Moving to Hong Kong - Advice needed on schools

[Roops79]

Hi, we are potentially moving to Hong Kong for my husbands work and I am looking for some advice on schools for my 3 year old (she just turned 3 in Dec 2014). I have seen a few threads on this this forum from 2012 but I thought there may be some more up to date advice available. Many Thanks in advance.

You need a pre-school for a year or 2 before you get a place in a primary. Dozens of Pre-schools around. Woodlands still is a sort of benchmark for newcomers. They have traditional & Montessori oriented classrooms. I think there is a Waldorf too and big network of very good bilingual kiddies too.
You also have to start applying to schools for reception/y1 NOW!
The Canadian school is the only through train school I can think of that will have an intake for you age group? Can someone confirm? Not sure about cut off dates for December babies.

Are you going to be here long term? Long enough to transition into a primary school?nlong enough that it really matters you find the best fit?
Are you set on transitioning to a UK curriculum school only? Would you want her to learn an additional language? Are you familiar with IB? What kind of school would you chose in the UK?
I find the schools here all have a very individual atmosphere to suit a particular mindset. There is also a culture of tutoring in many. Some have no homework at all, some have too much, etc......so it's important to ask all these questions now.

If the package can stretch, try to build in an education allowance. Ruth Benny from top schools HK will help you narrow down your choices and with applications. money we'll spent instead of making unrealistic multiple applications that cost $$$ a pop. She has a very thorough questionnaire to help you out.

But you really have to start the application process as soon as you know you're going. Wait lists and volume of applications in that age group is always a problem.
It has not changed much on that front. Happy to help if you have specific questions.

Top schools also run a FB group called Hong Kong schools where you can ask other parents, Ruth moderates and school staff sometimes pop round with info/updates. A good starting point.

Thank you Laptopwieldingharpy for the reply.

The move willl be for at least 4 years min, so i would need to think about primary. UK cirriculum would be prefered as we will inevitably move back home at some point however very open to all options, and yes we would want her to learn an additonal launguage. I am not very familiar with IB so trying to bulk up my knowledge. In the UK we were exploring both good state schools and also some local independants.

I've seen Ruth Benny's name mentioned in a few threads so I will def look into topschools.

I haven't started focusing on areas to live yet as finding the right school seemed more important and living arrangements to work around that, is that a sensible approach?

Very sensible approach, Roops79! Got your email which sent me here. Here's the FB Group: www.facebook.com/groups/hkschools/772901832790485/?notif_t=group_comment_reply

Thanks for the mentions Laptopweildingharpy on this and other threads. Appreciate it.

Hi Roops79,
My husband has just been offered a transfer to HK so I was interested to read your post above.

Can I ask if you have ended up there and if so how are you finding it....early days I know if you are there. Our little boy turns 3 in August and we've also got a 6 week old so in a similar position to yourself.

Any advice / thoughts from you as you are obviously a couple of months ahead of where we are.

Many thanks

Hi roops, very exciting.
We have employed the services of a lovely Irish lady called Anne Murphy.
Her company is called its education.
Her email is [email protected]

She is based in Hong kong.

Good luck!

excitingtimes, the allocation exercise for entry in pre-reception classes in August 2015 is finished here. Typically interview are end feb to mid march and places have now been offered.
Your need to look into pre-schools for your little one turning 3 and also start applications now for 2016 intake. I can not stress enough how it is just as important to start that process appart for ESF schools for which you will apply september 2016 for 2017 Y1 entry.

pre-school list

Roops, are you in HK yet? How did it go?

Hi Laptopwieldingharpy

Thank you for your advice and link to the pre school list, that's really helpful.

Roops, if you have ended up in HK it would be great to hear how it all went for you.

Thanks in advance