ICHK HLY
Admissions Policy

Admissions Policy

Admissions Policy

Families seeking admission for their child at any time of the year, should contact the school for advice on the admissions process or complete our online application form,  All students are eligible for admission if it is believed that the school can meet their particular needs.

We are currently accepting applications for children born in 2018, for nursery places starting in August 2021.

Kindergarten and Primary

Enrolment is open to anyone, in Hong Kong or abroad. The Principal makes the final decision on admission of students into school. It is the school’s policy to try and ensure a balance in each class of nationality, gender and languages. This provides all students with the maximum opportunity of learning in a rich multi-cultural and co-educational environment with a high standard of spoken English.

Admission is possible at any time of the year if places are available. Students starting in Nursery will be expected to continue throughout the school to Year 6 and then on to International College Hong Kong for their secondary education. Usually we would expect local students to start in our Nursery and expatriate students in the year group according to when they arrive in Hong Kong.

The school tries to ensure a balance in each class of nationality, gender and languages.

As classes approach capacity, particular consideration is given to:

  • Children of staff working at the school, including ICHK Secondary
  • Siblings of children already attending  the school
  • Applicants who hold a passport other than a HKSAR passport
  • Native English speakers
  • Residents of Hong Lok Yuen

It is important that all parents share the mission, vision and values of the school.

Students with learning difficulties may be admitted if it is believed that their needs can be supported by the School’s Learning Support Programme and that students can be placed in the regular classroom without jeopardising the education of other students.

For students entering Nursery whose first language is not English, the family must also be able to demonstrate at interview, that adequate support in English can be given at home to ensure development of the language. All students whose native language is not English must take an assessment to determine whether they can be supported.

Students will only usually be accepted if the standard of reading, writing and speaking in English is proficient. Some places are available for students who are new to English or whose English is not fluent. Such places are only offered if there is availability on the intensive EAL programme and students cannot access the curriculum of local government subsidised schools.

Secondary

Our admissions policy reflects our school mission and vision, and has been adopted by the Board of Governors who are responsible for its content and review.

ICHK is a community school whose diverse student population is one of our main strengths and reflects the rich demographics of our partner schools. In keeping with the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, ICHK does not discriminate in admissions with regard to gender, citizenship, race or religion. However, as English is our medium of instruction and to ensure that students gain maximum benefit from the education we provide, students are required to be proficient in English, or to demonstrate such proficiency is within their short term reach. The school offers a scholarship scheme for deserving students from the wider community.

ICHK is run as a day school. Students must therefore reside with their parent(s) or other legal guardian in a location within commuting distance to the school.

ICHK exists to cater primarily for students from our family of partner schools: ICHK Kindergarten and Primary, Japanese International School and Kingston International School. However we also accept applications from other families in the New Territories and Kowloon. Our community believes in the benefit of small class sizes (a maximum of 22 students with two additional places in exceptional circumstances).

Hence all students are accepted according to the following criteria:

  1. There is sufficient space in the class.
  2. Students meet our admissions requirements.

Admission Requirements

The Head of School makes the final decision on admission of students into the school.

  1. As English is the language of instruction, applicants must demonstrate proficiency in English. Dispensation may be granted for students with English as an Additional Language (EAL). Previous school reports or a non-verbal standardised test score will need to establish that the student will be able to successfully access the curriculum within a reasonable time. Parents will need to demonstrate a commitment to supporting English at home and, if necessary, agree to pay for EAL intensive support at school.
  2.  Students should have a record of commitment to learning.
  3.  ICHK is a community school. Parents should be supportive of their children’s education and be willing to become involved in the life and ethos of the school.
  4. As a school which believes in the benefits of a holistic education, parents must agree to their child’s participation in both the activities programme and CAS+ Week.
  5. Students with learning needs may be admitted if the school believes that their needs can be met by the school’s Educational Support programmes and the student can be placed in a mainstream classroom without unduly impacting on the education of other students. If the school is of the view that additional teaching support will be required, then parents will be asked to pay for these additional costs. (A conditional offer will be made in these circumstances).
  6. Any initial placement is tentative, and the school may either advise a change of grade level or class after the student’s learning profile have been assessed or, in certain circumstances, may withdraw the placement.

Admission into the IB Diploma Programme

This section applies equally to our existing students and to external applicants.

  1. Students must first meet all admission requirements as stated above.
  2. Students who have completed their Y11 course of study at ICHK or otherwise, are eligible to apply for the IB DP. In order for students to meet with success in the IB Diploma, it is recommended that students should have a minimum of 5 A*-C grades at GCSE or equivalent and a minimum of grade B for Higher level subjects.
  3. All monies owed to ICHK shall have been paid in full.

Allocation of Places at ICHK Secondary

The allocation of places to study at ICHK Secondary is governed by the following principles:

  1. Each year, ICHK Secondary is able to offer a total of 88 places for students to study in Year 7.
  2. The EDB requires that at least 70% of the student population be “non-Hong Kong” passport holders (ie foreign, Mainland China, Macau or Taiwan passport holders.) Mainland Chinese passport holders generally become Hong Kong passport holders after obtaining permanent residence. Other applicants may be in the process of obtaining a “non-Hong Kong” passport. The passport the student holds will be considered at the proposed admission date.
  3. 60 places are reserved until 1 November in Year 6, for students from our three primary partners: ICHK (HLY) (30 places), Kingston International School (KIS) (15 places) and Japanese International School (International Section) (JIS) (15 places).
  4. Of the 28 places not reserved:
    1. 23 places can be allocated to “non-Hong Kong” passport holders from outside of the three partner schools in advance of the 1 November deadline. Students will need to demonstrate that they give promise of attaining sufficiently strong English to access the ICHK curriculum come Year 7. These places are allocated on a first come, first served basis. ICHK is able to accept applications from students in Year 3 onwards.
    2. 5 places can be allocated to Hong Kong passport holders from outside the three partner schools in advance of the 1 November deadline. Students will need to demonstrate that they give promise of attaining sufficiently strong English to access the ICHK curriculum come Year 7. These places are allocated on a first come, first served basis. ICHK is able to accept applications from students in Year 3 onwards.
  5. Once the 1 November deadline takes effect, any outstanding places from the 60 reserved places for primary partners will be made available to students from other schools on a first come, first served basis, with a waiting list of all applications being compiled for each academic year. The first come, first served basis may need to be adjusted to ensure the school maintains the required 70%.