Hong Kong Orientation Guide

How important is the application procedure?

It is very important to supply the prospective schools that you have applied to a complete applicationformwithsupportingdocuments.Iftheschoolisfull,yourapplicationwillbe waitlisted. The date the school receives a complete application determines your seniority on the waitlist when a place becomes available at the school.

Can I apply to more than one school?

Yes,in fact theenrollmentpressure on schools inHongKong is very highso it isbest toapplyto more than one school as a backup.

How many schools should I apply to in order to secure a place for my child?

Wewill recommend schools that you have a good chance of getting into aswell as those you would like to see.Keep inmind thatmanyof themore popular schoolshave longwaitlists.You can apply to as many schools as you like but most schools charge a non-refundable application feewhichvariesfromHK$500 to$2000+.

What if I cannot get my child into the school of my choice?

Our advice is to be open-minded. There are many world-class schools in Hong Kong.We can showyouexcellentschoolsthatyoumaynothaveonyourlist.

Taking your child to school in a bus in Hong Kong unusual?

On the contrary, it is rare to be able to walk to school with your children.There are schools in more traditional neighborhoods where the parents can walk their children to school and we certainly canshowthemtoyou.Youmayfind thatyouneed to lookinto theNewTerritoriesorSai Kung regions of HongKong.

How long can I expect my child to be on a bus in the morning and afternoon?

Itis notunusual forthe children to beon thebus for40minutesormore.Remember,the children arewiththeirfriendsandaresupervisedbya“BusMom.”It becomesverysocial withthe children chatting merrily about their day’sevents.

Does an adult, other than the driver, supervise the school bus?

For children in the primary years,an adult who is called the “BusMom”will supervise the buses. In themorning and afternoon when your child is collected,the BusMomwill ensure their safety belt is on and is responsible for safety on the bus.At the end of theday,the school ensures all the bus children are sorted to their assigned buses for their journey home.

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