Primary School Suggestions 2

Posted by tilo (54 days ago)

Sorry for starting a new thread - could not respond to original keep getting Erro 404 file not found.

Anyhow ltxhk and aemom - thank you for your replies. Just a few more questions/comments:

We would prefer small classroom size (low teacher: student ratio), but not necessarily a small school. Will want school that has outdoor space.

In your opinion, which schools have the best reputation for being nuturing and teaches children how to learn? Does not matter whether the curriculum is Canadian-based, British-based or American-based (would not be a deciding factor) as long as English is the main language. But would love for my daughter to learn Mandarin. She is going to Saturday classes now, but has not progressed very far as neither my husband nor I speak it.

I am guessing out of the options, International Schools would be first choice, then ESF schools. However the International Montessori School ltxhk mentioned also seems promising, is it considered an 'international school'?

Would living in Clearwater Bay/Sai Kung not limit my school options? Not sure if I want my daughter taking the ferry and bus to school everyday (which is an assumption only - not sure about transportation)

Don't know if my husbands company has a debenture, he does not think so.

Any recommendations appreciated. THANKS!

(I am based in Other)

Posted by ltxhk (53 days ago)

If you live in Clearwater Bay/ Sai Kung, you would have a long commute to the int'l schools on HK island. Some families do make this commute every day, but most of them started on the island and moved, and just don't want to move the kid's school.

There are so many good primary schools, that I would not feel limited by living in CWB/ Saikung.... but then I would focus my selection on schools in the Kowloon/ NT area.

The international schools with the best Mandarin in kowloon/ NT are:
Renaissance College (affiliated to ESF but not ESF)
Australian International School
Hong Lok Yuen Int'l
Japanese International

Clearwater Bay Primary (ESF) has a pilot 4 day a week Mandarin programme. I think Shatin Jr may also.

On HK side, the following schools are known for their Mandarin programmes:
Chinese International (bi-lingual English/ Chinese)
Canadian International (second language Chinese but still very strong)
Singapore International
International Montessori (yes, this is an international school but is pricey)

Quarry Bay (ESF) has a pilot 4 day a week Mandarin programme. All the international schools do offer some Mandarin at primary, but they are light-weights comparatively.

Compared to the USA, class sizes are larger here .... often 25 to 30 kids. On the other hand, there are more paid assistants in primary schools than in the average USA school. Unless you go with a "small" school with few facilities, it is unlikely to have only 20 kids in a class.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Mighty (53 days ago)

I always wonder why the number of kids in a class have to be so big - always up to 30. Even if you have a teacher + a professional teaching assistant in one class, 30 is really too big a number to manage, dont you think? Is it purely because schools have to generate as much income as they can, or there is a deeper meaning in it? Like you survive in a big class, you survive in a society etc...

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by bprmum (53 days ago)

Hk Academy has 18 students with a teacher and co-teacher. I think this makes a massive difference in how children learn and how much they learn.
They are encouraged to ask questions and take responsibility for their learning, they always get direct feedback on all their work, and they often work in small groups differentiated to meet exactly where they are developmentally. AND they get lots of attention. Perhaps more importantly they get the opportunity to learn in a style best suited to them and every child feels successful. It has made a huge difference in my children's confidence, and their love of school and learning is just amazing.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by cd (52 days ago)

Clearwater Bay has Mandarin 3 x a week for P1 and 2, and 5 x45 mins for P3 upwards. They have 30 in a class with 1 teacher and 1 full time educational assistant. But they are also often put into small groups of about 6 for different things i.e guided reading. There are also proper music teachers, and p.e. teachers. Which makes a huge difference, in my kids first school here, all subjects were taught by the classroom teacher. My sons mandarin has come on a lot since it went to everyday classes. They now follow the IB programm, so lots of enquiry based learning, and self evaluation.
Living in CWB and Sai Kung, you would not need to get a ferry to school, and the schools run school buses.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Mighty (52 days ago)

Hi cd, but which school in Clearwater Bay?

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Yardie (52 days ago)

Clearwater Bay Primary is ESF.

Most of the ESF primaries are moving to 4 or 5 (daily) Manadarin lessons from the next school year.

Some of the options listed above do not offer secondary (high school) education so if you're here for a few years that may an issue.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by tilo (52 days ago)

My husband would be working in Quarry Bay. We have not decided which area we would live in which is why we are looking at schools first to give us an idea. My husband prefers low density area - he would not go for concrete jungle and blocks of high rises, which makes Clearwater Bay idea for HIM, however I like convenience and not to be tied to bus/ferry schedules. He has already said he does not want a car. How easy is it to live in CWB without a car? What are the other less crowded areas of HK will still be easy for my husband to get to Quarry Bay?

School-wise, where is Hong Kong Academy located? It sounds like a really nuturing school, plus my daugther is not one to speak up, so smaller class size is will keep her from getting lost in the crowd.
How does IB compare with Montessori?
Thank you!

(I am based in Unspecified)