Hong Kong Academy

[Newboy]

Any thoughts about this school and it's suitability for a couple of children (currently nine and ten) who to date have been educated in English prep schools and who are likely to return to the English private system at some point?

We know that the children would need to learn putonghua at this school and this is an added attraction.

Thanks in advance for any comments.

 

[penguinsix]

Most people we know who go there are happy with the offerings. My only note is that I believe the campus is moving to Sai Kung area in a year or two which might affect your plans.

If you are just arriving in HK "now" and looking for a spot and have a chance there, take it--it's crazy everywhere and get into any school you can at this moment. If you are planning for next year it should be one of a half-dozen applications you make to find a space.

 

[Boris]

If you afford to pay the debenture of 400k per pupil then feel free to do so.
I tutor a kid from the school who says he has aspirations to go to Yale.
As a 15yr old I would assess he would struggle in a vocational college. He fell off his chair the last lesson!

Like most schools here, it is (mistakenly) believed that the more money you pay the better your education. Having tutored HKA, Chinese International and Island School I can honest say ................ never in a million years is that true. My star Math pupil last term was a 12 year old from a CWB gov school. A* ( 5* in IB ) if she carries on like she has so far.

It is often mentioned that places like Island school do not push the students. Chinese International seems to have more holiday / extra curricula than study time. As a parent myself here, when the time comes I will find a school that has good staff rather than high fees.

 

[carms1]

Hi there...HKA has a huge waiting list, all places have been taken for the September intake this year. We were thinking of sending our 2 children there, but decided that the debenture and school fees combined were way above expensive. Not even the top private schools in the UK were that expensive in comparison to what was on offer. Nothing against HKA, a lot of people like it. If the company that you work for is willing to pay the debenture (corporate debenture) then that is half the battle won, the waiting list is still really long. The school has a waiting list system also that when a child leaves they look at what the class requires in the next child who takes its place, therefore if you are at the top of the waiting list it doesn't necessarily mean that you get the next offer of placement. If the child doesn't suit with the class dynamics then they look at the next child who will fit with the class needs e.g. if there are too many boys then your boy will not be offered a place etc. On the whole, the school appeared to be very good but we decided on another school, which was slightly more expensive with school fees but had no debenture and much smaller class numbers.
You really do have to look at all the schools out there. They are all very full with long waiting lists, we arrived in April and have only now managed to get both children into school. I suggest you visit a number of them and take it from there, good luck.

 

[Boris]

The HUGE waiting list is a bit of a false wall if my recent experience is any judge. I know of two pupils who took an " aptitude test " two days before the start of term. Had a place within 24hrs and joined HKA two days after start of term.

I strongly believe money talks at HKA. The waiting list (IMHO) is to keep the Oiks out. 400k would be a good price to get in and I suspect it would be considerably more.

 

[carms1]

Hi Boris...I suppose being a consultant paediatrician and an engineer may not actually fit in with your Oiks theory for us...but I do agree that money did appear to be of a fixed topic with HKA. I did like the school but it was not for our children.

 

[Boris]

Maybe not mine but HKA?? My experiences are that its ONLY about the money. Maybe someone might provide a more caring viewpoint?

 

[howardcoombs]

I'm sorry for the tangent, but what exactly in an Oiks ? I've looked it up in a couple of slang dictionaries and none of the definitions seem to fit the context.

No opinions on HKA (and money) other than the fact that I have a friend with 2 kids there; they love the place and the kids are thriving. My friend didnt pay for a debenture and didnt donate anything. The kids got in on their own merit.

 

[carms1]

Hi howardcoombs, it's an old English slang word for an inferior person because of ignorance, ill-educated or lower class background...not the nicest of words. the oxford dictionary has a more detailed description...obnoxious or unpleasant person, "nit-wit"...it was used by many private school boys years ago to describe other school boys from other schools.
I really dislike the word, but I don't think it is as widely used these days.
The HKA have only recently introduced the debenture for families... on our school info day they informed us that all new families to the school will have to find the debenture, all existing families were offered the choice to pay it or not...
I liked the school, but our children were coming from the Australian system and we felt that they would've had a hard time adjusting.
I think that whoever chooses to send their children there will find a good school with good teachers. Unfortunately debentures appear to be the only way that some schools can afford the upkeep of their buildings and services.

 

[Louiseamanda]

I think the poster may have meant to write 'it keeps out the hoi-polloi' ?

This is an english expression, meant to mean 'the masses'.

(not to be confused with 'hoity-toity' )