailor-made private tuition programmes and exam preparation services for SAT, A-Levels, ACT, SSAT and more.

3/F, Unit G, Bank of China Insurance Group Building, 136 Des Voeux Road, Central, www.itseducation.asia, 2116 3916.

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tuition

Capstone Brandon Learning Centre Established in 2006, Brandon Learning Centre, assists children from the ages of three-13 in public speaking, writing classes, as well as English, maths, science and French to prepare students to study at international and UK schools. University preparation is available

for older children wishing to study in the UK. Classes range from $420-$680.

Capstone mainly focuses on entrance for elite US and British universities, with intensive summer courses in Academic writing, competitive debate, early test preparation and writing, discussion and thinking. Challenging and fun, the courses are designed to help students grow as thinkers and leaders.

1A, Vulcan House, 21-23 Leighton Road, Causeway Bay, 2575 1761, www.brandoncentre.com.

5/F, 8 Sunning Road, Causeway Bay, 2893 6060, www.capstoneprep.com.

Baker & Bloom

PGEM

Baker & Bloom offer private tuition for children in grade 1 to 12, as well as term courses.

Subjects include English, creative writing, history at IB and GCSE levels. Boarding school bootcamps includes intensive training in reading, writing and speaking aspects. Course content includes academic essay writing, public speaking and UK and US boarding school preparation. Classes start from $700 per 90 minute class.

For one-on-one support outside the classroom, PGEM’s professional tutors offer online help in a wide range of subjects as well as external examination courses including IB, A-Level and SAT. Learners can book slots with tutors through the PGEM website for a one-on-one session using interactive video calling, live chat and whiteboard facilities. Ask questions, receive feedback and develop a deeper understanding of academic subjects from the comfort of home.

2A, CKK Commercial Centre, 289 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai, 2110 4788, www.bakerandbloom.com.

Suite 3203, Central Plaza, 18 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, 2877 9336, www.paradigm-gem.com.

Sai Kung Tutors This Sai Kung centre runs interactive oneon-one or group classes in various subjects including math, physics, chemistry, English and economics at primary, secondary and IB levels.

Hourly lessons can be taught in the comfort of your own home or at the centre and start from $500.

1/F, 10 Po Tung Road, Sai Kung, 5321 4400, www.saikungtutors.com.

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places to take kids

great places to take kids Activities to keep small and big kids busy

Bounce

1

Boingggg! Newly opened Bounce has more than 100 trampolines, 80 of which are interconnected to form a huge free-jumping area. There are also be giant airbags, springs, and squishy areas of circus-grade sponge.

Safety is the number one priority and the trampolines have all been designed for softer landings. Take dodgeball to the next level, bounce off the walls or work on a free-style routine on the Olympic-grade performance trampoline. There will also be miniBounce lessons for young children and adult BounceFit classes. Sessions will cost $150 an hour. Open Sunday-Thursday 10am-9pm, Friday-Saturday 10am-11pm. G/F, EMAX, KITEC, 1 Trademart Drive, Kowloon Bay, www.bounceinc.com.hk, 2556 9555.

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places to take kids

2 YMCA King’s Park At 18 metres high, the YMCA’s outdoor climbing wall at King’s Park is the tallest in Hong Kong. At 16 metres wide, it can host up to 30 climbers at one time on 15 different routes with varying degrees of difficulty, including some tricky overhangs. There is a multitude of courses available for children and adults from July to September. Participants aged six and above can sign up for the Shek O Rock Climbing Fun Days on the 18 and 19th July (children under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian), no experience required.

22 Gascoigne Road, Yau Ma Tei (Jordan MTR), 2782 6682, www.kpcc.ymcahk.org.hk.

3

Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park The large playground covers 4.1 hectares and has a train theme (based on Sun Yat-sen’s vision for the future), with a zipline, monkey bars, multiple slides and decent-sized open areas, including a paved area perfect for scooters and a circular lawn for picnics or running around. For sports enthusiasts, there’s also a sports centre, swimming pool, soccer pitch and two basketball courts. Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park, Eastern Street, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong, www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/parks/sysmp.

