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Moving to HK with 4yr old - IMS, AISHK, KIS, FIS, ICA, HKA, Harbour School, P3 options - comments?

  1. #1

    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Sydney, Australia
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    18

    Moving to HK with 4yr old - IMS, AISHK, KIS, FIS, ICA, HKA, Harbour School, P3 options - comments?

    Hi All

    Firstly thanks to everyone who posts for all the helpful information I've gleaned so far from this forum. Certainly helped me to start to understand the HK international school scene.

    Bit of info first moving to HK beginning of August with family including our 4 yr old son (born Dec 2008). After reading this forum as soon as transfer was confirmed began applying like crazy to schools!

    ESF seems to be out of the question - as no address and no corporate surety. Arriving a few weeks before term starts I imagine it's highly unlikely we'll get a P1 spot.
    FYI son only speaks English (British & Australian passports) and currently attends Montessori pre-school in Sydney.

    My preference would be AISHK or IMS.
    AISHK since we will probably return to Australia at some stage. AISHK looks unlikely for 2014, we're some way down the waitlist.

    IMS as, not only do I believe in the Montessori method, but it would also offer some familiarity for our son in a time of change. IMS want to see him for an assessment when we visit HK end of the mth. Is this a good sign? They want him to join a classroom for an hour whilst we tour the school? Anyone else been to IMS for an assessment? any hints/tips?
    In reality I don't want to prep him as it will put him on edge but any hints/tips would be great so we can try and make him as relaxed as possible beforehand.

    Also applied to FIS (company have debenture) and HKA (look the school ethos/keen on new location). But also applied to Korean International, ICA & The Harbour School as back-up options after reading comments on this forum. ICA seems unlikely telling me they have a waitlist of 60. Harbour School have been very responsive but no confirmation on whether they want to assess him during our visit.
    KIS want to see him for an interview whilst we're over. Anyone got any idea what this interview will entail? Any comments on the school? Can't find much on Korean International online except negative comments from 8/9 years ago.
    I know we'll be in HK soon and can see/ask questions ourselves but interested to get others perspectives.

    Am also looking at P3 options in case we're not successful in getting a space anywhere. Has anyone any experiences with Little Dalton? Know it's very new but hoping that might mean places? How easy will it be to get a P3 spot at the last minute?
    Husband will be working in TST so depending on school (unless HKA in which case we'll go to Sai Kung) happy to look at living on Island or Kowloon. At end of the day don't want son to commute too far/be that far from school friends. So long as husbands commute isn't too far/too many changes he'll cope!

    Once we've got our 4yr old sorted then I can start to think about options for our daughter who will be almost 18mths when we arrive.

    Thanks in advance for your comments/advice


  2. #2

    Join Date
    Feb 2013
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    1

    Hi Oz Mum,

    I'm from Sydney too and facing the exact same problems as you.

    Our preference is to live in Shatin and I will be working in Taikoo Shing.

    We have been looking at AISHK but finding a school with vacancies at this time of the year is challenging to say the least.

    Michael


  3. #3

    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Hong Kong
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    432

    Welcome to HK!

    Have neighbours who are very happy with IMS. It's a good school. However, they may have to move their Tin Hau Campus next year. There was a report in the paper that their lease is not being renewed.

    There's been a lot of buzz about Korean International School. It seems to be growing in popularity. The English assessment is a little tough, with 4 yrs old expected to be able to read and spell simple 3 letter words. Most HK Kindys don't teach this, so don't stress. The kids are being grouped together and given the extra support to catch up with the others. My little one couldn't spell/read at 4 either, and at ESF this is taught in P1.

    Have you checked with Woodlands? Have heard they are expanding their Mid-Levels campus. They may be offering p1 classes soon.

    BritOzMum likes this.

  4. #4

    Join Date
    Dec 2012
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    16

    Don't lose heart with large numbers quoted on waitlists either, often people hold multiple spots while they wait to secure their first choice school so if you find a school you really like it does sometimes pay to join the queue. Good luck it will work out in the end!!

    BritOzMum likes this.

