Harrow International School Hong Kong vs Kellett School – Kowloon Bay Preparatory and Senior School
Harrow International School Hong Kong and Kellett School – Kowloon Bay Preparatory and Senior School are both in Hong Kong, about 23 km apart. Both schools offer British, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels and Pearson Edexcel IGCSE programmes, and Harrow International School Hong Kong also offers Cambridge International AS Levels and EYFS. Published annual fees are HK$175,812 - 239,070 at Harrow International School Hong Kong and HK$208,800 - 267,100 at Kellett School – Kowloon Bay Preparatory and Senior School, which puts Kellett School – Kowloon Bay Preparatory and Senior School roughly 15% higher. Harrow International School Hong Kong takes pupils from 3 to 18, and Kellett School – Kowloon Bay Preparatory and Senior School from 4 to 18. The two are similar in size, at around 1,650 and 1,550 pupils. Typical class sizes are 22 at Harrow International School Hong Kong and 23 at Kellett School – Kowloon Bay Preparatory and Senior School.
British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels, EYFS (Early years foundation stage), Pearson Edexcel IGCSE
Curriculum
British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels, Pearson Edexcel IGCSE
Pupils
Pupils
1,650
Pupils
1,550
Typical class size
Typical class size
22
Typical class size
23
Instruction language
Instruction language
English
Instruction language
English
Opened
Opened
2012
Opened
2013
Bus service
Bus service
Yes
Bus service
Yes
Essentials
Essentials
Location
Location
Harrow Hong Kong is located at 38 Tsing Ying Road in Tuen Mun, near the Gold Coast on Hong Kong’s western side. The campus is accessible from major districts such as Kowloon and Hong Kong Island via school bus services. Its coastal setting provides a quieter environment while remaining connected to the city’s transport network
Location
The Kowloon Bay campus is situated in East Kowloon, just across Victoria Harbour from Hong Kong Island. Families can access the school easily via public bus and minibus services, in addition to a dedicated school bus network.
Stages
Stages
The school educates pupils aged 3 to 18. It is divided into Early Years (Nursery–Reception), Lower School (Years 1–5), Upper School (Years 6–11), and Sixth Form (Years 12–13)
Stages
The campus houses both Preparatory (Reception–Year 6) and Senior & Sixth Form (Years 7–13). This structure allows students to begin at age 4 and continue through to age 18 within the same campus.
School type
School type
Harrow Hong Kong is a co-educational day and boarding school. Boarding is available from Year 6 onwards as a five-night weekly programme, with students placed in Houses that form the core of pastoral and boarding life.
School type
The school is a co-educational day school. It does not offer boarding facilities.
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’s Individual Needs Department supports pupils with mild to moderate learning difficulties. Provision includes in-class support, individual or small group interventions, and collaboration with teachers to tailor learning strategies.
Additional learning support
Kellett provides Additional Support Needs (ASN) services, delivered by qualified teachers and assistants. Support may be in-class or targeted depending on individual needs. It is a mainstream school and not a specialist SEN institution.
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
The school is part of the broader Harrow School network but not affiliated with any country.
Country affiliation
The school follows the British (English National Curriculum) and is accredited as a British international school.
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
Harrow Hong Kong has no religious affiliations.
Religious affiliation
Kellett has no religious affiliation.
School day structure
School day structure
The school day varies by level: in the Lower School, lessons typically run from around 8:00 am until mid-afternoon, with morning and lunch breaks; in Upper School and Sixth Form, the day includes six to seven lessons, tutorial time, and co-curricular activities, generally finishing around 4:00 pm.
School day structure
In the Preparatory School, the day runs from 8:00am to 3:00pm, with a morning break and a lunch break (timings differ slightly by year group). Senior School timetables follow a similar start time and structured breaks through the day.
Bus service details
Bus service details
The School’s mandatory bus service is provided by Chun Wo Bus Services Limited. Chun Wo Bus Services Limited operates routes to and from Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, Discovery Bay, Gold Coast, Siu Lam, and Tuen Mun. The buses are equipped with appropriate seat belts and each bus has its own adult supervision.
Bus service details
Yes, the school offers a dedicated bus service. The Kowloon Bay service is operated by Lewis Motors Company Limited, with published routes and fees. This service covers multiple districts across Kowloon and Hong Kong Island, providing reliable transport to and from the campus.
Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Application Fee
* A non-refundable, non-transferable application fee of HKD 1,500 is charged to cover admissions processing.
* Fees are billed termly in advance and payable in Hong Kong Dollars on the first day of each term. * Discounts are applied for siblings enrolled simultaneously (5% for the third child, 10% for the fourth, 15% for the fifth and subsequent children).
Boarding Fees (Years 6–13)
* HKD 130,705 annually (HKD 52,283 Autumn; HKD 39,211 Spring; HKD 39,211 Summer). * Boarding is five nights per week (Sunday evening to Friday afternoon).
Additional Costs
* Included: Some essential school supplies, pupil activities, and insurance. * Excluded: Textbooks, trips, compulsory uniform, lunch, snacks, and school bus transport. Examination fees for Years 10–13 and some Year 9 programmes are also excluded. * Capital Levy: Pupils without debentures or capital certificates must pay HKD 60,000 annually.
Refunds
* Application fees and the Capital Levy are non-refundable. Tuition and boarding fees are not generally refundable once paid.
Payment Options
* Payment is made via bank transfer in Hong Kong Dollars.
