Hong Kong International School

Cayenne

mfkhung 寫道:
Hi Cayenne,
Thanks for your sharing. My son is 10 years old studying at a local school P5. I am considering to send him to an international middle school.
Since we don't know anybody studying at the HK International School so I hope you don't mind to share more with us.
According to the school info, for those students who are not using English as their first language are required to take a test. Do you have any idea about that? How often do they have the Chinese Language lessons?
Thanks

It has been several years since my son studied in HKIS High School  .Things may have changed now and my memory certainly deterioates . And High School requirements differ from Middle School too.

Anyway this is what I gathered from personal experience and friends :
For High School applicants, they have to submit essays in the  Application Form explaining why they would like to study in HKIS, their plans , aspirations etc, very much like an American College application. I don't know if middle-schoolers have to go though all these.

There's then a Maths & an English Test. It shouldn't be too difficult for someone who has done well in a traditional school with English as the teaching medium.
If he ace these tests, have a good past acedemic record and extracurriculars, he is admitted right away, subject to availabilities.
Otherwise, he may be invited for an interview. I know of one boy who had to explain to the High School  Principal why he did well in some subjects (Maths & computer)  but not the other (History). Then, since he listed 'computer' as his passion, the Principal asked him if he had visited the school website , what he thought of it and in what way he thought  it could be improved ? The  boy had thought out these questions well in advance ; he breezed through them and was admitted.

Chinese lessons are available to all grades, with extra electives available after school hours. But since the subjects are taught in blocks, (again very much like American Colleges), I don't think Chinese lessons must appear in a regular, daily basis. You have to clarify with the Middle School teachers.

Good luck !

mfkhung

Hi Cayenne,

Thanks again. May I ask did your child studied there since middle school?

Cayenne

Hi,

He joined HKIS in High School  

mfkhung

Hi Cayenne,

So, that must be a big change for him. Our family do want to change school for my son as well.  Since we don't have confidence with the present education system anymore.  Since my son has been going to a traditional school so we are afraid the chance for him to get a place at HKIS or other international school would be slim. May I ask what middle school did your son go? Local or International one? Why didn't he continue his study at his middle school?

Many thanks for sharing with me since we really got no idea about any international schools. Hope my questions do not bother you too much.

Cayenne

mfkhung 寫道:
Hi Cayenne,
So, that must be a big change for him. Our family do want to change school for my son as well.  Since we don't have confidence with the present education system anymore.  Since my son has been going to a traditional school so we are afraid the chance for him to get a place at HKIS or other international school would be slim. May I ask what middle school did your son go? Local or International one? Why didn't he continue his study at his middle school?

Many thanks for sharing with me since we really got no idea about any international schools. Hope my questions do not bother you too much.

Hi,

Before joining HKIS, my son studied in a traditional, local school. The name is not important , though most parents would have heard of it . It's a very good school and my son certainly enjoyed his time there.  We left it for IS only because we contemplated an overseas education for him.

HK has some very fine universities , but since Globalization is upon us no matter we like it or not,  we would like him to have a global perspective,  to ' see the world ' , so to speak.  While many traditional local school graduates go straight and seamlessly to  universities overseas, we think that studying in an  IS here is a logical intermediate step where he can 'test the waters' while still under our guidance and supervision.
We are glad that we made this choice.

As for the transition from a traditional school to an IS, I think an out-going personality will certainly aid assimilation into an international community. But even if the student is of the quiet, nerdy type, with time he'll happily find his niche.

Good luck !  

mfkhung

   We left it for IS only because we contemplated an overseas education for him.

HK has some very fine universities , but since Globalization is upon us no matter we like it or not,  we would like him to have a global perspective,  to ' see the world ' , so to speak.  While many traditional local school graduates go straight and seamlessly to  universities overseas, we think that studying in an  IS here is a logical intermediate step where he can 'test the waters' while still under our guidance and supervision.
We are glad that we made this choice.

Hi Cayenne,

I absolutely agree with what you said.

By the way, would you name some other international schools that you know? We want to know more in case we could not get a place from HKIS.