Maritime Museum Madame Tussauds Hong Kong Are they real? Strike a pose with the famous wax statues of Madame Tussauds. Whether you want to duet with Michael Jackson, score a goal with David Beckham or become a Marvel Superhero. These celebrity photo opportunities are not to be missed, quick, get your camera ready! Open Monday to Sunday 10am-10pm, Adults $245, child (age 3-11) $175, discounted tickets if bought online.

Shop P101, The Peak Tower, No.128 Peak Road, The Peak, 2849 6966. www.madametussauds.com.

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5

The Hong Kong Maritime Museum at Pier 8, Central has 15 galleries and a host of new exhibits detailing Hong Kong’s fascinating seafaring history through model boats, paintings, and interactive displays. A digitally animated scroll from the late Qing Dynasty tells the story of piracy and emperors in a 360-degree cinema.

Deck B boasts fantastic views over Victoria Harbour and reveals how much of this historic waterway has been reclaimed over the years.

Open weekdays 9.30am-5.30pm, weekends 10am-7pm. $30/adult $15/child. Central Ferry Pier No 8 (next to the Star Ferry), www.hkmaritimemuseum.org.

Photo by KTo288

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places to take kids

Dragon’s Back

7

6

Winning Best Hike in Southside’s 2013 and 2014 Readers’ Choice Awards by a country mile, section 8 of the Hong Kong Trail follows the ridge from Wan Cham Shan to Shek O Peak, with fabulous views and a chance to end the walk with a dip and a meal in Shek O. Popular with hikers of all ages and abilities, it’s also a great place to take the plunge.

Paragliders regularly jumping off Dragon’s Back and fill the skies over Shek O. In winter,

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they land on the main beach, but busy summer days relegate landings to the Back Beach.

To take off with the Hong Kong Paragliding Association you must hold a valid license and be at an advanced level. Highly experienced instructor Yuen Wai-kit offers lessons for beginners in Sai Kung and Ma On Shan ($1,000 a session; some people qualify in three lessons). Details at pilotkit@yahoo.com.hk, 9620 0577.

Glow in The Dark 3-D Museum

Be part of the exhibits at the new Glow in The Dark 3-D museum in Mong Kok. The first of its kind in Hong Kong, the museum invites visitors to interact with its luminescent 3-D pictures of fairy tales, movies and natural scenes. Join Alice at the Mad Hatter’s tea party, perch on a rock in a jungle river or drift down a Venetian canal in a gondola. It’s surreal, but fun. Open Monday to Saturday, 11am-10pm. Tickets $98, or $68 through Groupon until April. 3/F, 689 Nathan Road, Mong Kok, 2319 5628, www.doyougetit3d.com.

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directory

Kindergarten Anfield International Kindergarten

Anfield International Kindergarten & Nursery

Bebegarten Education Centre

Address | No. 5, Cumberland Road Kowloon Tong, Kowloon Telephone | 2794 3668 Email | admin@anfield.edu.hk Website | www.anfield.edu.hk Year groups | Playgroup, Pre-K, First & K1-K3 No. of students | 200 Maximum class size | 1:10 Curriculum | British Tuition fees (per year) | Please refer to website

Address | L2, Phase 1, Laguna Verde, 8 Laguna Verde Avenue Hunghom, Kowloon Telephone | 2766 3882 Email | admin-lv@anfield.edu.hk Website | www.anfield.edu.hk Year groups | Playgroup, Nursery & K1-K2 No. of students | 150 Maximum class size | 1:7 Curriculum | British Tuition fees (per year) | Please refer to website

Address | Unit 301-305, Level 3, One Island South, 2 Heung Yip Road, Wong Chuk Hang Telephone | 3487 2255 Email | info@bebegarten.com Website | www.bebegarten.com Year groups | Playgroup, English Nursery Classes Maximum class size | 1:6 to 1:10 Curriculum | The Language of Children™ Tuition fees (per year) | $13,200-$105,600

