Expat Parent Schools Guide September 2018

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Expat Parent

SCHOOLS | FAMILY | ACTIVITIES | REPORT CARDS

Schools Guide

2018/2019

Hong Kong edition

225

after-school activities

How to find

the right

school place

Inside Out

Why some of the best education happens outside the classroom

New school year, new school faces meet the new names in charge

what’s inside

SchoolsGuide Expat Parent

Hong Kong edition

4 Editor’s letter

6 New schools A round-up of Hong Kong’s newest

international schools.

10 New heads Changes at the top

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14 How to get a school place An in-depth look at how to take on the Hong Kong school system

16 Outside the classroom Our Education Editor puts forward the case

for learning outside the classroom .

20 School visits

An exclusive peek inside some of Hong Kong’s best international schools

P.8

P.72

20 Kindergarten 28 Primary 42 Secondary

60 After-school activities Extra-curricular activities to keep kids busy and learning all day long

70 Tuition help

P.26

A round-up of Hong Kong’s tuition centres and private tutors

78 School’s out

Keep the whole family busy on those all-important days off

90 Directory School listings for 2018/19

112 School report An insight into school reports of our heads 2 | Expat Parent Schools Guide

P.17

P.42

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SchoolsGuide

Editor’s letter

Expat Parent

Hong Kong edition

Editorial

editorial@hongkongliving.com Managing Editor Gemma Shaw

Editor Amelia Sewell

Contributing editor Carolynne Dear

Contributing editor Nicole Slater

Sub-editor Kay Ross

Design

sonia@hongkongliving.com Graphic Designer Sonia Khatwani

Design Assistant Jeramy Lee

Sales & Marketing talk@hongkongliving.com

Sales Director Hilda Chan

Sales and Marketing Executive Isamonia Chui

C

atch them on a good day, when lessons have gone to plan and pupils have been nothing but charming, and any teacher will tell you that working in education is the greatest career out there. Watching and helping as those inquisitive, lively minds develop is a wonderfully unpredictable and continually rewarding task that few jobs can match. There’s never a dull or quiet moment.

So it’s a privilege to be a small part of that world and bring you Hong Kong Living’s fourth edition of the Schools Guide. It’s a comprehensive guide to education in the 852, and we hope it serves to help all parents, no matter which stage of the schooling process their children are at.

Inside you’ll find school reviews and information on after-school activities, along with a rundown on new schools launching and new principals arriving.

The reviews are the product of many hours spent visiting Hong Kong’s far-flung schools to find out what’s going on and provide you with up-to-date insights. We’re fortunate that the schools have all been so welcoming in allowing us to have have a stickybeak behind the scenes, so many thanks to them for their time and patience in fielding so many nosy questions.

The feature on “learning beyond the classroom” (page 16) will hopefully resonate with many of you. Leaders in the world of education are forever debating alternative teaching methods, and I suspect

HEAD

GIRL

that in the coming years, out-of-classroom learning will be one issue that continues to be explored. In researching this article, I was particularly thrilled to learn about the arrival of the Backyard Gang into Hong Kong. So read up and get ahead of the curve.

And for those new to Hong Kong – or perhaps new to parenting – the article on page 14 is for you. With pointers and hints on how to navigate the often befuddling school-selection process, we hope to defuddle some of the fuddle and leave you feeling a bit more clued-up.

So here’s to another busy academic year.

I hope the learning is plentiful, the homework painless and the children contented, and that all the adults involved retain their sanity!

Our School Writers

Sales and Marketing Executive Corrie Tang

Accounting

charles@hongkongliving.com Assistant Operations Manager Charles Lau

Publisher

Carolynne Dear

Thanks to Gabby Tse Kaitlyn Lai Yu Ching Yau Contact us Admin: 3568 3722 Editorial: 2776 2773 Advertising: 2776 2772 Published by Hong Kong Living Ltd, L1 Kai Wong Commercial Building, 222 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong

Tom Hilditch tom@fastmedia.com.hk

4 | Expat Parent Schools Guide

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

Adele Brunner

HONG KONG hongkongliving.com

Rebecca Simpson

Photo credit: Hong Kong Academy

Sales and Marketing Executive Johnny Wong

Expat Parent Schools Guide is published by Hong Kong Living 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 Schools Guide 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

New kids on the block

With a host of new schools recently opened or opening soon, Amelia Sewell takes a sneak peek Malvern College Hong Kong Malvern welcomed local media to its Providence Bay campus as the purpose-built school building reached the final stages of its interior fit-out.

Following the International Baccalaureate curriculum, this is a through-train school for pupils aged from five to 18, stopping at Year 9 in the first year and growing organically from there.

This is the fourth in Malvern’s portfolio of international schools (it has two in China, one in Egypt and one more in the pipeline), so parents can be reassured that Malvern is well-versed in the art of founding schools.

Although the campus is only half the size of an average local secondary school, the architects have created an impressive seven-storey building that squeezes the maximum out of the 26,000-square-metre space. Some of the most impressive aspects include a huge, openplan, amphitheatre-style library at the heart of the building, music and recital rooms, a large auditorium, a 25m indoor pool, a science centre and a rooftop sky pitch. Students will also be able to access sports facilities at the adjacent Science Park.

If you are UK-focused, there will be opportunities for students to move to Malvern’s prep school, The Downs, at Year 7, and to Malvern College UK at Year 9.

The Malvern College Preschool opened in 2017 in Kowloon. www.malverncollege.org.hk

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Shrewsbury International School Hong Kong Alongside Malvern College Hong Kong, Shrewsbury is another well-known British name that launched in Hong Kong for the new school year. Based in Tseung Kwan O, New Territories, and with capacity for 1,000 places, this is an international primary school for children aged three to 11 years.

Founded over 450 years ago, Shrewsbury UK is one of the original nine British public schools, in good company with the likes of Eton and Winchester. The school has previous experience on the international scene with Shrewsbury Bangkok, which opened 15 years ago.

Onsite facilities at the purpose-built campus in Tseung Kwan O district include an auditorium, a recital suite, a library and sports facilities for gymnastics, dance and athletics.

Academically, the core programme of study is linked closely to the English National Curriculum, with six classes in each primaryyear group. Lessons are themed and taught as a combination of academic study together with exploratory and collaborative learning. Daily Mandarin lessons cater for everyone across the fluency spectrum.

Like a number of schools focusing on the outdoors, the school says that it aims to make the most of its rural location close to mountains, forests, hiking trails and parks, offering an education beyond the classroom. shrewsbury.hk

new schools French International School Tseung Kwan O seems to be becoming a “go-to” location for Hong Kong’s education offerings, with the French International School (FIS) also setting up shop there. A longstanding name in education in Hong Kong, FIS currently educates nearly 3,000 students across campuses in Happy Valley, Jardine’s Lookout, Chai Wan and Hung Hom (although the Hung Hom campus closed in July in order to be absorbed by the new opening).

For those in the international stream, the new, purpose-built campus caters for primary only, starting with Reception to Year 2 in the first academic year and organically progressing up to Year 6 by 2022.

For those in the French stream, the offering is from primary (starting with moyenne section), up to college (junior secondary), although for the first year, the oldest year group will be 4ème.

Whilst the primary and secondary schools are in separate blocks, the two streams of primary are largely integrated, with an entire year group to each floor. A strong focus of this campus is on communal areas, allowing all pupils and teachers to collaborate, promoting a naturally broad bilingual environment.

As is expected of any purpose-built campus, the facilities are impressive. Interesting additions are the native and educational gardens, which go hand-in-hand with the school’s green, sustainable approach to the building. These gardens are managed and run by the children.

Headmaster David Tran took up his post at the beginning of the last academic year and oversees all of the FIS schools. fis.edu.hk

Mount Kelly Not much gets past a Hong Kong parent. So Mount Kelly’s stuttering arrival into Hong Kong two years ago did not go unnoticed. With licensing problems, relocation issues and stern letters from the Education Bureau, it was not the smoothest of beginnings.

However last year saw the successful launch of the Mount Kelly International Preschool, under the experienced eye of founding head of preschool Abigail Carr, as well as a preparatory school section, both in Tsim Sha Tsui. And this year the school appears to have brought an equally safe pair of hands to the fore with

Lisa Milanec, who was recently appointed headmistress of Mount Kelly Schools Hong Kong (MKSHK), following senior leadership roles in Shanghai and Beijing.

The prep school in Tsim Sha Tsui caters for Years 1 to 6 and is due to expand up to Year 9 this September. There are plans for a purposebuilt campus for a through school in the New Territories for ages three to 18, but for now that is a way off.

“We are very much targeted at parents who want a UK higher education for their children,” says Milanec. The relationship between the Hong Kong school and its UK counterpart in Devon is strong, with an open-door policy and shared curriculum. Pupils will be able to transition seamlessly from the Hong Kong campus to the UK one.

Additionally, the structure of the school is firmly rooted in the British preparatory system rather than primary/secondary meaning that pupils can be prepared for Common Entrance exams by MKSHK should they want to transfer to a different UK-based school after Year 8.

“We understand that some parents might imagine that we’re just another British school, but actually there is a significant difference in what we are offering,” says Milanec. mountkelly.edu.hk sg

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new heads

Australian International School Hong Kong Since the last edition of the Schools Guide, AISHK has welcomed Mark Hemphill as the new head of school. A sporty dog-lover, Hemphill started in January of 2018 following stints in Sydney and Zurich. Nominated by parents for the New South Wales Parent Council’s “Principals’ Excellence Award” for parent engagement, he is already a favourite with parents and pupils alike.

With a no-nonsense, pragmatic approach to everything, he has quickly integrated himself into the life of this well-loved school.

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Mount Kelly Lisa Milanec was recently appointed as the principal of Mount Kelly Schools HK. Following senior leadership roles in Shanghai and Beijing, she moved to Hong Kong in the middle of the last academic year to put the steady hand of experience on the tiller. With over a decade working within education in Asia, in her previous roles she dealt with everything from restructuring and expansion to marketing and rebranding. She will be borrowing from that experience as she spearheads MKSHK’s progression.

Kellett, The British International School There are not one but two major changes taking place at Kellett in the near future. Most prominently, the principal, Ann McDonald, will retire at the end of the current school year after 22 years in the role. The Board of Governors recently announced that Mark Steed will fill her shoes. Mark is currently the director of the Jumeirah English Speaking School (JESS), a not-for-profit school in Dubai. Mark will take up his position in August 2019. The other Kellett appointment is a new Head of Senior, Joe Alsop, who arrives from the UK to start this academic year.

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new heads

Avendale International Kindergarten

Shrewsbury International School Hong Kong

Victoria Shanghai Academy

David Shirley is a name that will be familiar to many, as he spent a decade at AISHK as both head of primary and acting head of school.

He now takes up the position of Principal at Avendale. With four children and over 25 years of experience in education, he is expertly placed to oversee these two kindergarten campuses. A head who is committed to personal development, Shirley has a Master of Education with a focus on Leadership & Management and a Bachelor of Teaching.

Another name already known to Hong Kong parents is Ben Keeling, who cut his teeth on the launch of Kellett’s Kowloon Bay campus. Now to be found sitting being the principal’s desk at Shrewsbury International School Hong Kong, he will be leading this primary specialist school at its brand-new Tseung Kwan O campus.

Keeling was born and bred in London but was persuaded to moved to Hong Kong by his wife, who grew up here. Living in Sai Kung, they recently welcomed their first child.

We all know it is difficult to move on from Hong Kong once you’ve called it home, and that us certainly true for Chris Coates. After 13 years at CDNIS, three years ago he left for a senior leadership role in Macau, but he is now back to take on the position of secondary principal at VSA. An ardent fan of the IB, he is also an advocate of a holistic education and is set to hit the ground running back in his “home away from home”.

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get a school place

HOW TO GET A SCHOOL PLACE Our Education Editor, Amelia Sewell, explains the Hong Kong school system

Primary students at American International School

Hong Kong regularly features high on education barometers as a leading city in which to be schooled. But the system behind the hype is not a straightforward one, so it’s important to get a grasp of a few things before your search for a school can begin.

Local vs International Broadly speaking, schools in Hong Kong fall into two camps: local schools and international schools.

The criterion for this segregation is that local schools teach the Hong Kong curriculum, predominantly in Cantonese. They are also largely free or heavily subsidised.

Meanwhile, international schools can teach any of the global curricula (IB, A Levels, HSC, Le Bac, etc.). The dominant language at international schools is English, however where English is not the mother tongue they usually have two streams: one taught in the native language and the other taught in English. And in case you didn’t already know, you will soon find out that international schools are the opposite of free – they are in fact notoriously expensive.

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ESF Beneath the international schools umbrella there is a subgroup called English Schools Foundation, more commonly known as ESF. As there are nearly 20 ESF schools catering for 12,000 students, this is an acronym that any school-hunting parent in Hong Kong will hear repeatedly. Strictly speaking, the schools under the ESF banner are not international schools, but that is essentially just a technicality. They offer a combination of English and international curricula, so from the perspective of the type of education a child receives it’s easiest to look on them as international.

Time and research It is no secret that school places in Hong Kong are hot property. Therefore the two things that will help you most when selecting a school are time and research.

The more time you give yourself, the greater your chance of being offered a place at your preferred school. But if time is not something you possess, you will have to rely on research.

In most cases, this means making a long list of possible schools and then picking up the phone

and speaking to people directly to understand whether they have space and what their admission criteria are. It is important that your list is long as most people’s first choices are also the most popular ones.

Location, location, location One area you need to spend time considering is where you plan to live in relation to where your children might go to school. Geographically, Hong Kong is fairly small, but that doesn’t mean it is always convenient to get around. If you’re planning to live on Lamma, nipping to Harrow for a parent-teacher day might not be easy. As accommodation is often easier to arrange than schooling, it’s advisable to secure school places before settling on where to live.

Visiting the schools Once some possible places are located, the next step is to go and visit. Choosing a school is a highly personal process – what suits your neighbour’s child will not necessarily suit yours.

So while word of mouth can be helpful, it’s unwise to rely on hearsay alone; go and visit the schools to get to know them in relation to your own family and priorities.

get a school place New school, new places

Seeking advice

Similarly, the selection process can possibly be shortened if you are willing to consider schools that are just opening in Hong Kong, because logic dictates that their admissions list will be newer and therefore emptier than for schools that have been around for longer.

