School visit

Shrewsbury International School

Charmaine Ng visits the international preschool and primary school in Tseung Kwan O

Founded by Royal Charter in 1552, Shrewsbury School is one of Britain’s most outstanding schools, with a tradition of academic excellence and a 500-year heritage. The leading independent school eventually extended its reach to Hong Kong with a purpose-built campus in Tseung Kwan O catering specifically for preschool and primary school children. Today, Shrewsbury International School is one of the most reputed primary-specialist schools in the region. On a cold weekday in mid-February, just a week after the Education Bureau announced a mandatory extended break for all students in the city, I made my way over to the school for a visit that left me speechlessly impressed.

Well-rounded education Shrewsbury International School follows the highly respected English National Curriculum, adapted and enriched for the local context and developed to meet the needs of a multilingual student body in Hong Kong. Year groups are sorted into Key Stages, each with a defined curriculum, with regular assessment allowing teaching staff to monitor each child’s academic progress. The majority of lessons are taught by a class teacher through a thematic based framework, whilst Chinese Language, Music and Physical Education are taught by specialist teaching staff.

Just 30 minutes from Central, Shrewsbury stresses the importance of and has a strong commitment to Chinese language learning with a three-tier integrated programme. Teachers then cater to each child depending on their level of language proficiency and whether they have greater confidence with the Cantonese dialect rather than the Mandarin dialect.

Something I noticed that also sets Shrewsbury apart from other schools is its emphasis on music and performing arts. The programme at the school includes weekly vocal sessions and students are encouraged to learn a range of instruments such as the recorder and ukulele. I had the opportunity to explore the campus’ two music rooms and six peripatetic rooms, as well as the 470- seat Auditorium and 100-seat Recital Hall, both hosting concert grade grand pianos. It is evident that Shrewsbury encourages the importance of music and performance throughout the school.

Extensive co-curricular programmes For Shrewsbury students, learning doesn’t end when the bell rings. The school offers a range of extracurricular activities for primary students who are looking to explore interests and develop skills beyond the classroom. The core categories (Academic, Art and Sport) mean that many activities remain consistent from term to term and year to year. These include book club, chess and coding; choir, dance and drama; and football, swimming and athletics.

State-of-the-art facilities Perhaps one of the most notable aspects of Shrewsbury International School is its purpose-built campus that has been designed with young children in mind. The school supports more than 900 students in classes of about 20, with state-of-the-art facilities to enhance their learning. Classrooms at the school are built to engage students, featuring interactive whiteboards, cloud-based storage system and speedy internet connection. One of my favourite areas was the naturally- and brightly-lit library, with its floor-to-ceiling windows and comfortable sofas for reading from. It currently holds an impressive 7,000 books of both English and Chinese titles with more being added regularly. Other highlights of the campus include a concert hall, separate art and design studios, an aquatic centre with a 25-metre indoor heated swimming pool and a gymnastics centre equipped to professional standards, allowing children opportunities to discover new passions outside of traditional academic fields.

Further education with Shrewsbury Shrewsbury International School boasts a unique college-style transition programme that begins in Year 4, inspired by the practice of college counselling at Shrewsbury School in the UK. Students and their families are given individual support with planning their educational journey. The academic team has detailed knowledge of secondary schools within Hong Kong and around the world to help parents make an informed decision. If a student has a flair for performing arts, for example, he or she can then pick a school which offers a strong arts programme, rather than one that is academically-focused. Whilst most students move on to schools in the city, some families choose to pursue the supported path through to Shrewsbury School, Shropshire. shrewsbury.edu.hk

PRINCIPAL’S OFFICE Meet Ben Keeling, principal of Shrewsbury International School

Can you tell us about your career? What brought you to Hong Kong? I grew up in west London and spent my childhood there. My first foray into the field of international education was teaching in a British school in Jakarta, Indonesia. Then, seven years ago, an opportunity at Kellett School in Hong Kong came up, which I took. My wife was also born in Hong Kong, so when we moved to the city, it was like a homecoming for her.

