Hong Kong children ‘turned away by some popular British schools’ as enrolments hit record high
- ‘Too many Hong Kong applicants,’ say some British schools that prefer a mix of foreign students
- Direct subsidy schools in city hurt financially as better-off parents send children to study overseas
The number of Hong Kong children enrolling in British schools has hit at least an 11-year high, with some being turned away for the first time, according to education consultants.
Elite schools in Hong Kong, meanwhile, are feeling the loss of several thousand students who left to study mainly in Britain.
Education Bureau data showed that the number of vacancies in primary and secondary schools rose to nearly 5,200 between July and October, meaning more students withdrew after the summer.
According to the latest British government data, 2,679 child student visas were issued to Hongkongers from January to September, a record since at least 2010, the earliest year when full records were available.
The child student visas are for those aged four to 17 who enrol in private schools, including boarding schools, with hefty annual tuition fees around HK$350,000 to HK$500,000 (US$44,800 to US$64,100).
Most Hong Kong schoolchildren leave after completing Form Three or Form Five to start Year 10 or Year 12 respectively in Britain.