While it’s not always wise to rely on hearsay, if you have some specific questions about schools, there are some helpful Facebook groups where you can pick the brains of the more experienced. The main one is called Hong Kong Schools, and there are also a number of nationality-based groups (e.g., British Mums in HK) where you can post questions for those who have previously made the same move as you.

Terminology There is no uniform terminology between the schools – different schools refer to the same things by different names. So what is known as Year 1 in one place could be known as Kindergarten at the school down the road, and may also moonlight as K3 or Prep somewhere else. It is therefore crucial to understand the terminology of each school to ensure that you are applying for the correct year.

The older, the easier – possibly Generally, it is easier to find places for older children. This is because teenagers in Hong Kong often head off to boarding school in other countries, which frees up places for incoming students. In addition to this, many families leave Hong Kong once their children are a little older, as the pull of being closer to family grows.

In the know •

Many schools, such as the ESF schools, base their Primary One admissions on the calendar year (children born from January to December). Others, such as Kellett, go by the academic year (children born from September to August).

•

Kindergarten education is not mandatory in Hong Kong, so you can always opt out.

•

Most ESF and international schools offer Mandarin as part of the weekly curriculum.

•

Many international schools (French International, German Swiss and Chinese International) offer bilingual as well as English streams. Kiangsu Chekiang International uses Mandarin as its main language of instruction.

Money, money, money And lastly, a word on debentures. There is much to get your head around when moving to Hong Kong, and not the least of these is the financial structuring of the international schools. In other countries, debentures are associated with sports stadiums and finance houses; in Hong Kong, they are likely to be a major factor in whether or not you choose a certain school for your child. As with other issues, research is key.

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out of the classroom

Beyond the textbooks Amelia Sewell makes the case for learning outside the classroom

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Hong Kong education has long been known for its academic rigour and impressive results, but the actual style of learning has rightly had its critics. Traditionally, schools have relied heavily on rote learning and textbook memorising, and have been stuck in the myopic belief that a successful pupil – and a successful school – is one that achieves high grades in examinations.

In recent times, with the increase in the number of international schools, the practice of rote learning in Hong Kong has undoubtedly started to wane, and is gradually being replaced by concepts such as enquiry-based learning and the IB extended essay. However there’s still a long way to go.

Rote learning in and of itself should not be dismissed outright – it does have a valid place, in some scenarios. But if it’s the only skill

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Exploring the great outdoors with Malvern College

children are capable of performing by the end of their school career, they have been woefully short-changed; sitting students in rows, teaching them to repeat facts verbatim and rewarding them based on how well they have done this should not be the sole purpose of a school. Children will be shamefully unprepared for what life has to throw at them if this is all they know.

Rallying against this, there has long been a faction of educators around the world who have argued that what goes on outside the classroom is as important as what goes on inside. One of the loudest voices on this topic was a German educator by the name of Kurt Hahn, who started making waves in the 1930s by suggesting that personal development and learning cannot be developed solely from behind the benign safety of a desk, and that the

point of a school was to prepare a child for life, not just university.

Whilst Hahn’s name may not be a household one, his legacy undoubtedly is.

Aside from founding a number of well-known schools such as Gordonstoun in Scotland (famed for educating three generations of the British royal family) and the United World Colleges, he also set up the Outward Bound scheme and the original Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

Each of these Hahnian enterprises pursues the idea that in order to allow children to reach their potential, they have to be able to experience real-life scenarios “in ways that would demand courage, generosity, imagination, principle and resolution” – things that can rarely be found within a textbook.

The good news for any Hong Kong parents

out of the classroom nodding their heads at this concept is that change is upon us: we have started to witness the first flux of schools and organisations that share this idea, and many schools are now aiming to educate the whole child, not just the part that will do well in exams.

The Harbour School (THS) is one school in Hong Kong that is breaking down the doors of established teaching and bringing education out into the fresh air. The school is the proud owner of The Black Dolphin, a 50-foot ketch that is moored off Aberdeen and is referred to as “the outdoor classroom”.

The purpose of the boat – or at least one of its many purposes – is to work alongside THS’s other departments, enabling the students to grasp a much greater real-life understanding of their studies. For example, in history lessons the students learn about exploring and trade, in science lessons they learn about the creatures in the water, and in hybrid lessons that combine maths and design they learn about navigation and how to build a working compass. The school believes that experiencing lessons, rather than just listening to them, achieves much more.

It does not end there, though. The captain of The Black Dolphin, Michael Bridges,

believes that aside from the academic benefits, there are personal lessons to learn too. “The boat provides a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate compassion. We are literally all in the same boat. We share in our successes and failures together,” he says.

Malvern College Hong Kong, one of the newest arrivals, is another school that is celebrating the importance of the great outdoors in mainstream education. They have joined forces with the Forest School, an association that offers hands-on learning experiences in woodlands and other natural environments. Set up in the 1990s, the Forest School has the aim of fostering “resilient, confident, independent and creative learners who take supported risks appropriate to the environment and to themselves”. As such, students attending Malvern HK will find themselves learning whilst out in the open as part of the daily curriculum.

Risk might be a word that scares parents at first, but it’s something that the Backyard Gang actively advocates. An outdoors kids’ club with year-round courses, the Backyard Gang has an ethos based around “risky play”.

Set up by Chris Funnell, the club was born out of a rebellion against the sanitation of Hong

Kong; a counterbalance to the high-rise blocks and air-conditioned rooms in which we spend so much time.

The courses are intended to teach children all the weird and wonderful things about the outdoors whilst building their understanding of safety. Themed around water, wind, fire and earth, the courses offer an opportunity for young children between the ages of two and eight to develop applicable knowledge and skills whilst getting their hands dirty and having fun. There’s not a textbook, desk or facemask in sight.

“Come rain or shine, together we discover new things and learn invaluable skills. There is always a small element of risk, but the rewards are huge,” says Chris.

The Backyard Gang has been inspiring Hong Kong’s little explorers for just over a year, and word is gradually spreading, with a number of schools appointing them to arrange field trips. If your children are not at one of those lucky schools, do not despair – the Backyard Gang has year-round workshops that are open to all.

Looking at out-of-classroom learning as a general concept, the biggest challenge is that the results and benefits are incalculable, in the

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out of the classroom literal sense of the word: it is almost impossible to put figures on this type of education, and certainly not with an examination. The skills it brings – the soft skills of resilience, compassion, confidence and imagination – are unquantifiable yet crucial. But in the main we are simple beings, and wherever possible we like to work with solid facts and figures, which is why, historically, schools have always gone down the easy route of teaching from a textbook in order to measure a child’s abilities.

As a forerunner of out-of-classroom learning, Gordonstoun – one of the schools founded by Kurt Hahn and that this writer was lucky enough to attend – recently decided to address this, and commissioned Dr. Simon Beames of the University of Edinburgh to conduct some research into the benefits of the school’s educational ethos.

The findings are probably not as statistically clean-cut as something like examination results, but it was hoped they would be able to establish whether their alumni and past parents identified the results of this unique style of schooling. And the outcome was decisive, with 94% saying that their time taking part in non-classroom learning had an overwhelmingly positive influence on their personal growth.

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Responding to the study, Dr. Bernard Trafford, a former chair of the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference (HMC) in the UK and an educational commentator, said: “The best schools have always seen it as part of their role to afford myriad opportunities for children to develop resilience and character […] Sadly, when both funding and time are in short supply, priority invariably goes to the things the government values more: stuff it can easily measure through data analysis and inspection.”

So in conclusion, I say: Long may the antirote-learning revolution continue, and fingers crossed we see more Hong Kong schools embrace life beyond examination results.

Because surely real education is not about teaching children to be able to regurgitate other people’s discoveries; it’s about helping them to develop skills that will eventually allow them to forge their own ideas and their own path.

It is undeniable that it helps to know what has come before us – we should all acknowledge the giants on whose shoulders we stand, but shouldn’t that be the foundation of an education, the place where it starts, rather than the end goal? sg Taking a leap at Black Dolphin Swim

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school visits

kindergartens 20 | Expat Parent Schools Guide

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kindergartens

Fairchild Kindergarten

Carolynne Dear reports on the recently opened kindergarten in Sai Ying Pun

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he sister school of Fairchild Junior Academy in Tin Hau, Fairchild Kindergarten in trendy Sai Ying Pun offers programmes for children aged from two to six years. It occupies 8,000 square feet of learning space, with purposebuilt classrooms for children to experience the natural elements of wood, water, sand, and soil including planting gardens, sand, water tables, a cooking and arts area and an indoor playground.

Head of early childhood education Kathy Nutting, formerly of the Canadian International School, says the kindergarten places a strong emphasis on “the atmosphere of happiness in the school”.

“The sense of respect and care for people and nature that is intrinsic to Fairchild

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programmes is reflected in the day-to-day interactions. The ‘smile index’ indicates that children, staff, caregivers and parents love to come to school every day,” says Nutting.

Daily activities at the school include time for uninterrupted play, stories, creative arts activities, singing, dancing, group-work projects, painting, literacy and numeracy games and phonemic awareness in a fun and stimulating environment.

The kindergarten offers an inquirybased programme, with a focus on play, for children aged six months to six years.

The programmes are guided by the British Columbia and Ontario (Canada) Early Learning Framework/Kindergarten Framework, and the local Hong Kong Kindergarten Education Curriculum Guide. The kindergarten will also

be collaborating with leading schools and universities in Canada to incorporate researchbased learning activities into its programmes.

Teachers have been selected on the basis of their international early years education experience and their ability to stimulate learning through the Reggio Emilia approach.

This system of learning was developed in Italy post-World War II, and is based on the principles of respect, responsibility and community through exploration in a supportive environment, according to the interests of all the children.

Fairchild Kindergarten currently offers unaccompanied classes for children aged two to three years, and K1, K2 and K2level classes. From this academic year, an international and dual-language stream in English and Chinese is also on offer.

Classes for 24- to 36-month-old pupils attending unaccompanied classes will have one teacher to every six students; the preschool classes (for three-to-four-year-olds) will have one teacher to every nine children; and kindergarten (four to six years) will have one teacher to every 10 students. sg

Fairchild Kindergarten, G & 1 Floors, Kong Chian Tower, 351 Des Voeux Road West, Sai Ying Pun, 2803 2638. fairchild.edu.hk

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kindergartens

Sunshine House

Amelia Sewell visits a nurturing preschool that maintains “love” as a core value

I

n a small corner of Tung Chung, a stone’s throw from the MTR, is a quiet slice of simple educational bliss.

Sunshine House has been part of Hong Kong’s early-education offering for almost 30 years, with five campuses conveniently spread across the territory, in Clear Water Bay, Pok Fu Lam, Discovery Bay, Chi Fu and Tung Chung.

Each is led by its own “Centre-in-charge” (a slightly clumsy name for principal), however the schools share resources, experience, teaching methods and best practice.

Visiting their Tung Chung campus on a sunny spring day, I witnessed a small and perfectly formed preschool offering the kind of environment in which happy Hong Kong childhoods are made.

Sunshine House’s roots are based in the English curriculum, though with an international slant: all five schools follow the EYFS program at the core but have added elements that acknowledge their surroundings.

Currently, the children have one 40-minute Putonghua class each day, however the school is moving to a more structured bilingual offering in the next academic year. Maddy Afonso, the Centrein-charge of the Tung Chung campus, tells 24 | Expat Parent Schools Guide

me they’re even looking at a trilingual format with Cantonese. Teaching is done mainly through song, rhyme and repetition, and staff are confident that this style will suit even those children who do not speak Cantonese or Mandarin at home.

“A sympathetic teaching style means that even those who are not mother-tongue speakers can benefit hugely. We recently had a South African boy join us who spoke no languages other than Afrikaans, but he has adapted quickly and is now full integrated in everything his classmates do and say.”

In keeping with the international atmosphere, Afonso herself was raised in Northern Ireland and is a combination of Portuguese and South African. This seems to serve as perfect preparation for a role in such a diverse school, where she can be seen at the gates each morning greeting children from 11 different nationalities.

“We’re a complete melting pot and it works wonderfully. Everyone feels welcome, no matter where they are from.”

I think it unlikely that I’ll be this lucky, but I did say a small prayer at the beginning of the year that this might be the year that dodges the trauma of another buzzword epidemic. In recent years, the world of education has been one of the worst-hit: “makerspace” is the one that confuses me most – the word “workshop” or “table” used to be sufficient. “Gamification”, “21stcentury learners” and “co-operative learning” are all equally frustrating.

So I was relieved to find that while many schools feel they have to dazzle parents with these newfangled phrases and flashy concepts, Sunshine House seems to have a much simpler, cleaner offering: the school’s philosophy from the start has been “For the love of children”, and even today, this is still at the heart of their ethos.

Love is perhaps a slightly unfashionable word when it comes to education, but the school is proud of this approach and it clearly serves the children and parents well.

“It is at the heart of everything we do,” explains Afonso. “In the mornings, before classes begin, the first thing every teacher does is to give each child a hug. We feel it’s important that each day starts that way.”

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kindergartens With this in mind, it’s no surprise that family involvement and understanding is also a guiding principle. It means simple things such as a sibling priority lists, a gradual settling-in period for new arrivals, and inviting parents to speak to the classes on a topic of interest.

Speaking of love, something the pupils no doubt love is the policy about homework, which is limited to once a week, with one week to complete it. In place of more formal homework, the pupils might be challenged with creative tasks – a recent one was to make an Easter bonnet entirely out of recycled material.

It is important to note, though, that whilst Sunshine House is happy to carve out its own path, it is not impervious to some of the newer education concepts coming along.

Their enrichment programme is therefore varied, with classes ranging from the more traditional cooking and yoga to STEM and Smart Coder.

For some classes, parents can choose from lessons taught in either English or Putonghua, depending on where they would like the emphasis.

The school is also gently embracing a small amount of technology, with the introduction of smart boards later in the year.

“We feel that technology does have a place in education at this level, but it needs to be limited and carefully monitored. So we are bringing it in, but gradually.”

Despite being only 30 minutes from the

clamour of Central and a two-minute walk from the MTR, Sunshine House reminded me of a more traditional village school, offering a calm environment away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Centered around a large playground that would be the envy of most pre-schools in Hong Kong, classes are relaxed and small, currently with about 10 children each. Add to that the fact that all the teachers know every child by name and

you have a warm community feeling that you are not always guaranteed to find in a city as large and busy as ours.

