• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
GO TO EXPAT LIVING SINGAPORE
GET OUR NEWSLETTER

Expat Living Hong Kong HomepageExpat Living Hong Kong

Moving to Hong Kong and not sure where to start? Expat Living is the essential lifestyle guide to living in Hong Kong.

Login Pelcro Shop

Menu
  • Living In Hong Kong
      • Living Here
      • Where To Live
      • Schools
      • For Guys
        • What it’s like living on Peng Chau
        • Pets and Planes: 5 Things to Consider
        • City meets country in this residential development
        • Financial considerations for expats leaving Hong Kong for Australia - how a qualifying foreign superannuation fund can provide tax advantages - Northland GroupThings to consider when moving to Australia
      • View all
    Close
  • Things To Do
      • Things To Do
      • What’s On/Calendar
      • Competitions & Offers
        • W Hotel Hong Kong Poolside PartyTop 35 Best Things To Do In Hong Kong This Weekend
        • What to watch this month – Netflix & more!
        • Best museums in Hong Kong - The Palace Museum14 of the best museums in Hong Kong
        • Great podcasts we are listening to!
      • View all
    Close
  • Kids
      • Activities & Things To Do
      • Education & Enrichment
      • Health & Wellness
      • Mums & Babies
      • Podcasts
        • Choosing a university and finding the right fit
        • Pregancy in Hong Kong - maternity care at Matilda International HospitalPregnant in HK? What you need to know
        • A boarding school with wildlife on the doorstep!
        • A fun summer camp for teens in Cebu
      • View all
    Close
  • Homes
      • Home Décor
      • Readers Homes
        • Home design and décor tips - ginger jarsHow to bring your living room to life!
        • Rebecca, Brian and daughter Billie in their newly renovated Fortress Hill homeTransforming a Hidden Gem in Fortress Hill
        • Horizon Plaza stores - Indigo Living Boston Brownstone CollectionOur guide to furniture shopping at Horizon Plaza
        • See the Soho home of a professional organiser
      • View all
    Close
  • Travel
      • Short Breaks
      • Further Afield
        • Pets and Planes: 5 Things to Consider
        • Sri Lanka - Where to go for a girls tripWhere to go for a girls’ trip
        • Best Surf Breaks in Southeast Asia - padang padangBest Surf Breaks in Southeast Asia
        • Outdoor activities in Hong Kong - hikingOutdoor activities for all the family
      • View all
    Close
  • Wine & Dine
      • Recipes & Groceries
      • Bars & Restaurants
        • Seafood restaurant in Hong Kong - Lobster Shack4 restaurants to satisfy your cravings
        • Taste Test: Chinese Cuisine in HK
        • New bars and restaurants in Hong Kong - RositaNew nibbles: where to dine this May
        • Middle Eastern Restaurants and cuisine in Hong Kong - Mama MaloufTaste Test: Middle Eastern Eats
      • View all
    Close
  • Style & Beauty
      • Fashion
      • Hair & Beauty
        • Considering getting hair extensions?
        • Paraben-free skincare for men
        • Skincare anti-ageing products, overnight creams, face and eye serumsTried and Tested: Anti-ageing Products 
        • Sensitive skin moisturisers, serums & more!
      • View all
    Close
  • Health & Fitness
      • Medical & Dental
      • Fitness
      • Wellness
        • recurrent miscarriages – causes, risk factors, ivf treatmentHealth help: A focus on recurrent miscarriage
        • lung cancer - symptoms and treatmentLung Cancer: 8 Common Myths
        • Osteopathy in Hong KongOsteopathy for Body Aches & Pains
        • image of mum and baby for article on postnatal depression by clinical psychologist Dr Zaidi of MindNlife Hong KongBaby blues or something more?
      • View all
    Close
  • Shop
    • Magazine
    • Advertise With Us
    • Close

Top tips for choosing an international school

23 February, 2018 by Melissa Stevens 2 Min Read

https://expatliving.hk/kellett-school-tips-choosing-international-school/

The international education sector in Hong Kong has undergone dramatic changes in recent years with a rapid expansion in the number of schools. With a career spanning 40 years, 21 of those as principal of Kellett School – The British International School in Hong Kong, Ann McDonald is well versed in navigating the education system in Hong Kong and understands how overwhelming more choice can be for parents.

“I frequently meet with parents struggling to chart a course for their child,” Ann says. “Often, they’re more familiar with each school’s blurb than those who wrote it, and they’ve scoured the relevant education chatrooms and discussed the school at length across the dinner table, at baby group and over coffee. In my experience, all too often the greater the research the greater the indecision.”

Kellett School student and teacher
What’s right for your child may not be right for another when it comes to choosing a school

Ultimately, though, Ann says that while there is a lot more information to consider when it comes to choosing a school in Hong Kong, the wealth of choice has many benefits. “Many of the newer schools offer alternative curricula to the International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme, and more school places should equate to shorter waiting lists,” she says. “Given the choice of schools in Hong Kong, this could also lead to a decline in the need to pack bags at 11 or 13 years for overseas boarding education.”

The veteran Kellett School principal has some sound advice for parents who are trying to weigh up the best options for the children – with a key one being you know what’s best for your child.

“It’s rare to find a 100 percent perfect match for what you want from a school,” she says. “However, engaging with a school and understanding any limitations goes a long way to creating the perfect school-home partnership.”

Kellett School Principal Ann McDonald
Kellett School Principal Ann McDonald

Ann’s top tips for choosing a school

Do your homework: School registration requirements differ. While waiting lists are softening, they do remain, so register as early as possible.

Trust your instincts: Look for schools that align to your values and beliefs. A selective school, for example, may not be for you if you don’t want your child to go through an interview process at a young age.

Look forward: Look for curriculums that easily transfer into a variety of settings if Hong Kong is a short-term destination. If your stay is likely to be lengthy, the international schools here share fantastic expertise at placing students into universities, colleges and careers.

Visit your shortlisted schools: Visit schools and look beyond the brochure blurb. The key question to ask is, “Can I see my child thriving in this setting?”

Be methodical: Select your top three preferred schools at which to register. A year before your child is due to start school, revisit each and rank your selection. Once offered a place and accepted, let the other schools know. Releasing places assists others in achieving their first choice.

Kellett School Pok Fu Lam Preparatory: 2 Wah Lok Path, Wah Fu, Pok Fu Lam Kowloon Bay Prep and Senior: 7 Lam Hing Street, Kowloon Bay 3120 0700 | kellettschool.com

Find out more about how Kellett is tackling the issue of student stress and read our guide to international schools in Hong Kong

This article first appeared in the December/January 2017/18 issue of Expat Living magazine. Subscribe now so you never miss an issue

Categories: Schools

Get the latest events, stories and special offers sent to your inbox
Get the latest events, stories and special offers sent to your inbox

You May Also Like

A day in the life of a Shrewsbury student

The power of play for little learners

AISHK in 2023 & Beyond

Primary Sidebar

  • COMPETITIONS & OFFERS
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Subscribe

© 2023 Expat Living Hong Kong, All Rights Reserved.