HONG KONG schools please.....

[slim22]

AAAAAAAAAARGH!

Just when we wre finally nicely settled in singapore, here we go again.

It is just in the realm of possibility so far but a loathe the prospect of moving DS from his fantastic school here and settling for something barely there because we can't get a place in a good school in HK.

Admittedly being very precious about this as he is just in year 1 but what is the equivalent of Tanglin Trust (singapore) in HK.
Ideally we would want a UK system school WITH IB. Accademic is good in my book.

We would most probably live south side of the island (repulse).

That is all if the company pays schooling annd housing of course.

Am I completely deluded that we could get a place for january 2011 latest?

TIA any input.

[slim22]

.

[ninedragons]

This is going to be brief as I am trying to scoff down cheese & crackers before DD gets out of the bath and spots them.

Company is going to have to stump up an absolutely HUGE debenture to let you jump the waiting lists.

ESF (Eng Schools Foundation, supported by govt) are excellent if company won't pay debenture/fees. You would have priority if you speak English at home.

Some private schools can be a bit cut-throat - eg no help for dyslexia/minor SN because there are 300 kids waiting to take your kid's place and it's easier just to show your DC the door.

will come back later

[slim22]

Was hoping you'd show up!!!


ESF sound good.
But fail to understand why would anyone go through the tedious waiting list process to send their kids to other private schools if ESF schools are so good. Is it just a "status" thing?

We are british, speak english at home, currently attending british school and DS will have a good report, he's in the lead group for literacy and numeracy.
So all boxes ticked really.

tks!

[ninedragons]

Bear in mind that I don't have school-age DCs myself so everything I tell you is second-hand information.

Usually a cultural thing, as almost all the private schools are organised by nationality (Swiss, French etc) so DC whose parents are on a two- or three-year posting can slot back into the educational system in their home country. And why would you bother with state school if the company is picking up unlimited fees?

One school in particular is social, though. Lots families with $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ beyond your wildest, wettest dreams.

ESF schools are oversubscribed because an English-language education is regarded as highly desirable among Cantonese-speaking local families. Interviews (according to teacher friends) are pretty much for the sole purpose of determining who genuinely does speak English at home - lots of people lie on the application forms. Bit like being "a church-going Anglican" to get into a good school in the UK system. Have a friend who lives in Repulse Bay so will sound her out on the local ESF and private options if you like. Can you sent me a CAT so I have your email? If there is scuttlebut to be passed on probably best we don't do it on a public forum.

[tootsieroll]

slim22 Noooooo!!!! You can't leave Sg! You've been such immense help to all going there!

[slim22]

That's very sweet tootsie!
Will just have to turn into HK relocator!
No kidding, it's by no means done yet and would anyway be another year before we get school places so might be a few long months of commuting involved!.

[MuffinTumMum]

hey slim 22

We did the rounds of all the HK schools before we moved here from the UK! It all varies alot and a huge amount of luck is needed if you dont have the opportunity of debentures.

ESF
We looked at three of these and particulary liked Glenealy and the Peak for staff, standard of work and environment.All the ESF schools run the PYP program.You can put yourself on the waiting list (for one named school only)even tho you dont have an address, but to receive a formal offer when a place comes up you have to be able to prove residence in that catchement area.

ESF do run a corporate entry - you have to apply in January and it is for a September entry. There is a levy but no where near the amount of the international debentures.There are also no guarantees with this.

International schools

Again, we looked at lots. The most academic of these I think were Ger/Swiss (english stream) and the French International.

Hong Lok Yeun (new territories - pyp) had available space and was very friendly school but location was a worry for me so that was out! no debentures here but higher monthly rates. They also have a senior school so seamless schooling.

I would say to look carefully at the international schools curriculum and ask ALOT of questions while visiting. We like the school we have ended up at but whilst they say they are UK curriculum based there are alot of differences that we were completely unaware of until we started (ie teaching of spelling, reading time with teacher, no formal science, history, georgraphy etc until year 4)

We were lucky that I have older children (I too was looking for a y1 place aswell) which meant that the younger one was higher on the waiting list becasue of sibling priority.

I cant tell you what a stress it was finding a place. I think that if you decide on ESF then get your name on the list asap and just play the waiting game, things do move quickly here. We visited a few kindys for the y1 child where they have provision for teaching older kids who are on the waiting lists. We visited some nice places but at the end of the day decided we did not want to move the y1 child twice.