In addition to this, the size and proximity of the playground mean that every day is an opportunity for children to exert some of the boundless energy they possess. On my visit, the pre-nursery class was in the middle of a session about gross motor skills, so I was lucky enough to witness a swarm of three-year-olds, tongues stuck out to aid concentration, earnestly practising their hopping.

Geographically, the Tung Chung campus currently serves the immediate area, however in response to demand the school will be putting on a bus service starting this academic year. Exact routes have not yet been decided, but the school is open to suggestions from any parents who may be interested in using it.

Not many schools could offer a bilingual education whilst also managing to maintain such a relaxed atmosphere. But somehow, Sunshine House does.

Despite being small and relatively lowkey, the school is not without ambition and, crucially, is prepared to move with the times.

A happy place full of smiling faces, Sunshine House is not to be overlooked. sg

Sunshine House International Preschool. Various Locations.

2575 2787. sunshinehouse.com.hk

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primary schools Expat Parent Schools Guide | 29

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Shrewsbury International School Hong kong Amelia Sewell reports on the impressive new British-style primary school

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hilst the rest of us were enjoying a peaceful summer, over in Tseung Kwan O a team of people were busily putting the finishing touches to Shrewsbury International School Hong Kong. At the start of the 2018/19 school year, they opened their doors to a swarm of eager primary-school children ready to experience a brand-new school and all that it has to offer. So what was awaiting the children?

As is to be expected when a school is purpose-built from scratch, the bright, spacious campus is entered via a grand sweeping staircase and is spread across six floors.

Students are aged between Nursery and Year 6, with two year groups on each floor. There is an impressive auditorium seating over 400 people, a recital suite, a language centre, a gymnastics hall, a dining hall, not one but two swimming pools (one is for the real littlies learning to swim), and of course the obligatory sky track.

Tradition meets modernity As founding principal, Ben Keeling is a well-known name amongst parents, having played an integral role in the set-up of Kellett’s Kowloon Bay campus in 2013. He is therefore 30 | Expat Parent Schools Guide

familiar with both the Hong Kong education system and the challenges of establishing a school from the ground up.

In his words, Shrewsbury HK has worked hard to create an environment with “traditional educational values and innovative teaching methodology”.

The tradition obviously stems from the links with the UK school; founded over 450 years ago, Shrewsbury UK is one of the original nine British public schools, in good company with the likes of Eton and Winchester. Academically, therefore, the core programme of study at the new school is linked closely to the English National Curriculum whilst simultaneously acknowledging its international status.

It’s all Chinese to me Of particular focus are Mandarin lessons, which are taught daily to all children throughout the school.

To spearhead this, Shrewsbury recently appointed Dr. Suyi Wang as Chief Academic Officer for Chinese Studies for its international schools. Her role is to design the “ambitious” Chinese curriculum, adapting it to ensure that these young students are learning in the most

efficient and enjoyable way possible. She is supported by Ms. Haze Kwok, who took on the role of Chinese Master Teacher, responsible for implementing the programme. The school is acutely aware that it has a combination of native, near-native and non-native students and will adapt accordingly.

On the topic of simplified vs. traditional, the schools teaches simplified characters, however students familiar with traditional characters “will be well supported through their learning journey”.

When the school is at capacity it will have 1,000 students, with six classes in each primary year group. Lessons are themed and taught as a combination of academic study together with exploratory and collaborative learning. Most of the teaching staff have been recruited from the UK, further evidence of Shrewsbury’s intentions not just to play lip service to the English National Curriculum but also to provide teachers who are up to date with current standards and expectations.

British schools are known as much for what goes on outside the classroom as for what goes on inside, and Shrewsbury Hong Kong is no different. The school intends to make the most

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primary of its rural location close to mountains, forests, hiking trails and parks, offering an education beyond academics.

Another acknowledgment of its British heritage is the implementation of a house system. There is also an in-school dining facility.

Next stop

located in all major parts of Hong Kong, making the school an option for all.

When the school was in its planning stages, Shrewsbury made a definitive decision that its Hong Kong offering would be a “primary specialist” rather than a jack-of-all-trades catering for every group. As such, the school is very much designed with small children in mind.

But as we all know, small children have big potential, and Shrewsbury provides the perfect environment for them to start realising it.

Shrewsbury International School, 10 Shek Kok Road, Tseung Kwan O, 2480 1500. shrewsbury.hk

With no plans to extend its provision to a secondary school, Shrewsbury instead offers an advisory service to parents as they consider their children’s next steps. As the school develops good relationships with all the major senior schools, there will be no “feeder” concept – no one school will be favoured above others. Instead, the school will offer informed and unbiased guidance. There is also the possibility for pupils to move to Shrewsbury in the UK for their secondary schooling, provided they meet certain academic criteria.

The school is a five-minute walk from LOHAS Park MTR, although the school expects most students to arrive by bus. Unlike in some locations, parents are not prohibited from driving children to school each day, however Shrewsbury does strongly encourage students to use the organised bus service. Rather than a door-to-door service, there are pick up points

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Four years since its opening in 2014, Adele Brunner looks at how the Britishcurriculum primary school has developed

W

hen the Hong Kong Government awarded a vacant school site in Lam Tin to Nord Anglia Education back in 2013, it was a windowless concrete shell. Principal Brian Cooklin arrived from Mexico in January 2014 to oversee the renovation work, teacher recruitment and pupil enrolment, and Nord Anglia International School Hong Kong opened in August of the same year with 500 students.

It was, remembers Cooklin, one of the most intense and demanding periods of his life but also the most rewarding.

“Founding a new school had always been a big dream of mine but there were times when I wondered whether we would get everything done on time and if it would all work out,” he says. “But everyone who came on board believed in the school and it has been amazing from day one.”

Fast-forward four years and Nord Anglia continues to go from strength to strength. Along with two new kindergartens in Tai Tam and Sai Kung, it has expanded its Lam Tin campus to accommodate 900 primary and secondary 32 | Expat Parent Schools Guide

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New Primary School Campus Opening August 2018

Now open for applications from Early Years to Year 6 Call us on +852 2480 1500 or email enquiries@shrewsbury.hk Visit our website www.shrewsbury.hk Follow the Shrewsbury success story

@ShrewsburyHKG

Exceptional People Outstanding Opportunities Academic Excellence

Book our

School Tour today

Expat Parent Schools Guide | 33

BOOK YOUR VISIT

primary

students spread across Years One to 11. The school is laid out over five floors around a central courtyard, where climbing equipment in the Panda Playground provides hours of enjoyment for younger pupils. Its classrooms and facilities still look as pristine and modern as when it opened, except now the colourful displays that cover almost every inch of wall space and the students’ physical presence make the building warm, welcoming and very much alive.

Nord Anglia’s “can-do” spirit also lives on. Cooklin and his team believe there is no limit to what each child can achieve, and they encourage all students to be the very best

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they can be. Even extra-curricular activities, of which there are more than 120 to choose from, ranging from sports to drone club to debating, are there to encourage children to have a go and develop their confidence and self-esteem.

Completely by chance, I walk into a classroom where a woodwind group is practising the opening bars of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 in C Minor. I am their first audience and they sound note-perfect, which is all the more incredible when I’m told they only started learning a few months ago.

There’s a maximum of 24 students per class, with a teacher and an educational assistant assigned to each one. The school

provides a British education in an international context and follows the English National Curriculum, with IGCSE exams taken at the end of Year 11. It then swaps to the International Baccalaureate Diploma system in the final two years.

“This is my 42nd year of teaching and I’ve found that the IB gives the best success to a greater number of children than other system,” says Cooklin. “The IB allows them to go on to further education wherever they want to in the world.”

Due to government regulations, the school’s intake has to be made up of 20 percent Hong Kong permanent residents and 80 percent international passport holders. (There are 38 different nationalities in the school to date.)

However, Cooklin and his team have taken great pains to forge a strong relationship with the local community. The school organises charitable and social events for people in the area, and its facilities are also offered free of charge to residents and community groups.

“We are also the only international school to take on trainee teachers from local universities and train them for free,” says Cooklin. “I think we have trained about 1,000 teachers in the last three years.”

The school is also non-selective and doesn’t categorise its students into “sets” (apart from in Mandarin, because some students arrive never having been exposed to the language previously, while others might be heritage speakers). Under Cooklin’s leadership, a culture of inclusion is prevalent in the school and students are frequently given insights into other people’s lives. All festivals, from Divali to Lunar New Year to Christmas, are celebrated, and the school recently held two successful autismawareness days.

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primary

To further foster a sense of belonging and identity as well as friendly rivalry, the school operates a house system, with students belonging to one of four houses named after British royal castles: Balmoral, Caernarfon, Sandringham and Windsor. Vertical tutor groups within each house mix students from Years 3 to 10, who meet with their tutor and fellow tutees every morning.

“The older ones in the tutor group look out for the younger ones who, in turn, look up to them,” says Cooklin. “It helps to reduce bullying and promotes peer-assisted learning.

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Prestigious collaborations have been established too. The school and its young global citizens work with UNICEF to create a better future for the planet through the 17 Global Goals, the Juilliard School in New York and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

The latter is part of Nord Anglia’s new approach to STEAM learning (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths), which encourages children to be curious, resourceful and creative in the face of solving challenges and problems across all disciplines.

Groups of Nord Anglia students visit MIT every summer to meet leading scientists and take part in activities such as bioengineering, coding and robotics. The university also sets inschool challenges that everyone gets involved in. One such challenge, recalls Cooklin, was ‘What will the plane of the future look like?’

Each year answered the question according to their ability. Year 3 made paper planes and flew them to see which had the best aerodynamics; Year 7s came up with a business plan to market their plane of the future and sell seats. A user manual for the plane was translated from English into Spanish and Mandarin.

“The MIT/STEAM programme encourages curiosity – ‘What is this all about?’ – and leads

to inspiration, creativity and problem solving – ‘What are we going to do about it and how do we do it?’” says Cooklin. “These are the skills our children will need for their futures, to make their mark on the world and to make a difference.”

Nord Anglia International School, 11 On Tin Street, Lam Tin, 3958 1488. nordangliaeducation.com

Year 8 exam artwork

primary

The Harbour School – Grove campus

Amelia Sewell experiences a refreshing approach to education at the recently opened Ap Lei Chau campus

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ong Kong parents can be forgiven if they’ve become a little numb to the hype of school jargon. In a city where education gets top billing and money is regularly poured into new schools, it’s not unusual to hear about state-of-the-art facilities and award-winning designs. This element of educational one-upmanship serves to raise parental expectations to the point where things that, under normal circumstances or in different countries, would be impressive can seem like standard practice here.

So it was quite a surprise to visit a school and be genuinely and completely blown away by almost every element.

The Harbour School (THS) is one of those rare educational Hong Kong beasts that no-one seems to have anything bad to say about.

Started 10 years ago in a commercial building in Kennedy Town, it has now grown to three campuses catering for different age groups, enabling a through school system as students

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primary progress from one to campus to the next. The Village is still located in Kennedy Town, while the Grove and the Garden can be found in Ap Lei Chau.

The Grove, THS’s primary school for grades 1-6, officially opened in 2017, though there are still elements of the campus that are yet to be finished – the swimming pool, for example, is on track to be completed for the start of the 2020 school year. But for all intents and purposes, THS is fully functioning and is resetting the benchmark for schooling in Hong Kong.

Hands-on schooling It is hard not to be impressed by something as professional as their Marine Science Center and the two marine biologists who run it. Full of weird and wonderful creatures native to Hong Kong waters, it is used in tandem with science lessons to enhance the students’ understanding and give real-life examples to studies. Once the Marine Science Center has played its part, classes then move to The Black Dolphin, a 50-foot yacht moored in Aberdeen Harbour that acts as the school’s “on-the-water” classroom.

This is inquiry-based learning at its truest.

All this is driven by the Head of School, Dr. Jadis Blurton, who might be the most

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passionate educator to ever touch the shores of Hong Kong. A clinical psychologist by training, she is so completely invested in the students and their progression that at times she resembles something more akin to a devoted mother rather than a principal.

With her psychologist’s hat on, her aim from the start was to create a small, progressive school that enhanced critical thinking, teamwork and emotional wellbeing.

“I envisioned a haven for learning, one that provides an education that is enjoyable and intellectually lively for its students and that

recognises every child for his or her uniqueness and welcomes and encourages the diversity.”

This is a clearly a big statement and an even bigger challenge. But she is true to her word: the demographic of the students is such that 20% have some form of SEN (Special Educational Needs) and 20% are in the gifted category (a phrase that, encouragingly, Blurton concedes that she dislikes – “Everyone is gifted at something.”).

Under the umbrella of THS comes another organisation, The Children’s Institute (TCI), which is focused solely on the school’s SEN

primary facing forward, listening to lectures and taking tests.”

This is not a formal school that stands on parade, perfectly polished. The focus is on the children’s happiness and inclusion; it does not matter if a shirt is untucked or a few books are out of place. Instead, pupils are continually given the breadth to see how they can adapt their own interests to real life.

The theory in practice pupils, giving them the chance to be included in mainstream classes where appropriate whilst also getting the individual attention they need.

Learning the interesting way From a learning perspective, THS states that its teachers are “not lecturers but facilitators”.

Evidently so: this is certainly a place where you’re unlikely to see students sitting at desks behind closed classroom doors staring at a teacher. Instead, the classroom floors can all have their doors and walls pushed back to allow collaboration between rooms. Blurton says: “We value mental health and recognise that the tasks and personalities necessary for the 21st century are not enhanced by making students depressed and anxious or by having them sit

As an example, Grade 5 students take part in the schools’ Global Issues Conference, and at the most recent one, a 10-year-old pupil discussed homelessness. Following his talk, he wrote to 15 university departments of architecture to suggest they provide a module in which their students learn to design homes for the homeless. At the time of writing, he had already received responses from MIT, Columbia and UCL. Aside from The Black Dolphin and the Marine Science Center, the school has one other “Center of Excellence”: the Foundry.

This is home to the STEAM programme, where design, robotics and engineering all come together, both within the curriculum and in enrichment programmes. Students spend at

least one week here every term, in an immersive project that feeds off the knowledge and skills that they have been learning in the classroom.

