Hong Kong parents to be allowed to enrol their children in any ESF school of their choice regardless of where they live
- English Schools Foundation changes its current residence-based place allocation policy allowing more flexibility
- Education consultancy expert says it will enable ESF to move applicants around and achieve balance in all schools in terms of numbers and diversity
The city’s largest international school group said the change was to give parents more choice, but an education consultant said the new policy would also allow ESF more flexibility to move applicants around and balance the pupil population among their schools.
ESF on Thursday announced pupils would be able to apply for any of its 22 schools starting on August 1, when it will end the present geographical or “zoning” requirement.
“Parents who are already in the application process prior to this date will be contacted and offered the chance to revise their choice of schools,” an ESF statement said.
At present, apart from ESF Discovery College in Discovery Bay, Renaissance College in Ma On Shan and the five kindergartens, parents applying for a place at other ESF schools can only choose those in their allocated geographical area based on their home address.
“This new admissions policy gives families more choice in making that decision and is based on our belief that, regardless of which one of our schools they attend, ESF pupils will always have access to a world-class education, delivered by world-leading teachers who understand that every child is unique,” Belinda Greer, the CEO of ESF, said.
An ESF spokesman said applicants will be asked to express a list of preferences, but they could only choose four schools.
