Discovery Bay International School - Primary & Secondary Campus vs West Island School
Discovery Bay International School - Primary & Secondary Campus and West Island School are both in Hong Kong, about 12 km apart. Both schools offer BTEC Qualification and Cambridge IGCSE programmes. Discovery Bay International School - Primary & Secondary Campus also offers British, Cambridge International AS Levels and Cambridge A Levels, and West Island School also offers IB and IBCP. Published annual fees are close, at HK$143,700 - 196,900 for Discovery Bay International School - Primary & Secondary Campus and HK$167,600 - 181,100 for West Island School. Discovery Bay International School - Primary & Secondary Campus takes pupils from 5 to 18, and West Island School from 11 to 18. The two are similar in size, at around 1,100 and 1,200 pupils.
Discovery Bay International School’s Primary & Secondary Campus is located in Discovery Bay on Lantau Island, Hong Kong. The campus sits within a quiet residential area overlooking the sea, with easy access to public transport, including ferries and buses connecting to Central Hong Kong and Tung Chung. The school benefits from the open, community-focused surroundings of Discovery Bay, allowing for outdoor and environmental learning.
Location
West Island School is located at 250 Victoria Road, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong. The area is on the western side of Hong Kong Island, with access via Kennedy Town MTR and multiple bus and minibus routes serving Central, Island South, Aberdeen, Kowloon, and the Airport
Stages
Stages
The Primary & Secondary Campus caters to students aged 5 to 18 years, covering Years 1 to 13. The school is divided into three stages: Primary School (Years 1–6), Secondary School (Years 7–11), and Sixth Form (Years 12–13). Students follow the English National Curriculum, culminating in IGCSE examinations and A Level or BTEC qualifications.
Stages
WIS serves Years 7–13, covering secondary and post-16 education. Years 7–9 follow the IB Middle Years Programme, Years 10–11 prepare for I/GCSE, and Years 12–13 offer IB Diploma, IB Career-related Programme, BTEC, and the International Diploma.
School type
School type
DBIS is a co-educational international day school. It does not offer boarding, and all students commute daily from Discovery Bay and the surrounding areas. The school provides a structured, inclusive environment across Primary, Secondary, and Sixth Form.
School type
The school is a day school.
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
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Pupil nationality mix
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Additional learning support
Additional learning support
The school provides Learning Enhancement support for students with mild to moderate learning needs. Support includes early identification, classroom differentiation, and targeted interventions managed by specialist staff. The focus is on ensuring equal access to learning and participation across all areas of school life.
Additional learning support
The school has an Inclusive Education programme, with specialist staff and tailored support to meet individual needs, including learning support and wellbeing services.
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
DBIS follows the British curriculum but has no formal affiliation with the UK government or any national education authority.
Country affiliation
The school is not affiliated with any country.
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
The school is non-denominational and has no religious affiliation.
Religious affiliation
The school has no religious affiliation.
School day structure
School day structure
Exact start and end times are not publicly listed on the open website, but the school operates a full-day schedule for both Primary and Secondary students, with timetabled academic lessons, breaks, and lunch periods. Co-curricular and enrichment activities take place before and after regular classes.
School day structure
The school does not publicly disclose daily start and finish times or break schedules.
Bus service details
Bus service details
DBIS provides a dedicated school bus service operated by external providers, covering Discovery Bay, Tung Chung, and South Lantau. Routes and timetables differ for Primary and Secondary students. The service is designed for convenient and safe daily transport to and from the campus, with detailed timetables and guidelines provided to parents before each school year.
Bus service details
WIS provides a school bus service through Kwoon Chung Motors Company Limited, with more than 10 routes serving different districts.
Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Application Fees A one-time non-refundable application fee of HK$2,000 per student is required upon submission of an application. This covers administrative and processing costs for new admissions.
Development Levy All new students are required to pay a School Development Levy before enrolment. Families may choose between the Standard School Development Levy (SSDL) of HK$60,000 per student for the first and second child and HK$50,000 for the third child onwards, or the Premium School Development Levy (PSDL) of HK$500,000 per student as a one-time fast-track option. Both levies are non-refundable and non-transferable. For Year 12 entrants, no levy is required; instead, a refundable deposit equal to two months’ school fees is paid and offset against September and October tuition.
Tuition Fees (Per Year)
British Curriculum Stream Years 1 – 6 (Primary): HK$143,700 per year Years 7 – 11 (Secondary): HK$190,700 per year Years 12 – 13 (Sixth Form): HK$196,900 per year
Fees are billed in 10 monthly instalments from September to June.
Additional Fees Uniforms, lunches, extracurricular activities, and after-school programmes are billed separately. Examination fees for IGCSE and A Level subjects, along with optional activities and educational trips, may also incur additional costs.
Transportation Fees The school provides a bus service covering Discovery Bay, Tung Chung, and South Lantau. Fees vary depending on the route and are invoiced directly through the school’s transport provider.
Refund Policy No refunds or reductions are provided if the school cannot open due to circumstances beyond its control, such as government restrictions, weather events, or pandemics. To withdraw a student, parents must provide 60 days’ written notice (excluding July and August) using the official Student Withdrawal Form. Late notice results in additional charges, ranging from half a month’s to two months’ tuition, depending on the delay.
Payment Options Tuition is payable via autopay, cheque, or bank transfer, with credit card payments accepted for an additional bank handling fee. A deposit equal to one month’s tuition is collected in July and credited toward the September payment. Late payments after the 15th of the month incur a HK$200 fee, and returned autopay transactions are charged HK$100.
Fee details
Application Fee
* A one-time, non-refundable application fee of HKD 2,800 per applicant. * This covers admissions administration and must be paid at the time of application.