When the pool opens, it will also play a part in some STEAM projects as the school plans to hold competitive underwater robotics activities.

The pool is designed to mimic the form of a lagoon so that it can be used for snorkelling, SCUBA diving and the aforementioned subaqua robot wars.

What’s next?

So while there are elements of THS that are a work in progress, this is less to do with the school not being ready and more to do with its aim is to continually develop, move with the times and adapt to what its students need.

Of this Blurton says: “In many ways it is impossible to imagine THS’s future because it is impossible to imagine what the challenges and capabilities of the future will be, but we hope that THS will continue to evolve to meet those challenges and capabilities.”

The Harbour School (The Grove), 332 Ap Lei Chau Bridge Road, 3905 0180. ths.edu.hk

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primary

HKCA Po Leung Kuk

Rebecca Simpson visits an IB school with roots firmly established in Hong Kong soil

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ne consideration set that seems to have been missing from the Hong Kong education system was an international curriculum in a Hong Kong setting. There was either the local system or an “international” school. This apparent dichotomy presented a tough choice. For a lot of expats, living in Hong Kong feels like a once-in-lifetime cultural opportunity, and many of them want to capitalise on that opportunity for their children.

However, the local system is a challenge some parents are unwilling to expose their families to. Stricter teaching methods and significant homework loads are practical considerations that parents often choose not to engage with. Many do, and see great success, but for others it’s too much to take on.

So I asked myself: Where are all the hybrid schools with an international, progressive curriculum like the IB, but executed in a way an expat family can be part of their local community?

I was happily surprised (albeit with a pang of jealousy now my kids are settled into schools) when I visited HKCA Po Leung Kuk Primary School and uncovered just that – an IB school run by a Hong Kong organisation for Hong Kong and expat families. Bingo! And here’s the best bit – there’s no capital levy and no debenture, and the fees are competitive.

Po Leung Kuk is a charity organisation that was established 120 years ago with a mission to

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take care of women and children who had been thrown out of society. Today, the organisation is still running care centres and orphanages here in Hong Kong, but it’s also strongly associated with education, with 113 registered schools and more than 50,000 students within its network.

HKCA Po Leung Kuk Primary School will offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Program (PYP), which is an Englishlanguage, inquiry-led framework for children aged from three to 12. Parents researching online will see the school is yet to be accredited as an IB school. It’s important to clarify that children are currently being taught the PYP, by PYP-experienced teachers, but as a brand-new school this formal accreditation has not yet been awarded.

Founding principal David Priest is clear that recruitment for the school’s teaching body has purposefully involved hiring teachers with PYP experience. “This means we can authentically operate using the PYP framework,” he says.

He is passionate about building an international community. “As an international school, you should have an international faculty.”

The experience for students is multicultural, with a Hong Kong skew. According to Priest, the playground language is a mostly English, but he also hears Cantonese and Mandarin – reflecting the student mix.

What will make this school most appealing for some parents is its ability to offer families the chance to be part of a predominantly

Hong Kong community, not a predominantly expat community. From the start, the school has attracted local families with international experience, rather than international families having a Hong Kong experience.

The campus offers an outdoor space to play sport and run amok during recess and lunch. It also has a lofty new hall for communal gatherings and rainy-day sport that’s just perfect for Hong Kong summers. The classrooms are bright and airy, and were full of giggles during our tour. It’s a happy campus that offers a great space for little learners.

Right now the school offers Grades 1 to 4 and in 2019 there will be a Grade 5 class. There are even plans for a kindergarten. Parents can head to their website to see how these grades/ classes correspond to other international schools.

Parents with older children will immediately ask: What about the remaining years of high school? “That’s something a lot of parents are already concerned about. We only go to P5, which is Year 6 (in other school systems). We’ve made it very clear to Hong Kong parents that it’s almost impossible to transition back into the local system because P6 is heavily focused on the examination to get into secondary schools in Hong Kong.

Transitioning to other international schools will be the main option. And so that’s something that we have already started to make inroads into. Fortunately there are more spaces available in secondary schools, within the international school system.”

When asked what makes his school an appealing choice for expat parents, Mr. Priest responds: “We have space! And the location here on Hong Kong Island, it’s a short walk from Causeway Bay. The children don’t have to spend lots of time on school buses and they can use public transportation to get to school.

It’s also a great residential area.

“Many other international schools are very British in their ethos. Our school is much more of a local community school.” For families coming from overseas who want more of a Hong Kong experience with the IB curriculum, HKCA Po Leung Kuk Primary School is worth checking out. sg

HKCA Po Leung Kuk School, 62 Tin Hau Temple Road, Causeway Bay, 2807 1770. plkis.edu.hk

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school visits

SECONDARY schools 42 | Expat Parent Schools Guide

secondary schools Expat Parent Schools Guide | 43

school visits

Australian international school hong kong Amelia Sewell gets a taste of Down-Under education in Hong Kong

In a recent interview with his primary school students, Mark Hemphill, the new head at the Australian International School Hong Kong, told his interrogating audience that from the moment he walked into AISHK, it felt like home. For anyone who has ever stepped foot on Australian soil, it is not difficult to understand why.

From the bold green-and-gold uniform and the relaxed friendliness of both staff and pupils to the sun-safe headgear resembling the Australian army’s famous slouch hat and the impromptu sports games taking place on every spare square of turf, there is something very Australian about this corner of Kowloon Tong.

The school has been in its current home since 2001. Despite an unsuccessful bid for the same Kowloon Bay site that Kellett eventually won, Hemphill makes clear that there is no ongoing search for an alternative campus.

“Geographically we couldn’t be in a better spot. We’re perfectly placed to serve the vast majority of Hong Kong.”

It is hard to argue with that: the school is 44 | Expat Parent Schools Guide

a minute’s walk from Kowloon Tong MTR and the traffic in the area is good enough that the authorities have not had to impose bus-only drop offs. As such, the student demographic is fairly evenly spread, with roughly 30% travelling from each of Kowloon, New Territories and Hong Kong Island. In a city where travel time plays a significant part in school selection, AISHK is certainly accessible for the vast majority of families.

Global qualifications for global universities Despite the overall Australian feel of the school, it would also be wrong to assume that the school caters only to families from Down Under. While the majority of their numbers are Australians or New Zealanders, in addition that, there are another 22 nationalities represented at AISHK. Maybe these are families seeking a Southern Hemisphere calendar, or maybe these are families seeking academic excellence – last year, AISHK had the highest IB average in HK,

an admirable claim to fame that is likely to have bypassed many parents.

Indeed, the curriculum allows secondary students to select between the IB and the New South Wales exam system, the HSC. Currently the split is fairly evenly 50:50 on the number of students taking each option. For non-Australian parents who are not sure that the IB suits their child, Hemphill points out that the HSC should be seen as a real, global option for HK students, even those without an Australian background “The HSC is highly transferable and recognised around the world. By choosing it, a student is not purely limited to Australian universities.”

One of last year’s scholars is a case in point: after studying for the HSC, he applied to universities in Canada, receiving three offers.

In fact, the recent list of university destinations shows that AISHK students have gone on to study in such diverse countries as the US, Switzerland, Denmark and Singapore, amongst many others. Another student from the class

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of 2017 received offers from HKU, Sydney and Cambridge. He eventually settled on Cambridge, where he is now reading Law. Of AISHK’s offering, Hemphill says: “We offer continuity and we offer choice.”

Perhaps some of the school’s academic success can be attributed to its class sizes, which in the secondary school can be as small as four, allowing the students to receive a crucial level of teacher attention at an important time. Like any international school in Hong Kong, numbers are stronger in the primary school and reduce slightly in secondary as families gradually drift home or children head to boarding school. At AISHK, this only serves to benefit those who remain, giving an exceptional staff-to-student ratio.

From politicians to sporting heroes There are undoubtedly some fun and interesting perks to being the only Australian school in Hong Kong: the association of nationality means that the school regularly hosts visiting dignitaries and big sporting names. In the last academic year, the school welcomed the Australian Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull.

They also host the Australian rugby team during the Sevens tournament each year. So even if politics is not enough to get youngsters sprinting to school each morning, a sporting 46 | Expat Parent Schools Guide

hero is pretty certain to do it.

Speaking of sporting heroes, something would feel distinctly wrong if anything labelled Australian were not also irritatingly good at sport. So you can rest easy – AISHK is as talented as it is victorious. Most schools, when asked to name their dominant sports, give a list of about three, but at AISHK, that figure is at least doubled. Netball, rugby, basketball, volleyball, swimming – the list goes on, as does

the list of countries where the teams go on tour.

The school has to have one of the most spectacularly placed swimming pools in Hong Kong. Sitting under a dome at the very top of the building, the huge arched window gives views right over the city. This celebration of swimming, allowing it such a prime spot on campus, tells us a lot about the school’s approach to sport in general: that it is very much at the heart of school life on a day-to-day basis, not an afterthought, as can often be the case in Hong Kong schools.

As my recent visit was drawing to a close, a wander around the school with Mark Hemphill gave a perfect snapshot into what it is to be a part of AISHK. It was the primary school’s lunch break and the first thing that stood out was that everyone was outside on the sports pitch; this is not a place where you sit still when there is running around to be done. There were at least a dozen makeshift ball games going on, involving both boys and girls; one little chap was helping his friend who had hurt his hand.

Hemphill addressed them both by name – not an easy feat in a school of over 1,000 and a principal in his first year of tenure – before another group of six-year-olds rushed past, each looking up to say hello, earnestly informing Hemphill of something vital that they thought he might like to know and then rushing off again.

As with anywhere in Australia, at AISHK there is a genuine feeling of warm informality for which as a nation they are famous, and which is precisely the kind of atmosphere in which children flourish.

Australian International School, 3A Norfolk Road, Kowloon Tong, 2304 6078. aishk.edu.hk

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school visits

Malvern College As the much-anticipated opening date draws closer, Amelia Sewell looks at what promises to be an impressive first year for the British-style school

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ong Kong waited patiently for the arrival of Malvern College Hong Kong, and the school finally opened its doors this autumn after nearly four years in the planning. Offering a through system for children aged five to 18, this is the latest in Malvern’s portfolio of international offerings (two in China, one in Egypt and one more in the pipeline), so parents can be reassured that by now they are well-versed in the art of school-founding.

Back in 2015, Malvern was allocated a campus in Tai Po next to Science Park, and set about creating a state-of-the-art school that would meet the high expectations of Hong Kong parents yet honour the Malvern legacy.

And they have not disappointed – from the 450seat auditorium to the open-plan library, and from the communal dining hall to the six-lane

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swimming pool, this is a dazzling addition to Hong Kong’s list of prestigious schools.

The building is light and bright, with seven storeys that will ultimately house 1,000 pupils.

In these initial stages, the school has opened with Years 1 to 9. Some sections of the building are – intentionally – unfinished, allowing Malvern to respond to what the schools needs once the first school year has been completed and the demands of the progressing year groups have been understood. But all the key facilities are up and running and wildly impressive, including the auditorium with interchangeable acoustic walls and the cricket nets with a specially designed floor that mimics the bounce of a real wicket.

The Malvernians of Hong Kong have no idea how lucky they are.

Whilst Malvern’s other campuses primarily offer the pairing of GCSEs & A Levels or

perhaps a choice between A Level and IB, the Hong Kong school focuses purely on the IB. The teacher-to-pupil ratio is low at 1:10 and the implementation of a personal tutor system has been set up to ensure that each child receives the optimum level of personalised attention. Every school will say that it goes to great lengths to ensure that no-one slips between the cracks, but the dedicated, regular tutoring time and the tailored academic enrichment programmes at Malvern show a firm commitment to deal with each child as an individual.

The UK school has a long history of scientific excellence, with four Nobel Prize winners among its alumni. It’s therefore not surprising that the Hong Kong campus has put a strong emphasis on developing a firstrate STEM programme and Science Centre.

The learning ethos is based around practical work and focuses on real-life scenarios within technical, social, economic and environmental spheres. The fruits of the students’ scientific labours have been given a prominent platform with an exhibition space – akin to a modern art gallery – at the very front of the school.

Malvern also has grand plans for collaborations with its neighbours at Science Park and CUHK, ensuring that the children have broad experience of large-scale programmes.

After STEM, Chinese is high on the school’s priority list. It is taught in the simplified version. To build students’ fluency, a number of exchange programmes are being established in both Mainland China and Taiwan so that the students are able to put their language skills to work in an immersive environment.

Pastoral care is a fairly British experience, with the house system and personal tutors.

The dining hall also mimics the traditions of Malvern’s founding school, even down to the terminology: the dining hall is known as “The Grub” and features a professional kitchen, and pupils eat in their houses together with staff, encouraging conversation and a chance for children across year groups to interact.

Happily for this book-loving writer, at the heart of the school is the library, a magnificent, welcoming hub that invites students to sit down and stay awhile. With books in abundance, it is also a place where students can come to work on projects or just relax. In both design and concept, it is modern: libraries are shadowy places, hidden behind heavy doors and rarely used, but Malvern’s is intentionally designed to

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school visits

be a thoroughfare for daily school life, encircled by the classrooms and seen from all angles.

With C.S Lewis as one of the UK school’s other notable alumni, maybe this library will inspire another children’s author to spring from a Malvern education.

Perhaps reassuringly for parents, the headmaster, Dr. Robin Lister, has come directly from the UK school, where he was deputy head for 10 years. As an academic-turned-teacher, he has lived and breathed Malvern for nearly

30 years. A stereotypical British schoolmaster in the best sense of the term, he has a tangible enthusiasm for the school and the new campus.

He strikes me as a person who knows exactly what is going on, and who will enjoy being a visible presence in daily school life.

For those wanting to really bed down deep with the Malvern experience, pupils have the opportunity to sidestep over to the UK school in either Year 7 or Year 9. Those moving at Year 7 will spend two years at the prep school,

The Downs Malvern, before progressing to the senior school. Certain academic requirements need to be met, however it is encouraging to see a school actively nurturing some synergy between campuses.

Pupils will also benefit from the association with the Forest School programme, an initiative that promotes outdoor learning as a key part of children’s development. Malvern has taken the unusual step of acquiring a separate piece of land in a deeply rural part of the New Territories in order to offer this experience to the fullest.

