Shrewsbury International School Hong Kong vs YMCA Christian Academy (YCA)

	S Shrewsbury International School Hong Kong Hong Kong	YMCA Christian Academy (YCA) Hong Kong
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year HK$112,200 - 209,900	Fees / year HK$148,800
Age range	Age range 3 - 11 years	Age range 5 - 11 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum British Curriculum	Curriculum IPC (International Primary Curriculum), British Curriculum, Christian Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils 315	Pupils 200
Typical class size	Typical class size 22	Typical class size 20
Instruction language	Instruction language English, Mandarin	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 2018	Opened 2012
Bus service	Bus service Yes	Bus service Yes
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Shrewsbury International School Hong Kong is located at 10 Shek Kok Road, Tseung Kwan O, New Territories. The area is a modern residential and business hub, connected to the rest of Hong Kong by the MTR and major road networks. The campus is within easy reach of Kowloon and Hong Kong Island, while also being close to coastal and green spaces.	Location YMCA Christian Academy (YCA) is conveniently located at 70 Bridges Street, Sheung Wan, in the vibrant heart of Hong Kong Island. Our central position makes us easily accessible for families commuting from neighboring districts such as Mid-Levels and Sai Ying Pun.
Stages	Stages The school serves children aged 3 to 11. Education is structured into the Early Years Foundation Stage (Nursery and Reception) and Primary School (Years 1–6).	Stages We are an international primary school offering education for children aged 5 to 11 (Years 1 to 6). Following the British educational framework, children are eligible to enter Year 1 if they turn 5 years old within their entry year.
School type	School type The school is co-educational, welcoming both boys and girls.	School type We are an independent, co-educational private primary school in Hong Kong. As a close-knit, small school community, we place a strong focus on providing a safe, caring, and supportive environment where boys and girls can grow, learn, and thrive together.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix We proudly reflects a diverse, international community. Around half of our student body comes from local Hong Kong Chinese families, while the other half represents a vibrant global mix, with children hailing from the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, France, and beyond.
Additional learning support	Additional learning support Shrewsbury provides support for students with Additional Learning Needs through its Learning Enhancement team. This includes tailored interventions, close collaboration with teachers, and access to specialist staff when required.	Additional learning support YMCA Christian Academy (YCA) is dedicated to nurturing every child’s individual journey through our inclusive mainstream classrooms. Supported by a passionate team of learning diversity teachers and assistants, we partner closely with families to craft tailored Individual Learning Plans and host regular progress meetings to ensure every child thrives. To maintain the high quality of our personalized care, learning support spaces are limited, and applicants may be placed on a waitpool pending availability.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation The school follows the British curriculum and has a strong affiliation with the United Kingdom.	Country affiliation The school does not have any country affiliations.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation The school has no religious affiliation.	Religious affiliation We are a faith-based primary school deeply rooted in a Christian ethos. We center our school culture around timeless Christian values, fostering a compassionate, inclusive, and grounded environment where children learn the importance of kindness, integrity, and respect for others.
School day structure	School day structure The school day begins at 8:00 am and finishes at 3:00 pm, with breaks and a lunch period included within the timetable. A wide range of after-school activities is also offered, extending the day for students who participate.	School day structure The school day at YMCA Christian Academy (YCA) runs from 8:00am to 2:30pm, Monday through Friday. To help families with smooth morning drop-offs, school doors open early at 7:35am. Optional after-school activities take place directly after classes from 2:30pm to 3:30pm.
Bus service details	Bus service details A school bus service operates across Hong Kong, covering Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories. Routes and schedules are coordinated with an external transport provider to suit family needs. Younger children are accompanied by bus mothers to ensure their safety and comfort during journeys.	Bus service details YMCA Christian Academy (YCA) partners with a dedicated school bus provider to offer convenient transportation options for our families. Bus routes currently cover key neighborhoods, including Island East, Kennedy Town, Mid-levels, Happy Valley, Olympic, Ho Man Tin, Whampoa, and Kowloon West.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application and Capital Levy/Certificate Families must either purchase a Capital Certificate or pay an Annual Capital Levy. The levy is HKD 30,000 for Half-Day Nursery and HKD 50,000 for all other year groups. Capital Certificates cost HKD 200,000 (Standard) or HKD 300,000 (Premium), valid for four years. Certificates depreciate in value: Standard is worth HKD 150,000 upon acceptance, HKD 100,000 in the second year, HKD 50,000 in the third, and HKD 0 in the fourth. Neither levy nor certificate replaces tuition fees. The levy is non-refundable and non-transferable. Tuition Fees 2025/25 * Nursery (Half Day): HKD 112,200 per year * Nursery (Full Day): HKD 169,200 per year * Reception: HKD 181,700 per year * Years 1–6: HKD 209,900 per year Other Costs Tuition and levy cover stationery, consumables, and learning materials. Not included are uniforms, bus service, catering, co-curricular activities, and educational visits. Billing Schedule and Refunds Fees are billed annually and approved by the Education Bureau. Capital Certificates are non-interest-bearing, non-transferable, and follow the depreciation schedule above. Payment Options Payments may be made by bank transfer to Shanghai Commercial Bank LTD (with all transfer charges borne by the payer) or by cheque payable to Shrewsbury International School Limited.	Fee details Tuition fees (by year group, 2026–28) Year 1 - Year 6: HKD 148,800 per year in ten installments Annual Capital Development Contribution (CDC) Enrolled students will pay the annual CDC of HKD 6,515 every year.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements We do not offer boarding arrangements,
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement YCA's uniform is an important part of the school's identity. The uniforms can be purchased online at the Uniform Station's website or at their shop. House t-shirts are available for purchase at the School Office.