Thanks again. Your sharing encourages us to go for the big change!

mattsmum

hi, Cayenne,
i am planning to send my kid to international school after finishing local primary school, but my worry is the culture and language barrier, did you kid had smooth transition? it is easy to him to find goodfriends?

Cayenne

mfkhung 寫道:
By the way, would you name some other international schools that you know? We want to know more in case we could not get a place from HKIS.
Thanks again. Your sharing encourages us to go for the big change!

Hi,

HK has some very fine IS too. It all depends on where ( which country) you want your son to study aboard.

If  US is your destination, then HKIS is  ideal because the whole setup is geared for US colleges. The college counsellors ( teachers who have great experience in college applications ) are most helpful . Some even have   personal  ties to college admission boards and can give sound advice to your kids as to which college lies within their reach.
If finally you decide and succeed in applying an UK university, then you get an extra bonus by saving one year , like the boy who goes to London School of Economics.

German Swiss IS and French IS are both very good schools and one really have to thank the Heavens if he find a place there.

Chinese IS is also very  good. It has a lot of Mandarin teaching , much to the joy of HK parents. The  IB curriculum  enables graduates to apply  UK and  US universities with equal ease. Another plus.

ESF ( Island Schools , Shatin School etc ) follows the British system. As I have made no plan for my son to study in the UK, so I havn't done much research in the ESF  ( English School Foundation ).  I believe they are very good too. May be alexlui can help      

Then there's the Li Po Chun United World College. It's only for Sixth formers but it's one of the best you can get. The only drawback I can think of is that , the 2 year course is too short and most of your time you'll be gunning for your IB Diploma and University application.

Cayenne

mattsmum 寫道:
hi, Cayenne,
i am planning to send my kid to international school after finishing local primary school, but my worry is the culture and language barrier, did you kid had smooth transition? it is easy to him to find goodfriends?

Hi,

Young people have an amazing ability to adapt. Don't worry !

If they have intelligent and caring  parents, their transition will be even easier. The fact that you're reading and writing in this web assures me that your kid will be all right !

mfkhung

Hi Cayenne,

Thanks for telling us about the duty of the college counsellors. We got no idea about it before. But now we regard them as VIP.

Regarding to the IB programme and diploma, I found both Victoria Shanghai Academy and HKUGA are teaching with such approach. Do you think graduates from these school could get a place from world top universities?

Cayenne

mfkhung 寫道:
Hi Cayenne,
Thanks for telling us about the duty of the college counsellors. We got no idea about it before. But now we regard them as VIP.
Regarding to the IB programme and diploma, I found both Victoria Shanghai Academy and HKUGA are teaching with such approach. Do you think graduates from these school could get a place from world top universities?

Hi,

They're the 'new kids in town'. I'm sure with time they'll make their mark.

The well established IS like HKIS/GSIS/ESF/etc  enjoy an advantage in that , over the years , their standards are well recognised by top universities world wide. The admission committees  know exactly  how good a top HKIS/GSIS/ESF /etc student really  is ,when compared to students in the US and the UK.
As a matter of fact, recruitment officers from top US colleges ( Cornell, Yale . ,. etc )  visit HKIS each year before college application , to ensure they receive the attention of top applicants.
This is the privilege of studying in a well established IS.

For the 'New kids in town', there's got to be a learning curve. They need students with stellar academic performances  to thump on the doors of the top universities . Then  they'll have their  attention.  I'm sure with time they too will achieve this goal. The question is : when ?

In the end, it all boils down to the personal efforts of individual students.  So, as parents, we have to ask ourselves :
Is my kid the pro-active , trailblazing type ?

adachan318

Hi Cayenne,

I am very interested in your comments regarding GSIS and French IS.  Is it really hard to get into these 2 schools ?  Is it even harder than getting admitted into HKIS ?

And how would you compare these 2 schools to HKIS ?  I am also a prospective parents for HKIS.  However, I also need to apply a few more schools just in case my little one does not get admitted into HKIS for whatever reasons.  

