No school for us, any suggestion for temporary situation in Hong Kong?

[starbucks2]

I heard a rumour that you have to be given a place in an ESF school in your catchment area - any truth to this? We are in DB and our ESF school is Bradbury (don't get me started on why its not Discovery College in DB itself ... !). Do we have to be offered a place at Bradbury if we apply on time? What happens to expat kids (like the OP) who cannot get into an International or ESF school?

I have a few years up my sleeve as my child is only 2 - Feb 2008 child but am a bit concerned with the way the HK school system is with limited places and waiting lists!

Thanks

 

[joyofliving]

Its truly mind boggling how the school system works here. My daughter is 2 years old as well and my neighbour whose daughter is 2.4 years is already applying to International schools for admission in Primary. She told me I should apply as well just in case my daughter can't get through ESF.

 

[pow wow]

Hi - I'm new to the site as I have just been asked whether I would consider a move to Hong Kong. Fair to say I have been looking forward to this for sometime, but I am a bit concerned about the school situation from talking to friends and now reading some of these discussion threads.

We have three kids (10, 8 and 5), currently live in Australia but are very flexible on school system (ie. does not have to be Australian based). We are also flexible on start date as unlikely to make the final move there until they are booked in somewhere (though realistically, this needs to happen in the next 9 months or so).

So I have two questions -

1) Generically, what are the characteristics and feels of some of the international schools (say HKIS, CNDIS, AIS, HKA, German, French, etc)?
2) Any recommendations as how to play it?

Appreciate all your views and help and if these questions have been answered before, please direct me to the right thread.

Thanks very much!

 

[lesliefu]

i would assume that coming directly from Australia you would get priority at the Australian Int'l School...

 

[snagito]

Do you want to have them all at the same school or are you flexible on that? Some of the international schools are very strong on keeping families together - HK Academy for example would definitely give you preference when you apply if you apply for all the children at the same time. Just a thought.

 

[pow wow]

Thanks! Interestingly enough, not overly keen on the Australian school but will be flexible and broadly relaxed about them attending different schools. I did read the HK Academy policy re all kids in the school get preference. Any views around HK Academy? Is it extremely academic or more rounded?

 

[emgmillo]

Think International School

We applied 4 international schools in Hong Kong 6 months ago and we still live in overseas right now. They are HKIS, CDNIS, IFS, ESF. HKIS, CDNIS and IFS all confirmed that there won't be seats for us in this coming Fall. We are not in HK yet. Without a Hong Kong address, ESF will not give out seats for us and there is also a long waiting list. We are moving to Hong Kong in the end of July. I really don't know what to do if we have no school to go when we move there. Can someone give me any suggestion or advise? My children are going to Grade one and Grade two, speak both English and Mandarine. Please help.

Have a try with Think International School, in Kowloon Tong. Classes are small and the atmosphere is pleasant. Both my children go there. I think they have spaces. Here is the website

http://www.think.edu.hk/eng/homexiao.php

I can give you the e-mail of the principal, if you want.

 

[snagito]

Hk Academy seems pretty well rounded. They are going to be moving around a bit for the next few years tho - 3 years in Kennedy Town starting 2010 August, and then a permanent site in Sai Kung 2013 August. Interestingly they've just added a debenture requirement - $400,000!

 

[snagito]

Also, how about Victoria Shanghai Academy? I've heard good things about them, and they seem to be a through school as well. Just thought I'd mention in case helpful.

 

[pow wow]

tksvm on the hka feedback...will look into the victoria shanghai as well...this school search is so much fun...