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

[rani]

Correct, they don't have to pay until the children are in Y1 and Y7 and each family will have to pay at different times. But a lot of these families are struggling to pay rent.

Yes, the levy is refundable once you leave ESF. Just not sure how long it takes for them to process the refund.

 

[rani]

Forgot to add, that at the Levy FAQ evenings they have indicated that once the Levy has been approved by the Govt they are considering raising it??!

 

[cadogan]

Can you explain what this levy is? I've seen references to it here and on the ESF forum but don't really understand whati t means either for the schools (why it might cause an exodus of teachers?) or for parents.

Also, is anyone able to fill me in on what the temporary relocation of GSIS would mean for me (I am unfamiliar with both the districts mentioned on their website and the categorisation of school years so cannot work out what the location of the twins' classes would be during the relocation if they were offered places there - they will be 4 years and 3 months old in August at the beginning of the coming school year). Would they end up beeding to go to Kowloon at any point?
Thanks!

 

[JKemp]

The ESf schools are considered amongst the best in HK. The results the children get at the end of secondary are second to none and the children go off to Oxford Cambridge in the UK as well as the Ivy Leagues in the States and many more of the best Universities.
However, they are not the most expensive and do have slightly larger class sizes than some of the other private schools. Part of the reason they are cheaper is they are subvented by the Government which basically just means given some money per student each year.
Other International schools are far more expensive and can require you to pay large debentures.
The ESF capital levy is a one off payment all new students entering ESF from next year will be required to pay on entry. Current students will have to pay when they reach Year 1 or Year 7. This is refundable whenever your child leaves ESF and the money will be used to rebuild some of the schools that need rebuilding and improving the facilities at other schools.
The ESF also has 4 kindergartens that may be appropriate for your younger children.
Hope this helps. There is a whole thread on here about the GSIS moving. But Ma On Shan is out in the New Territories which would basically mean around an hour bus ride for the children from central.

 

[notmyaisle]

.I can see it would make sense to send the twins to ESF Hillside (K2) to maximise their chances of getting into Bradbury in 2011. How much do people feel attending the ESF kindy instead of one like Woodlands effects a child's chances of getting offered a place at an ESF primary school?

A place at an ESF kindy does not guarantee your child a place at an ESF school - contrary to popular belief. It only guarantees you an interview. If you are Cat 1 then you are highly likely to be granted an interview whether you are at ESF/Woodlands/Tutor Time etc.

 

[kiwiinoz]

Given some people in Cat 1 for Bradbury didn't get an interview this year for Year 1, I suppose it does have to weigh into your decision somewhat about sending your kids to the ESF kindy in order to at least get them an interview.
As was said, ESF kindy does not guarantee a place in an ESF primary school, but you are almost assured of an interview for the ESF primary school you are zoned for.
At the end of the day though, I know mums and kids who go to both ESF and Woodlands, and for the most part they are happy with both.

 

[CNDinHK]

Sry to be the bearer of bad news (and to be so negative and blunt), but virtually all of the international schools' deadlines have already past (due Oct/Nov 2009) for entry for Aug/Sep 2010 Reception classes (4yrs olds starting in Aug/Sep 2010).

They are conducting interviews right now (Dec-Feb/Mar) and will be making their decisions in March/April.

Sounds like your kids are born in 2006 so they would be eligible for Reception class of 2010/11.

As we have discovered, unless you get into the Reception class, it is extremely difficult to get into the int'l schools unless a kid moves and a spot is available. Kids move up to the next grade up each year. In other words, the key entry years are Reception Yr and Year 7 (year 7 b/c they usually add another class). Further, similar to the London schools you mention, the probability of acceptance in the elite int'l schools are 1 in 5/6 kids applying.

I think you have two options: 1) call each international school you are interested in ASAP and see if they are willing to 'bend' the rules. Some are VERY strict on their deadline, however, they may make an exception because you are applying from 'overseas'. Further, maybe your husband's company is offering him a coporate debenture at a certain school? OR 2) as the other posters have mentioned, the ESF school system does not start Yr 1 applications until Sep 2010 for entry Sep 2011 - so you have time on this front.

Take a look at a post by a user named "Mammia 1" (spelling?) re: timing and his/her regrets re: international school applications.

Again, you need to get on the ball and start calling ASAP. Also, someone mentioned Kellett school (a UK based school in Pok Fu Lam) - you need to call them ASAP. They may take your application as they are run slightly different - chk their website out.

Again, apologies to be blunt, but learned some of these things the hard way and don't want it to happen to other parents.

 

[MommyTo3]

I don't think there is a reason to be so negative. I won't be a problem to get into good preschools and then sign up for ESF this September. This is the way we did it and we didn't know we were moving until April. It may limit your options but it doesn't leave you with just bad choices. Also I know quite some people who got spots at international schools at some point (just not immediately) after being on the waiting list (incl. Kellett, HK Academy, etc.), so they simply transferred their kids. Not ideal but it did work out for all of them. Also I've heard of friends still getting interviews right now at Canadian even after applying way too late. Don't give up hope, just make sure you have something you're happy with and take it from there. It's not that black and white.

 

[CNDinHK]

Mom2Sofie&Twins: I agree with what you said and apologize for the negativity. However, the original poster needs to start calling/emailing/contacting the international schools immediately...timing is an issue now IF you are planning on applying to international schools (excluding ESF).

We have a 3.5 yr old and we just went through the several international interviews in the past few weeks.

We were on a tour of an int'l school few weeks back, and there was a family with 3.5 yr old twins and they asked the question on whether they could still apply. The staff directly but politely answered that unless you are an exception (i.e. corporate debenture holder, special overseas applicant etc) you are pretty much out of luck. BUT BUT BUT, I do stongly urge the original poster to at least contact them NOW.

For example, just look at a poster named "Mammia 1" and her regrets on CIS. CIS, (I think everyone agrees is top ranked international school) is strict with their deadlines.

As for ESF schools, I completely agree that there is time. I think I did point out that applications are due in Sep 2010 timeframe for entry Sep 2011, right?

 

[JKemp]

Hi, just wanted to respond to notmyaisle above because what was said about guaranteeing an interview is not actually true. Going to ESF kindy does not guarantee a place or an interview at an ESF primary. However it does give you priority above children from other kindergartens like woodlands or tutor time etc. Also with the current over subscription of ESF schools particularly Clearwater Bay and Bradbury you may well not get an interview for ESF unless you are Cat 1 and either have a sibling at the school or attend an ESF kindergarten. The CWBS figures were shared with us this year and out of 193 children - 160 are Cat 1 children - 100 of these are siblings and ESF kindergarten. Since there are only 120 places this means that 40 of children from other kindergartens did not get an interview. I think because of the popularity of ESF schools and the introduction of more ESF kindergarten places it is becoming much more difficult for children outside the ESF kindergartens or who don't have siblings to get a place.