[dougp]

Can anyone give me an idea of the reality of trying to get kids into ESF/International primary schools and kindergartens, especially round Pokfulam but HK Island in general?

We're probably moving to HK later in the year, and need to find places for a 4 year old and a 6 year old.

We've been in touch with several schools, all of which basically say no places, register on the waiting list. No-one's giving us a clear idea of how long waiting lists are.

Availability of school places locally is obviously a fairly critical part of choosing where to plant ourselves - especially when it comes to the ESF schools, where we need to be living in the right area before we can even apply.

Thanks.

Doug.

[jayinhongkong]

Having spent 13 years in the ESF system, I can tell you what I went through at the tender age of 4 The main requirement for your kids is that they speak excellent or better English. They'll have to be interviewed by a member of staff; if you want your kids to go there, get to HK and go to the school...talk to the people and see what happens. You can only get so far while outside HK...

[dougp]

Originally Posted by jayinhongkong

get to HK and go to the school...talk to the people and see what happens. You can only get so far while outside HK...

That's the problem though. We don't want to just turn up and then find we can't get them in anywhere (or anywhere we're happy with). And although transport links are good, we don't really want to choose somewhere to live first and then have to send them to the other side of the island or anything.

Doug.

[betty45678]

Voice your compliant here in a nice way that you are not informed of the length of their waiting list and that you sincerely want to be an ESF schools' parent. ESF monitors the forum closely.

http://www.hkcampus.net/webforum/list.php?num=4

[KnowItAll]

Dougp,

One thing worth mentioning -- the principals have a fair amount of discretionary powers.

Can you get someone in your local office to call them and help sort things out?

[madridmama]

Hello Doug,

Our family are considering relocating to Hong Kong, and I'm interested to find out how you got on with placing your children in schools there. I am thinking about the ESF system, but it all seems terribly complicated ie long waiting lists and not being able to register until you are actually resident in Hong Kong. Our children are 10, 6 and 10 months. We left HK 6 years ago, so we have an idea about areas. I'm currently thinking about the Peak, Mid Levels and South side as areas to live in, so I guess that would cover The Peak school, Bradbury, and Glenealy. I have also heard good reports about Kellett.

I would appreciate your comments. Arial

[Roger]

Since your kids are that young, why not put them in Chinese speaking schools instead? They'll learn the language within months, especially the younger one. My son did, and now we're applying for him to go to a Chinese medium primary school. What's more, it's free (except for the books and uniforms).
I also know of other foreign parents taking the same route. (When I was growing up in the UK, foreign parents would put their kids in local schools also, rather than trying to find expensive private education in their own languages). BTW, it's now time to start applying for your favourite school unless you want the lottery next January. Applications have to be in the schools this week.

[discobay]

It's not so much education in their own languages but education in English. If I spoke Spanish I would be foolhardy to expect my children to learn Spanish at school here. That's just a hypothetical example so please no hate mail.

[madridmama]

We are thinking about ESF or a British school, as we are not sure how long we will be in HK. If we stick to this system it will make the transition easier when or if we return to either spain or the UK. (Our children attend an international school here.)

[dougp]

Hi,

We ended up putting both kids in the international section of Kiangsu & Chekiang primary, on Braemar Hill Rd (http://www.kcis.edu.hk/home.htm). We felt it was a far better environment for the kids to actually get something out of our time here, rather than being in what we felt was the more insulated and artificial environment of the other international schools.

The classes at K&C are more mixed than at the other international schools, with mostly Chinese kids, but also Japanese, European, American etc.

The school follows the British education system, and the classes are in English, tought by native speakers (most teachers are British). They put far more effort into teaching Mandarin though - 45 mins/day compared (I think) to about 30mins/week in ESF. Although a lot of the kids are local, they're not allowed to speak Cantonese at school - English or Mandarin only, so our kids don't feel left out or isolated.

We've been here 4 weeks and the kids are loving it. They're both right into learning Mandarin, and already reading & writing a few characters, and recognising the odd phrase off TV/radio.

Our youngest is 4, and would normally only do half days, so we've enroled him in the Chinese section for the other half of the day. The teacher speaks a little English and helps him along, but the class is in Mandarin - he's doing fine. I admit I'm amazed, but I guess it's true - kids really will adapt very easily!

Send me a PM if you want any more info.

Doug.