Status of International Schools

Hi All,


We have a one year old baby and we are beginning to look at the international schools in HK. What is their reputation in general? What advice do you have for us as we'd like to live in HK for the long run. Thanks.

Thanks Cara!


Someone told me many of these schools are hard to get into. Is this correct? What are the hurdles?

look at Kingston Int. Kinder. in Kowloon Tong as well...great rep. (but pricey), bilingual and they prep for a PYP education (inquiry-based learning) as KIS is a PYP school...



as for hurdles, one of the big ones (unfortunately) is that the high demand at top-tier schools allows them to pick and choose the kids they want...this leads to 'audition" days where literally hundreds of kids come in, get their 40 mins with the teacher to 'show their stuff', and then get accepted or rejected based on how they (as 3yr olds alone in front of a stranger) perform...i know this because our 3yr old daughter auditioned this winter at a top-5 school (where my wife teaches)...she failed the first audition as (shockingly!) she didn't speak to the stranger (assessing teacher) that she was alone with so they couldn't assess her...thankfully as a child of staff, she got a second audition 2 months later (after we hastily enrolled her in painting and dancing classes, and a local kindy to get her to be more 'engaging' with strangers)...she passed the second audition and will be starting nursery at my wife's IS in Sept...the whole thing left a very sour taste in my mouth...but that's the game you play here...


of course, my wife working at the school meant we cleared another big hurdle, the wait list and debenture...


my advice would be to get your kid enrolled in organized lessons as soon as possible (playgroups, art classes etc.) so that they are comfortable around other adults and kids their age..schools take a good look at how they interact...


rant over

funbobby. thanks so much for your input. there's so much to consider.

I had a meeting with the school director today from Morningstar Preschool and it seems like a good place for kids. They're an international school with a unique approach to child development for young kids (2-6). Seeing that you are asking about your 1 year old, it might be something to consider. They are new so it wouldn't be too hard to get into yet. I'm thinking of placing my child in the nursery program. Web site - http://www.morningstarschools.com if you want to chack them out.

If i lived close enough to morningstar (Pokfulam) I would have my children there in a flash. It has a child centred philosophy aimed at nurturing the child, not the "fill the child up with what we think they should know" approach so many educators and institutions use. I have been looking for a school like morningstar for years.