ESF Abacus International Kindergarten

ESF International Kindergarten, Hillside

ESF International Kindergarten, Wu Kai Sha

Address | Mang Kung Uk Village Road, Clearwater Bay Telephone | 2719 5712 Email | kinder@abacus.esf.org.hk Website | www.esfkindergartens.org.hk Year groups | K1 to K2 (for ages 3 to 5) No. of students | 185 Maximum class size | 22 Curriculum | IB Primary Years Programme Tuition fees (per year) | $68,000-$78,000

Address | 43B Stubbs Road, Wanchai Telephone | 2540 0066 Email | kinder@hs.esf.org.hk Website | www.esfkindergartens.org.hk Year groups | K1 to K2 (for ages 3 to 5) No. of students | 355 Maximum class size | 22 Curriculum | IB Primary Years Programme Tuition fees (per year) | $68,000

Address | 1/F, Lake Silver Tower, 599 Sai Sha Road, Ma On Shan Telephone | 2819 1962 Email | kinder@wks.esf.org.hk Website | www.esfkindergartens.org.hk Year groups | K1 to K2 (for ages 3 to 5) No. of students | 336 Maximum class size | 22 Curriculum | IB Primary Years Programme Tuition fees (per year) | $68,000

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directory

Kindergarten Hamilton Hill International Kindergarten

Little Dalton Kindergarten

Miles ELP International Academy

Address | No. 1-3 Ching Wah Street, North Point Telephone | 3461 9750 Email | info@hhik.co Website | www.hhik.co Year groups | 18 months to 5 years old No. of students | 128 Maximum class size | 16 Curriculum | IB Tuition fees (per year) | $57,750

Address | KG01, G/F, Wah Sin House, Wah Kwai Estate, Pok Fu Lam Telephone | 2792 2566 Email | info@littledalton.com Website | www.littledalton.com Year groups | Playgroup, Pre-K to K3 No. of students | 79 Maximum class size | 18 (Teacher/student ratio: 1:6) Curriculum | Based on the English Early Years Foundation Stage, complemented by a Chinese literacy and virtues program Tuition fees (per year) | Please refer to website

Address | B102, the pulse, 28 Beach Road, Repulse Bay Telephone | 3586 3071 / 3586 3070 Email | info@miacademy.com.hk Website | www.miacademy.com.hk Year groups | Parent-and-child - Primary (8 months to 6 years) No. of students | – Maximum class size | 25 Curriculum | Experiential Learning Program Tuition fees (per year) | $14,400-$82,000

Safari Kid

The Woodland Montessori Academy

Woodland Pokfulam Pre-School + Annexe

Address | L101 ChiFu Landmark, Chi Fa Yuen, Pok Fu Lam Telephone | 2177 0001 Email | infohk@safarikidasia.com Website | www.safarikid.com.hk Year groups | Accompanied playgroups, pre nursery-K3 No. of students | 113 Maximum class size | 24 Curriculum | International/Bilingual Tuition fees (per year) | $60,000-$140,000

Address | 1/F-3/F, On Fung Building, 110 118 Caine Road, Mid Levels Telephone | 2551 7177 Email | montessoricr@ woodlandschools.com Website | www.woodlands.com Year groups | Rollers to Preparation for Primary Maximum class size | 24 Curriculum | Please refer to website Tuition fees (per year) | Please refer to website

Address | G/F Commercial Complex, Wah Fu II, Wah Fu Road, Pok Fu Lam Telephone | 2549 1211 Email | pokfulam@woodlandschools.com Website | www.woodlands.com Year groups | Rollers to Preparation for Primary Maximum class size | 24 Curriculum | Please refer to website Tuition fees (per year) | Please refer to website

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directory

Primary Anfield School

Beacon Hill School, English Schools Foundation

Bradbury School, English Schools Foundation

Address | No. 1 Lung Pak Street, Tai Wai, Shatin Telephone | 2692 8823 Email | office@anfield.edu.hk Website | www.anfield.edu.hk Year groups | Y1-Y6 No. of students | 230 Maximum class size | 2:25 Curriculum | British Tuition fees (per year) | Please refer to website

