Kellett School – Kowloon Bay Preparatory and Senior School vs Wycombe Abbey School Hong Kong - Prep School
Kellett School – Kowloon Bay Preparatory and Senior School and Wycombe Abbey School Hong Kong - Prep School are both in Hong Kong, about 10 km apart. Both schools offer British programmes, and Kellett School – Kowloon Bay Preparatory and Senior School also offers Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels and Pearson Edexcel IGCSE. Published annual fees are HK$208,800 - 267,100 at Kellett School – Kowloon Bay Preparatory and Senior School and HK$188,000 - 218,000 at Wycombe Abbey School Hong Kong - Prep School, which puts Kellett School – Kowloon Bay Preparatory and Senior School roughly 17% higher. Kellett School – Kowloon Bay Preparatory and Senior School takes pupils from 4 to 18, and Wycombe Abbey School Hong Kong - Prep School from 5 to 13. Typical class sizes are 23 at Kellett School – Kowloon Bay Preparatory and Senior School and 20 at Wycombe Abbey School Hong Kong - Prep School.
British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels, Pearson Edexcel IGCSE
Curriculum
British Curriculum
Pupils
Pupils
1,550
Pupils
—
Typical class size
Typical class size
23
Typical class size
20
Instruction language
Instruction language
English
Instruction language
English
Opened
Opened
2013
Opened
2019
Bus service
Bus service
Yes
Bus service
Yes
Essentials
Essentials
Location
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.
Location
The school is situated at 17 Tin Wan Street, Tin Wan, Aberdeen, on Hong Kong Island. The neighbourhood is accessible by local roads from major districts; it’s a short drive to Repulse Bay and Central, making it convenient for families living on the Island.
Stages
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.
Stages
The Prep School covers Years 1–8 within the British preparatory model.
School type
School type
The school is a co-educational day school. It does not offer boarding facilities.
School type
It is a co-educational day school.
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
—
Pupil nationality mix
—
Additional learning support
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.
Additional learning support
The school highlights personalised learning and early identification of student needs via digital tools and monitoring; however, specific details of a dedicated SEN (Special Educational Needs) department or programme are not publicly detailed.
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
The school follows the British (English National Curriculum) and is accredited as a British international school.
Country affiliation
The schools follows the English National Curriculum but does not have affiliations with any country.
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
Kellett has no religious affiliation.
Religious affiliation
The school has no religious affiliations.
School day structure
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.
School day structure
The school day begins at 08:00 with lessons starting at 08:25. After a morning block of lessons and a snack break at 10:10, lunch runs from 12:15 to 13:15, followed by more lessons and then ECAs (extra-curricular activities) until 16:15.
Bus service details
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.
Bus service details
School bus service is offered via a contract with a provider covering Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and New Territories. Parents must apply for each academic year via the school bus system.
Fees
Fees
Fee details
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.
Fee details
Application / Registration Payment An initial advance payment of HK$18,800 is required to confirm a place for a new pupil. This amount is non-refundable and non-transferable once a place is offered and accepted, but it is offset against the first month’s tuition fee when the pupil begins.
Tuition Fees by Year Group (Prep School only)
* Years 1-5: Annual tuition fee HK$188,000. * Years 6-8: Annual tuition fee HK$198,000. These fees include books, teaching, and art materials—but exclude additional costs such as class trips, school bus fees, lunches and extra-curricular activities.
Capital Levy (Additional Annual Fee) In addition to the tuition fee, there is an annual capital levy of HK$35,000 for all Prep School (Years 1-8) pupils.
Billing Schedule & Payment Terms Invoices for tuition fees are emailed to parents on or before the 23rd of each month; payment must be settled by the 10th of the following month. If a pupil joins mid-month, tuition is calculated on a pro-rata basis depending on calendar days attended. Late or partial payments may incur interest charges.
Other Costs & Fees Additional costs lie outside the standard tuition + capital levy and may include: school bus/coach service fees, lunch programme, trips, extra-curricular activities, uniform costs. Uniform cost is not stated in the published fee details.
Refund Information The advance payment of HK$18,800 is non-refundable and non-transferable once a place is accepted. The published information does not specify a detailed refund policy for tuition or capital levy once the academic year has commenced.
Fee Payment Options The school’s publicly published fee page does not detail specific payment methods (such as credit card or bank transfer). Parents are advised to contact the School’s Finance or Admissions Office for full details of acceptable payment methods.
Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
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Boarding arrangements
—
Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
—
Uniform requirement
—
Food options
Food options
—
Food options
—
House system
House system
—
House system
—
Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
—
Governance and ownership
—
Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
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.
Curriculum details
The Prep School at Wycombe Abbey School Hong Kong (Years 1–8) follows the National Curriculum for England and Wales, adapted to the local context and aligned with British Common Entrance standards. Core subjects include English, Mathematics, Science, Humanities, and the Creative and Performing Arts, with Mandarin taught alongside English as a core language. The curriculum integrates a mandatory iSTEAM programme (Innovation, Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) for all pupils to build problem-solving and design-thinking skills. From Year 6, pupils also take part in an Entrepreneurship programme designed to foster initiative and collaboration. An Intensive English Programme is offered for students in Years 3–8 who require additional language support before joining mainstream classes. The overall approach aims to provide a broad and balanced education that prepares students for senior school pathways within the British system.
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.
Admissions
1. Complete the Online Application Form Families begin by submitting an online enquiry form through the school’s website. This form collects contact information and key details about the applicant so that the Admissions Team can reach out. Families coming from other education systems are advised to consult the school’s Year Group Conversion Table to determine the appropriate UK-equivalent year level before submitting the application.
2. Provide Supporting Documents Once contacted by the Admissions Team, applicants must upload all required documents. These include the completed application form, a recent digital photograph, passport copies for the student and both parents, two years of school reports, any specialist reports, and a teacher reference if applicable. The Admissions Team will confirm if any additional information is needed before proceeding.
3. Assessment Exam Assessments are scheduled on campus or online, depending on the applicant’s location. Students in Years 1–2 take group assessments covering numeracy, English, and interpersonal skills. Applicants for Years 3–8 complete a written exam and the CAT4 online test, followed by an interview. Older applicants (Years 9–12) sit subject-specific written exams and meet with the Head of Admissions.
4. Admission Results Successful applicants who meet entry requirements and for whom a place is available receive a formal offer. Depending on English proficiency, the offer may be for either a mainstream class or the Intensive English Programme. Parents confirm acceptance by the date stated in the offer letter to secure their child’s place.
5. Mid-Term and Rolling Admissions Applications are processed on a rolling basis, and mid-term transfers are accepted when space allows. Assessments are typically arranged within two weeks of application submission.
Scholarships
Scholarships
The school does not publicly provide information about scholarships.
Scholarships
The school does not offer any scholarships or financial aid.
Waitlist
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.
Waitlist
The school does not publicly state the use of a formal waitlist or pool system. Applications are processed on a rolling basis, and places are offered subject to availability at the time of assessment.