Food options	Food options —	Food options —
House system	House system —	House system YCA has a house system: David, Esther, Moses and Ruth. House t-shirts are available for purchase at the School Office.
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership The School Sponsoring Body is the Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong, a Christian service organisation established in 1901. The SSB oversees the operation of YMCA Christian Academy and will strengthen direct management of the school under YMCA Christian Academy since the 2022/23 school year.
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details Shrewsbury International School Hong Kong offers education from ages 3 to 11 through two pathways: the British International Pathway (BIP) and the Hanqing Bilingual Pathway (HQP). Both are based on the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and the English National Curriculum. In Nursery and Reception, children follow a thematic EYFS programme with specialist teaching in Chinese, Music, PE, and Aquatics. From Year 1 to Year 6, the curriculum is organized around six-week thematic units, supported by English National Curriculum standards. The BIP is delivered primarily in English, while the HQP balances instruction equally between English and Mandarin, with subjects such as mathematics taught in both languages. Chinese language study is tiered to suit different ability levels, progressing toward IGCSE benchmarks. Across both pathways, students benefit from specialist teaching in Performing Arts, Music, Physical Education, and Swimming, which form a consistent part of the curriculum.	Curriculum details YCA delivers the International Primary Curriculum (IPC), which is comprehensive, thematic, creative curriculum designed for children 5-11 years old. It has a clear process of learning with specific learning goals for every subject. English and Maths follow the UK National Curriculum developing strong foundations in literacy and numeracy.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio 1:10 to 1:12
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression —	Higher education progression —
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar View document	Academic calendar View document
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning —	Social & emotional learning At YCA we foster a holistic, strength-based approach to student well-being by highlighting key elements of the Jigsaw (UK PSHE Curriculum) and Positive Education Enhanced Curriculum (Australian Geelong Grammar Curriculum). By using the strengths of both curriculums, we aim to proactively teach children the skills and concepts of well-being using evidence-based practices from the field of positive psychology.
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) In collaboration with class and specialist primary teachers, our school’s Learning Diversity Team aims to support students with diverse learning needs within the mainstream classroom, such as providing English as Additional Language (EAL) support.
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language YCA is an EAL-friendly primary school that provides dedicated support to help students whose first language is not English. This support enables students to develop English language skills and strategies that help them access the school curriculum and acquire the academic language across the different subject areas.
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing SEL support aims to help students who need guidance and support in their social-emotional skills and competencies. This support enhances student development towards a healthy sense of self, improved connection with others, and cooperative habits that can further enable positive student contributions to the community. This support includes supporting the social and emotional needs of the gifted and talented.
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview The school is a private, community-oriented primary school on Hong Kong Island. It opened in 2012 and was renamed in August 2022. It teaches in English and offers a vibrant, future-ready international IPC-based curriculum within a Christian ethos. The campus is well equipped to support learning and can access facilities at the nearby Bridges Street Centre, including a swimming pool. The school aims to Ignite Bright Futures of Abundance and Fulfilment.
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities Physical Education is taught twice weekly. The school provides opportunities to engage in a broad range of sports, including swimming, basketball and football, through on-site and local community facilities. The Bridges Street Centre swimming pool is accessible opposite the school. The programme emphasizes physical well-being and values such as fairness and respect.
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities YCA delivers learning through the International Primary Curriculum (IPC), a comprehensive, thematic curriculum for ages 5–11 with goals for international mindedness and personal learning. The English programme is based on the UK National Curriculum, with a focus on reading, writing, speaking and listening, and Maths follows the White Rose approach. Chinese is taught in Mandarin with Traditional Characters, with three language pathways: Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced. Christian Studies uses Journey 2:52 to teach values within a shared vision for growth in Christlikeness, and Wellbeing draws on the Jigsaw (UK PSHE) and Australian Geelong Grammar curricula. An Innovation Space combines a fully operational science lab with a maker space/design technology area.
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities YMCA Christian Academy offers a full range of After School Activities (ASA) and Extra-Curricular Activities (ECA). ASA includes Aesop's Fable Crafts & Reading Club, Intro to Spanish, Lego Club, Calligraphy Club, Chess Club, Cooking Club and more. ECA includes Choir, Competitive Sports, Chinese Hip-Hop Dance Club, Chinese Recitation Team & Reading Club, Film Club, Music Ensemble and more. All ASA and ECA classes run from 2:30pm to 3:30pm, with pick-up at 3:30pm.
