
International schools in Hong Kong offer a wide range of curricula options relevant to the local markets and the needs and preferences of parents. This handy guide has rounded up the facts you need to know about the various curriculum options on offer in Hong Kong including British and A Levels to American And IB. Here is a breakdown to make your life a bit easier. Enjoy!
Curriculum Type | Description | Schools Offering It |
---|---|---|
International Baccalaureate (IB) | A globally recognized program that emphasizes critical thinking and intercultural understanding. | – Yew Chung International School – Hong Kong Academy – French International School – Malvern College Hong Kong – Renaissance College – Canadian International School of Hong Kong – Li Po Chun United World College – Island School – German Swiss International School – Discovery College |
British Curriculum | Follows the UK education system, leading to GCSEs and A-levels. | – Harrow International School – Kellett School – King George V School – Sha Tin College – South Island School – West Island School – Discovery Bay International School |
American Curriculum | Based on the US education system, including Advanced Placement (AP) courses. | – American International School Hong Kong – Hong Kong International School – International Christian School – Hong Kong Adventist Academy |
Canadian Curriculum | Emphasizes a holistic education approach, leading to high school diplomas recognized in Canada. | – Christian Alliance International School – DSC International School |
Australian Curriculum | Follows the Australian education system, focusing on a broad range of subjects. | – Australian International School Hong Kong |
Chinese National Curriculum | Aligns with the education system in mainland China, focusing on Chinese language and culture. | – Chinese International School |
Dual Language Programs | Programs that teach in both English and Mandarin, promoting bilingualism. | – The International School of Hong Kong – Hong Kong International School |
KEY EARLY YEARS + CURRICULUM TIPS AND SCHOOLS HONG KONG:
Canadian School Curriculum Hong Kong - Christian Alliance P.C. Lau Memorial International School, Christian Alliance International School, Delia School Of Canada, Canadian School Curriculum
Founded in 1992, the Christian Alliance P.C. Lau Memorial International School (CAPCL) is a bilingual Primary international school adopting the Canadian Alberta Curriculum implementing a co-homeroom system, with an emphasis on learners becoming servant leaders. CAPCL believes that holistic education encompasses character development based on Biblical principles, language fluency and intercultural competency as global citizens, and service to home, school, and local communities.
Christian Alliance P.C. Lau Memorial International School, 2 Fu Ning Street, Kowloon, Hong Kong, +852 2950 6326, admissions@capcl.edu.hk, www.capcl.edu.hk
International American curriculum schools generally have higher standards than the public system schools within the US, and they have to be accredited by one of four national, non-governmental agencies. To gain accreditation, a school’s curriculum must conform to the standards determined by an accrediting body, for example, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
The details:
* In Hong Kong, schools following an American curriculum usually offer schooling from the age of four (Reception).
* Schooling at this age is less academically based and is intended to introduce children to a school’s social environment and alphabetic and numeric awareness.
* Primary and secondary school education covers children from the ages of 6 - 18 years old. At the secondary or ‘high’ school level, students are required to take examinations in core subject areas to enable them to graduate with an American High School Diploma. Students might also take external examinations such as Advanced Placements (APs), which can strengthen their university applications.
Schools offering American Curriculum in Hong Kong? Click here for the full guide!
American School Hong Kong (ASHK), located in Tai Po, is a leading through-train international school renowned for its rigorous American curriculum and IB Diploma Programme, delivered by seasoned international educators who consistently inspire, motivate, and challenge students towards academic excellence. Accredited by WASC and MSA for Kindergarten through Grade 12, ASHK is also authorized by the IBO to administer the IB Diploma Programme for Grades 11 to 12. Operated by Esol Education, a global leader with over 45 years of experience in establishing and managing top-tier international American schools, ASHK maintains a commitment to providing high-quality education on a global scale.
American School Hong Kong, 6 Ma Chung Road, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong, +852 3919 4111 / +852 9163 0277 (WhatsApp), admissions@ashk.edu.hk, www.ashk.edu.hk
The English National Curriculum provides broadly based, age-appropriate courses of study, designed to build towards GCSE and A Level senior school qualifications. Compulsory subjects include English, mathematics, science, ICT, physical education, geography, history, music, arts and design, design and technology, modern foreign languages, and citizenship.
Schools offering British Curriculum in Hong Kong? Click here for the full guide!
Note: Parents should look carefully at a school’s curriculum as some schools offer curriculum variations, for example, the Key Stages of the UK National Curriculum blended with concepts of the International Primary Curriculum (IPC), and the IB Diploma instead of A-levels.
The Australian Curriculum Framework integrates eight learning areas to ensure a balanced education and a strong foundation for each child. This power of eight includes English, Mathematics, Science, Health, Technology, Arts, Society and the Environment, and Mother Language. Students graduate with the Western Australian Certificate of Education at the end of year 12.
Schools offering Australian Curriculum in Hong Kong? Australian International School, Island Christian Academy
There are a lot of IB World Schools in Hong Kong that offer one or more of the three IB programs. The IB is a recognized leader in the field of international education, offering three challenging programs for students ages 3 to 19. The IB’s methodologies draw upon strategies of inquiry to create in-depth learning about particular topics. A great deal of time is spent by students and teachers working towards answering broad questions using many resources and drawing upon a combination of subject areas, learning and enhancing specific skills.
Schools offering IB Curriculum in Hong Kong? Click here for the full guide!
The IPC is a comprehensive, thematic, and creative curriculum for students ages. With a clear process of learning, it offers specific learning goals for every subject within an ‘international mindedness’ context. Originally introduced in the year 2000 to provide an international curriculum for 14 schools worldwide, today the IPC is taught in more than 1,000 schools in over 65 different countries. Schools in Hong Kong, such as Discovery Bay International School, complement the UK National Curriculum in subjects such as geography, history, science, art, and design technology with IPC units of work. The IPC provides an investigative approach to learning and promotes the importance of learning how to learn, rather than simply the learning of facts.
IPC Schools Offering IPC In Hong Kong, YMCA Christian Academy, Invictus, Discovery Mind Primary School Hong Kong, Hong Kong Adventist Academy, Norwegian International School
The Primary One Curriculum In Hong Kong is offered at 11 Schools in Hong Kong. Subjects range from social studies to science to Chinese, English, math, art, and PE. This curriculum aims to celebrate the uniqueness of the child, as it is expressed in each child's personality, intelligence and potential for development. It is designed to nurture the child in all dimensions of his or her life—spiritual, moral, cognitive, emotional, imaginative, aesthetic, social, and physical.
Schools offering The Primary One Curriculum In Hong Kong, Click here
In addition to the UK, American, and IB curricula, Hong Kong also boasts a number of other curricula schools. These are international schools that offer the education of their home country’s curriculum, and these schools usually teach in their home country’s language.The German-Swiss, French and Australian International Schools, for example, are well-suited for families whose overseas stay is going to be short, or whose children are planning to attend university in their home country. The advantage of attending such a school is that students can continue with an education system they are familiar with while gaining experience of living overseas and then can return to a school in their home country with minimum disruption.
More Primary/Secondary Curriculum Options Hong Kong:
WANT MORE SCHOOL GUIDES TO HONG KONG:
KEY PRIMARY/SECONDARY CURRICULUM TIPS AND SCHOOLS HONG KONG:
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