Posted by
leka
15 yrs ago
I have two children aged 10 and 13 that will move over to Hong Kong for the next school session 2011/2012. Finding them secured ESF places seems very unlikely and we are loathe to move them from their present schools in the U.K. until we have something concrete organised for them. We are currently looking at Kellet, French International and German Swiss school. I know Kellet is currently building up the secondary section of the school with a 2010 move to a new campus in Kowloon Bay. I am most interested in Kellet at the moment, but would welcome advice or comments about secondary school choices for the schools I have mentioned and/or other suggestions. Many thanks for reading this.
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I know it is a bit of a leap of faith but I have never heard of anyone not finding a space. Conversely, few parents move without worrying about schools! It just seems like a rite of passage.
You might not find spaces in exactly the school you want, at least to start with, but you will find spaces. People move to and from HK the time. Apply for several schools including ESF.
As you mention Kellett is building out the secondary school at the moment. As far as I know classes are far from full in their secondary. If you get your 13 year old in there the 10 year old should get sibling priority. Also I think they are not moving until 2011. The secondary is currently in Shau Kei Wan.
Other schools you can look at, admittedly not on UK curriculum.
- Canadian International School.
- Hong Kong International School.
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leka
15 yrs ago
Thanks very much. I contacted both Shatin and KGV but there were no places available. We also tried to talk to Renaissance college about next years in take but they won't speak to us again until December. We plan for the kids to return to uni in the UK where we have another two older children attending uni so I am looking for either I.B. or GCSE exam opportunities for them. Thanks so much for taking the time to reply
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For IB, try Hong Kong Academy (now located in Kennedytown). It is a small K-12 international school, 2 classes per grade, max of 18 students per class with 2 teachers per class.
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I don't think you will have much luck with Hong Kong International School and both the Canadian and HKIS follow a different sylabus to the English system and as you have a 13 year old who is almost at IGCSE stage I doubt very much they will be suitable.
It appears that most children leave Kellett after Primary and as yet they do not have any proven exam results eg. IGCSE's and if I remember correctly they only go up to year 9 or 10 so they don't have a complete secondary school as yet. However it would be easy to get your children in. I understand that after IGCSE's they intend to go with A'Levels rather than IB.
Have you spoken with ESF in regards to their corporate debenture scheme? Contact their head office, details on their web page. This would be a way of getting a guarenteed space. It will be difficult to get a place for your 13 year old would that be year 10? Year 9 entry a little easier. However, much easier for your 10 year old in ESF and once one gets a spot the other one will get one fairly quickly.
French follow Middle Years Programme rather than IGCSE's, followed by IB. GSIS is known as a very acedemic school eg. stiff entrance exam and do IGCSE's and have just changed from A'Levels to IB. Both the French and GSIS are renovating at the moment so different years are located in different locations. Some as far out as Chai Wan so you may want to look into this in regards to travelling time for your children.
One other option is the Chinese International School although I think places are few and far between.
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JJChan makes good points about Kellett's secondary. They are still growing organically and according to some parents I have spoken to are very very eager to get kids into their Secondary. Over half the Kellett Primary kids go on to boarding schools in Britain and many of the rest go on to ESF schools instead of Kellett Secondary. It should therefore be no problem to find a spot. They are technically "unproven" but seeing as Kellett Primary is considered one of the top primary schools in HK I seriously doubt their secondary is of poor quality.
The question remains, then, whether that means sibling priority for your 10 year old. I would definitely call and have a chat with them.
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The English Section of Korean IS in Sai Wan Ho would be another option. They are a Cambridge IPP school that follows the BNC. They are typically a stepping stone/waiting room type school for students that are targeting the other ISs in Hong Kong.
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RA
15 yrs ago
Both my kids go to Kellett primary and let me say it is a great school. The students are well rounded and confident. The reason there are less number of students in the secondary is that it has been recently introduced. My children (8,4) still have some time before they reach secondary but I am planning to keep them in Kellett all through, inspite of other options. I would suggest you come to HK , visit various schools and then decide. BTW, Kellett is also planning to open another primary campus in the Kowloon area.