What attracted you to Shrewsbury International School? Unlike many other schools in the city, Shrewsbury is wholeheartedly dedicated to primary education. The opportunity to lead through preoperation into the foundation of a bourgeoisie school community, alongside such an established and prestigious team, was just too good to resist.

What sets Shrewsbury apart from other international schools in Hong Kong? Our focus on primary education allows us to deliver a uniquely supportive environment centred around the needs of young children. Shrewsbury students have access to the best provision available and then enjoy an opportunity to consciously select a secondary school that will allow them to thrive. If a child exhibits a flair for the performing arts then it is important that he or she is supported in exploring it fully.

What is the school’s relationship with Shrewsbury School in the UK? The strong connection between Shrewsbury in Hong Kong and our extended host school in Shropshire was a critical attraction for me personally. The school team benefits enormously from the expertise available and the pathway for students can be directly supported.

How does Shrewsbury International School set up students for life after primary education? Through the secondary school selection programme available here, Shrewsbury parents are encouraged to explore, on a very individual level, the options available and the best possible pathway for their child. In some cases this leads on to placement at an independent boarding school, in others a continuation of their international schooling here in Hong Kong. All families are guided by a highly knowledgeable team and have my support wherever required.

How is Shrewsbury

International School coping with the suspensions? While school suspension continues, it’s business as usual at Shrewsbury. At this moment, classes are taking place through our online platform. Our teachers – most of whom are actually on campus, not by force but by choice – are exceptionally talented. They share videos and work files, provide individual feedback and have recently hosted individual conferences with parents. I’ve always maintained that we are best defined by how we tackle challenging circumstances.

What’s your favourite part about what you do? As a principal working in primary education, I would say I really enjoy the engagement I get with both students and their parents. I feel honoured that parents have decided to trust us with their children. My favourite part of the day is always lunchtime taken with students at tables in the dining hall. I love their company, children are deeply insightful and can read a room so well!

What do you like to do in your spare time? When I’m not at school or thinking about school, I like to spend as much time as possible with my wife and son. We live in Sai Kung and are often found grazing on coffee and mooching from swings.

The two sides pitch in Should parents pay when schools are closed?

YES

HOWARD TUCKETT Headmaster of Wycombe Abbey School Hong Kong

We believe that it is our role and responsibility to continue to offer an outstanding education to our students at such a difficult time for Hong Kong.

We are holding interactive online lessons through our specially constructed Wycombe Abbey School iLearning Platform, where teachers and students can communicate, share assignments and receive immediate feedback on their completed work electronically. It takes an enormous amount of time, hard-work, effort and resources for our school and its staff to facilitate these online learning classes, just as a normal teaching week does.

The school and its employees are working normal hours each week and are all busily engaged in providing our pupils with the optimum learning experience we can during this period of school closure. We have been sending regular emails to our parents with updates of the current situation and school arrangements. Parents are also in close communication with their children’s class teacher through the iLearning Platform.

As our teaching output continues to operate at full-stretch in this situation, tuition fees are payable as normal. However, school bus, catering and ECA fees have all either been waived or credited during the time our students are at home.

NO

SOUTHSIDE PARENT Father of a four-year-old and a two-year-old

My son started kindergarten at the beginning of January. After three weeks, schools closed so he’s missed more term than he’s attended. It’s very unsettling for him, he keeps asking when he will be going back and I can’t answer that.

My daughter is in her final year at kindergarten. The school regularly sends homework for parents to do with their children but this isn’t a well-thought-out solution. Both my wife and I work full time so it’s impossible for us to find the time. By the time we get home it’s a bath and bed for the children.

The schools are not to blame for what has happened but I have to make the point that in no other industry would you continue to pay for a service that is not being provided as stated. You wouldn’t pay at a restaurant if they failed to provide you with food.

I understand this is a difficult situation and there is no fix-all solution but in my opinion, the problem has been dumped on the parents. Our children’s education is suffering and on top of that, parents are out of pocket. Perhaps the government should assist in subsidising the fees since we have no idea how much longer this will go on for.