Is internation kindergarten really necessary?

[penguinsix]

The bigger problem is not language they know or don't know, but the simple math of international school admissions.

If you are applying for the international schools, generally most of them start at age 4 (4 years old by September of the year they start). There will be say 100 positions and 400 applicants.

If you are applying for an international schools at age 5, you'll be in a situation where there will be 20 positions and 400 applicants.

If you are applying for an international school at age 6, you'll be in a situation where there will be 10 positions and 400 applicants.

Ok, these numbers are not spot-on accurate but used to illustrate the point that getting into the international schools is incredibly difficult, more so when the kids get older. You may have read that the competition for international school places is unbelievable, with some families relocating to Singapore or even 'splitting up' sending one parent back 'home' while the other is in Hong Kong awaiting an opening at a school. It's considered a major problem with hiring executives for Hong Kong right now and there is not much hope on it improving in the near future (unless the economy collapses).

Now if you want to go into the local stream and stay there, then this is irrelevant. But you posted that you were willing to spend a few years in the local system and then just switch over to an international primary when they were a bit older. I just want you to be aware that might not be as easy as you hope.

There are several international schools where they can be fully immersed in Chinese language, such as the ISF Academy or Chinese International. Singapore International and Canadian International and other internationals also have Chinese programs as well. You might want to consider those as an options.

 

[howardcoombs]

If you are applying for the international schools, generally most of them start at age 4 (4 years old by September of the year they start). There will be say 100 positions and 400 applicants.

If you are applying for an international schools at age 5, you'll be in a situation where there will be 20 positions and 400 applicants.

If you are applying for an international school at age 6, you'll be in a situation where there will be 10 positions and 400 applicants.

Ok, these numbers are not spot-on accurate but used to illustrate the point that getting into the international schools is incredibly difficult, more so when the kids get older.

While I agree with the rest of your post penguinsix, I completely disagree with the picture you are painting above. My experience has been very different when talking about later years. Most people dont like to switch - they get into a school and stay there. The only movements are people leaving and new people coming in - for most schools this is about even or a slight demand (not 10 vs 400 you are painting).

This I know for a fact : Right now (to start immediately) if you wish to apply for a position at ISF or HKIS or SIS for all years above 6, there are positions open (this was accurate as of 3 weeks ago). I'm fairly confident that most international schools will be similar with a few positions available.

 

[carang]

on the other hand, it seems that it is most difficult to find spaces for P1 admission. that if you were looking for P4 admissions you may have more of a shot with international schools than you would if you were looking for P1.

at least that's how it used to be.

also, there are other, not top-tier international schools that you could consider (all of which have an english stream):

korean international school
japanese int'l
hong lok yuen int'l
delia school of canada
lantau int'l
norwegian int'l

but they don't necessarily have fantastic chinese programmes.

 

[howardcoombs]

You learn something new everyday and today I learned about this school that I'd never heard of before:
http://www.kingston.edu.hk

A friend of a friend teaches there and has their 4 year old attending.

 

[carang]

i've heard of kingston kindergarten... have they got a primary school now?

 

[penguinsix]

You're right that people don't like to switch, but there are still so many people coming in it can be quite difficult even at later years to get a place. Some schools' Year/Grade 1 and 2 are still well oversubscribed. It would be interesting to see what the actual numbers are. We were told for Year 1 at the Canadian school it was a wait list of 80 with about 10 openings for example.

By the way, are you talking about above Grade (Year) 6 or above age 6 for the schools you listed?

Tangentially, I wonder if the difficulty in primary is due to the fact many expats in the finance world come to Hong Kong at 'that point' in their life when they have younger kids, whereas when they have older kids and more established they aren't necessarily in line for an overseas transfer. Not sure if that is the case--just sort of seems that way.

 

[carang]

i was talking P6 (primary 6) or grade 6

 

[penguinsix]

Thanks. I have some friends with a grade 5 coming in a few month so that's good to know.

 

[carang]

it's not always the case, but i DO think it has something to do with the parents being at "that time in their life" when it's easier to take up employment overseas. i know many parents would think twice with slightly older kids, especially as they get closer to secondary school. so fewer people are newbies arriving with older kids, but on the flip side, those who are already here and have their kids in secondary school may be reluctant to leave for the same reasons.

 

[HappyV]

There are long waiting lists at every ESF/International school, and yes, places are in more demand at Reception/P1.

Two things to keep in mind -
1. When you hear that school X has 400 children on the waiting list, odds are that each of those children is on a dozen other waiting lists around town. So once a child gets a place, it frees up a waiting list place at several other schools.
2. Senior secondary (from Grades 9/Year 10 up) also tend to have places available - in my experience, many international (and local) schools lose at least a double digit percentage of these students every year - mostly because the parents want them to study a different curriculum or in a different country, or even so they get Home Status for university fees.