It can often be difficult to appreciate what sets each new international school apart, but if you look under the hood of Malvern HK you will find a school that has all the right components: the IB, which acknowledges its international status; a strong Chinese programme, honouring its location in Asia, and an ethos that is securely, but not immovably, anchored in its traditional British roots. We will watch its progress with interest.

Malvern College, 3 Fo Chun Road, Pak Shek Kok, 3898 4699. www.malverncollege.org.hk

Harrow International School Hong Kong Six years on, Harrow waiting lists are full. Rebecca Simpson reports on how the British-style school has carved out a niche for itself

A

s you drive along Castle Peak Road in Tuen Mun, Harrow International School Hong Kong looms proud and tall on the horizon. It’s a slice of revered British tradition right in our backyard.

Opened in Hong Kong in 2012, Harrow is a relative newcomer on Hong Kong’s international school scene, but has delivered a strong academic and sporting performance in those five short years. Naturally, with such aspirational heritage comes a strong interest. The school is currently at capacity, with a waiting list for each year.

Harrow is also known for its robust fee structure, and has recently announced the removal of the $5 million individual capital levy admission (ICC) requirement for early-years pupils. This is noteworthy news for prospective parents and an interesting development for Hong Kong’s international school community.

A 20% increase in the compulsory annual capital levy two years ago sparked ire from some parents. The school claimed at the time that the hike was necessary to fund its 50 | Expat Parent Schools Guide

expansion plans.

This apparent about-turn likely reflects changes to expatriate pay packages in the city, which, according to a recent survey by global expatriate management company

ECA International, have fallen to a five-year low. Hong Kong’s international school fees have previously commonly featured as part of expatriate benefits, but the tide is turning as companies struggle to remain cost-effective.

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school visits

It seems this downward trend is now being acknowledged by schools. It’s important to note the school maintains the compulsory capital levy payment of HK$60,000 per student per year for early-years students. This payment is additional to school fees (details of which can be found on the school’s website).

But this most recent adjustment to Harrow’s fee structure certainly makes the

52 | Expat Parent Schools Guide

school a more accessible choice for expats with young children living in Hong Kong.

Moving onto the school experience, Harrow Hong Kong offers parents a unique education proposition, as it is currently the only international school in the city to provide boarding. From Year Six, Harrow students have the option to board during the week.

“The children are here from Sunday evening

until Friday evening,” explains head of Harrow, Ann Haydon. “They are busy during the day with timetabled lessons. They then have enrichment or extracurricular activities after school – you’ll see they’re involved in sport, music, drama, poetry, the engineering society, reading in the library, doing their prep – they are busy the whole time. They also have downtime, where they sit and chat and have time with their friends – this is important.”

Boarding is not compulsory, and Haydon explains it’s a choice that needs to be explored on a case-by-case basis. Boarding suits some students, while others prefer their experience as day pupils. “Those children who want to immerse themselves into school life, spend time with their friends during the week, concentrate on their studies and get involved in a whole range of activities really thrive. But there are other children who will prefer to go home each evening and take part in outside activities.”

Families and potential students interested in school life as a boarder at Harrow are encouraged to contact the school. “The best thing is for them to come and talk to us, see how it works, talk to children from various ages who are boarders in the school,” says Haydon.

“And for them to go in and experience boarding

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school visits life – we often have taster sleepover sessions for children so they can give it a go.”

A Harrovian education is still highly respected globally. Harrow was founded in 1572, and 400 years later graduates are in truly fine company alongside history-makers such as Winston Churchill and a string of other former UK Prime Ministers. More creatively minded students may be inspired knowing school alumni include modern pop-culture icons Benedict Cumberbatch and James Blunt, not to mention all the Harrovian Olympic gold medalists, Nobel Prize Laureates and High Court judges.

A note to parents of daughters – you may have noticed all of Harrow’s notable alumni are male. Harrow in the UK is a male-only school, but Harrow Hong Kong offers a co-ed opportunity and Haydon believes Harrow Hong Kong’s exemplary student body will add to that historic list. Here’s hoping Hong Kong’s alumni will bring some balance to the list of notable alumni.

It’s important to note that Harrow Hong Kong stands independent from its UK “cousin” and has fast established its own culture. “We’re bringing the best of a British education to Asia so that certain traditions, teaching methods and

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curriculums are embedded,” says Haydon.

“In terms of Asian traditions, we’re obviously an English-speaking school but we teach Chinese and we look at methods that have been successful in this part of the world. We’re a school that appreciates that people have different values, different religious beliefs and different traditions. And we want to celebrate that, because we’re a diverse communityw.”

Students at Harrow are encouraged to develop a breadth of experience while at school. “We are totally committed to providing an all-round education. From its founding days, Harrow London believed that success shouldn’t only be measured by examination grades, but should be measured by one’s influence on the world. This is a fundamental aspect of a Harrow education,” says Haydon.

The student body at Harrow embraces

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school visits

music, and the students have even written their own Harrow song. “And I’ve no doubt that we have some prize-winning artists in our student body,” Haydon adds. Appreciation of the arts is instilled into Harrow students. “It’s about feeding their souls as well as their minds.

We’ve got very high standards academically

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but we also want to give them opportunities to participate so they can develop their interests and hobbies that will take them into adult life.”

Leadership is a very Harrovian quality – it is an innate part of the school’s DNA and has been inherited from the UK. It’s the responsibility of Harrow staff to ensure each

student is afforded the opportunity to lead in the day-to-day life at school. “Has every child had the opportunity to come to the front and lead from the front? Has every child answered a question in class that day? Has every child had the opportunity to be a spokesperson for group work? It’s about a mindset for all our staff.

It’s character-building and it instills a sense of adventure to lead or work in a team, to make decisions and even do something a little risky – that’s all part of growing up.”

While the school is busy actively creating the leaders of the future, they are very mindful to give the children a sense of perspective and community. “Charity fundraising is very strong here. It’s not always about giving money – that can be easy for some people – it’s about giving time. I don’t want pupils to live in this bubble of privilege; I want them to be able to engage with their local, national and international communities and have that burning desire to do good.” sg Harrow International School Hong Kong, 38 Tsing Ying Road, Tuen Mun, 2824 9099. harrowschool.hk

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Play is essential for living and learning Benefits of Yew Chung International School’s play-based curriculum are clear One of the big debates in early childhood education today is the concept of too much time devoted to academic matters, thus robbing children of play. Many professionals are concerned about what this means for young children, and for the future of society as children grow up without the vital skills that self-initiated play provides them.

In Hong Kong, there can be a tendency to over-load young children’s schedules with formal, planned lessons in order to cram in more ‘learning’. However, professionals such as Peter Gray suggest we must do the opposite.

Supporting and encouraging children’s innate drive to play and explore gives them the most valuable skills for what life has in store. In Give Childhood Back to Children, Gray states: “If we want our offspring to have happy, productive and moral lives, we must allow more time for play, not less.”

Play is defined as something that is voluntary, self-motivated and engaging. All forms of learning, including physical, social, emotional and cognitive development, are rooted in play. The fundamentals are formed as children follow their own curiosities, allowing new ideas to unfold in front of them. Through play, children learn crucial lessons, such as 58 Expat Parent Schools Guide

Supporting and encouraging children’s inborn drive to play and explore gives them the most valuable skills in living and learning

Social and emotional skills are embedded in play

the cycle of practice, fail, try again; this builds in them persistence and resilience. Play also provides children with opportunities to build their confidence and creativity, as they become risk takers and problem solvers. In this everchanging world, these skills cannot be learned by memorising answers, but are instead fostered by allowing children to test and try new experiences and ideas. They are consistently strengthening their cognitive thinking as they actively take part in their learning. These are valued skills which today’s workplaces are not seeing enough of – those of self-initiation, critical analysing and creativity.

Social and emotional skills are also embedded in play. Social skills, with their cues and rules, are explored and experimented with as children engage with their peers and begin to understand the concept of co-operation.

They investigate their relationships and emotions, giving them time and exposure to develop understanding of social behaviours and norms, as well as insight into their own emotional responses. In imaginary play, they are free to experiment with familiar and unfamiliar characters; they gain empathy as they explore others’ perspectives; they grow a strong sense of self and belonging as they role-play, testing out the knowledge they are gaining socially in their daily lives; and they are able to experiment with the unknown, learning to control and understand their impulses and fears.

At Yew Chung International School’s (YCIS) Early Childhood Education (ECE) Section, through play, character development is also supported, validated and encouraged.

Individual children are valued for their strengths and differences. Too often as adults we forget about the importance of the formation of personality within a child and how it needs to be gently nurtured. When adults provide time for play, they show children that they respect and trust in their natural and authentic desire to learn and question their world. Within play, children have the opportunity to develop positive and secure dispositions, allowing stable character formation and unique personality traits. They gain strong self-identity, which carries on with them throughout life. Children may be “small” but by no means should they ever be made to feel insignificant.

In YCIS’s early childhood education programmes, all these skills are highly valued through a play-based curriculum. The curriculum is led by the children’s interests, explorations and discoveries. Throughout the classroom, children are researchers engaged in different types of experiences, from individual children investigations to small-group explorations.

Teachers are actively engaged with children, as well as closely observing the various learning development of all students. Teachers then creatively extend that learning with further investigations, relevant conversations and

thoughtful settings to deepen children’s play.

The teachers are also trained to respect children’s view, feelings and knowledge. At YCIS, uninterrupted play is relished by all but none more so than the children, who enthusiastically throw themselves into every moment of the school day.

In collaboration with YCIS. sg

Play provides children with opportunities to build their confidence and creativity as they become risk takers and problem solvers

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after-school activities

After school When free time beckons, keep your kids occupied and happy with all sorts of fun things to do

Hebe Haven Yacht Club

ESF Language

Hebe Haven Yacht Club has been providing boating and yachting facilities in the picturesque bay of Pak Sha Wan in Sai Kung since 1963. As well as having an extensive school sailing programme, they also offer courses for children through the “Development Fund for Youth Sailing� programme at the Sail Training Center. hhyc.org.hk

The goal of the ESF Language & Learning Centre is to approach each child as an individual with their own talents and needs. Through play and inquiry-based learning, young children are able to develop a range of new skills. esflanguagecentre.org.hk

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school’s out

Anastassia’s Art House

ESF SportS The role of sport in the development of young children cannot be underestimated. ESF Sports builds their knowledge and passion for sport in a range of fun and challenging programmes including football and gymnastics, designed to foster a love of sport that will last a lifetime. esf.org.hk/sports

Mindful Wing Chun The masters at Mindful Wing Chun teach mindfulness, relaxation and balance as a way of life through practising the Wing Chun style of martial art in a safe manner. The school derives from the lineage of Master Chu Shong Tin, a pupil of Ip Man. Students of all abilities are supported on their journey of discovering self-awareness. mindfulwingchun.com.hk

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after-school activities

HK Rugby Union Learning rugby fosters skills such as leadership, communication, teamwork and fair play. Children from the age of four can start learning how to play rugby under the HKRU Junior programme in a safe and multiethnic environment. Under 7s and Under 12s are registered at one of the 20 mini rugby clubs, while Under 14s and Under 19s are placed in the Colts programme, where they will compete in League events and even have the opportunity to represent Hong Kong in a national squad. hkrugby.com

Hong Kong Basketball Academy

Skydance Avenue

Shoot some hoops with the HKBA, which runs weekly sessions for boys and girls of all ages (from under-eights to 19 years old) and levels. Introductory classes teach the fundamentals of basketball, including teamwork and sportsmanship, in a fun, safe environment, while further down the line, competitive players get to test their skills in the Premier League programme. One-to-one training and holiday camps are also available. hkbaallday.com

Skydance Avenue offers a dynamic selection of dance programmes for different age groups, including Creative Movement for Toddlers, Hip Hop, Cheernastics (a fusion of cheerleading and gymnastic skills), Dancehall Teens and Jazz Funk. Class locations are dotted around Hong Kong, with one in Mid-levels. skydanceavenuehk.com

Hong Kong Island Stingrays Swim Club Hong Kong Island Stingrays Swim Club embraces all levels of swimmers. It aims to provide every swimmer with the best possible training environment and resources and allow them to fulfill their potential as both an athlete and a person. The club is consistently ranked as one of the region’s top competitive swim teams. hkstingrays.com

Anastassia’s Art House Learn to draw, paint and sculpt with the crème de la crème at Anastassia’s Art House, an award-winning Russian art academy with locations in Sai Kung, Repulse Bay, Happy Valley, Clearwater Bay, Pacific Place and HKUST. Qualified specialists are flown in from around the world, promoting globalised and multicultural art training. arthouse-hk.com 62 Expat Parent Schools Guide

Outward Bound The premier provider of experiencedbased outdoor learning and leadership programmes, Outward Bound organises a variety of challenging and exciting outdoor camps for children and youth, allowing them to spread their wings, explore the natural world, learn to be more independent and resilient, and become confident in their own boundless potential. outwardbound.org.hk/ courses/individuals-families

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after-school activities

STAGE RIGHT! Taking the award for Sai Kung’s best local business this year, STAGE RIGHT! Youth Theatre has been forging friendships, inspiring young actors and delighting the community year after year. Their after-school and weekend workshops build confidence, develop performance skills and joyfully enrich skills for life. STAGE RIGHT!’s workshops are specially designed to cater for newcomers as well as experienced performers. Free trial available. stagerighthk.com

Mini rugby for both girls and boys is huge in Hong Kong and is a great way for sporty kids and their parents to get involved in a club or community. Most clubs run minis training sessions on Sunday mornings, and teams go head-to-head against other teams in their age group at monthly tournaments.

The season runs from late August to the beginning of April, typically culminating with the HK Rugby Sevens. hkrugby.com/pages/ mini-rugby-resources-page

Treasure Island Get your kids out and about! Treasure Island offers children a transformative and rewarding outdoors experience through a series of adventure, community and environmental programmes. With various safe but exciting surf and adventure camps, your children can explore their passion for life and the great outdoors. treasureislandhk.com

YWCA (Parent/Child Cooking & Baking Classes)

Shakespeare4All Based in Quarry Bay, S4A is one of Hong Kong’s leading performing arts education organisations. It is a registered charity founded in 2003 with the purpose of building fluency and confidence in English through performing Shakespearean plays.

