GSIS

21Ckid

I just realise that i can apply from birth, but i am now almost 1 year late. The school said it is unlikely my kid will be high enough on the waitlist to be given a chance of assessment for KG1, and would likely need to wait for KG2. Does any one know if there will be a chance by KG2? and if not, would it be furthered deferred (with me being higher and higher on the wailist) by P1. I know it is selective, but a chance is better than no chance. Thanks.

21Ckid

回復 lui 的帖子

I am not surprised if kellett is better, given the reputation and popularity of HKIS have dwindled a bit in recent years. Nonetheless, it is "good" enough for me. Having a dragon B, i don't think i could really choose, i will just whichever is the better that takes my kid. So, esf and rc would alreay be my realistically best hope. If HKIS takes him, i would not mind if any other school is better.

Nonetheless, i prefer HKIS, as it is more "international" while Kellett seems like a British school just happen to be located in Hk.

21Ckid

I think kellett only started secondary a few years ago.

Shrimpiggy

Good question.

hkparent

Why don't they stay at Kellet secondary?

lui

原帖由 21Ckid 於 13-02-17 發表
回復 lui 的帖子

I think many middle class parents can set aside 2 million to get to such good schoo ...

My friend whose two children are studying in HKIS now highly recommends kellett. Her two children studied at Kellett at their primary. She said Kellett laid a very solid and good foundation so that the children can excel a lot better in hKIS.

21Ckid

回復 lui 的帖子

I think many middle class parents can set aside 2 million to get to such good schools like HKIS. I would not set the line so loose to define one as rich. You can hardly buy a flat even in the most remote area for that sum.

I think GSIS and Kellett are miles apart, the former much more cosmopolitan, more locals. Nonetheless, i did apply for Kellet almost right after birth as mine is a dragon B, god knows how intense the competition will be. Also, with the school moving to kowloon bay, it may become less british but let's see,

lui

I think those who can afford to pay millions ( even though its refundable, it is talking a out at least 10 years time before the kids leave the school for university) is rich enough. If kellett is not your cup of tea( limited exposure to Chinese), so does GSIS.

21Ckid

回復 jollybean 的帖子

they did say in the email that they expect fluency in english equivalent to native speaker of similar age. i further enquired and i think they are saying they do not admit students with EAL needs (unlike Kellett) and fluency suffices. but true, i know chance for locals is slim, if any.

21Ckid

回復 lui 的帖子

I hope you are not saying I claim to be rich. I am not and I don't think rich people will come to BK. I think many parents can fork out 2m given it is effectively refundable.
For kellett, you can jump queue by buying depreciating debenture which essentially add some 60k tuition a year. No need to pay 10 or 5 million. I was told there are very few oriental faces, perhaps 1-2 per class, and they mostly don't know Chinese . It is not suitable for locals like us.

jollybean

If you are not native speaker then save your money…No need to apply GSIS.  They have made this point very clear!  So if you are fluent but not native, forget it!!!!!

lui

原帖由 21Ckid 於 13-02-06 發表
回復 hkparent 的帖子

CIS, HKIS? !! I surely will apply and waste the money, the chance is almost ze ...

If you are that rich, why not selecting kellett? $10 m refundable debentures get first priority, $5m non refundable get second priority. It's a very good school.

21Ckid

回復 hkparent 的帖子

CIS, HKIS? !! I surely will apply and waste the money, the chance is almost zero in the entry grade (4 years old).

But for HKIS, i did submit an application for debenture (which is first come first served) in 2012, the finance office say they were processing 2002 applications (10 year waitlist), though looking forward, it could be more. Still, there may be financial tsunami hitting in the next few years, and with debenture price raising from 500k to 2 million, some may drop out. there may still be a chance i can get my kid in in the primary years!!!

21Ckid

回復 jolalee 的帖子

Yes, they register from birth. PN is pre-k there, i was bluntly (or adamantly) told there wouldn't be spaces in 2014/15, but no harm to submit to be put on waiting list for k1, k2 etc...if i remember correctly, there were only 1 or 2 classes of pre-k (same no of class as creche), so hardly as hope. but 1 or 2 more classes for k1, so a chance (but slim). the major intake for outsiders is p 1, in essence.

I was told by the admission offcier (a hk lady) that there were few mainlanders, i don't know anyone in harrow, and so i am not sure, but i presume she won't lie. but the school does attract a lot of interest from mainlanders, in my tour group, there were 1/3 westerners, 1/3 hk parents, 1/3 putonghua speaking parents. i guess unless the mainland children are educated in IS in hk or china, it would be difficult for them to meet the english proficiency requirement. Again just a guess.

hkparent

I visited the school too. There are many British students. Maybe they like the style of education and they will take GCE A level instead of IB in most IS in Hong Kong. GCE A level is still predominant in UK's schools, so there's no transition problem when they go back to their own country. I also saw Chinese faces but most parents speak good English.

jolalee

回復 21Ckid 的帖子

hkparent: My son is 2 years old and I called both CIS & HKIS, they both tell me that i cannot apply until this summer.

21Ckid: Are you sure there are few mainlanders? Given the geographic location and that they have boarding, I supposed that they were targeting the mainland market... Anyhow it is true that they are pretty full. I applied last September for their PN, and they still cannot confirm me if they can give us an interview, saying that they are quite full already. Do you know if they register from birth?

hkparent

CIS, HKIS?

21Ckid

回復 hkparent 的帖子

The waitlist for kinder is very long. I was told in the school visit 3 months ago that the 2 year old class, pre-k, for my kid (2014-15) is already full (mostly from PG which are all occupied by staff), the possible number of spaces for 3 and 4 years old is very limited. The kinder of harrow is very small. It is very unlikely a space can come up to me before primary. Also, we don't quite like the bare rock mounatain on the back of the school, very bad fung shui!! And it is too far away for kinders.

The demographic is, having said that, quite good. the classes i saw (kinder and early p) comprise 1/3 westerners and 2/3 oriental (mostly hongkongers i guess), very few mainlandes i was told.

hkparent

Try Harrow. If you pay $3 million at this age it's easier. If you apply when the child is bigger, you will have to go through rigorous academic tests.

21Ckid

cdnis, should i apply now? i call the admission office and they say i can, but haven't really answer my question as to priority for early application (also can't see it on web site), but need to pay every year to maintain it on list. Does any one know what is it all about?