The ISF academy vs Victoria Shanghai Academy

	T The ISF academy Hong Kong	V Victoria Shanghai Academy Hong Kong
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year HK$152,880 - 241,110	Fees / year HK$181,200 - 255,600
Age range	Age range 4 - 18 years	Age range 5 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum IB (MYP), IB (DP)	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP)
Pupils	Pupils 1,600	Pupils 2,000
Typical class size	Typical class size 22	Typical class size 21
Instruction language	Instruction language English, Mandarin	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 2003	Opened 2004
Bus service	Bus service Yes	Bus service Yes
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location The Independent Schools Foundation (ISF) Academy is located in the Pokfulam area on Hong Kong Island’s southern side. The campus is close to the Cyberport district and served by several public transport routes, making it accessible from central Hong Kong. Its position provides a calm academic setting within easy reach of major urban areas.	Location Victoria Shanghai Academy (VSA) is located at 19 Shum Wan Road, Aberdeen, Hong Kong, adjacent to Aberdeen Harbour. The campus lies in the southern part of Hong Kong Island, roughly a 15‑minute walk from MTR Wong Chuk Hang Station (Exit B). Buses and minibuses stop nearby at a public transport terminus about five minutes’ walk from the school.
Stages	Stages The ISF Academy offers education from Foundation Year through Grade 12, covering both Primary and Secondary divisions. The Primary School includes Foundation Year to Grade 5, while the Secondary School runs from Grade 6 to Grade 12.	Stages The school offers curriculum from Primary (PYP) through Middle Years (MYP) to Diploma Programme (DP).
School type	School type ISF Academy is a co-educational day school with no boarding facilities. It operates as a not-for-profit, independent school governed by the Independent Schools Foundation.	School type VSA is a day school with no boarding facilities.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support The school assists the Li Ren Center and the Well-being & Learning Enhancement Program, which promote students’ physical, social, and emotional well-being. The website does not specify the categories of Special Educational Needs supported.	Additional learning support VSA states that it is “sensitive to students’ individual needs” and provides support for those with language or learning needs, physical or medical conditions, or social, emotional, and behavioural issues.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation The school has no country affiliation. It is an independent Hong Kong institution offering bilingual education in Putonghua and English.	Country affiliation The school does not have any country affiliation.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation ISF Academy is non-religious. Its philosophy draws from Chinese cultural traditions rather than any faith-based ethos.	Religious affiliation The school does not have any religious affiliation.
School day structure	School day structure Classes typically run from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Co-curricular activities and clubs are held after regular class hours.	School day structure School hours are Monday to Friday, 8:25 am to 3:40 pm.
Bus service details	Bus service details ISF Academy provides a daily school-bus service operated by Kwoon Chung Bus Company. Routes cover major residential areas on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. Fees are paid directly to the transport provider, and parents receive route and schedule details before each school year.	Bus service details VSA provides a school bus service.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application Fees A non-refundable application fee of HKD 2,500 is required for each new applicant. Upon acceptance, an Acceptance Deposit must be paid to confirm the place. This deposit is non-refundable if the student withdraws before enrollment. Tuition Fees (Per Year) Foundation Year: HKD 152,880 Grades 1 – 5: HKD 170,760 Grades 6 – 8: HKD 200,700 Grades 9 – 10: HKD 220,440 Grades 11 – 12: HKD 241,110 Tuition is billed in two equal installments each year: Installment 1: due May 1 Installment 2: due November 1 Capital Levy Students who do not hold a Capital Note pay an Annual Capital Levy of HKD 40,000. This levy is non-transferable and non-refundable and is payable each academic year. Financial Aid and Scholarships ISF offers need-based financial aid covering 20% – 100% of tuition fees. Merit and Special Talent Scholarships may grant 50% – 100% tuition remission and include an annual HKD 5,000 training or competition allowance. Additional Fees Uniforms, textbooks, co-curricular activities, and meals are billed separately through approved vendors. School bus services are arranged through Kwoon Chung Bus Company, with fees paid directly to the operator. Refund Policy Families must give 90 days’ written notice (excluding July and August) before withdrawal. Without this notice, tuition for the following installment remains payable. Payment Options Tuition and levies are payable via bank transfer or autopay. Credit card payment options are not listed on the school’s public finance pages.	