It is recognised throughout Hong Kong for its spectacular annual Shakespeare Gala event, supported by founding sponsor SWIRE Properties, and has provided drama experiences to thousands of students from aided, direct subsidy, government and private schools in the region. s4a.org.hk/en/home/index.php

Be your own master chef! YWCA’s parent/ child cooking and baking class is not only a great chance for family bonding, it also teaches children the value of nutrition and the culinary arts, which is vital to their allround development. As they explore different foods and preparation techniques, they will learn to be more independent and creative. clle.ywca.org.hk

ESF Sharks ESF Sports is a specialised youth sports coaching organisation with experienced and qualified coaches. The swimming lessons of ESF Sharks are fun, exciting and safe, building up children to become confident and agile swimmers with key aquatic skills.

There are courses for all age and experience levels, and even a water polo course for your sporty little ones. esf.org.hk/sports/oursports/swimming/overview.html 64 Expat Parent Schools Guide

Rugby for Kids

What is Singapore Maths?

Bar

Models

1. Whole number (L4)

4. Ratio (L6)

Jimmy has 364 more cards than Tim. If Jimmy gives 210 cards to Tim, how many more cards does Tim have than Jimmy in the end?

364

Before: Jimmy

The bar model method is one of the key problem solving heuristics that students use to solve word problems in Singapore maths. It falls under the heuristic “draw a picture”.

By drawing a pictorial model of a word problem, students are able to visualise, represent and relate the known and unknown quantities in the word problem.

This allows students to understand the word problem and find the solution to it.

Bar models help students develop their mathematical thinking, communication, reasoning and problem-solving skills.

There are two main types of bar models, the part-whole model and the comparison model.

210

Tim adults children 4 units – 1 unit = 3 units 3 units = 567 1 unit = 567 ÷ 3 = 189 Number of children = 4 x 189 = 756

364 - 210 = 154

After:

154

Jimmy Tim

?

210 210 - 154 = 56 Tim has 56 more cards than Jimmy in the end.

756

2. Fractions (L5)

1 2 At a party, 2 of the adults is equal to 5 of the children. If there are 279 people altogether, ahow many childrenare there? adults

279

children

whole

3. Decimals (L4) part

part

Comparison model

2 teachers and 6 pupils visited a zoo. Each teacher paid $24.60 and each pupil paid 1 of the amount for the entrance fees.

3 How much did they pay altogether?

Entrance fees per child = $24.60 ÷ 3 = $8.20

?

$8.20

Word problems can be solved using variations or a combination of the two main types of bar models.

Here are some examples of how bar models are used to solve word problems on different math topics.

Singapore Math

pupil

?

teacher

$24.60

6 x $8.20 + 2 x $24.60 = $98.40 They paid $98.40 altogether.

boys

girls

9 units = 756 1 unit = 756 ÷ 9 = 84 7 units = 7 x 84 = 588 There were 588 girls at the concert.

5. Percentage (L6) At a Family Day event, 25% of the participants were parents. There were 84 more boys than parents who participated.

The remaining 166 participants were girls.

How many participants were there altogether?

100%

9 units = 279 1 unit = 279 ÷ 9 = 31 5 units = 5 x 31 = 155 There are 155 children.

Part-whole model

1 At a school concert, 5 of the audience was adults and the rest was children. There were 567 more children than adults. The ratio of the number of boys to the number of girls was 2:7. How many girls were there at the concert?

25% parents

25%

84 boys

166 girls

100% - 25% - 25% = 50% 50% 84 + 166 = 250 100% 2 x 250 = 500 There were 500 participants altogether.

With an understanding of how bar models can be applied in word problems, you can now guide your primary school child through regular practices to tackle word problems confidently, be it for tests or examinations.

Seriously Addictive Mathematics (S.A.M) is a multi-award winning enrichment programme based on the Singapore M.O.E Maths syllabus, suitable for children from 4 to 12 years of age. The programme is delivered through a combination of Classroom learning and Worksheets. Students learn Maths at their own pace, according to their own ability. The unique programme is rapidly gaining popularity with parents in 16 countries. To find out more, visit www.seriouslyaddictivemaths.hk

after-school activities

Twinkle Dance

Complete Deelite

Twinkle Dance offers ballet, jazz and contemporary dance classes for children aged 18 months and above. The classes seek to engage kids by using fun visual themes that they can connect with. All of the teachers have professional training and qualifications. Branches are located in Central, Causeway Bay and Wong Chuk Hang. twinkledance.com

Founded by experienced cake decorator Jacinta Yu, and the international representative of the International Cake Exploration Society USA, Complete Deelite offers a range of hands-on workshops for people of all ages. From Creative Cake Jams to Master Artists Classes, their classes are perfect for the aspiring cake artist. completedeelite.com/store/index.php/en/ academy/kids-workshops

Elephant Community Press Publication is now an attainable dream for children with the help of Elephant Community Press. Children aged four and above are guided through every stage of writing in project-based workshops held throughout the year. Completed works are published online or in print for parents, peers and the larger community to enjoy. elephantcommunitypress.com

Red Shoe Dance Company

Scout Association Of Hong Kong

Red Shoe Dance runs ballet, jazz, contemporary, lyrical and hip hop classes.

The school offers RAD ballet and ADAPT jazz examinations as well as performance opportunities, competitions and overseas training camps. Little ones can begin at age three, and there are also pre-professional intensive training programmes for older students interested in a career in dance. redshoedance.com

Hong Kong’s leading voluntary organisation for young people, the Scout Association of Hong Kong provides training programmes that challenge their participants both physically and mentally. Scout training allows children and teens to not only serve their community and develop a sense of responsibility to society, but also realise their full potential. scout.org.hk

Southern School of Dance Dance the day away with Southern School of Dance! Children will love the ballet, tap, and modern dance lessons, and shine in their annual performances. Don’t feel left out, Moms – you can enroll in the ladies’ Ballet Fitness Classes to shape up into your healthiest and most elegant selves. southernschoolofdance. com.hk/default.html 66 Expat Parent Schools Guide

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after-school activities

Asia Pacific Soccer School Asia-Pacific Soccer School runs football classes throughout Hong Kong, offering Kinder Kick programmes for the underfours, and moving up to all-level training for kids aged five to 15+ years, as well as girls-only training sessions. There are also selective squad programmes for talented players, with the opportunity to play in the Hong Kong Junior Football League and the HK Football Association Henderson League. apsoccer.hk

Minisport HK Minisport HK is an enthusiastic group of sports educators who teach multiple sports to children aged 1.5 to nine through schools, clubs and private residences around Hong Kong. Minisport coaches over 400 children per week and offers holiday sport camps and children’s parties. sportsclassesforkidshk.com

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Faust Established in 1999, Faust runs drama and creative writing workshops for children aged from three to 18 at various venues. 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 during the year. faustworld.com.hk sg

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tuition

IN tuition

Does your child need a little extra help with schoolwork?

Hong Kong offers some excellent after-school tuition

PowerBrain Rx Ltd Established in 2012, PowerBrain Rx is the only cognitive brain-training centre in Hong Kong. Their courses are suitable for almost everyone, from three-year-olds to seniors, as well as career professionals and individuals with attention challenges. The Core Programme is the most popular choice, while those with limited time can try the Intensive Brain Booster course.

There are four centres in Hong Kong, including Central and Aberdeen. powerbrainrx.com

Blueinno Technology Limited Founded by Monica Leung, an engineer, teacher, mother and entrepreneur, Blueinno Technology Limited is an education service that aims to promote invention and innovation.

Their technology development programme uses state-of-the-art “STEAM and robotics” to inspire students to be creative in tomorrow’s innovation economy through the skillsets of electronics, coding, robotics, and design-thinking methodology. blueinnotechnology.com

Mulberry House Mulberry House offers fully immersive Mandarin teaching method for students from eight months to eight years old through their trademarked MandarinSmart curriculum. Mandarin is used as the sole language of instruction to develop thinking, writing, reading and speaking fluency.

Campuses in Central and Wong Chuk Hang. mulberryhouseasia.com

One Lindens Ltd. (Cambridge immerse) The Cambridge Immerse Global Leadership Programme is a transformative one-week summer course in Cambridge that shapes students through multidisciplinary academic exploration and discussion. Students learn to engage critically with social, political and economic affairs across the globe. Students must be aged between 16 and 18. cambridgeimmerse.com

Seriously Addictive Maths With centres in Central, Cyberport and Wong Chuk Hang, Seriously Addictive Maths (S.A.M.) combines the benefits of personalised training with the discipline of self-learning and self-discovery. At every step of the way, be it during class or when your child is doing homework, the S.A.M. approach is designed to introduce new concepts in incremental steps to make learning easier. seriouslyaddictivemaths.hk

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Apply Ivy Apply Ivy has specialised in helping students gain a spot in prestigious American boarding schools, colleges and universities since 2006. The consultants have amassed years of experience and have established strong relationships with admissions officers to ensure students are matched with the best school to suit their needs. applyivy.com

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tuition

Southside Mandarin As well as offering straightforward Mandarin lessons, this learning centre has playgroups and immersion programmes for children aged six months to 12 years. All classes are taught by professionally qualified native speakers with experience in early childhood and primary education. southsidemandarin.com

Aegis Advisors Aegis Advisors has more than 11 years of experience helping Hong Kong students with their academic needs.

Their team is comprised of admissions experts for US and UK boarding schools and universities, including specialist tutors for GCSE, IB, AP, A-Level and admissions test prep such as the SSAT, SAT, ACT. aegis-advisors.com

Story Clan

i-Learner Education Centre

Teaching is focused around stories aimed to stimulate children’s minds in a meaningful context, with the aim to help them to develop mentally, physically, and emotionally. Children aged 2.5 to 6 can take a break from digital devices and learn through live improvisation and meaningfocused activities. storyclan.com.hk

I-Learner Education Centre fosters a teaching environment where students are encouraged to grow confidence in their own ability. Their core belief is that every child possesses innate curiosity and creativity, and at i-Learner this natural enthusiasm is transformed into a love for learning. Course is taught in a small group with four to six students. Students from kindergarten to secondary level are welcome.

Based in Wan Chai and Tsim Sha Tsui. i-learner.edu.hk

Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions is an international provider of educational services.

Offering a comprehensive range of programmes from language tuition to exam and admissions preparation. Personal tuition classes can be booked in 10-hour packages with additional hours purchased after that. kaplan.com.hk/ktpa

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Ampla Education With an experienced team comprised of Oxbridge, Yale and Imperial graduates, Ampla Education offers tuition for a vast range of exams, including GCSEs, A-Levels, IB and Pre-U, as well as bespoke programmes for tests such as IELTS and SATs. Admissions preparation courses and a comprehensive consulting service are available for those considering boarding schools and universities abroad. ampla-edu.com

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tuition

HK Education Tutoring Services (HKETS) Established in 2003, HKETS offer support in various subjects. One-on-one private tuition or small-group options available with hourly rates starting from $650 for individuals and $360 for groups. Many tutors hold post-graduate certifications in their specialists subjects. Lessons are held at the ETS Education Centre in Central, via Skype or at the student’s chosen venue. hkets.net

Tutor Partner Tutor Partner deals with students on an individual basis, tailoring lessons to your child’s specific needs. IB and GCSE subjects from years 1 to 13 are covered as well as support for MYP Projects and IB Extended Essays, UK Common Entrance exams, SATs and A-Levels. Students can choose to have the lessons at the tutor’s home or in the comfort of their own home. tutorpartners@aol.com

Interactive French Based in Wan Chai, Interactive French offers a fun-filled, effective and motivating learning environment where your child can gain maximum exposure to the French language. Led by high-calibre tutors with extensive experience in teaching French as a foreign language, Interactive French is the ideal centre for both leisure learners and exam-takers of all ages! interactivefrench.hk 74 Expat Parent Schools Guide

tuition

Cobo Academy Founded in Hong Kong by ex-Microsoft Engineer Harris Chan, Cobo Academy’s mission is to empower innovators for today, tomorrow and beyond by giving them early exposure to coding, robotics, AI and more!

Classes for children aged 4 to 16 aim to develop your child’s core skills of critical thinking, collaboration, communication and creativity. coboacademy.com

HK Kidz Since 1985, the HK Kidz has been at the forefront of teaching foreign languages across the territory. Whether your child wants to improve a second language or prepare for language examinations, the institute has a range of courses. They offer private tuition, semi-private tuition and small group classes, with programmes running one or two classes per week. hkkidz.com

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tuition

Alpha Academy Alpha Academy has been serving Hong Kong’s community with a team of dedicated, professional tutors since 2002, and has acquired a reputation for excellence in education. The team are experienced in teaching IB, I/GCSE, HKDSE, A-Levels, SSAT, SAT and ACT. alphaacademy.edu.hk

ITS Education Asia ITS Education Asia provides educational support for children and adults across a range of subjects as well as exam preparation services for SATs, iGCSEs, A-levels, IBs, HKDSEs and more. ITS also offers university admissions advice and an education consulting service that works with families and employers to find the right schools for children. Locations in Central and Tsim Sha Tsui. itseducation.asia

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Le Club des cinq - French Learning Centre Founded in 2013, Le Club des cinq - French Learning Centre has created programmes according to the age and the level of each child. From discovering the French language to IGCSE or IB preparation, the aim of the school is to offer the best French classes for everyone. So the three pillars of its teaching approach are entertaining material, project-oriented classes and tailor-made care. Lessons are offered as one-on-one tuition or in small groups. Located in Wan Chai, they can also come to your home. frenchlessons.hk sg

tuition

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places to take kids

PLAY centres Fun activities for all the family

Mega Ice For something a little bit cooler, head to Megabox and the aptly-named Mega Ice Rink, Hong Kong’s largest. Situated in the mall’s atrium, Mega Ice is the city’s only internationalsized rink and, as such, regularly hosts major hockey, figure skating and speed skating tournaments, which are open to spectators.