Address | 23 Ede Road, Kowloon Telephone | 2336 5221 Email | bhs@bhs.edu.hk Website | www.beaconhill.edu.hk Year groups | 1 to 6 (for ages 5 to 11) No. of students | 540 Maximum class size | 30 Curriculum | IB Primary Years Programme Tuition fees (per year) | $78,700

Address | 43C Stubbs Road, Hong Kong Telephone | 2574 8249 Email | enquiries@bradbury.edu.hk Website | www.bs.edu.hk Year groups | 1 to 6 (for ages 5 to 11) No. of students | 720 Maximum class size | 30 Curriculum | IB Primary Years Programme Tuition fees (per year) | HK$78,700

Clearwater Bay School, English Schools Foundation

Glenealy School, English Schools Foundation

Nord Anglia International School

Address | DD 229, Lot 235 Clearwater Bay Road Telephone | 2358 3221 Email | info@cwbs.edu.hk Website | www.cwbs.edu.hk Year groups | Y1-6 (for ages 5 to 11) No. of students | 720 Maximum class size | 30 Curriculum | IB Primary Years Programme Tuition fees (per year) | $78,700

Address | 7 Hornsey Road, Mid-levels Telephone | 2522 1919 Email | enquiry@glenealy.edu.hk Website | www.glenealy.edu.hk Year groups | Y1-6 (for ages 5 to 11) No. of students | 360 Maximum class size | 30 Curriculum | IB Primary Years Programme Tuition fees (per year) | $78,700

Address | 11 On Tin Street, Lam Tin Telephone | 3958 1488 Email | admissions@nais.hk website | www.nais.hk Year groups | Primary - Y1–6; Secondary Y7-8 No. of students | Please refer to website Maximum class size | 22 Curriculum | iGCSE and IB Tuition fees (per year) | $138,390-$154,350

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directory

Secondary Concordia International High School

Island School, English Schools Foundation

King George V School, English Schools Foundation

Address | 68 Begonia Road, Yau Yat Address | 20 Borrett Road, Hong Kong Chuen, Hong Kong Telephone | 2524 7135 Telephone | 2789 9890 Email | school@online.island.edu.hk Email | office@concordiaintl.edu.hk Website | www.island.edu.hk Website | www.cihs.edu.hk Year groups | Y7-13 (for ages 11 to 18) Year groups | Y7-12 No. of students | 1200 No. of students | 100 Maximum class size | 12 to 30 Maximum class size | 15-22 Curriculum | GCSE/IGCSEs, IB Diploma, Curriculum | North-American patterned Applied Learning Programme curriculum with SAT and (BTEC qualifications) AP as exit qualifications Tuition fees (per year) | $110,600-$116,200 Tuition fees | $96,000 - $98,000 (Associated fees: $13,500 $19,200)

Address | 2 Tin Kwong Road Ho Man Tin, Kowloon Telephone | 2711 3029 Email | office@kgv.edu.hk Website | www.kgv.edu.hk Year groups | Y7-13 (for ages 11 to 18) No. of students | 1700 Maximum class size | 12 to 30 Curriculum | IB Primary Years Programme Tuition fees (per year) | $110,600-$116,200

Sha Tin College, English Schools Foundation

South Island School, English Schools Foundation

West Island School, English Schools Foundation

Address | 3 Lai Wo Lane, Fo Tan, Sha Tin Telephone | 2699 1811 Email | info@shatincollege.edu.hk Website | www.shatincollege.edu.hk Year groups | Y7-13 (for ages 11 to 18) No. of students | 1200 Maximum class size | 12 to 30 Curriculum | IB Primary Years Programme Tuition fees (per year) | $110,600-$116,200

Address | 50 Nam Fung Road, Hong Kong Telephone | 2555 9313 Email | sis@mail.sis.edu.hk Website | www.sis.edu.hk Year groups | Y7-13 (for ages 11 to 18) No. of students | 1400 Maximum class size | 12 to 30 Curriculum | IB Primary Years Programme Tuition fees (per year) | $110,600-$116,200

