We catch up with the newest member of the Shrewsbury HK team, CHELLY TSANG, to hear how she works to guide parents through secondary school selection.
Tell us about your new role as Shrewsbury’s Schools Partnership Coordinator.
I’m responsible for our personalised secondary school selection programme and kindergarten liaison. So, I work with our Year 4 to 6 families to make sure they all experience a supported and smooth transition to Year 7. While the majority of families are keen to explore available options here in Hong Kong, we also support those keen to explore boarding education and we hold a wide range of close relationships with independent sector schools in the UK.
I also work closely with a number of kindergartens, offering presentations and personalised tours in which families can meet with our Principal, Mr Ben Keeling, and be hosted by our admissions team.
When do parents start to engage with you for guidance on enrolments?
Our secondary school selection programme offers guidance and advice to families over the course of their child’s final three years at primary school. It helps parents to identify, select and secure a place that will allow their child to thrive.
We take into consideration the priorities and preferences of parents, and the areas of strength and personality of the student, and we match them with a shortlist of good-fit school options.
While I usually work most closely with parents of older students, I’m available to anyone in the school community at any point of time.
Do you ever recommend against a family joining Shrewsbury?
We are sincere, open and honest about our unique offering to our prospective parent community and a transparent admissions journey supports that. So, should we ever feel that the support a family requires isn’t matched to the one we can provide, we’ll communicate accordingly. This is very rare, but it’s nonetheless an essential message to convey during the application journey.
How many secondary pathways are offered to Shrewsbury students?
The options available are as varied as the students themselves. Secondary education centres around qualification and successful university entry – it’s hugely important that parents engage consciously at this critical juncture, even if they feel that their path is set.
Shrewsbury students have received offers from schools here and abroad; in Hong Kong, they include the Australian International School, the Canadian International School, Harrow, Hong Kong Academy, Kellett, Hong Kong International School and more. Others have been placed in UK schools such as Abberley Hall School, Kingswood School, Moor Park School, Packwood Haugh (Shrewsbury Preparatory School) and Roedean School.
How are students involved in the process of secondary selection?
It’s very important to involve children in the planning of their educational path. Shrewsbury students are encouraged to explore and discover their own interests and strengths through the selection of activities. This involves gathering together crucial thoughts and ideas from both students and parents. We encourage students to attend the campus tours with their parents, and we believe every student’s opinions are valuable and crucial to the school selection process.
Shrewsbury International School Hong Kong is at 10 Shek Kok Road, Tseung Kwan O.
2480 1500 | shrewsbury.edu.hk
This article first appeared in the Autumn 2020 issue of Expat Living magazine. Subscribe now so you never miss an issue.
