Switching from ESF to DSS/Local

[Rosewood]

Hi - I would be interested to hear from any parents who have switched their children out of an ESF/Int'l school to a DSS/local school. Is it difficult to get into a DSS school if you are coming from an ESF? Was it a smooth transition? What is the homework/assessment load like? How are they coping? Any regrets?

Our son wil be going into Yr 1 at one of the ESF schools this Aug, however, we are considering switching him to a DSS school after he has completed his first year, main reason being that ESF does not offer enough chinese in their cirriculum.

 

[rani]

I've never heard of anyone switching to a DSS. I would imagine it would be quite hard. A friend's son goes to a DSS school and he's a couple of yrs younger than our guy. And he gets way more homework.
Some schools also have a homework club after school, where the teachers help with homework.

 

[TheQuasimother]

Hi Rosewood

My son is going to start Year 1 at an ESF school and we are also planning to switch him to a DSS.

There are so many options for DSS so you'll have to do your homework. I've asked my local colleagues who have children going there and their take on the matter:
- Yes, there's lots of homework but nothing unmanageable. Their kids still do a lot of extra-curricular stuff. This changes when they are in upper primary though.
- If Chinese is your focus then, yes, a DSS is better.

I see a lot of kids in the local system who are just as creative (if not more) than the ESF kids so if you happen to have a child who can cope, I'd say take the plunge. I know ours will probably cope (with the demands of a local school) so we're submitting our applications this summer.

Cheers!
QM

 

[MommyTo3]

Just wondering ... why going to ESF in the first place then? Also suprised because I thought very little Cat 2 children would actually get places in Y1 this year since I still know so many Cat 1 on the waiting lists.

 

[Rosewood]

Thanks for your replies, yes chinese is our focus, and we accepted the ESF place because we haven't decided 100% if we will send him to a local/DSS school, if we kept him in Kindy to complete K3, then decided not to go the local route, there would be very little chance of securing a year 2 place at an ESF school. We're over on the NT side, so I guess more Cat 2 places available.

We are weighing up the pros and cons, and so far the pros are he'll be learning a lot more chinese and school fees could potentially be cheaper. Cons so far are, neither hubby or I will be able to give him much support with the chinese, we're about K1 standard when it comes to written chinese ! Also, he currently has a sibling already attending an ESF school (who I know would definately not be able to cope with the local cirriculum), so homework differences, aligning school holidays might be an issue.

Would be great to hear from anyone, if any, who has actually made the switch, or anyone that currently have kids at DSS or local schools.

Thanks !

 

[davidliu448]

Alternative to DSS and Internation schools

I was at a educational exibibtion at Wan Chai on saturday and i find something really interesting and different. One school was offering a 3 year Edxel O level and A level course for student who have just finished Secondary 3. I am undecided to send my son back to UK. Being a Bristish Born Chinese, I feel that my child should get as much feeling of being in hong hong , and then at a later date, then go back to the UK for the university. But with this course they can enter HK universites as non-jupas and of course back to uk when they want. The only draw back of this course was the subject offered were all arts or commercial subjects. But the fees were fair.


Yours
David Liu

 

[davidliu448]

much better than a local and international school. Some thing which offers the best of two worlds

 

[banana_in_hk]

Sincere apologies for the off-topic but i just wanted/had to comment how awful davidliu448's overall English level is, for a britishbornchinese. A sight for sore eyes...

 

[banana_in_hk]

Thanks for your replies, yes chinese is our focus, and we accepted the ESF place because we haven't decided 100% if we will send him to a local/DSS school, if we kept him in Kindy to complete K3, then decided not to go the local route, there would be very little chance of securing a year 2 place at an ESF school. We're over on the NT side, so I guess more Cat 2 places available.

We are weighing up the pros and cons, and so far the pros are he'll be learning a lot more chinese and school fees could potentially be cheaper. Cons so far are, neither hubby or I will be able to give him much support with the chinese, we're about K1 standard when it comes to written chinese ! Also, he currently has a sibling already attending an ESF school (who I know would definately not be able to cope with the local cirriculum), so homework differences, aligning school holidays might be an issue.

Would be great to hear from anyone, if any, who has actually made the switch, or anyone that currently have kids at DSS or local schools.

Thanks !

Can relate to your situation since I have been through a similar thought process. I really believe that you need to decide what type of educational environment(in the long term) would suit your child's personality. Also if his mother tongue is English(with no Cantonese) it might be harder for him to integrate into a local school and affect his development. If it is just the Chinese language element you are concerned about, you could integrate this subject in your son's extra-curricular schedule(which i am doing).

Just my two cents

 

[TheQuasimother]

We're actually Cat. 1, non-Chinese family. When the process started, I didn't think about being in HK for a long time. But, now I'm not so sure. So, we're just trying to find the most practical solution for our child should we stay here long term. I don't think ESF is the answer for us (if we're here long term).

Besides, at the rate the fees are increasing, by the time, my child gets to Year 11/12, I'm going to be in a heap of trouble if I didn't look into other potential affordable options that are subsidised by the government!