Australian ISHK or ESF?

Hi, we are from Australia and have 2 children in ESF schools at the moment - high school and primary. They have been advanced 6 months from their schooling in Australia and are coping very well. We are also very happy with the schools. Our first choice on arriving in Hong Kong was the AISHK for the reason that it offered the Aussie curriculum but they were on a wait list. They have now been accepted into AISHK. We will be returning to Australia in about 3 years. Can someone please advise whether there is any disadvantage (from an Australian point of view) on our return to Australia for them not to have followed the Australian curriculum but rather, the British system? Hope someone can help

Hi,

We were in a similar situation when we arrived a few years back. Our sons ended up going to an ESF primary school but were on the wait list for a couple of other International schools. They ended up getting into our first choice 6 months later but we decided to keep them at ESF. THere were several reasons for this: They had settled in extremely well and had made lots of nice friends. The second was we felt that the academic standard was excellent compared to some other schools. We are probably biased but we have friends and family here with children in various International schools around. We could directly compare the work they were doing.

I think if anything your children will quite ahead if you keep them at an ESF school. We have had lots of friends return to Australia and the children were miles ahead. You might think this is good or bad depending on your child. Some of our friends had to end up putting their children up a year because they were so bored. This would all depend on the child and their age e.t.c.

In my opinion I would keep my children at their current school because they have already settled in and made friends. The curriculum had moved towards a more International curriculum (PYP) than a typical Brittish curriculum. I'm sure your children will be absolutely fine when you return to Oz in the future.

Good luck with whatever path you take.

Hi, many thanks for your reply. As you were at that time, I am reluctant to take them out as they are settled and happy. I am also very happy with the academic standard of the 2 ESF schools my children are attending and am glad to hear from you that the academic standard is higher. I would rather they were advanced than not given the opportunity. Your comments were very helpful. Thanks!

I am a Supply Teacher at ESF in both primary and secondary schools. I have taught in American, Canadian, British and Caribbean schools. ESF has a very high standards. If you are happy, I wouldn't move them. The demographics at both schools are different too. I believe there is more of a mix of nationalities at the ESF schools.

Thanks!