Fee details
Application Fees Reception – Year 4: HKD 2,000 (non-refundable) Year 5 – Year 13: HKD 2,500 (includes assessment fee; non-refundable)
Annual Capital Levy / Debenture All new offers made after 31 August 2025 require an Annual Capital Levy (ACL) of HKD 40,000 per student. This fee is non-refundable and non-redeemable, supporting the school’s estates and infrastructure. Every student must be covered by a Debenture or ACL.
Annual Association Fee Each family pays an Association Fee of HKD 500 annually, which grants voting rights on Board membership.
Tuition Fees (Per Year)
Reception: HKD 208,800 Years 1 – 6: HKD 214,200 Years 7 – 11 (I/GCSE): HKD 251,400 Years 12 – 13 (A Levels): HKD 267,100
Fees are billed in three instalments per year as follows: Term 1: 40% Term 2: 30% Term 3: 30%
Additional Fees Uniforms, lunch, bus services, overseas educational visits, examination entry fees, and some Extra-Curricular Activities (ECAs) are charged separately. Senior students must provide their own devices (laptops and iPads).
Transportation Fees School bus services are available through external providers. Routes and fees are published annually and invoiced separately by the operators.
Refund Policy Tuition fees are non-refundable once paid for the current or past terms, including in cases of permanent exclusion or required withdrawal.
Payment Options Payments are made via bank transfer. Parents are responsible for any bank charges. Other payment methods are not specified publicly.
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
Harrow International School Hong Kong follows the English National Curriculum across all stages. In the Early Years (Nursery and Reception), pupils learn through the Early Years Foundation Stage framework, focusing on play-based and early literacy and numeracy development. The Lower School (Years 1–5) continues with the National Curriculum of England, emphasizing core subjects such as English, Mathematics, Science, and Humanities alongside Art, Music, Drama, Physical Education, and Mandarin. In the Upper School (Years 6–9), students build on these foundations with a broader academic programme that includes specialist teaching in subjects like Design Technology, Computing, and Modern Foreign Languages. In Years 10–11, pupils prepare for General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) examinations, selecting from a range of subjects that combine compulsory and optional courses. The Sixth Form (Years 12–13) offers A Levels with the option of completing an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), providing students with depth of study and independent research experience.
Curriculum details
The school follows the English National Curriculum, adapted to its international setting. In the Preparatory School (Reception–Year 6), students study a broad range of subjects, including English, mathematics, science, humanities, expressive arts, and Mandarin. In Senior School (Years 7–9), the curriculum continues with a wide scope of academic and creative subjects, alongside public speaking through LAMDA. In Years 10–11, students prepare for International GCSEs (I/GCSEs) with a choice of subjects from different disciplines. In the Sixth Form (Years 12–13), students specialise through A Levels, supported by additional programmes such as the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), LAMDA, and a Mini-MBA developed with IE Business School. Instruction is in English, with additional language options including Mandarin, French, and Spanish.
1. Initial Enquiry and Application Parents begin by completing the online application form and paying a non-refundable HKD 1,500 application fee. Required documents, such as school reports and identification, must be submitted with the form.
2. Age and Year Group Placement The school uses clear age guidelines to determine year group placement. Exceptions are rare and assessed individually.
3. Assessment Applicants are invited for assessments appropriate to their year group. This may include written tasks, online testing, and interviews with senior staff. English language ability is also assessed, especially for older year groups.
4. Offer of Place Following assessment, successful applicants receive a formal offer. Offers are conditional on the outcome of assessments and availability of places.
5. Acceptance and Fees Parents confirm acceptance by returning the signed offer letter and paying the required fees, which include the capital levy, tuition deposit, and other charges.
Admissions
1. Initial enquiry and review: Families can apply at any time, as applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Parents are encouraged to review the school’s Admissions Policy and relevant documentation before submitting an application, particularly since places at some year groups are often full.
2. Preparing documents: Applications must include a recent passport-sized photograph of the student, copies of the student’s passport and birth certificate, and Hong Kong ID if applicable. Families must also provide the most recent two years of school reports, if available, to support the application.
3. Application submission and payment: Applications are submitted online via OpenApply, and must be accompanied by the appropriate application fee. These fees are non-refundable.
4. Assessment and placement: Depending on the year group, applicants may be required to attend an assessment to confirm readiness for the curriculum. Placement decisions are made with reference to the school’s admissions criteria and curriculum requirements.
5. Offer and acceptance: If a place is offered, families must secure it through either a debenture or the Annual Capital Levy, as set out in the school’s fees policy. Tuition and other costs are then billed according to the school’s published termly schedule.
Scholarships
Scholarships
The school offers Scholarships and Exhibitions for entry into Year 9 and Year 12. These are awarded for outstanding ability in areas such as academics, sport, music, or the arts. Awards are based on performance in assessments, interviews, and evidence of achievement. Exhibition awards may be given to pupils with strong potential who do not yet meet full scholarship criteria. Scholarships provide recognition and may also include partial fee remission.
Scholarships
The school does not publicly provide information about scholarships.
Waitlist
Waitlist
Harrow Hong Kong operates a waitlist system when year groups are full. Applications are assessed in the same way as standard admissions, and successful candidates are placed on the waitlist until a space becomes available.
Waitlist
Kellett states that a waitlist is in operation for certain year groups, and in recent years, classes have been full with families placed on waiting lists. Waitlist movement depends on availability, and parents are advised to maintain contact with the Admissions team for updates.
