Dilemma - offer from Harbour School

[BritOzMum]

So I guess we should be happy we got an offer from a school, we are, at least I know for sure we won't have to homeschool!
However Harbour School is the only school we didn't get to see on our look-see trip.
So, of course, I've contacted the school with these questions but am hoping to get some answers/opinions here as well.
Firstly how do they work the age groups e.g everyone born in 2008 in one class or everyone who is 5 or turns 5 between sept 08 -aug 31 09?
What's the current campus like? Where are they looking to move?
In the offer letter they mentioned they will either have a new campus by Sept 13 or Jan 2014.
How many children at the school currently? How many classes per grade?
What's the staff & student turnover like?
Breakdown of staff & student nationalities? Ratio of males: females for staff & students?
Teacher qualifications?
What's a typical day like for kindergarten? Timetable?
How do they offer sporting activities without outside space?
Any general comments?
We've got a while to make our decision and am torn do we accept? What if we then receive an offer from a school we saw/preferred? What if we don't accept and then don't get another offer? Arrghhh!

 

[phoenixashburn]

same boat -- following your post...
I saw the campus they have now - its not much but the kids looked genuinely happy -the teachers are very well qualified - the school has such a good feel to it.. my only concern is - the fees - they just hiked it up to 12.5/ month from 10k.. fighting with the hubby now...

 

[BritOzMum]

Good to hear from someone whose seen the campus.
We're fortunate that my husbands company will cover the fees. However one of my queries for the school was regards the corporate debentures they mentioned in our offer letter. think they said they were introducing them when a company covered the fees. Concerned as our company will cover fees but not debentures so need to find out how much this might be/ how it will work.
Do you know where the new campus might be? How old is your son/daughter/ what year group might they join? Feel free to PM me
Thought I'd get some answers quicker on here, especially with it being Easter holidays

 

[lesliefu]

Just went on a school tour last week and can tell you a few things:

Class ratio 1:7 (actually class size is 13 but there are two teachers per class)
Male students are top heavy compared to female students....as for faculty the lower grades seemed to be for female compared to the higher grades which is normal for most schools
They are bidding for a piece of land in Stanley bit they won't know till end of may. Currently they have extended their lease at the place in Kennedy centre for a year...they will find another site within the year if stanley falls through. They desperately need to move as the have no room to expand...currently the space for kindergarten to y3 is acceptable but beyond that the accomodations don't warrant such a high school fee
They use the community services nearby for their outdoor time...the park opposite, community centre for sports day and the public library nearby...All within 5mins walk.

I really like their philosophy and see it actually in action. Thr individualized teaching is great...everything but math,english and one other subject is taught more formally, whilst others more creatively.
Let me know if you have any questions and maybe I can recall more...

Good to hear from someone whose seen the campus.
We're fortunate that my husbands company will cover the fees. However one of my queries for the school was regards the corporate debentures they mentioned in our offer letter. think they said they were introducing them when a company covered the fees. Concerned as our company will cover fees but not debentures so need to find out how much this might be/ how it will work.
Do you know where the new campus might be? How old is your son/daughter/ what year group might they join? Feel free to PM me
Thought I'd get some answers quicker on here, especially with it being Easter holidays

 

[MommyTo3]

Just went on a school tour last week and can tell you a few things:

Class ratio 1:7 (actually class size is 13 but there are two teachers per class)
Male students are top heavy compared to female students....as for faculty the lower grades seemed to be for female compared to the higher grades which is normal for most schools
They are bidding for a piece of land in Stanley bit they won't know till end of may. Currently they have extended their lease at the place in Kennedy centre for a year...they will find another site within the year if stanley falls through. They desperately need to move as the have no room to expand...currently the space for kindergarten to y3 is acceptable but beyond that the accomodations don't warrant such a high school fee
They use the community services nearby for their outdoor time...the park opposite, community centre for sports day and the public library nearby...All within 5mins walk.

I really like their philosophy and see it actually in action. Thr individualized teaching is great...everything but math,english and one other subject is taught more formally, whilst others more creatively.
Let me know if you have any questions and maybe I can recall more...

There are more than 40 bidders on that school site in Stanley including IMS. If I were Harbour School I wouldn't get my hopes up. I know from what I've read they feel more entitled than others, but with this government you never know ...

Bidding battle for four school campuses in Hong Kong | South China Morning Post

 

[BritOzMum]

Thanks for including link to the article. Has me even more confused if, as according to the article, the results of the bidding aren't announced Q1 2014 where do Harbour School think they are moving to this Sept? And if they don't get Stanley where do they plan on moving to?
More questions to email the school
. . .

 

[MommyTo3]

Thanks for including link to the article. Has me even more confused if, as according to the article, the results of the bidding aren't announced Q1 2014 where do Harbour School think they are moving to this Sept? And if they don't get Stanley where do they plan on moving to?
More questions to email the school
. . .

The article is from Dec 2012, so Q1 this year, which obviously is almost over. The site is immediately available, but again, more than 40 bidders, so wouldn't get my hopes up too much. Would definitely ask for their back up plan. IMS is currently the only international school without a permanent location ... so talking about entitlement, they also have a case. A lot will depend on the $$$$$ as well.

 

[BritOzMum]

Thanks for pointing out the article date, missed that!

 

[lesliefu]

they mentioned a place in Kowloon somewhere...10mins away from Kennedy Town - where they are currently situated. they have 1 year more at the current premises...they did mention they are not interested in far off places like clearwater bay and saikung...

 

[wasabibunny]

There are more than 40 bidders on that school site in Stanley including IMS. If I were Harbour School I wouldn't get my hopes up. I know from what I've read they feel more entitled than others, but with this government you never know ...

Bidding battle for four school campuses in Hong Kong | South China Morning Post

Hi MommyTo3 and others. Do you have any ideas on how I can find out more about the school site bidding process? Do the schools have to be non-profit? Any government websites with more information would be very helpful. Thanks!!