For those of us who are less steady on our skates, a more sedate experience is on offer through general admission. Sessions allow for a maximum of either three or four hours of skate time, and your admission fee includes skate hire. Bring your Octopus card to use a locker, and pay attention to announcements as the rink is regularly resurfaced throughout the day. Open weekdays 10am-10pm; weekends 10am-midnight. From $70-$80 per person, depending on time slot. megaice.com.hk

Baumhaus Epicland If bigger means better in your household, look no further than Discovery Bay’s Epicland. At 14,000 square feet, Hong Kong’s largest play centre is fully tricked-out with fantastic facilities to match its huge space. Daredevils can test their nerves on the sky-high Air Trek obstacle course, while down below you’ll find a mini golf course, trampolines, laser tag, foam ballistics room, climbing wall, vast playground, toddler rock climbing area… the list goes on. Open 9.30am-7.30pm daily. Tickets from $148 per child (includes one adult admission). epiclandhk.com 78 Expat Parent Schools Guide

Baumhaus has two learning centres with attached play areas that are perfect for tiny tots. Sign up for music and drama classes, or simply drop in for a play – both the Wan Chai and Tsim Sha Tsui branches feature large birch-wood “tree houses” surrounded by plenty of soft-play space and wooden toys to explore.

Mums and dads will appreciate the on-site coffee shops. Open daily (Wan Chai branch 9am-6pm, Tsim Sha Tsui branch 9.30am-6.30pm).

Playroom costs $100 for the first child and $60 per subsequent sibling. baumhaus.com.hk

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places to take kids

Ryze No more jumping on the bed! Ryze, Hong Kong’s original trampoline park, offers a fun, soft obstacle course and slack-line challenge - a great option for rainy days and scorchers alike. You are required to sign a waiver before entering and there are strict safety rules in operation, so read the fine print and happy jumping!

Open 9am-9pm daily. $95 per hour (up until 6 years) and $150 per hour (over 6 years). ryzehongkong.com

Funzone A classic crowd-pleaser that’s a sure-fire hit with the toddler-to-tween demographic, Funzone’s three convenient locations (Kennedy Town, Ma On Shan and North Point) mean that you’re never too far away from air-conditioned soft play. All three branches are spacious, with ample space for cooped-up kids to run, jump, clamber and slide to their heart’s content. You’ll also find dedicated toddler zones, on-site cafés for convenient refuelling stops and unlimited free Wi-Fi for ever-patient parents. Opening hours and admission fees vary by location. funzone.com.hk

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Maggie & Rose Maggie Bolger and Rose Astor dreamt up the idea for Maggie and Rose way back in 2006, with the aim of providing a beautiful creative space for children in surroundings that appealed to grown-ups too – bye bye chilly church halls, hello inspirational home away from home. In 2015 the London-based members’ club opened its first Hong Kong branch at The Pulse in Repulse Bay, where the Maggie & Rose magic continues. The doors are open – come and join the family! hk.maggieandrose.com

Slope Infinity The world’s largest revolving carpet ski and snowboard slope, Slope Infinity uses real ski boots, poles and bindings to replicate an authentic on-piste experience without a trip to the airport. Suitable for the entire family, this is a class activity rather than a drop-in play session, but if you’re planning a snow break this winter, this offers the ideal environment for fully supervised training, building confidence and honing skills.Opening times and fees vary according to the training options required. slope8.com

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Mount Pavilia

A new style of living is coming to Hong Kong, with the opening of Mount Pavilia, the latest residential offering from New World Development.

S

ituated in the green and spacious Clear Water Bay - Hong Kong’s “back garden” -, this is an artisanal living environment that brings nature and art together to provide a truly unique place to live.

The driving force behind the project has been The Artisanal Movement pioneered by New World Development. With a dream of combining art and creativity within day-today life, they have gathered a number of the world’s top design teams to bring the vision to fruition and provide Hong Kong with a form of residential living not previously seen; where idyllic green spaces are seen alongside state of the art facilities and contemporary art works, all within the context of modern day living.

With a breathtaking setting, Mount Pavilia is perfectly located for the many families who chose to move away from the bustle of Hong Kong Island, looking instead for a calmer pace of life with space for children to roam and imaginations to run wild.

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Which is why Mount Pavilia joined forces with Carve Studio, an Amsterdam based design team famed for their inspirational children’s recreational facilities. The Carve team works globally on immense projects that go far beyond standard expectations. Amongst many others, they are currently working on the playzone in Terminal 1 of Singapore’s Changai Airport, which is due to open next year.

At Mount Pavilia the vision was broad yet ambitious - to “unleash infinite creativity, and enlighten lives with dreams”. As such, Carve has created a one-of-a-kind children’s learning and adventure play area, which, at 17,000 sq. ft., is as vast as it is impressive.

The design includes five original play spaces, including Toddler Area, Central Park, Multiintelligence Indoor play area, Water Play Zone and Urban Farm. Not the riot of gaudy, psychedelic colour that we know often associate with playgrounds, Carve’s vision is a minimalistic design which aims to encourage and stimulate the children’s own imaginations, and all just a stone’s throw from their own front door.

The area also includes a library, a reading area, large building blocks, a two-storey dolls’ house, giant slides and other features to occupy every young mind. The play area also helps to foster the feel of community, where children can come to socialise and explore together.

In addition to the onsite offerings, Mount Pavilia is also within easy reach of a myriad of educational offerings for every age group - all the way from kindergartens to secondary school - making it the perfect residence for families. In particular, parents will be drawn to the short travel times between home and school, avoiding the need for children to spend large parts of their day on long bus journeys sitting in traffic.

Some of the surrounding schools close to Mount Pavilia are already well known names amongst such as the ever-popular Hong Kong Academy; others are new arrivals that are generating much talk among parents.

Shrewsbury opened in August 2018, offering a primary school specialism on a dazzling, new site with enviable facilities. Similarly, the French International School also opened their newest campus in the area, which offers streams in both English and French.

Other names are ESF’s Abacus International Kindergarten, Woodland Peak Pre-School and Clear Water Bay School. For those

looking at tertiary education, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology is also close by.

This part of Hong Kong is fast becoming a Mecca for parents who are looking to live within in easy reach of their children’s school whilst still maintain a broad number of options; Mount Pavilia is right at the heart of this.

Attention to detail has been put on the clubhouse, which has been designed by Korean architect, Minsuk Cho, 2014 Venice Architecture Biennale Golden Lion Award winner.

Of course, a project of this nature has to be conscious of both sustainability and green responsibilities. On this, the design team has not disappointed; Mount Pavilia is peppered with over 1000 trees of 30 varieties. The residence also boasts a butterfly garden to encourage biodiversity, and environmental protection activities will be organised for households to learn more about green living.

The complex has a selection of garden duplex and penthouse triplex units ranging from 2,201 – 3,372’ sq.ft, which will no doubt attract buyers pursuing a better quality of living, professionals and investors.

With such ambitious plans, the merging of so many well-known figures from the design world and a location that lends itself perfectly for Hong Kong families, Mount Pavilia is set to become the name on everyone’s lips.

In collaboration with New World Development.sg Expat Parent Schools Guide 85

Fresh start to the new school year at One Island South It’s time to back to school! Are you looking for classes, tutors or playgroups for your kids in the new school year?

We’ve got the latest information all here in One Island South!

My ArchiSchool (Shop 101, Tel: 2110 8508, myarchischool.com.hk) My ArchiSchool was established by a group of architecture-lovers from all walks of life.

They are dedicated to nurturing talents, educating the minds and developing their abilities to share, communicate and collaborate. The programmes they provided are not only about building a building but also preparing learners to build their own lives.

This September, they are bringing in a new parallel realm of children architecture. They will be offering: ~BIM for Kids – Composite Building Modules with CATIA + 3DExperience for Academia ~Advanced 3D-Printing Art Workshop: - Wind-mill model with CATIA - Ferris-wheel model with Solidworks

Y.ART Education Dadi Mandarin Arts Education Centre (Shop 103, Tel: 2110 1927, dadimandarin.com) Dadi Mandarin Arts Education Centre has a wide variety of programmes for you to choose from including Chinese Mandarin Learning, art and dance. They are dedicated to providing professional and quality education services, and creating an encouraging learning atmosphere that promotes active learning.

Auntie Tam’s Education Centre (Shop 105, Tel: 5199 7289, auntietamscentre.com) Through guidance and support, ATEC provides a fun and friendly environment to help with homework and teach children to enjoy learning in English, Maths and Mandarin. Learning programs are available for 5 years and up. The venue is also available for party hire on Sundays!

(Shop 201-201A, Tel: 2111 0992, hkyartschool.com) Art education is able to inspire children’s intelligence and unique talents. Let’s discover your child’s potential thought creative art painting! Y. ART Education Ltd. offers professional fine art training programs to students aged 3-18.

One Keystone Education Centre (Shop 108, Tel: 3628 2406, keystone-prep.com) Keystone is a boutique education firm providing premium services in test preparation and education consulting. Ranging from test prep (SAT, SAT II, SSAT, AP, iBT, TOEFL) to customised college consulting programmes. Start preparing and master examination techniques now!

Southside Mandarin Education Centre (Shop 106-107, Tel: 3427 9619, southsidemandarin.com) Southside Mandarin Education Centre is an ideal place to let the kids develop the confidence to use Mandarin in their daily lives and explore Mandarin through art, song, drama and dance and have fun. They offer classes to children from 0 to 12 years old, which cover language learning, cultural exposure and STEM.

Excel Fencing

Korea Taekwondo Cheung Do Kwan (Shop 102, Tel: 9366 3131, hongkongtkd.com) Taekwondo is the art of self-defense. Its discipline, technique and mental training are the mortar for building a strong understanding of justice, fortitude, humility and resolve.

Classes available for toddlers (from three years), children (four-nine years) and teens and adults (from 10 years).

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(Shop 203 & 205, Tel: 2110 9655, excel-fencing.com) Why Fencing? Fencing takes strategy and quick reflexes and can enhance concentration as well as hand-eye coordination. Fencing is definitely a sport that your child can do for their entire life! New fencers are welcome to join starting from 3 years old!

Bebegarten Education Centre

Mandarin Classroom

(Shop 301-305, Tel: 3487 2255, bebegarten.com) Bebegarten Education Centre provides a stimulating and caring learning environment for children achieving their developmental milestones in a self-initiated and fun way. Learning programmes are available for ages six months to six years. They also offer a range of customised programs for children who have specific needs such as language delay, speech sound difficulties, social communication difficulties or ASD.

(Shop 206, Tel: 37912747) Mandarin Classroom is dedicated to helping primary and secondary school students to learn Mandarin through inspiring lessons that are integrated with real life contexts. Students also improve their proficiency level in listening, speaking, reading and writing.

Composition, storytelling, drama, recital and Pin Yin classes are available during school holidays.

HK Kidz Education Centre (Shop 306-307, Tel: 2877 6160, hkkidz.com) Want your child to have a fun-filled language learning experience? HK Kidz’ language programmes provide cultural enrichment with activitypacked sessions using science, drama, music, creative arts, cooking and more. Language and Activity programmes available for children from 1.5 to 12 years old.

Telos Acdemy & Sylvan Learning (Shop 207-208, Tel: 2873 0662, sylvanlearning.com) STEM allows your child to discover the amazing world of science, technology, engineering and maths. Sylvan offers a variety of STEM programs for elementary and middle school-aged students to get young minds racing!

TRYBE (Shop 209-210, Tel: 3427 9017, trybehk.com) TRYBE is Hong Kong’s premier training center for all things movement and acrobatics. Utilizing a combination of gymnastics, martial arts and various dance forms, our acrobatic classes not only allow kids to learn new skills but also enhance their social and personal development.

Whether the goal is to increase fitness, strength, mobility or body sense, we have something for you!

Gymnastics Fundamentals (Age 3-9) Gymnastics Tumbling (Age 5-9) K Aerial Hammock! (Age 5-11) Kids Acrobatics and Movement (Age 5-12) Teens Tumbling Ages (Age 11-15)

Twinkle Dance Company (Shop 311, Tel: 6608 1928, twinkledance.com) Going to dance classes is something Twinkle Dance wants children to look forward to.

This autumn term, Twinkle Dance will take your child to the Wonderland with Alice.

With a little bit of imagination, Twinkle Dance will be using this children’s classic to teach dance techniques in a fun and refreshing way.

More courses available: Ballet with Mommy (18 Months - Age 2.5) Ballet (Age 2-7) Jazz (Age 3-9) In collaboration with Harriman Management Services Limited. sg

ONE ISLAND SOUTH 2 Heung Yip Road, Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong (MTR Wong Chuk Hang Station, Exit A) Expat Parent Schools Guide 87

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directory

Kindergarten Mills International Pre-school

Discovery Montessori School

SKIP (Sai Kung Pre-School)

Established

| 2010

Established

| 1988

Established

| 2013

Location

| Discovery Bay, Central

Location

| Sai Kung

Location

| Yau Tong

Ages

| One to six years

Ages

| One to five years

Ages

| Twelve months to five

Curriculum

| AMI Montessori

Curriculum

| UK Early Years

Telephone

| 2987 1201

Telephone

Website

| dms.edu.hk

Website

years Foundation Stage

| UK Early Years Foundation Stage

| 2791 7354 | skip.edu.hk

Anfield International Kindergarten and Nursery

Curriculum

Telephone

| 2717 6336

Website

| millsinternational.edu.hk

Avendale (Kindergarten)

ESF International Kindergartens

Established

| 1999, 2008

Established

| 2018

Established

| 1984

Location

| Kowloon Tong, Hung Hom

Location

| The Parkside Campus:

Location

| Tsing Yi, Tung Chung

Ages

| Two years 8 months to six

Tseung Kwan O, Harmony

(Lantau), Abacus

years, Two to five years

Garden Campus: Siu Sai

(Clearwater Bay), Hillside

Wan, Sai Wan Campus: Sai

(Happy Valley), Wu Kai Sha

Curriculum

(Ma On Shan)

Wan

| UK Early Years Foundation Stage (British National

Ages

| Three to five years

Curriculum

| IB Primary Years

Curriculum)

Ages

| Nine months to three years

Telephone

| 2794 3668, 2766 3882

Curriculum

| Reggio Emilia

Website

| anfield.edu.hk Telephone

| 2866 6720

Telephone

| 2574 2351

Website

| avendale.school

Website

| esfkindergartens.org.hk

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Programme (PYP)

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directory

Kindergarten Fairchild Kindergarten and Junior Academy

City Kids Preschool

Kendall Pre-school

Established

| 2017, 2016

Established

| 1984

Established

| 2017

Location

| Sai Ying Pun, Tin Hau

Location

| Mid-levels

Location

| Cheung Sha Wan

Ages

| Two to six years, Six

Ages

| 2.8 to five years

Ages

| Two to six years

Curriculum

| UK Early Years

Curriculum

| US Creative Curriculum

Telephone

| 2328 8223

Website

| kendall.edu.hk

months to four years Curriculum

| Inquiry-based, Reggio

Foundation Stage

Emilia

Curriculum (EYFS)

