Please help me!!!! School/HK confusion!

[MommyTo3]

I agree with Sea Princess that ESF schools are very good schools. Only thing is that class sizes are larger, which doesn't suit every child. My oldest, who I would say is doing quite well in school, enjoys her ESF Primary a lot and we're very happy with the school. Kellett is quite hard to get into, especially without debentures. A lot of people are on the waiting list for quite some time so you may not get a space when you want to. Other options on the Island are Canadian International, HK Academy, French International and Hong Kong International School (US). Also there are schools with strong Mandarin programs like ISF and Singapore International School. On the Peak, also one of the best schools in HK, German Swiss. It all depends on what you want for your child, where your child fits best, what you can afford and what you're willing to spend on Primary education. We've decided that ESF is good enough for us (we're impressed with the level and the progress she's making plus we have twins as well) since we're paying everything out of pocket and we'd rather save our money for secondary and/or university education. We're happy with our decision so far. There is a very good mix of Asian, non-Asian, mixed marriages, which we believe is an advantage.

 

[cadogan]

Thankyou Mom2sofie&twins that is really helpful.
I may still be misunderstanding this, but i believe with the ESF they essentially start school a year later than in the UK? (ie do the equivalent of reception year in a kindergarten - is this correct?). This is what concerns me - the twins have already done 2 years in a kindergarten and are more than ready for a full day of structured learning - they are starting to get bored at nursery and are showing a real desire to learn to read and write (they both write thier own names now and recognise most letters as well as knowing the sounds they make, can both count to 100, recite the alphabet etc etc - and this is at 3.5 years old. It worries me the thought of them not starting full time school for another year and a half as I haven't got the time to devote to bringing them on properly if they aren't getting pushed properly at school, and they do get quite naughtly when they get bored!!). If we went the ESF route, i guess on arrival i would try and get them into soemwhere like the Woodlands pre-schools that have been mentioned - but could they do a full day in them, and is the teaching they receive of an equivalent level to what they would be learning in a reception class here in the UK (or at one of the international schools)?
Incidentaly i think we would have access to company debentures (not that i totally understand what this actually means - just helps you towards the top of waitlists??) but my worry is that from reading posts it seems as though interviews are currently taking place for entry this August in reception - and obviously we aren't in HK yet so even if i could use a debenture to get put on the waitlist, aren't we going to find that all places have already been filled before we arrive? (I imagine if we had to i could fly the twins over for assessments, but not for a few weeks at the earliest, and will this be too late?).
I'm so sorry about all of these questions but if anyone can help i'll be very grateful.
Thank you

 

[MommyTo3]

My daughter was born in May 2004 and just started Year 1 past September. However, the ESF years run from Jan through December, so my 2006 born twins (November) will go to Year 1 next September which is basically a year quicker than a European and/or US system.

All preschools do have pre-reading / writing programs in place. My oldest was in Sunshine (5 full days) and learned to read and write and was quite well prepared for Year 1. However, ESF doesn't require their Year 1 students to read or write. They'll start all over, but do put students in groups according to their reading / writing / math levels, so there is no need to be bored.

You could also choose for Woodlands and/or Tutor Time and put them in a bi-lingual Mandarin / English program to add some challenge if you believe they need that.

You should be fine with signing up for preschools (Sunshine / Woodlands / Tutor Time and others) right now for September spots. Not sure how it would work with the other larger schools which offer ongoing education. My oldest was 4 when she arrived, and did one year of Sunshine House before moving to ESF.

 

[cadogan]

Oh OK now i think i understand - so your twins are actually similar ages to mine - our two were born May 2006 so in the UK system start school this september when they are only 4 and 3 months because they would be young for the year (whereas in the UK your two would fall an academic year behind, and be old for their year with November birthdays) whereas in Hong system (ESF) they will all be the same school year, starting (for me) a year later than they would in the UK. I finally understand! What about in the international schools - when would your twins start there if you were going that route - this summer the same as our two?