Tuition Fees (per year, payable over 10 months)
* Years 7–10: HKD 181,100 * Year 11: HKD 159,400 * Years 12–13: HKD 167,600
Billing and Payment Schedule
* Tuition fees are paid in ten monthly instalments (August to May) by mandatory direct debit. * Payments are due on the first day of each month.
Deposit
* A deposit equivalent to two months of school fees must be paid when a place is accepted. * Half of this deposit is offset against the first month’s fee, while the remainder is credited against the last month’s fee (if withdrawal notice conditions are met).
Other Charges
* Non-Refundable Capital Levy (NCL): A one-off, sliding-scale fee, ranging from HKD 26,000 for Year 7 to HKD 3,800 for Year 13, payable when joining ESF schools. * Families may also choose Individual Nomination Rights (INR) or Corporate Nomination Rights (CNR) for interview priority.
Refund Policy
* Deposits are only offset against tuition (not refunded as cash). * Fees remain payable if a student goes on leave during term.
Payment Options
* Payments are made by direct debit for tuition. * Application fees are paid via credit card or PayPal.
Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
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Boarding arrangements
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Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
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Uniform requirement
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Food options
Food options
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Food options
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House system
House system
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House system
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Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
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Governance and ownership
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Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
Discovery Bay International School follows the English National Curriculum from Year 1 through Year 13. In the Primary School (Years 1–6), students study core subjects including English, Mathematics, Science, and Humanities, alongside Art, Music, Physical Education, and Mandarin. The Secondary School (Years 7–11) builds on this foundation and leads to the Cambridge IGCSE examinations in Year 11, with students selecting a range of academic and creative subjects according to their interests. In the Sixth Form (Years 12–13), students follow either the A Level or BTEC pathway, allowing for academic or vocational specialisation in preparation for university or further study. Throughout all stages, teaching is delivered in English, with additional language instruction in Mandarin, French, and Spanish.
Curriculum details
West Island School offers a broad curriculum structured around international qualifications at different stages. In Years 7 to 9, students follow the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP), covering subjects such as Arts, Design, Languages, Individuals & Societies, Mathematics, Physical & Health Education, and Sciences. In Years 10 and 11, the school provides a combination of IGCSE and BTEC courses, with core studies in English, Mathematics, Sciences, and Physical & Health Education, alongside electives such as Business, Psychology, Theatre, and Music. Post-16 students in Years 12 and 13 can pursue multiple pathways: the IB Diploma Programme (IBDP), the IB Career-related Programme (IBCP), BTEC, or an International Diploma. The IBCP blends BTEC qualifications with selected IB Diploma courses and a core programme that includes personal and professional skills, community engagement, and a community project. Throughout all years, the curriculum is complemented by wellbeing education, including areas such as digital citizenship, emotional intelligence, and personal relationships.
1. Initial Enquiry and School Visit Families begin the admissions process by exploring the Discovery Bay International School website or contacting the Admissions Office. Parents can arrange a campus tour or attend an open day to gain an overview of the school’s facilities, curriculum, and learning environment. The school provides information about year group placement and availability through its Admissions Enquiries page.
2. Application Submission Parents complete the online application form and pay the non-refundable application fee. The form requires supporting documents such as the student’s birth certificate, recent school reports, passport copy, and any relevant learning support information. Applications are reviewed by the Admissions team once all required materials are received.
3. Assessment and Review Depending on the student’s year level, the school may conduct an academic assessment or interview to determine suitability for entry. This ensures the school can meet the child’s educational and language needs. For students transferring from another school, previous academic records and teacher recommendations are taken into consideration.
4. Offer and Enrolment If a place is available and the application is successful, parents receive an official offer of admission. To confirm enrolment, families must pay the School Development Levy (either Standard or Premium) before the student begins classes. A deposit equal to one month’s tuition is also required in July, which is credited toward the September invoice.
5. Joining Arrangements Once confirmed, the Admissions Office provides joining information, including orientation details, bus routes, and uniform guidelines. Students are assigned to classes, and the school maintains communication with families to ensure a smooth transition into the DBIS community.
Admissions
1. Online Application Submission Families submit an online application through the ESF admissions portal, selecting up to four ESF school preferences. The application includes the non-refundable administration fee.
2. Assessment / Interview / Testing Applicants (for years other than entry levels) are invited to attend assessments or interviews to evaluate their readiness for the English-medium curriculum. Shortlisted candidates are notified with schedules for testing and interviews.
3. Offer of Place & Acceptance If successful and if a vacancy exists, the school issues an offer of place. The family must accept by a deadline, after which a deposit or building levy may be required.
4. Onboarding & Entry Requirements Once accepted, the student is integrated into the school system, including orientation, registration, and payment of fees per the school’s billing schedule. Families may also be asked to submit supporting documents (previous school records, medical records, etc.). (No explicit public detail on every onboarding step is given beyond the above, so some of this is inferred from standard practice and the admissions overview.)
5. Waitlist Consideration If no immediate place is available, the candidate may be placed into a waitlist or pool (see below). Offers from the waitlist may be made when places become available.
Scholarships
Scholarships
Discovery Bay International School provides access to a Scholarship Programme Application through the DBIS Parent Hub. However, the school does not publicly disclose details regarding the types of scholarships offered, eligibility criteria, or selection process on its open website. Based on available information, scholarships are likely to be merit-based, but specifics such as financial coverage or renewal conditions are not published online.
Scholarships
West Island school does not provide information about any financial assistance via scholarships or aid.
Waitlist
Waitlist
The school does not publicly state that it operates a formal waitlist or pool system.
Waitlist
WIS (via ESF) does maintain a waiting list / pool system for school places when demand exceeds vacancies. Applicants are placed on the waitlist in priority order, and if a vacancy arises, offers may be extended from the waitlist by date of application and priority group.