Telephone

| 2898 1611, 2803 2638

Telephone

| 2522 4446

Website

| fairchild.edu.hk,

Website

| citykidshk.org

fairchild.academy

Small World Christian Kindergarten

Sai Kung Montessori

Malvern College Pre-school Hong Kong

Established

| 1986

Established

| 2017

Established

| 2017

Location

| 10 Borrett Road, Mid-

Location

| Sai Kung

Location

| Southwest Kowloon

levels

Ages

| Two-and-a-half to six

Ages

| Two to five years

Curriculum

| UK Early Years Foundation

Ages

| Three to four years

Curriculum

| International Early Years

years Curriculum

| Montessori method

Telephone

| 5369 8587

Website

| saikungmontessori.com

Stage, complemented by the

Curriculum Telephone

| 2525 0922

Website

| smallworld.edu.hk

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Reggio Emilia philosophy Telephone

| 3898 4668

Website

| www.malvernpreschool.hk

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directory

Kindergarten

Primary

Nord Anglia International Pre-School Hong Kong

ESF Peak School

Anfield School

Established

| 2017

Established

| 1911

Established

| 2011

Location

| Tai Tam, Sai Kung

Location

| The Peak

Location

| Tai Wai

Ages

| Three to five years

Ages

| Five to 11 years

Ages

| Five to eleven years

Curriculum

| English National

Curriculum

| IBPYP

Curriculum

| UK National Curriculum

Telephone

| 2849 7211

Telephone

| 2692 8823

Website

| ps.edu.hk

Website

| anfield.edu.hk

Curriculum Telephone

| 3958 1428

Website

| nais.hk

Shrewsbury International School Hong Kong

ESF Kowloon Junior School

Discovery Montessori Academy

Established

| August 2018

Established

| 1902

Established

| 2015

Location

| Tseung Kwan O

Location

| Ho Man Tin

Location

| Discovery Bay

Ages

| Three to 11 years

Ages

| Five to 11 years

Ages

| Three to 12 years

Curriculum

| British National

Curriculum

| IBPYP

Curriculum

| IB PYP & AMI Elementary

Telephone

| 3765 8700

Website

| kjs.edu.hk

Curriculum Telephone

| 2840 1500

Website

| shrewsbury.hk

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Montessori Telephone

| 2812 9668

Website

| dms.edu.hk

directory

Primary ESF Clearwater Bay School

ESF Quarry Bay School

| 2002

Established

| 1992

Established

| 1926

| Mid-levels, South

Location

| Clearwater Bay

Location

| Quarry Bay

Horizons, Aldrich Bay and

Ages

| Five to 11 years

Ages

| Five to 11 years

| Two to 12 years

Curriculum

| IBPYP

Curriculum

| IBPYP

| Montessori Dual-

Telephone

| 2358 3221

Telephone

| 2711 1280

Language Programmes

Website

| cwbs.edu.hk

Website

| qbs.edu.hk

The International Montessori School

Established Location

Ages

Stanley

Curriculum

Telephone Website

| 2772 2468 | ims.edu.hk

HKCA Po Leung Kuk School

ESF Glenealy School

ESF Kennedy School

Established

| 2017

Established

| 1959

Established

| 1961

Location

| Tin Hau

Location

| Mid-levels

Location

| Pok Fu Lam

Ages

| Six to 11 years

Ages

| Five to 11 years

Ages

| Five to 11 years

Curriculum

| IBPYP

Curriculum

| IBPYP

Curriculum

| PYP (Candidate school) Telephone

| 2522 1919

Telephone

| 2579 5600

Telephone

| 2807 1770

Website

| glenealy.edu.hk

Website

| kennedy.edu.hk

Website

| plkis.edu.hk

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directory

Primary ESF Bradbury School

ESF Sha Tin Junior School

ESF Beacon Hill School

Established

| 1975

Location

| Stubbs Road

Established

| 1988

Established

| 1967

Ages

| Five to 11 years

Location

| Fo Tan, Sha Tin

Location

| Kowloon Tong

Ages

| Five to 11 years

Ages

| Five to 11 years

Curriculum

| IBPYP

Curriculum

| IBPYP

Telephone

| 2692 2721

Telephone

| 2336 5221

Website

| sjs.edu.hk

Website

| beaconhill.edu.hk

Curriculum

| IBPYP

Telephone

| 2574 8249

Website

| bradbury.edu.hk

Secondary ESF Sha Tin College

Creative Secondary School

ESF South Island School

Established

| 1982

Established

| 2006

Established

| 1977

Location

| Fo Tan, Sha Tin

Location

| Sai Kung

Location

| Aberdeen

Ages

| 11 to 19 years

Ages

| 12 to 18 years

Ages

| 11 to 19 years

Curriculum

| (I) GCSE, IBMYP, IBDP,

Curriculum

| IBMYP; HKDSE/IBDP

Curriculum

| (I) GCSE, IBMYP, IBDP,

Telephone

| 2336 0233

Website

| css.edu.hk

Applied Learning (BTEC) Telephone

| 2699 1811

Website

| shatincollege.edu.hk

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Applied Learning (BTEC) Telephone

| 2555 9313

Website

| sis.edu.hk

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directory

Secondary

Through schools

ESF King George V School

The Harbour School

Malvern College Hong Kong

Established

| 1894

Established

| 2007

Established

| August 2018

Location

| Ho Man Tin

Location

| 2/F, 23 Belcher’s Street

Location

| Adjacent to Science Park,

Ages

| 11 to 19 years

Kennedy Town / 138 Lee Chi Road / 332 Ap Lei

Curriculum

| (I) GCSE, IBMYP, IBDP,

Sha Tin Ages

| Five to 13 years (only

Chau Bridge Road

Year 1-9 for the academic year 2018/2019)

Applied Learning (BTEC)

Ages

| Four to 18 years

Telephone

| 2711 3029

Curriculum

| American Curriculum

Curriculum

| International Curriculum

Website

| kgv.edu.hk Telephone

| 2816 5222

Telephone

| 3898 4688

Website

| ths.edu.hk

Website

| www.malverncollege. org.hk

ESF West Island School

American School Hong Kong

Stamford American School Hong Kong

Established

| 1991

Established

| 2016

Established

| 2017

Location

| Pok Fu Lam

Location

| Tai Po

Location

| 25 Man Fuk Road, Ho

Ages

| 11 to 19 years Ages

| Five to 13 years (in 2018),

Ages

Curriculum

Man Tin, Kowloon

| (I) GCSE, IBMYP, IBDP,

| Five to 14 years (will grow to Five to 18 years)

Five to 18 years (in 2022)

Applied Learning (BTEC, IBCP)

Curriculum

| US Common Core

Curriculum

Telephone

| 2819 1962

Website

| wis.edu.hk

| Common Core, AERO, Inquiry Based, IBDP*

Curriculum and IBDP Telephone Telephone

| 39194111

Website

| ashk.edu.hk

Website

| 2500 8688 | sais.edu.hk

*Has applied for International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme candidacy and will seek authorization for the school’s first graduating cohort.

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directory

Through schools Canadian International School

Discovery Bay International School

Han Academy

Established

| 1991

Established

| 1983

Established

| 2017

Location

| Aberdeen

Location

| Discovery Bay

Location

| Aberdeen

Ages

| Three to 18 years

Ages

| Three to 18 years

Ages

| Five to 18 years

Curriculum

| IB and Ontario Secondary

Curriculum

| International Curriculum

Curriculum

| Bilingual (Mandarin and English) curriculum; IB and

with British Characteristics

School Diploma

A-levels Telephone

| 2525 7088

Telephone

| 2987 7331

Website

| cdnis.edu.hk

Website

| dbis.edu.hk

Telephone

| 3998 6300

Website

| hanacademy.edu.hk

Harrow International School Hong Kong

Hong Kong Academy

The Independent Schools Foundation Academy

Established

| 2012

Established

| 2000

Established

| 2003

Location

| Gold Coast

Location

| Sai Kung

Location

| Pok Fu Lam

Ages

| Three to 18 years

Ages

| Three to 18 years

Ages

| 4 years, eight months to

Curriculum

| UK National Curriculum

Curriculum

| PYP, MYP, IBDP

Telephone

| 2824 9099

Telephone

| 2655 1111

Bilingual Immersion

Website

| harrowschool.hk

Website

| hkacademy.edu.hk

Curriculum; MYP; IBDP

18 years Curriculum

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| The ISF Academy

Telephone

| 2202 2028

Website

| academy.isf.edu.hk

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directory

Through schools Norwegian International School

Nord Anglia International School

American International School

Established

| 1984

Established

| 2014

Established

| 1986

Location

| 175 Kwong Fuk Road, Tai

Location

| Lam Tin

Location

| Kowloon Tong

Po & 170 Kam Shan Road,

Ages

| Five to 18 years

Ages

| Five to 18 years

Curriculum

| English National

Curriculum

| US Common Core

Tai Po Ages

| Three to 11 years

Curriculum / IB Diploma* Curriculum

| International Early Years

Telephone

Curriculum & International

Website

Telephone

Primary Curriculum

Website

| 2658 0341 | nis.edu.hk

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Curriculum

| 3958 1488 | www.NAIS.HK *Nord Anglia International School Hong Kong is pursuing authorisation as an IB World School.

Telephone

| 2336 3812

Website

| ais.edu.hk

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directory

Through schools Australian International School Hong Kong

ESF Discovery College

Victoria Shanghai Academy

Established

| 1985

Location

| Kowloon Tong

Established

| 2008

Established

| 1965

Ages

| Four to 18 years

Location

| Discovery Bay

Location

| Aberdeen

Ages

| Five to 19 years

Ages

| Six to 18 years

NSW HSC; IBDP

Curriculum

| IBPYP, IBMYP, IBDP

Curriculum

| IBPYP, IBMYP, IBDP

Telephone

| 2304 6078

Telephone

| 3969 1000

Telephone

| 34021000

Website

| ais.edu.hk

Website

| discovery.edu.hk

Website

| vsa.edu.hk

Curriculum

| Australian curriculum;

Delia School of Canada

Chinese Academy

Island Christian Academy

Established

| 1986

Established

| 2015

Established

| 2012

Location

| Taikoo Shing and Kwun

Location

| Causeway Bay

Location

| 70 Bridges Street,

Tong

Ages

| Six to 18 years

Ages

Kwun Tong: Five to 15 Curriculum

Sheung Wan Ages

| Taikoo Shing: Four to 18, Curriculum

| five to 11 years

| Bilingual immersion

(expansion to Five to 13

globalised curriculum,

years is planned, pending

| Taikoo Shing: Ontario

inquiry-based learning. IB

EDB approval)

program, Kwun Tong:

MYP and DP in secondary

Alberta program

school

Curriculum

| International Primary Curriculum & International

Telephone

| 3658 0400

Telephone

| 2499 8000

Website

| delia.edu.hk

Website

| caps.edu.hk

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Middle Years Curriculum Telephone

| 2357 2552

Website

| islandca.edu.hk

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directory

Through schools Yew Chung International School

French International School

Hong Kong International School

Established

| 1932

Established

| 1963

Established

| 1966

Location

| 3 To Fuk Road, Kowloon

Location

| Blue Pool Road / Jardine’s Lookout

Location

| Tai Tam and Repulse Bay

Ages

Tong

/ Chai Wan / Tseung Kwan O

Ages

| Four to 18 years

| Zero to 18 years

| Four to 18 years Curriculum

| American-style education

Ages Curriculum

| National Curriculum for England, IGCSE & IB

Curriculum

Diploma

| French Stream: French National

grounded in the Christian

Curriculum, International Stream:

faith

English Curriculum to IGCSE, and IB Telephone

Telephone

| 2336 3443

Telephone

| 2577 6217

Website

| ycis-hk.com

Website

| fis.edu.hk

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| Tai Tam: 3149 7000 Repulse Bay: 2812 5000

Website

| hkis.edu.hk

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directory

Through schools ICHK

Kellett School

Renaissance College

Established

| 2009

Location

| Tai Po (kindergarten and

Established

| 1976

Established

| 2006

primary) and Sha Tau Kok

Location

| Pok Fu Lam (preparatory),

Location

| Ma On Shan

(secondary)

Kowloon Bay (preparatory

Ages

| Five to 18 years

Ages

| Zero to 18 years

and senior)

Curriculum

| B Primary Years Programme, IGCSE in

Ages

| Four to 18 years

Curriculum

| IBPYP, IBMYP, IBDP, IBCP

Curriculum

| English National Curriculum

Telephone

| 3556 3556

Website

| rchk.edu.hk

Year 10 and 11; IBDP in Years 12 and 13

Telephone

| 3120 0700

Telephone

| 3955 3000, 2655 9018

Website

| kellettschool.com

Website

| ichk.edu.hk

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last words

SCHOOL REPORT

A sneak peek inside our principals’ report cards

David Baird, CDNIS Head of school In Grade 10, I wrote, produced and starred in a play, a spoof of Robin Hood. In one scene, I was to shoot a real arrow up into the loft area of our set, whereupon a dead chicken was supposed to fall out of the painted tree and onto the stage. On opening night, dressed in tights as one of Robin Hood’s Merry Men, I proceeded to shoot the arrow into the loft, where it missed the cardboard backdrop (painted like a tree trunk). The arrow went through and smashed a huge double plate-glass picture window (which provoked hilarious laughter from the audience). The principal was not amused when the school district let him know the replacement cost. My report card that term read: “David is a talented actor and screenwriter, but he should stay away from weapons for the safety of all concerned.”

Rose Chambers, Lower Elementary Principal, Stamford American School Hong Kong “Rose has worked on using her inside voice while in class. Well done Rose.”

Jadis Blurton, Head of School at The Harbour School “She has many good ideas, but they do not all need to be spoken the moment she has them.”

Ian Clayton, Head of International Stream at the French International School “From my History teacher: “Ian should stop trying to do his terrible impersonation of me; this will not get him anywhere in life apart from in my bad books.”

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Marie Marchand, City Kids Principal “When young, she was known to misplace things and her teachers described her as ‘Airy fairy’!”

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