You could find out more about Kellett's plans through this website www.kellettschool.com
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leka
15 yrs ago
Thanks for the replies so far. I have no doubt Kellet is a great school and if my kids were primary age I think it probably would be my first choice to look at. If there are any parents out there with Kellett kids on the cusp of starting secondary there or already in the secondary programme it would be great to hear from you. I am also eager to hear from parents with kids in the French International school (international secondary section) All this information you are forwarding is excellent and really very helpful. Thank you all!
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FIS (International Section) also does IB and GCSE.
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CF
15 yrs ago
I guess you might want to give consideration to where you are living too, but if you are considering Renaissance and Shatin College then you might also want to consider ICHK - in the new territories - 20 mins from Shatin. New secondary school, small classes, green campus, doing UK curric at this stage.
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Milty
15 yrs ago
You could also try Chinese International School. They have the IB and get very good results (above world averages).
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ltxhk
15 yrs ago
KGV and Shatin are the most oversubscibed ESF schools, and even kids in ESF primary are now being sent to HK island ESF schools for secondary. Unless you are set on living in Kowloon/ NT you would probably fair better with ESF on HK Island.
Will your kids be Y7 and Y10? For Y10, ESF spaces (on the island) tend to ease up since some kids go to boarding school for GCSE. If you get a space for your Y10, then the Y7 will follow very quickly due to the "sibling rule".
ESF Corporate Surety scheme has been very effective for 2010, and almost everyone received places for new students to HK (but you need to be flexible on the school). If you want ESF, then you should definitely request that your company gives the guarantee deposit.
Alternative ESF includes both Renaissance and Discovery College (Discovery Bay). Both schools have the IB diploma but only offer MYP in place of GCSE. Discovery College has places for Y10 since they are a newer secondary (similar to Kellett). Renaissance also has places for Y10 this year. But I doubt they will interview for next year until after Christmas.
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F100
15 yrs ago
Chinese International School is one of the hardest schools to get into.
Everyone and their dog wants to get in.
LOOOOOOONG waiting list, unless of course you are very well connected or if your company has a debenture.
If you can get a spot, grab it.
Very good IB results.
There is small book that I saw at Bookazine and Dymocks called Guide to Schools in Hong Kong.
Gives you information such as :
Cost per year, Curriculum, Class room size, ratio of teachers to students, and how to apply.
Check it out.
Best thing to do is apply to all of the schools.
Good luck.
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"French International is quite full as have to take all French Nationals."
French nationals only get priority at the French section. International section gives no nationality priorities.
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leka
15 yrs ago
We plan to bring the kids over in October to have a look around. Lots of big decisions being made for us this year. Thanks very much to all of you for contributing.
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Welcome to HK. A great place to live.
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"if they are english speaking and living in HK you will get a spot at ESF - is law." NO such law I'm afraid.
Unfortunately it doesn't make a scrap of difference if you know a Principle of an ESF school or the CEO of ESF you won't get a place if there isn't one and there is no jumping the waitlist either.
axptguy is correct the international section of the French do not give nationalities any priority. Good luck with your search.
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Agreed on ESF. Have never heard of such a law either. ESF is not a state organization despite receiving funds from the state. There are only so many spots and then that's it.
"Have you spoken with ESF in regards to their corporate debenture scheme? "
As with other school debenture schemes, slots are very limited. If you are lucky enough that your company has already secured debentures, you're good. Otherwise there is not much point pursuing this option for this year.
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Correct, debentures are limited, and actually I'm using the wrong word. It should be
Corporate Surety scheme which again are limited by unlike debentures a certain amount are released each year.
ESF introduced a new Corporate Surety scheme in 2007 to enable companies to secure school places for expatriate employees before their arrival in Hong Kong over the summer months. The scheme runs from 1 January to 30 June of each year. There are limited Surety places. The surety scheme will be open for application for August 2011 admissions in January 2011.
