Getting into ESF Primary

[PoohPoohChan]

Hi, my child is currently in K1 in a local Kindergaten. It would be my dream if she can get into an ESF Primary school. Do you think the chance is very low given that she is not from the ESF Kindergarten?

Is there interviews required?

Also, do you know what would increase her chance of getting into Primary ?

Thanks a million for your comments/ suggestions.

 

[VanillaCafe]

Hi wonderful, yes there is interview and the purpose is to evaluate your child's English language capability. The interview is less stringent than those of other international schools. (At least that's my impression.) So the only preparation you need is to make sure your child can comprehend and communicate in English. Good luck!

 

[MommyTo3]

It also depends on where you live. Some schools are very oversubscribed, and priority is given to Cat 1 (non-Cantonese speakers). Some schools don't even get to interview Cat 2 (Cantonese speakers) since they have plenty of Cat 1 to fill up the places that they have. So being able to speak Cantonese is not in your favor, if you look at this way. Priority is also given to those in ESF Kindy (but you'll need both K1 and K2 - at least some months in K1, just K2 doesn't give you priority) and having siblings. So in order to increase your chances you may want to look into ESF Kindy if non of the others give you priority. But again, it depends on the area, which school are you looking at?

 

[snagito]

Going to an ESF kindergarten only gives you priority for an interview, not for a place. Just something to keep in mind. I think they are a lovely kindergarten and the Hillside premises are spacious and bright with some very good teachers -- so well worth looking at.

 

[nessacarrie2682]

as far as i know, the children in ESF kindergartens will get priority for an interview and they are NOT guarantee for a place in any ESF schools although chances are bigger than the children who are not in an ESF kindergarten. i can say it is not easy to get into an ESF schools.

 

[Seb's Dad]

Mum2 Sophie is right --- your location may well have a role in getting your child into an ESF school. If you are living in an area where there aren't as many Priority One students, or the ESF Kindy feeds into many schools, or there are fewer Woodlands/Sunshine Houses around then your chances of getting in are higher.

 

[capricorn]

Hi, we also applied ESF 6 months ago. But there is still no answer from the school. Any advise?

 

[snagito]

That is really strange - ESF is usually very good with the correspondence in my experience. Have you called the central admissions office at ESF -the number is on the website - or you could call the school for your catchment area directly - they all have phone numbers on their websites.

 

[Sleuth]

Hi, we also applied ESF 6 months ago. But there is still no answer from the school. Any advise?

Bet you missed their deadline, hope this isn't the only place you applied to.

 

[kiwikids]

Trouble getting in to ESF

We moved here last March and already placed our entrance application at Kennedy school for my 6yrs old son while we're still overseas last Jan. I tried to follow it up several times but they don't even tell me which position are we now on the waitlist. I asked the admission if my son would be able to start school after summer but they refused to tell me. Why is that the other ESF school who has short waitlist won't accept our new application? All the International school here seem to have long waiting list for the 6 yrs old, im a bit worried that my son won't be able to start school after summer.