Address | 250 Victoria Road, Pok Fu Lam Telephone | 2819 1962 Email | wis@wis.edu.hk Website | www.wis.edu.hk Year groups | Y7-13 (ages 11 to 18) No. of students | 1200 Maximum class size | 12 to 30 Curriculum | IB Primary Years Programme Tuition fees (per year) | $110,600-$116,200

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directory

All through Australian International School

Canadian International School of Hong Kong

Christian Alliance P.C. Lau Memorial International School

Address | 3A Norfolk Road,Kowloon Tong Telephone | 2304 6078 Email | info@aishk.edu.hk admissions@aishk.edu.hk Website | www.aishk.edu.hk Year groups | Reception (equivalent to K2) – Y12 No. of students | 1,100 Maximum class size | 20-25 Curriculum | HSC or IB Tuition fees (per year) | Please refer to website

Address | 36 Nam Long Shan Road Aberdeen Telephone | 2525 7088 Email | schoolinfo@cdnis.edu.hk or admissions@cdnis.edu.hk Website | www.cdnis.edu.hk/ Year groups | Reception to Y12 No. of students | 1850 Maximum class size | Lower School – 18-24 Upper School – 10-20 Curriculum | IB (PYP, MYP and DP) and Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) Tuition fees (per year) | $94,120-$170,000

Address | 2 Fu Ning Street, Kowloon City (Kowloon City Campus) Lai Yiu Estate, Wah Yiu Road, Lai King (Lai Yiu Campus) Telephone | 2713 3733 Email | info@cais.edu.hk Website | www.cais.edu.hk Year groups | K-Y12 No. of students | 960 Maximum class size | 21-26 Curriculum | Alberta, Canada; Advanced Placement (AP) Tuition fees (per year) | $88,800-$141,000

Discovery College, English Schools Foundation

Harrow International School Hong Kong

Hong Kong Academy

Address | 38 Siena Avenue, Discovery Bay, Lantau Island Telephone | 3969 1000 Email | office@discovery.edu.hk Website | www.discovery.edu.hk Year groups | 1 to 13 (for ages 5 to 18) No. of students | 1300 Maximum class size | 15-30 Curriculum | IB Primary Years Programme Tuition fees (per year) | $101,700-$137,500

Address | 38 Tsing Ying Road, Tuen Mun Telephone | 2824 9099 Email | info@harrowschool.hk Website | www.harrowschool.hk Year groups | K1-Y13 No. of students | 1100 Maximum class size | 15-24 Curriculum | Early Years Foundation Stage, New Primary Curriculum, IGCSE, A-levels Tuition fees (per year) | $130,691-$177,700

Address | 33 Wai Man Road, Sai Kung Telephone | 2655 1111 Email | kinder@abacus.esf.org.hk Website | www.hkacademy.edu.hk Year groups | PK1-Y12 No. of students | 615 Maximum class size | 22 students (capped at 18 for Pre-K) Curriculum | Inquiry-based approach, IB Programme and HKA Diploma Tuition fees (per year) | $122,000-$197,600

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directory

All through International Christian School

International College Hong Kong

Kellett School

Address | Primary and Secondary School

1 On Muk Lane Shatin, Shek Mun

Kindergarten: G/F, Kam Ho House (Block H), Kam Fung Court, Ma On Shan Telephone | 3920 0010 Email | admissions@ics.edu.hk Website | www.ics.edu.hk No. of students | 1,245 Maximum class size | 26 Curriculum | North American liberal arts Tuition fees (per year) | $57,600-$139,000

Address | Kindergarten & Primary ICHK Hong Lok Yuen 3, 20th Street, Hong Lok Yuen, Tai Po Secondary 60 Sha Tau Kok Road, Sha Tau Kok Telephone | 2655 9018 Email | info@ichk.edu.hk Website | www.ichk.edu.hk Year groups | N-Y6, Y7-Y13 No. of students | 660 Maximum class size | 20-23 Curriculum | UK National Curriculum, IGCSEs,

