There are over 50 international schools in Hong Kong, it can be hard to make a choice when there are so many to choose from. How do you know which school is more suitable for your child? Have a good understanding on each curriculum to know which curriculum suits your child best. Let’s explore some useful tips in choosing the right school for your child.
What is an International School in Hong Kong?
International Schools Consultancy(ISC) includes an international school if the school delivers a curriculum to any combination of pre-school, primary or secondary students, wholly or partly in English outside an English-speaking country, or if a school in a country where English is one of the official languages, offers an English-medium curriculum other than the country’s national curriculum and is international in its orientation. Hong Kong’s international schools are not subject to independent inspection reports by the territory’s regulator.
Types of Curriculum
The most common curriculum choices in international schools today are the UK National (British) Curriculum, the American Curriculum, the Australian Curriculum, the French International Curriculum, Canadian School Curriculum and the International Baccalaureate (IB) programmes.
The UK National (British) Curriculum designed to build towards GCSE and A Level senior school qualifications. Compulsory subjects include English, mathematics, science, geography, history, arts and design and music etc. The IB is a recognized leader in the field of international education, offering three challenging programs for students ages 3 to 19.
Cost
International schools come at very different prices. Some international schools raise funds through nomination rights schemes, debentures schemes or capital levies to finance capital developments and enhancement of school facilities for the purpose of meeting the design of their respective curriculum and infrastructural requirements. Some of these schemes are not mandatory and the amount collected would be repaid to parents in full or at the prevailing price when their children leave school.
Application
Most international schools start their school years in August. Admission usually opens a year beforehand, but some of the schools accept application all-year round. Do check with the schools to see what they offer.