Let me know if there is anything else you need to know...happy to share!

[slim22]

Hi MuffinTumMum!

Thank you that's very helpful!

ESF would be my first choice I guess.

We would consider the french school, International stream as DH and I are native speakers.
Would be ok for DS as year 2 would be CP which is equivalent to his current Y1. So he'd obviously have a head start as he is a fluent reader (english) and could cope (and benefit greatly)with french 3 hours a week. Would even things out.
Heard it is very crowded though and although academic, system too rigid and insular for my taste.
Do you know if the international section has a good track record?

I've heard good things about the canadian school too.

What about Kellet? Is it just a nice posh little school or does it deliver?

[slim22]

Looked at the school websites.

Glenealy looks lovely and very similar to DS's school.

More likely to be in the catchment area of Bradbury tough. Looks good too. Obviously can't say until I visit. Tell me what you really think.....

[frakkinaround]

French international is supposed to be vv good but traditional. DH was there (admittedly nearly 20 years ago) but remembers it being v challenging even at roughly your DS's age. Are you French citizens? If so you prob get priority. Also apparently quite old-fashioned in the approach, but things may have changed.

CP not a bad place to go in - he'd get used to 'French' working, lots of grammar work and maths. Having done Y1 he's probably familiar with the material and that would give him time to consolidate his French and get into the French 'way'. I heard scuttlebut they were developing bilingual Fr/En classes from teachers job forums.

If you're coming from British I would avoid PYP. I've not been impressed by it and if you like having a curriculum then definitely not the best place unless they run PYP alongside a structured curriculum, kinda like the new 'theme' based approach to the NC some British schools are implementing as a result of the Rose report.

If it helps it's somewhere I would definitely look at working if/when I do the CAPES, which relies on me being practically bilingual so a way to go.

waves to slim....again

[slim22]

coucou Frakkinaround!

Thanks for popping here. Am really getting disheartened by what I've read on various forums so far!

Gosh you know a lot more than me about the curriculum!
We have been blessed with the most fantastic school here I've never worried about looking into the curriculum. (British + IB)

I love the idea of international stream at french school, but we are british passport holders. Not sure that DH and I are 100% products of the french system ( french lycee + university/grande ecole) will be relevant to the application though!

AAAAAARGHHHHH again!

[frakkinaround]

Well knowing about them is sort of my job....

IB at diploma level is great - wouldn't send my future children to any school for secondary which didn't offer it. MYP is oki, PYP is IMO pants. I firmly believe in NCs at primary level and working towards an exam with a syllabus at secondary (but not necessarily within any particular NC framework). IB diploma has a syllabus, MYP you're working towards the diploma syllabus, PYP is just a fuzzy approach which is a great approach, don't get me wrong, but a lot of the time needs a good supporting curriculum and that relies on a good, motivated school with good teachers who have preferably taught to a national curriculum. The different NCs aren't wildly different from each other in terms of content.

Your own French educational background may help you getting in. IIRC the priority list is French citizens coming from/going back to French schools (temporary expats), French citizens permanently resident in the area, non-French French speaking with strong French connections, non-French French speaking, non-French non-French speaking. So you probably come in around 3rd. Don't know what the local French population is like.

Which forums have you been looking at?

[slim22]

OK get it. Best is NC + MYP + IB.

I lurked on geokids mainly. Also got info from another ex HK mner and her HK friend.

Think I get a pretty god picture now. Have to actually get confirmation on the move now then immediately start writing cheques for registrations!

[MuffinTumMum]

Hi Slim

just got to say that I agree totally with Frakkinaround regarding PYP, it has to be done to work. I have to say I only saw this in the smaller ESF schools and most particulary the Peak, but I was told from our relocator that alot of the kids there would have attended pre prep in the UK so the standard might be up a bit on other ESF schools, but I guess this is only an opinion at the end of the day. I have gone for a school with UK curriculam and even then, there are hints of the pyp in it, with regards to project work and the "flavour" of the teaching, not a bad thing IMO. Kellet? did not even see it, no debentures available when we were looking so complete no go. but if you are going back to the UK and especially into the private sector then I have been told that it is pretty seamless from this school. Good luck and dont get too stressed as it does all work out in the end!