Cayenne 寫道:
[quote]
mfkhung 寫道:
By the way, would you name some other international schools that you know? We want to know more in case we could not get a place from HKIS.
Thanks again. Your sharing encourages us to go for the big change!

Hi,

HK has some very fine IS too. It all depends on where ( which country) you want your son to study aboard.

If  US is your destination, then HKIS is  ideal because the whole setup is geared for US colleges. The college counsellors ( teachers who have great experience in college applications ) are most helpful . Some even have   personal  ties to college admission boards and can give sound advice to your kids as to which college lies within their reach.
If finally you decide and succeed in applying an UK university, then you get an extra bonus by saving one year , like the boy who goes to London School of Economics.

German Swiss IS and French IS are both very good schools and one really have to thank the Heavens if he find a place there.

Chinese IS is also very  good. It has a lot of Mandarin teaching , much to the joy of HK parents. The  IB curriculum  enables graduates to apply  UK and  US universities with equal ease. Another plus.

ESF ( Island Schools , Shatin School etc ) follows the British system. As I have made no plan for my son to study in the UK, so I havn't done much research in the ESF  ( English School Foundation ).  I believe they are very good too. May be alexlui can help      

Then there's the Li Po Chun United World College. It's only for Sixth formers but it's one of the best you can get. The only drawback I can think of is that , the 2 year course is too short and most of your time you'll be gunning for your IB Diploma and University application.
[/quote]

Cayenne

adachan318 寫道:
Hi Cayenne,

I am very interested in your comments regarding GSIS and French IS.  Is it really hard to get into these 2 schools ?  Is it even harder than getting admitted into HKIS ?
And how would you compare these 2 schools to HKIS ?  I am also a prospective parents for HKIS.  However, I also need to apply a few more schools just in case my little one does not get admitted into HKIS for whatever reasons.  

Hi,

It's so hard to get a place in a good, well established IS that an offer from any of these schools is close to being miraculous. I don't think I can say which of these schools is harder to get in.

GSIS is known for her top academic achievements while FIS  has 2005 IB graduates going to Oxford too. So if I were offered a place in both, I'll just toss a coin   .

Seriously, as I said before, it all depends on which country you intend your little ones to go. Most  Hong Kong GSIS/FIS students go to the UK ,though the very top students can always go anywhere ( US/UK) they like.
Some parents have family/business/cultural ties to certain countries and so they may take this into consideration in choosing the IS for their kids.

We're talking as if these IS are lining up out there for our picking, when in fact it's the other way round
  

mfkhung

Hi Cayenne,

Thanks again. I like your perception very much.

I want to hear what you would say about those DSS such as DBS, St Paul co-ed.. How would you choose if you have offers from both IS and DSS ?

Cayenne

mfkhung 寫道:
Hi Cayenne,
Thanks again. I like your perception very much.
I want to hear what you would say about those DSS such as DBS, St Paul co-ed.. How would you choose if you have offers from both IS and DSS ?

Hi,

Thank you for your very generous comments.

Ehhhhh . .  your question is so difficult , like debating whether ruby or emerald is more beautiful.

Luckily, the Grand Architects of HK's educational system come to our rescue. They have already  made the decision for us . They themselves are graduates of the best traditional schools in HK, and just look where they send their beloved children to. Certainly not to their own alma mater !   

DBS/ LSC  etc are very very good schools in the sense that they offer a more balanced education within the confines of the lop-sided traditional system. They are better places to learn Chinese and develop discipline too.

The final decision is entirely personal. I dislike the rigid restrictions of traditional schooling. I even resent having to wear school uniforms   . Now this is all my own idiosyncrasy and please don't take my words seriously      

Cayenne

Just found an interesting table showing how well some of our international schools perform in UK's GCSE  exam , compared to the UK average :

GCSE (%)........grade A*....grade A*to C
--------------------------------------------
UK average......17.4 ............ 59.2
ESF..................50.2..............94.8
FIS...................59..................95.4
GSIS................65.5...............97
CIS..................?.....................92.3

mfkhung

Hi Cayenne,

Wow, not only interesting but also very charming!

Thanks!

gab

Cayenne: Thank you for sharing this info. Very interesting.