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leka
15 yrs ago
We did ask about that but the company does hold some debentures but can't give them out to us for some reason. So that is not going to be a player. I don't want to have to move the kids twice between ESF schools while we find one more suitable to the area we want to live in. I think previous comments made about KGV and Shatin being oversubscribed match my experience in seeking places for my kids there so far. I liked the look of West Island School and that would be my next ESF choice. If that is not a possibility we will definitely go down the international school route. Out of Rennaissance College, Discovery Bay College and the newer international school out in the New Territories I think they are all in the beginning stages of developing their reputations as trusted secondary schools. Kellett also has to do this, but has an excellent point of reference with a seemingly successful primary and middle years programme. GSIS and French International school already seem to get good secondary school results from their pupils. West Island school also seems to be happy with their results this year. So now, it will be a decision of availability and a school that best fits my kid's personalities and learning preferences.
A secondary concern is finding a place to live that is not too built up and where they can live with the family pets we want to bring over. So we are considering Sai kung, Clearwater Bay and need to find greener areas on the Island where you can walk a dog. I know that finding apartments or duplex type housing that allow pets on the island might be more of a challenge. Nevertheless, we know that the kids will never speak to us again if we should leave the dogs and our epileptic cat! My kids have really been country kids who are used to space so it will be a huge shock to them. I did actually live in Hong Kong with my older two children and left 11 years ago. So much has changed that it is like starting out again and the difference this time is that our second two kids are secondary age and not primary. Primary aged kids in Hong Kong is so much easier to accommodate.
Thanks once again and I am so impressed with all the lovely people who have taken time to provide such excellent input to help us discuss our options.
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"I know that finding apartments or duplex type housing that allow pets on the island might be more of a challenge."
It's not really that big of a problem. Lots of places allow pets.
"need to find greener areas on the Island where you can walk a dog."
There's tons. Look at a satellite photo on Google Maps. On South Side you're normally never more than 10-15 minutes away from a hiking trail, and the rest of the Island has country parks pretty close by. I guess it depends if you want greenery on every walk, or just once a day.
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CF
15 yrs ago
I'm sorry but if you are used to living in the country then not even being 10-15 minutes away from hiking trails on the south side of HK island is going to cut it! For that matter Sai Kung and clearwater bay are hardly country either....although there are more options to explore that are not high rise and have a bit more of a village feel.
I'm from country Western Australia, so I know the adjustment that has to be made, it is not easy. For your interest, we chose Sai Kung.
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Moving to another country will always be an adjustment. It is a bad idea to try and duplicate exactly the life one had "back home". Some things will be better and some worse; that's just the way it is.
BTW we live two minutes walk from one of the trailheads, and we hardly live in a sparsely populated area. Plenty of buildings all around. Close enough? ;)
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leka
15 yrs ago
I know what you all mean. The last time I lived in Hong Kong we were in the Hong Lok Yuen area and my husband had an apartment for a few months after that near to Mui Wo. I really loved the area around Chueng Sha Beach, but it is just not practical for us to live there with the age of the kids we have here and we don't want them to have a long commute to school. I am familiar with Sai Kung and Clearwater Bay and I could see my kids being happy there. I am not so familiar with the Island as a place to live so I was pleased to read that there is a possibility of having pets there and greener areas available. When we visit we will have to follow that up. My husband who regularly works in Hong Kong though that it would be a problem having dogs on the island and that we will be severely limited where we can live. After the latest comments I think we can be a bit more hopeful. Many thanks
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I think that if you only come visit like your husband you can easily get a very skewed view. I know people who have been to HK half a dozen times who were flabbergasted when I showed them pics of the trails I walk on the Island. They have no idea since all they have seen is the cityscape. More than half the Island is in fact country park, with hundreds of kilometers of well maintained trails.
There are tons of dogs on the Island and they can run off leash in the country parks and a few other places like the Seaview Promenade.
The dog does have to be used to live in an apartment of course. You can't just let him/her out in the yard. In our neighborhood there's even a Great Dane!
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The Cheung Sha area, really the best choice for lifestyle IMHO in HK, is now close to a new good road link to Tung Chung.It is all going very upmarket . Also plenty of kids commute to ESF schools in DB and other parts of HK.
Avoid the Korean school at all costs.
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