IBDP, IB primary years programme Tuition fees (per year) | $110,500-$144,500

Address | Pok Fu Lam Preparatory 2 Wah Lok Path, Wah Fu, Pok Fu Lam

Kowloon Bay Prep & Senior 7 Lam Hing Street, Kowloon Bay Telephone | 3120 0700 Email | admissions@kellettschool.com Website | www.kellettschool.com Year groups | Reception – Year 13 No. of students | 1240 Maximum class size | 23 Curriculum | English National Curriculum including I/GCSE & A levels Tuition fees (per year) | $143,300-$183,400

Renaissance College, English Schools Foundation

Victoria Shanghai Academy

Yew Chung International School (YCIS)

Address | Hang Ming Street, Ma On Shan Telephone | 3556 3556 Email | info@rchk.edu.hk Website | www.rchk.edu.hk Year groups | Y1-Y13 (for ages 5 to 18) No. of students | 2,100 Maximum class size | 10-27 Curriculum | IB Primary Years Programme Tuition fees (per year) | $98,900-$133,900

Address | 19 Shum Wan Road, Aberdeen Telephone | 3402 1000 Email | enquiries@vsa.edu.hk Website | www.vsa.edu.hk Year groups | Y1-Y12 No. of students | Around 1800 Maximum class size | 28 Curriculum | IB Tuition fees (per year) | $112,300-$162,180

Address : Early Childhood Education: 29 Kent Road, 3 & 20 Somerset Road, 151 Waterloo Road, Kowloon Tong Primary: 22 Somerset Road, 2 & 11 Kent Road, Kowloon Tong Secondary: 3 To Fuk Road, Kowloon Tong

Telephone | 2338 7106 Email | admissions@ycef.com website | www.ycis-hk.com Year groups | N-Y12 No. of students | 2,500 Maximum class size | 12-25 Curriculum | International (IGCSE for Year 10 to 11 & IBDP for Year 12 to 13) Tuition fees | Please refer to website

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dreams

Leonie Drew

ANNE SAWYER

Primary Principal of Australian International School

Co-founder of IMS I wanted to be an opera singer. Then I wanted be a surgeon. I never thought I would start a school.

I attended 13 schools as a child, all over the world, so I saw many places and learned to love art and music. One of my schools was a Montessori school in Germany. It taught me how to think and to adapt.

I wanted this for my own children, along with the child-centred approach that makes learning in a dual-language environment easy. This led to co-founding IMS.

When I was a little kid, I wanted to be a ballerina. I was educated by nuns. At some stage in primary I wanted to be a nun and, in secondary, I wanted to be a teacher.

Mel Mrowiec Headmaster of Harrow International School Hong Kong

I’m quite sad because I decided early on that I wanted to be a teacher. I was into languages for a long time but in my final years at school, I was inspired to do geography and that’s what I did at Oxford University. I did my PGCE teacher training course as a post-grad and worked in two big comprehensives in Britain before joining Harrow UK.

What did you want to be when you were a child?

Graham Silverthorne Principal of South Island School A footballer or a journalist. A football journalist would have been a good compromise.

Dr Harry Brown Principal of Renaissance College

Dion Chen Principal of YMCA Christian College My accounting teacher had a big impact on my career choice. I told her I wanted to be a teacher and she told me to study for an accounting degree first, that way I’d have more choices later on. I followed her advice.

When I was in primary school, there were astronauts going to the moon, so everybody wanted to be an astronaut and I was one of them. That gave way in middle school when I found out how much maths was involved, but by then I’d been coaching younger students and knew by grade six that I wanted to be a teacher.

Alan Runge

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Brian Cooklin

Head of School, HKIS

Principal of Nord Anglia

I went through a phase of wanting to be a garbage man, I just had this fascination with them, but then I decided I wanted to be an astronaut and that drove me to become a scientist.

When I was a small child I wanted to be an orchestral conductor, but I wasn’t musical. At the age of 10, I wanted to be a teacher. I’ve been a teacher for 38 years, the last 18 of them as a headteacher or principal.

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