ESF Shatin Junior

My daughter has just been accepted into ESF Shatin Junior.


I have looked at the website and I know what to expect in general.


However, can parents share their personal experiences with the school.


For example, what the school is like in terms of teachers (are they strict? caring?), teaching (are the kids able to follow the program), communication with parents (do you get regular feedbacks?), are there lots of homework, what's the mandarin standard like, are there lots of activities/camps that you have to pay extra for? discipline etc. Are you generally satisfied with the school? Do your kids enjoy going to school?


Any comments will be highly appreciated. Thanks!

hiiiiiiiii simmy here..........

Genma, in general I would say it is a good school. I wl try to answer your queries one by one :-

what the school is like in terms of teachers (are they strict? caring?)

A: Some are very caring and some are less. So it depends on who your teacher is. But I never come across a bad teacher.

teaching (are the kids able to follow the program),

A: It depends on your child's education background and do beear in mind that ESF system allows children of the same year, which means some might be born in Jan while some were December. There definitely a huge gap. Basically yes they are all ok.

communication with parents (do you get regular feedbacks?)

A: Yes and no. If you are more involved and ask and query more, then you wl receive more feedback, which is quite normal. But if you just want to sit back and relax, then that is fine too.

are there lots of homework

A: None at all. Well almost, except some is just for fun and for sharing with parents.

what's the mandarin standard like

A: From the point of view of a PTH native speaker, then their standard is extremely low. If you are a westerner, then it is ok. P1 will start their daily PTH after Easter Holidays so I hope the standard wl improve a bit. But still dont expect too much. ESF always emphasizes that it is an English medium school. But they are gradually changing / improving.

are there lots of activities/camps that you have to pay extra for?

A: There are plenty of after school activities organized either by ESF Sports or other private companies. But nothing is free. Except those clubs managed by teachers at lunch time.

discipline etc.

A: I am satisfied.

Are you generally satisfied with the school?

A: Yes I am happy with the school and glad that I chose this one for my daughter.

Do your kids enjoy going to school?

A: Yes very happy!!

One thing I would really like to praise is their Early Intervention Programme - programme designed for those who are a bit left behind in class. Teachers there are really wonderful and caring. Her class teacher is also very good but she has to look after 30 students so you cant expect too much from her (though 1 teaching assistant is there to help). I can see a lot of progress in my daughter after she joined the programme.

Hope the above helps and if you need to know more (if i can answer), pls do post again.