Shortage of spaces in HK international schools--Your thoughts?

I'm a journalist based in Hong Kong and currently working on a story on how the limited availability of international schools in the city is affecting expatriate parents already living here, or planning to relocate here.


I'd be interested to hear how significant this issue is and how you think it should be addressed by the HK gov't and companies trying to attract overseas talent here.


If you don't mind talking to me via phone/email, please send me a message. Thanks very much!

Is there any shortage of spaces, or is it more a shortage in the wallets of the parents?

My sister recently got turned down by ESF because she didn't have any older siblings currently attending the schools.

OH dear - m y chances of my 11 year old getting in in January are looking slimmer by the minute...gulp. alternatives???

We have 3 kids we've been trying to place in a school since September. 11, 9, 7. We have a number of applications outstanding but no real prospect for getting in any time soon. At HKIS debentures are not even available for purchase at the moment (sold out). One would think capitalism would take over and solve this problem which seems to have persisted for many years.

Packman, try GT College in Mongkok/ Tseung Kwan O. http://www.gtschool.edu.hk

One of my daughters former classmate is studying there and the teachers and teaching environment is very good too.

This is what I posted before to somebody on Geoexpat. To find a place in an international school is very very hard. Local schools are not an option for everyone especially when your kids are slightly older already. There are English Medium Schools but I don't know enough about them. It's not even the money. Debentures of some schools are not available. And even if you have a debenture there isn't always a guarantee. ESF Y1 applications are up 14% again this year, more than 3000 applications for a little over 1000 spots. ESF receives many applications from Permanent Residents (about 75% in ESF is PR) who raise their children in English and therefore are Cat 1 in the ESF system, competing with expat children. Harrow's debentures already sold out (and extremely expensive). Also from what I've read, most expats are looking at HK Island and this is where the main problem of international school places is. Also, once an older kid gets a space, the sibling will immediately have sibling priority moving up the lists, pushing others down again.


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Finding a house will be sooooo easy compared to finding a school place for your child. Well, putting it this way, if you're looking solely at international schools, especially at Hong Kong Island. ESF has huge waiting lists. I know children who are number 41 and over 100 at Bradbury ESF for various year levels. I have friends in Clearwater Bay who had to wait at least 1 1/2 years for the first place in CWB ESF (out of 3 spots they needed). It is quite bad and I don't envy anybody arriving with a (primary/elementary) school aged child looking for an international school spot.


The most popular schools are: HKIS (American), FIS (French), GSIS (German Swiss), CIS (Chinese International), ESF schools (QBS, Bradbury, Kennedy, Glenealy and Peak are on the island), Kellett (British School), Hong Kong Academy (now in Kennedy Town, moving to Sai Kung in 2013), CNDIS (Canadian), Singapore International, ISF, etc. Then there is KCIS, and possibly others I forgot to mention. A lot of schools follow the IB-curriculum these days.


Less popular schools on the island (but still busy) are: Harbour School, Delia School of Canada, Korean International. Options in Kowloon / New Territories are: Japanese International, Norwegian International, HLY International School, American International School (quite local though), Australian International School (also very popular, and a very different school calender).


Discovery Bay as recommended by pp has DBIS and DC but both schools are hugely oversubscribed as well (apparently DC has a $400k debenture right now that you can buy you a spot, is this right?!). Bradbury is the ESF catchment school for DB (as DC is private independent) on the Island but Bradbury is probably also the most popular one with huge waiting lists. A lot of schools sell debentures that can give you priority but even with priority it isn't always easy (so definitely worth to check with your husband's employer if they have any, especially if it's a larger company).


So, my message is ... schools first. Housing will be less of an issue. It completely depends on your budget. Southside has many options close to the beach between 30-40 minutes from Central but rents will be higher. Sai Kung / Clearwater Bay in the NT is close to beaches, but you have to travel to the island. Island East offers various child friendly options, but slightly further from the beach and more city living feel. Midlevels / Peak is also popular but same, city living, not that close to beaches, although beaches are never really far in Hong Kong.


There are local English medium schools (I would think Cantonese at this point, 7 years old, would be quite hard to catch up on; some people recommend local schools especially when children are still very young), but there are local English medium schools that may be easier to get into (some are also very very hard) but I don't have enough information on those, so hopefully somebody else can comment.


It sounds quite daunting, but you have to start calling schools ASAP as this will be your main issue. You can always live in a serviced apartment first and go from there, many people do this.

I recently met someone who was sent to HK from the UK on secondment. Same old story and they struggled to find a spot for their kid in P3. They eventually ended up sending the kid to a school far away from their home (2 hrs travel time a day) and not of their choice. They also said that most of the people being brought to HK by their firm are either single or over 50 so their kids have no Primary schooling issues. many have opted to go to other regional destinations. Rather than have an US against THEM attitude the govt needs to provide affordable English speaking education at least from P1 to P6 if they are looking at attracting experienced overseas talent. The reality is that while MANY local Chinese left HK between 93 and 97 to places like Australia and Canada , many have since returned with overseas passports and kids. Their kids fight for the same spaces as other EXPAT kids who speak no Cantonese. I have yet to meet expats who DO NOT pay the full whack 17% tax yet they almost have to apologise to the rest of the population when it comes to things like ESF subsidies for their own kids (many other forums about this ).

The govt needs to seriously look into providing affordable (between 4000 to 5000/month) english speaking educational institutions for young families before its too late.

If your kid is under the age of 4, then go to a local school and learn Chinese. Five years old they can probably catch up, but at age six it will be hard for the simple reason that they won't know enough Chinese characters. They can pick up the language easily though until about 11. It's the characters that are the real problem. I'm an expat and I sent both my kids to local schools as they were born here and I intend staying.

I know that there is a wealth of talent in our education sector here in Hong Kong which can be of great support in building or shaping the educational sector. Retired and current teachers and examiners. Does anyone have the drive, passion, or desire to take a step forward in a project to build a school(s)? Let's make it happen.

@ logoodung - I believe this is how Kellett, and more recently HK Academy (not in the same class though - no pun intended!) got started. Parents wanting another option... however, neither of them are cheap & HKA's new debenture is exorbitant.

hi cara, may i know which local school is this? my daughter has been studying at Victoria Kindergarten bilingual afternoon class for 2 years now and I've just recently thought of moving her to trilingual morning class due to the lack of extra curicular activities in the morning. All her friends attend morning classes so she's got no one to play with nor activities to attend. It's sad although situation was much better last year. Kids change!

My 4 year old has an interview at Bradbury on Monday for 2012 P1 which was the only interview he was granted. The good news for us is that his current Kinder which we love to bits also offers P1 and from next year will grow to P2 and P3 so if he gets 'wait listed', we're not desperate. We don't have any spare debenture money laying around so that's not an option for us. At least our bases are covered until 2014!

Just wondering MommyTo3 what are you basing your list on popularity??? Is there a book I need to find for popular schools In HK or Is this just your opinion!

This is my opinion, perception, etc (as an expat parent, cannot comment on the local system since that's a whole different world again) after talking to other parents, reading, etc. I am sure many expat parents will give you pretty much the same list. Also the most popular ones are very hard to get into, and less popular ones you'll most likely to find a spot, so I guess that supports my general thought. However, it also, and mostly depends on the child and where the child fits best.