  5. #5

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    Feb 2013
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    Sydney, Australia
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    Thanks everyone for your comments. Not sure how our son will go with spelling/reading at KIS assessment but . . .
    Can't wait to see the schools in a few weeks and see which we prefer - hope our preferences match up with any spaces!

    When do most international primaries offer spots/require confirmation? does trying to work out when waitlists might be more realistic


  6. #6

    Join Date
    Feb 2009
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    Hong Kong
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    hi there,
    my daughter is in IMS at the Mid Level campus. its small and very close knit. She has settled in well and I like the montessori teaching approach.

    Quote Originally Posted by BritOzMum
    Thanks everyone for your comments. Not sure how our son will go with spelling/reading at KIS assessment but . . .
    Can't wait to see the schools in a few weeks and see which we prefer - hope our preferences match up with any spaces!

    When do most international primaries offer spots/require confirmation? does trying to work out when waitlists might be more realistic
    BritOzMum likes this.

  7. #7

    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Hong Kong
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    Britozmum,
    the interview at IMS involved individual teachers with each child requesting them to pour water from teapot to cup, holding tea trays, trying to do up buttons on a shirt etc - all with steady hands. All the tasks were instructed in english then in mandarin. I think they were more interested to see kids who did as they were told, not scared of strangers and didnot erupt into tantrums for one hour. Also helped that my child (I think) was polite, shook hands and said 'good morning teacher' and 'goodbye teacher' at the end and was not disruptive at story time. anyway, hope this helps.

    BritOzMum likes this.

  8. #8

    Join Date
    Jan 2005
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    Hong Kong
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    IMS Tin Hau campus is safe for awhile, the Government will not make them move, that was last year's gossip, so don't worry about that for IMS. My daughters have been Montessori-schooled with IMS since they were 18 months and it's excellent. Great communication with teachers and all our needs and concerns are addressed (in the past when we've had them). AISHK looks like a lovely school (to visit on their biannual fair!) so cannot comment. Good luck with whatever you decide.

    BritOzMum likes this.

  9. #9

    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Sydney, Australia
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    18

    Thanks everyone for your feedback. Just back from an exciting but exhausting week looking at areas to live in & schools, not an easy task with two children in tow!
    We were impressed by all the schools we saw, all for different reasons. Am hoping my son did well at his interview at KIS and assessment at IMS so we may have some options for a school place.
    If it was our choice would go with IMS, ICA, AISHK or HKA but as we all know the decision lies with the schools not us! Am hoping that as other schools make their offers the waitlists might become more realistic.
    Now the waiting game . . .


  10. #10
    flo
    flo is offline

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    Apr 2008
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    Just want to put in a word about IMS. I like the Montessori approach very much, and both my children started out in Montessori preschool. When it was time for my son to start Year 1 (5 years old), I had a choice to place him in IMS Casa or ICA. I am hoping to place him in a school where he will finish primary. Then I found out that IMS primary has an unusual low ratio of boys (average 5 to 7 boys in a class of 25). I just didn't think it would provide a good social environment for my boy as he prefers male friends. Instead of putting him in Casa for one to 1 1/2 years and switching again, I just picked ICA. He is now quite happy in his Year 1 class.

    In addition, bear in mind that many children at IMS will transfer to other international schools between 4 to 5 when they get a place at "reception" year. So a Casa class often has significantly more younger children than older ones. These younger children do half-day only, while the older children stay on to do full day. Unavoidably, the teacher will need to spend much of the morning time on the younger children, and older ones are left more on their own. After the younger ones are gone, the teacher can focus to teach the older ones in the afternoon.

    IMS Casa has one qualified teacher + 1 TA to a class of 25. The Montessori centre that my kids went to had 1 qualified teacher:7 kids. So I was a little doubtful about IMS teacher/student ratio.

    Having said that, I have heard mixed reviews about IMS. It highly depends on the child since the teacher can't allocate as much time to each of them. Some children are just more suited to Montessori and really thrive. However, many children also can't be on their own for so long.

    Last edited by flo; 07-03-2013 at 11:48 AM.

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