ESF - must find you a place??
- Thread starter starbucks2
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TheQuasimother
Registered User
Starbucks2, the other kindies at DB has a very high acceptance rate into Bradbury, no statistics to back this up - just word of mouth from other parents.
The situation with ESF acceptance is very much also dependent on where you live and popularity of schools. Where there is a higher English speaking population, it's tougher. I stand by what I say, not being an Island resident, every single kid we know from our son's ESF kindie even in Cat. 2, got an offer. Several received 3 has the PIS has preference for parents with PR. When we made our choice for ESF, we moved into a neighbourhood to ensure that the odds for our child is the highest. We identified 2 ESF schools that would have been a shoe-in (even for Cat. 2 students) and decided on a neighbourhood that falls into the catchment area.
Megan2008, if you are like us, paying for our children's education out of our own pocket and seeking an IB/English based education, ESF offers the cheapest monthly fee option. It's not necessarily better or worse (though some would argue) but it reflects what a good comprehensive public school in the UK/Australia would offer.
I must say though, that the education you get at an ESF kindie is no grand thing. It's typical playschool not really adapted for the HK context. So in comparison to the other kindies, it's quite mediocre really especially when it came to the stressful periods during the interview rounds. It was the concerted effort of parents, who know how tough and competitive admissions can be, more than teachers who prepared for the kids. The only advantage I saw as a parent with a child in the kindie was the grouping during the interviews - kids from the same class were grouped together and so on the day of the interviews, it was more like a fieldtrip than anything else so the kids didn't seem to have the jitters. Overall, we have nothing to complain about as we knew what we were in for and the school delivered (as far as what we had expected of them). I am expecting more from the primary section though.
The situation with ESF acceptance is very much also dependent on where you live and popularity of schools. Where there is a higher English speaking population, it's tougher. I stand by what I say, not being an Island resident, every single kid we know from our son's ESF kindie even in Cat. 2, got an offer. Several received 3 has the PIS has preference for parents with PR. When we made our choice for ESF, we moved into a neighbourhood to ensure that the odds for our child is the highest. We identified 2 ESF schools that would have been a shoe-in (even for Cat. 2 students) and decided on a neighbourhood that falls into the catchment area.
Megan2008, if you are like us, paying for our children's education out of our own pocket and seeking an IB/English based education, ESF offers the cheapest monthly fee option. It's not necessarily better or worse (though some would argue) but it reflects what a good comprehensive public school in the UK/Australia would offer.
I must say though, that the education you get at an ESF kindie is no grand thing. It's typical playschool not really adapted for the HK context. So in comparison to the other kindies, it's quite mediocre really especially when it came to the stressful periods during the interview rounds. It was the concerted effort of parents, who know how tough and competitive admissions can be, more than teachers who prepared for the kids. The only advantage I saw as a parent with a child in the kindie was the grouping during the interviews - kids from the same class were grouped together and so on the day of the interviews, it was more like a fieldtrip than anything else so the kids didn't seem to have the jitters. Overall, we have nothing to complain about as we knew what we were in for and the school delivered (as far as what we had expected of them). I am expecting more from the primary section though.
I've heard the same thing about ESF Kindies. And I agree, some preschools do have higher acceptance rates than others. Sunshine seems to do better than Woodlands from what I personally noticed. We are also paying out of our own pocket. I just can justify paying double or almost triple for another international school, I don't believe I am getting 2 or 3 times better education, plus we have 3 children ...
I must say I am very happy with our ESF primary school, the level is good, many many great teachers, but I do notice there are differences too and they're certainly not all exactly the same. I consider myself quite lucky with our school.
On the island, you definitely need to be Cat 1 in order to have a chance to get a spot, Cat 2 won't be sufficient. Too many Cat 1 still on waiting lists. Same goes for CWB, I think. It may be different, with more Cat 2, at SJS, KJS, BHS, but no personal experience.
I must say I am very happy with our ESF primary school, the level is good, many many great teachers, but I do notice there are differences too and they're certainly not all exactly the same. I consider myself quite lucky with our school.
On the island, you definitely need to be Cat 1 in order to have a chance to get a spot, Cat 2 won't be sufficient. Too many Cat 1 still on waiting lists. Same goes for CWB, I think. It may be different, with more Cat 2, at SJS, KJS, BHS, but no personal experience.
starbucks2
Registered User
Thanks. I had to look up the ESF school site to see what Cat 1 and Cat 2 means. So, Cat 1 is first or alternative language English but do not speak Cantonese?
Maybe I am banging on a bit but if (1) we don't get into the ESF school in our catchment, or (2) we get an interview but don't get a place, what happens? I assume for (1) you go on the waitlist for the ESF for your catchment or maybe get offered another ESF school (based on someone above talking about overflow from Bradbury to Quarry Bay. For (2) do you get a chance to do the interview again the next year or does it depend on the reason for "failing" the interview?
PS I also heard that being a permanent resident helps?
Maybe I am banging on a bit but if (1) we don't get into the ESF school in our catchment, or (2) we get an interview but don't get a place, what happens? I assume for (1) you go on the waitlist for the ESF for your catchment or maybe get offered another ESF school (based on someone above talking about overflow from Bradbury to Quarry Bay. For (2) do you get a chance to do the interview again the next year or does it depend on the reason for "failing" the interview?
PS I also heard that being a permanent resident helps?
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carang
Registered User
1) no, her child was not behind at all. she went to K3 instead of P1. they are equivalent. by the time she was accepted to ESF, she had finished K3 and went straight into P2.
2) if you check out the thread about being rejected by KJS you will see that i listed a bunch of schools in the tung chung area that are for non-chinese speaking students. these schools DO teach chinese, but are geared towards students who do not already speak it. for the school that my children will go to, parents have a choice for chinese language (cantonese or mandaring), mathematics (cantonese or english) and all other subjects are taught in english.
3) bear in mind that children attending local schools start P1 a year later than those attending ESF. this is in line with the age that children start primary school in canada.
starbucks2
Registered User
Thanks Cara - the thread on KJS does raise some of the same concerns so I have read through it and it is useful.
Quasimother - do you mind me asking what school your child is at?
And can anyone clarify the below:
Quasimother - do you mind me asking what school your child is at?
And can anyone clarify the below:
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From what I know being a PR does not offer any benefits and/or priorities. With regards to interviews. You get or you don't get an interview. If you get one you either pass or fail (the majority does pass). If you fail it's quite unlikely you'll get a spot, unless it's related to age deferral or possibly language. Once you get an interview you have about 80-90% chance (my personal experience) to get offered a spot. Once you apply again, you would have to interview for the following year (Y2), and then they'll test a few more things like reading, writing, basic math, etc.
As the overflow goes, there is hardly any this year, especially on the island. QBS has plenty of applicants to get through themselves so it's highly unlikely they'll be taking from other schools. Assume it's similar for most schools.
starbucks2
Registered User
Thanks Mommyto3.
TheQuasimother
Registered User
Starbucks2, the PIS schools under the ESF umbrella do prioritise parents who have residencies at full capacity and as I understood it, they are at capacity. ESF schools doesn't.
starbucks2
Registered User
Thanks quasimother. That must be what I heard in relation to Discovery College.