Starters Vs Sunshine House - which school has better chance to enter ESF?

[VgSan]

Hi, I've 2.5 yr old son. Our aim is entering ESF Primary. We are living in Kennedy School's catchment area. We are not offered interview at ESF-hillside this year. So we are thinking about Starters School & Sunshine House. And I am not sure which school has a better chance in terms of priority in interview for ESF Priimary?

 

[amitsingh]

neither Kindy has priority for ESF except Hillside Kindy. Kennedy school is one of the bigger Primary schools so hopefully you get an interview, but its a little early thinking about Primary now as date of entry won't be for another 2 years (2015-2016) assuming your child born in 2010. Remember to apply September 2014 online...

 

[testuser]

Like AmitSingh said: I would not bet on either of the schools having a better priority.

We've heard of far too many kids being rejected and the debenture route being offered as an option.

 

[VgSan]

Thanks amitsingh & Shri for ur comments.

 

[peainpod]

Personally I would choose Woodland Montessori on Caine Road. So far, they seem to have good results in placing their students in the Kennedy school catchment. At least a few moms I know from this year were able to get interview offers for their kids for Kennedy.

 

[amitsingh]

There are no results required in order to move to Kennedy School P1. Those students attending Woodlands on Caine Rd have a tendency to live within the local area, which falls within the Kennedy school catchment. There are no results to read into nor is the past record of Kennedy school attendees from Woodlands Caine any indication of the Montessori's school record. Guarantee of an interview only comes from either parent being a teacher, either parent being an ESF alumni or Debenture holder. Other than that, its pot luck.

 

[rani1]

Are you applying to any other schools? If I had to do it all over again, I would have done my research and looked at the other schools. As an ex-ESF student am seeing more and more alumni not selecting ESF for their kids. A number of the schools are fumbling through PYP and Kennedy is one of them.

 

[yobs]

Hi I am new here, and have been seeking similar info. May I ask rani and all of you for a few pointers here. Hope VgSan do not mind.

- If schools with PYP like CDNIS, HK Academy are not affordable, what are the other options, if any?

- If schools without PYP are considered, which ones can provide a 'better' transition to ESF in terms of curriculum, preparation for IB DP, culture (say at Year 7 or even Year 12). As I am at a very primitive stage of my inquiry, I have quite a few which I am simply not sure - AISHK, FIS, GSIS, Singapore IS, VSA, NIS, Island Christian Academy, CAIS, KIS, International Christian School?

- Any other things to consider to further narrow down the long list?

Please kindly share your thoughts or advice! Thank you.

Are you applying to any other schools? If I had to do it all over again, I would have done my research and looked at the other schools. As an ex-ESF student am seeing more and more alumni not selecting ESF for their kids. A number of the schools are fumbling through PYP and Kennedy is one of them.

 

[rani1]

From the HK Island schools I would look at GSIS, Island Christian Academy, Korean International and FIS. Like I said, am not a PYP fan and there are holes in the curriculum. Many parents have realized this and are supplementing their children's education with extra Math and English classes.

 

[yobs]

Thanks. I gained a more balanced and in depth view regarding parents involvement and PYP at ESF Primary (hope things got better at the school now). Will surely look at the suggested schools.

Would appreciate any views from parents on the schools listed. Thank you.

P.S. Correction - VSA has PYP