Posted by
GPMom
15 yrs ago
My husband may be offered a position in HK in the near future. Since nothing is in writing at this point, I am just gathering information in case a move is in our future. While I am very excited about this possibility, my main concern are schools for my two children (10 & 8). From all the reading I have done, it seems next to impossible to get into a school for the 2010-11 school year at this point. What do people do in this situation since most companies have families move over the summer?
Should I just sit back and assume that the children and I will spend a year apart from my husband while he sets up house in HK and we remain here until a place opens up in a school? What is a family to do?
Thanks in advance for any and all suggestions.
Best,
Amy
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My colleague applied to all the ESF schools for his two children, can't remember their ages but quite young, say 5 and 8 for example.
There was only one spot available for the older child, so they sent the younger one to an International School until a spot became available for the younger one, which I think was less than a year later. Maybe only several months.
Don't worry about the places - apply to ALL the schools - be prepared to wait, but you WILL be put on the waiting list and places do become available because expats come and go. Of course, you'll have to consider the more expensive International Schools if no places are immediately available.
If you're gathering information now, why not contact the schools and see what's available. If it doesn't cost anything, maybe you could apply, and if your husband's job doesn't eventuate, you can just cancel your application! :-)
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JPCV
15 yrs ago
Well most schools require you to pay a application fee and tell you their is a waiting list. but when do we know we get a spot. I am in the same suitation that I am moving to hong kong and can't find a aschool for my daughter....still on waiting list even the international school
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In the next few weeks, places should start opening up as companies start looking at who to move in the summer- and there will be people who haven't told the schools yet even though they know they're leaving- just in case the move falls through! If you're aiming for the ESF, you should ask the company about the corporate surety scheme, as this will definitely help. The less well known/regarded schools usually have places too- American International, Delia School - it's not unknown to start there and stay on your chosen school's waiting list & move later.
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We're hoping to move back to Hong Kong in summer as well, but just learned that we have been rejected by HKIS (on waiting list). We're very disappointed. What are the gauging factors determining acceptance?
I don't know what other schools are good choices for us - ESFs take students by catchment areas, CIS is super hard to get in, American International is not very good as far as I know.
Question: Does Yew Chung have a good ENGLISH program too? I kept hearing that they have a very good Chinese program...
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I met 2 Australian girls who had spent a year at Yew Chung before space opened up in their nearest ESF school - their Mandarin was thus amazing & the ESF had to put them in the top group with the Chinese kids. Mum said it was fine though she was glad to get them in to the ESF partly cos they lived really far from Yew Chung.
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NHYM
14 yrs ago
Amy
I am in a similar position to the one you were first in and wondered what happened to you? Did you find places? I have an 8 and a 9 year old and hoping it shouldn't be impossible to find places.
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Our children (8 and 10) are in the English section of Japanese International School, which is a great primary school near the Chinese University of Hong Kong (Tai Po Road). It's an IB accredited school with excellent teachers and great facilities.
Depending on where you're living, there are school buses running from Sai Kung, Shatin/Fo Tan, the Goldcoast and, of course, the Tai Po area. It also has a through train secondary school (north of Fanling) which is really important as finding secondary school places is really hard.
Check the website: www.jis.edu.hk - it's not a great site, but I couldn't recommend the school more highly.
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