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History The school was established through a partnership between Generations Christian Education and the Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong. Following the restructuring in 2022, the school transitioned to sole governance under the Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong. It serves students from Year 1 to Year 6, utilizing the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) alongside a pastoral care programme.
Community	Community —	Community YCA hosts many family events bringing together the YCA community, such as Christmas Fair, CNY Fair, YCA's Got Talent and Parents Day. Families are invited to 3-4 Exit Points a year, celebrating their child's learning in the unit of inquiry.
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association The YCA PTA supports this objective and facilitates a range of supportive services and events to bring our community together.
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual The school offers ASA and ECA to extend learning beyond class hours. ASA includes Aesop's Fable Crafts & Reading Club, Intro to Spanish, Lego Club, Calligraphy Club, Chess Club, French Club and Cooking Club. ECA includes Choir, Competitive Sports, Chinese Hip-Hop Dance Club, Chinese Recitation Team & Reading Club, Film Club and Music Ensemble.
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative Arts and creative activities are delivered through ASA and ECA. ECA includes Choir, Film Club and Music Ensemble. ASA includes Aesop's Fable Crafts & Reading Club, Calligraphy Club, and the Lego Club.
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language Intro to Spanish is offered as ASA. French Club is offered as ASA. Chinese Recitation Team & Reading Club is offered as ECA.
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies Social and hobby clubs include Lego Club, Calligraphy Club and Cooking Club (ASA) and Chinese Hip-Hop Dance Club and Film Club (ECA).
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing Physical Education is taught twice weekly. The wellbeing program uses the Jigsaw UK PSHE curriculum and the Geelong Grammar Positive Education Enhanced Curriculum. The Social and Emotional Toolkit is used at the start of each year to support students' emotional development.
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision YCA is an English medium school. We follow the UK National Curriculum delivering a structured and effective curriculum on English literacy. We provide daily Chinese classes to children of all year levels. Mandarin is taught in Mandarin with Traditional Characters, guided by ACTFL proficiency guidelines and integrated with IPC themes. There are three language pathways (Foundation, Intermediate, Advanced) to match language proficiency, with Foundation Pathway providing English support for non-native Mandarin learners.
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching We are an English medium school with daily Chinese classes.
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs We offer EAL services to children with English language barrier.
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards We received the Oh Pama Parent's Choice Award in 2024 and Sunday Kiss' Parent's Favourite Brand Award - Holistic International School in 2025.
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations We are accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS), which means that we demonstrates high quality international education and is an effective and agile learning organisation.
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions 1. Submit Application Parents complete and submit an Application Form plus a Home Assessment Form by email, including supporting documents such as photographs, passport or identity pages, visa status (if applicable), vaccination records, and up to two years of school reports (if relevant). 2. School Meeting or Assessment For Early Years (Nursery/Reception), children are invited to participate in a play-based observation session under supervision of the teaching team. For older entrants (Year 3–6), applicants undertake written tasks and other assessments (usually lasting about 75 minutes). 3. Review by Admissions Team and Decision The Admissions Team compiles all submitted materials and assessment results, and then presents a candidate file to the Principal, who makes the final decision. Parents are informed whether the offer is successful or not, typically within five working days. 4. Acceptance and Fees If an offer is made, the school sends a Letter of Offer with an Acceptance of Place Form, which must be signed and returned along with any required fees and agreement to Terms & Conditions by the deadline. 5. Special / Individual Needs Disclosure At application, parents must disclose any known or suspected learning, developmental, or physical needs so that an access review can be done. Applications including formal diagnoses or specialist reports are assessed by the Individual Needs Coordinator. The school reserves the right to withdraw offers if required information is withheld.	Admissions Our admissions process is very simple. 1. Apply online at https://yca.edu.hk/ 2. You will be contacted via email to complete your application. 3. Your child will be invited to a trial day and assessment. 4. Once the results are out, placement offer will be given to successful candidates. 5. New students can start at the start of every school month.
Scholarships	Scholarships Shrewsbury offers “Achievement Scholarships” for students already in Key Stage 2 who demonstrate an outstanding academic record. Nominations for these scholarships must be supported by at least two school staff members and are assessed by the Principal before being recommended to the School Management Committee. The number of scholarships is limited, and the awards are typically announced annually.	Scholarships Unfortunately, we do not offer any scholarships at the moment.
Waitlist	Waitlist The school uses a Wait Pool (or waitlist) system. If a child meets the entry criteria but there is no available place in the year group, the child’s name is added to the Wait Pool. When a place becomes available, the Admissions Team, along with the Principal, reviews Wait Pool candidates and offers admission based on criteria such as assessment performance and order of application. The Wait Pool is cleared at the end of each academic year; applicants still interested must submit a fresh application.	Waitlist Currently, we only have waitlist for students' who need learning support.
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