[chca]

Dear all,

I am in a dilemma now and need any advice. My daughter was admitted in P1 by QBS (North Point ESF) for Year 2006-07 before we moved to Shatin in this May. I immediately informed QBS our moving and ask for a transfer. But Shatin Junior School can not provide any space for this year; and also give me a hint that maybe still no space next school year.

My daughter is only 5 years old. How can I ask her commute every school day for 3 hours on the road?

I feel so upset about this. Any advice?

[-jC-]

Well there's other schools on Kowloon side:

- Beacon Hill School (http://www.beaconhill.edu.hk) - probably the closest to Shatin

- Bauhinia School ( http://www.bauhinia.edu.hk )

- Kowloon Junior School (http://www.kjs.edu.hk/)

- Clearwater Bay School (http://www.cwbs.edu.hk)

Hope that helps! These are all ESF schools. I'm not sure if there are any other international schools in the area as well

[jayinhongkong]

Sorry to hear she won't be going to QBS...I finished up there in 1991 Yeah, there are tons of good schools in Kowloon...KJS is pretty popular. American International School is another option if you don't mind a different style of education...

[chca]

Thanks, jc! I contact QBS to ask any other ESF schools in Kowloon available, but they told me no immediate vacancy in any ESF school in Kowloon.

Thanks, jayinhongkong! How do you compare the English curriculum style and American curriculum style internatioal school? I know the International Christian School is close to Shatin, it is American curriculum. Any comments on that school? Thanks again.

[-jC-]

Originally Posted by chca

Thanks, jc! I contact QBS to ask any other ESF schools in Kowloon available, but they told me no immediate vacancy in any ESF school in Kowloon.

Thanks, jayinhongkong! How do you compare the English curriculum style and American curriculum style internatioal school? I know the International Christian School is close to Shatin, it is American curriculum. Any comments on that school? Thanks again.

i'm not sure that there is much difference between american and english schools at primary level...it's secondary that splits the two majorly. from what i know, though, the american systems are more extra-curricular/play-based whereas the english systems are more in-class based. but thats just something i observed while looking at QBS and Kellett School's teaching styles... could be totally wrong

[rani]

Chca,

I would call the the other ESF schools in Kowloon and find out how long their waitlist is and if you can be added.

[chca]

Originally Posted by rani

Chca,

I would call the the other ESF schools in Kowloon and find out how long their waitlist is and if you can be added.

Thanks! rani. I called the Beacon Hill ESF school in Kowloon Tang. They only accept schools' internal contact and suggest me let QBS do the work.

I don't know how the ESF schools communicate with each others. Seems QBS only contact Shatin Junior and think their work has been done.

I am kind of disappointed about ESF's management.

[-jC-]

Originally Posted by chca

Thanks! rani. I called the Beacon Hill ESF school in Kowloon Tang. They only accept schools' internal contact and suggest me let QBS do the work.

I don't know how the ESF schools communicate with each others. Seems QBS only contact Shatin Junior and think their work has been done.

I am kind of disappointed about ESF's management.

the management has definately gone downhill since i schooled there :S

[ayukobaby]

What about the new school in ma on shan? its a private independent school under ESF. But i dont know if they still have vacancy for the coming school year.
http://renaissance.esf.edu.hk/

[chca]

Thank you, ayukobaby!

I called ESF headquater office and wish they could do something. But unfortunately, a lady there said ESF sticks to strict school zone according to your living location. They won't allow my daughter transfer to other ESF schools in Kowloon. (Does anyone know it is true? ) And I told her I didn't mind moving again to the kowloon school zone if ESF school there had shorter waiting list. (of cause, not back HK island because I work in Shatin). Then she said every ESF school has its waiting list and it's hard to say which queue is faster.

What made me so disappointed is ESF don't care if my daughter take the QBS space or not. If not, the deposit won't be refund to me, and my daughter's name will be removed from SJS's waiting list as well. And ESF won't loose anything. They can call other kids from their waiting list to fill in this space.

And what they think is "oh, at least your daughter still has school to go to". They don't think the 1.5 hours single schooling trip for a 5 y.o kid is so terrible. What a school!

I learned a lesson through this.