English Secondary
In the English Secondary Department (ESD), we offer a challenging and diverse academic curriculum, leading to the IGCSE examinations and then on to the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma.
We also aim to give our students numerous opportunities outside of the classroom to develop their intellect, curiosity, and imagination. We are unique in that we form part of the German Swiss International School and so are able to provide our students with enhanced exposure to the German language and to the culture of German speaking countries.
The teaching staff is made up of experienced educators, drawn from around the world, who are expert in their subjects and whose aim is not solely for outstanding results, but to also offer a wealth of subject enrichment opportunities. The faculty teams work hard to provide our students with the very highest quality of teaching needed to help our students fulfil their potential and achieve their best results. They share with their students a passion for their subjects and strive to ensure that students are stretched and challenged. Our teachers are instrumental in maintaining our high levels of academic success, and we are very proud of our students' achievements.
Our students are highly motivated, keen to learn, and eager to make the most of their opportunities. They show characteristics typical of many international school students, as they are entertaining, friendly, and ambitious. This makes for a wonderful atmosphere and a real sense of fun permeates all aspects of school life.
Curriculum
The ESD approach is geared towards academic excellence and our curriculum and approaches to teaching and learning are designed to support this. Students joining the ESD become part of a vibrant multi-cultural environment that encompasses all school sections from age eleven through to students graduating to leading universities around the world. We aim to maximise the potential of each individual student as they progress through the school.
Subjects are taught by specialists and there is an early, and sustained, focus on deep disciplinary learning. Subject-specific knowledge, skills and applications are at the core of all of our courses.
We offer a challenging, broad and balanced curriculum that caters to the individual needs of our students as they move from Year 7 to Year 9, to IGCSE and finally into the IB Diploma Programme. We encourage all of our students to strive for the highest possible academic standards and to be active participants in our school community and beyond. Hard-work, perseverance and resilience are rewarded and creativity, independence and academic initiative encouraged.
Lower Secondary
For the first three years in the ESD (Years 07 - 09), we determine our own curriculum, which aims to give students the strong foundation of knowledge and skills that they will need for their later studies. Our curriculum is historically rooted in the National Curriculum for England, but is adapted and extended to suit the selective and international nature of our students, drawing upon best practice in education worldwide, particularly from Germany and our host country Hong Kong.
IGCSE PROGRAMME
In Years 10 – 11, students study towards the IGCSE examinations, which are well established and well-respected qualifications worldwide. The majority of our subject follow the syllabi set by Cambridge International (CIAE) with a smaller number of subjects following the Pearson Edexcel Schemes.
INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE DIPLOMA PROGRAMME
The International Baccalaureate (IB) is a globally recognised diploma which provides a holistic learning opportunity by balancing subject choices across different disciplines, as well as students in Years 12 – 13 completing a core programme which comprises three elements: Theory of Knowledge, Creativity, Activity and Service, and an Extended Essay.
