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Hong Kong international schools ultimate curricula guide: from the famed IB programme to the UK national curriculum and A-levels, the Montessori method and more

  • There’s a bewildering range of different curricula on offer at all educational stages and selecting the ones that best fit your child’s needs is key when deciding on a school

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For younger ones, indoor and outdoor play is a key learning environment. Photo: Elson Li
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Choosing a school in Hong Kong can be a dizzying decision, but considering the different curriculums offered can help narrow it down. From preschool to pre-university, here are the different curriculum options available in Hong Kong international schools and how to decide on what’s best for your child:

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

Ages: 0-5 years

Developed in the UK, Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is a statutory framework that sets the standards for the learning, development and care of children up to five years of age. A mix of play-based and adult-led learning (via discussions, modelling and both direct and indirect teaching), EYFS is built around four guiding principles: that every child is unique, they learn to be strong and independent through positive relationships, the environment plays a key role in their development and learning, and that children learn in different ways and at different rates.

“Extensive research has shown that young children learn best via inquiry and the vehicle of play-based learning,” says Jacqueline McNalty, head of Malvern College Pre-Schools. “This teaching and learning approach is developmentally appropriate and enables young children to explore concepts, develop skills, and deepen their understanding in a fun, interactive, multisensory and engaging way.”

Children in the EYFS curriculum have three prime areas of learning: communication and language, physical development, and personal, social and emotional development, plus four additional topics that strengthen and support these areas, including literacy, mathematics, understanding the world, and expressive arts and design.

Montessori

Ages: 2-12 years

The Montessori method is a child-centred, educational system developed by Dr Maria Montessori in the early 1900s that emphasises a hands-on approach to learning. Encouraging children to learn through play, it focuses on the development of the whole child, including their cognitive, physical, and social-emotional skills.

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