 

[cannonball]

ESF is a good choice. As for international schools, the opinions and reputation differs quite a bit. You really should browse the websites, call the schools and then go visit to see for yourself. To be objective, you can ask for their universities placements and see for yourself.

 

[MommyTo3]

Oh OK now i think i understand - so your twins are actually similar ages to mine - our two were born May 2006 so in the UK system start school this september when they are only 4 and 3 months because they would be young for the year (whereas in the UK your two would fall an academic year behind, and be old for their year with November birthdays) whereas in Hong system (ESF) they will all be the same school year, starting (for me) a year later than they would in the UK. I finally understand! What about in the international schools - when would your twins start there if you were going that route - this summer the same as our two?

They could be in a Reception class next year already if I wanted too, but we want them to go to ESF, so they'll stay in kindergarten. It just depends on what the school offers. HKIS offers R1 (4yo), R2 (5yo), Canadian also has reception and so has Kellett. Most of these schools work with with 1 September cut-offs but for May born children that wouldn't matter. However, my twins would be one year below yours if we would go that way, but in the same year of ESF.

 

[cadogan]

So the move is definitely happening so i now need to get cracking on finding two places for the twins. Hoping to set up a trip to HK with my husband in the next week or two, and will visit schools.....
From all of your wonderful posts i think i have a grasp on the situation, and hence this is what i think i need to do:
International schools - find out about corporate debentures, and then visit (we will need places for this coming August 2010 in reception year). As we plan on returning to the UK in a few years time and will need the children to re-integrate with the schools here at that point, a system similar to the British sysem is probably most appropriate, and we will definitely be living on HK Island, so I should be looking at are (?) Kellet, Canadian School, German Swiss School, French school. [PLEASE ADVISE OTHERS YOU WOULD RECOMMEND].
ESF schools - the twins would not start at one of these till 2011 so if we go for this option i would need to get them into a full time kindergarten that would both challenge them enough and hopefully lead them into getting a place at an ESF school next year. Are there any specific kindergartens that feed into ESF schools (i think they have their own - would i have any chance of getting into those at this stage for this August). Again, please advise names of any kindergartens you think i should visit. If we decide to go the ESF route what then happens if we then don't get offered places at an ESF school for 2011 (as pressumably by then the international school places are all taken) - what are the options at that point??
Although i will get to visit in the next couple of weeks, and my husband will move over sometime this spring, i will not be arriving with the family till the very beginning of September (a bit after the beginning of the school year i think). Will I need to fly over with the twins for interviews and stuff before then? How will it work logistically (as obviously i cannot be flying back and forth with them loads of times). Finally, do i need to do anything for baby Charlie (7 months old) at this point (in terms of putting his name of waitlists for either schools or nurseries), or can that all wait till we arrive in september??

Thank you all very much for helping me with this process - i am in a total panic but am much better than i would be without your help and advise!!!!!

 

[rani]

Woodlands/Tutor Time feed into ESF primary schools. If you apply before the deadline, which is end of Sept 2010, you should get a place for the twins in 2011.

 

[MommyTo3]

ESF Kindy is moving to Hillside (on Stubbs Road), you may want to check for K2 spaces there. ESF Kindies get priority for Primaries. Some ESF Primaries are over subscribed, especially Bradbury which has a very expat-ty catchment area.

Other preschools on the island:
- Sunshine House (Tai Tam and/or Pokfulam but also Peak)
- Woodlands (many locations, would steer away from the Montessori ones ... personally I don't hear super positive stories and a lot of people I know took their children out to put into the regular / traditional (Woodlands) preschools
- Tutor Time (bilingual)
- Southside Kindergarten (for Repulse Bay area)

Good luck!

 

[cadogan]

is the ESF kindy that is moving to Hillside the Sheung Wan one? Can't work out on their website which one is moving (and therefore who i should visit when we come over!)?