When to start looking and which primary school?

[cookiemo]

Hi

I've been reading the threads on this forum and am now getting worked out over when and which school to apply. We are planning to move to HK by Sept 10 so that our kids could start their school years without too disruption. Also, am not sure about the age criteria for the school age. We're from the UK and the school age for Reception is 4 and Primary One is 5, whereas some HK schools that I've enquired are 6 for Primary One, although ESF just takes the year of the child born. Does anyone how stringent the schools are on this?

So giving the fact the plan is to move next year, when should I start enrolling my kids (one born in 05 and 07) but because we haven't got the job or let alone where to live in HK, how difficult is it to enrol onto the ESF? As not knowing whether our jobs could help us with the debenture, I can only start looking at those which don't ask for one. Having that in mind, the natural choices are left with ESF, Victoria, Woodlands (though will only be good for Primary One) and Kiangsu and Chekiang Primary.

Also, any possibility into enrolling the local school or through the DSS scheme. I'm actually from HK with permanent status and my husband is English and so not sure if our kids are qualified? I am keen for them to have a good mix of english & chinese (whether cantonese or mandarin or possibly both). But again, that's the age restriction again.

Any advice and suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Gabriel ma]

I think you might try PLK Choi Kai Yau. It is a private school offering a 12 year bilingual curriculum. About 50% of teacher are native English speakers.

PLK CHOI KAI YAU SCHOOL ?O?}?????~?????

 

[random]

Is your eldest 4 years old? I think ESF start applications for entry at 5 yrs old. Others which follow the local curricula start at 6 years old. Apply in the preceding school year.

If you apply through the government scheme and end up in a local school be prepared to give a LOT of support to the chinese aspect. Going to a local kindergarten would help a lot and obviously, your elder one won't have this background.

DSS schools allocate places through an interview process so you'd better be in HK during that crucial period

 

[FFONG]

For ESF Year 1 age requirement see this:

http://www.esf.edu.hk/index.aspx?nodeID=1039&langNo=1

 

[Gabriel ma]

Try this one: St. Margaret's Co-educational English Secondary & Primary School

 

[HappyV]

If you want your kids to go to school in HK for 2009-2010 school year, then you will have real trouble getting a place. All international, English medium ESF schools have long waiting lists.

If your children speak Cantonese, then I would go for Victoria (still hard to get in), or a good DSS school.

 

[MommyTo3]

ESF year 1 applications for 2005 born are this September for starting in 2010. This year (September), birth year 2004 will start (including my oldest).

For other years you have to contact the school in your catchment area and see whether they have spots available. Your youngest can go to a preschool the coming school year and then transfer to ESF. That's what we did with our oldest as well.