Fee details Primary Years Programme (Years 1–5) The annual tuition fee for Year 1 is HK$181,200, payable in 10 installments. Middle Years Programme (Years 6–10) Year 6 tuition fee is HK$200,700, payable in 10 installments. Year 7 tuition fee is HK$203,700, payable in 10 installments. Year 8 tuition fee is HK$203,700, payable in 10 installments. Year 9 tuition fee is HK$205,400, payable in 10 installments. Year 10 tuition fee is HK$205,400, payable in 10 installments. Diploma Programme (Years 11–12) Year 11 tuition fee is HK$255,600, payable in 10 installments. Year 12 tuition fee is HK$255,600, payable in 9 installments. Other Fees Refundable Capital Levy: A one-off payment required from all parents of newly admitted students (Years 1–11), unless holding a debenture. Miscellaneous Fees: May include costs for field trips, online learning licenses, and learning materials. CAS Trips: Fees apply for compulsory local or overseas Creativity, Activity, Service trips. Technology Requirement: Students from Years 7 to 12 must purchase their own Apple MacBook through an authorised reseller or the school’s partnered vendor. Refund Policy For the Capital Levy (the one-off payment by non-debenture holders), the Capital Levy Agreement states that if a parent withdraws the student before school starts or the student does not attend, no refund of the Capital Levy will be made. Partial refunds are possible under certain conditions: after the student completes the first term, HK$30,000 of the Capital Levy is refunded; the remaining HK$30,000 is refunded either at graduation from secondary school or upon early withdrawal with at least 45 school days’ notice. Payment Method The school does not have their payment method publicly available.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	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 Primary (Foundation Year–Grade 5) programme is a bilingual immersion in Chinese (Putonghua) and English, with more time devoted to Chinese in the early years and a gradual shift toward English as students progress. From Grade 6 to Grade 10, students engage in the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP) with core areas including languages, science, mathematics, design (including computer science), arts, individuals and societies, and physical and health education. In Grades 11 and 12, the school offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (DP) as the final qualification for graduating students. Students are assessed using established criteria through formative and summative tasks, portfolios, and reflections rather than ranking by cohort position. A distinctive strand runs through all levels: the school’s “Eight Virtues + One” values and an Experiential Learning Programme from Grades 4–11, which integrates applied learning beyond traditional classroom settings.	Curriculum details Victoria Shanghai Academy delivers a through‑train IB curriculum offering the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and Diploma Programme (DP). In primary years (Years 1–5), the curriculum is inquiry‑based around six transdisciplinary themes (e.g. Who We Are, How the World Works, etc.). Teachers design units of inquiry that cross subject boundaries, integrating literacy, mathematics, science, social studies and expressive arts. In secondary school, the MYP is organised around global contexts and concept‑based learning, with eight subject groups and “Approaches to Learning” that develop skills across disciplines. Students engage in inquiry, reflection, and connection of traditional subjects to real‑world contexts. For IB Diploma (Years 11–12), VSA students take the full IB programme recognised by universities globally. The school also emphasises bilingualism: primary is bilingual in English and Putonghua; secondary instruction is primarily English complemented by a strong Chinese programme.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
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 —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning —	Social & emotional learning —
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History —
Community	Community —	Community —
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions 1. Application submission: Parents begin by submitting an online application through the ISF Academy admissions portal. Each application requires a non-refundable fee. Families must ensure all required documents, including birth certificates, school reports, and any relevant assessments, are uploaded before the published deadline. Applications are accepted for Foundation Year through Grade 11. 2. Assessment and interview: Applicants undergo assessments appropriate to their year group. For the Foundation Year, this may involve classroom observation and interaction activities. From Grade 1 upwards, assessments test Putonghua oral ability and English proficiency to ensure students can access the bilingual curriculum. Shortlisted applicants and their parents are invited to interviews with the admissions team. 3. Review and decision: Admission decisions are based on assessment results, interview outcomes, and space availability. Meeting the minimum criteria does not guarantee admission, as demand often exceeds available places. Offers are sent by email within the timelines announced on the school’s admissions calendar. 4. Acceptance and deposit: Families accepting an offer must pay the Acceptance Deposit by the stated deadline to confirm the student’s place. Parents must also agree to comply with ISF’s policies, including its Child Safeguarding and Protection Policy and Health, Safety & Well-being Policy. 5. Orientation and enrollment: After confirmation, parents receive onboarding details, including uniform ordering, bus service registration, and information about the start-of-year orientation sessions for new students. Orientation activities help students become familiar with the bilingual learning environment and campus routines.	Admissions 1. Online Application Submission Parents can apply through the VSA online application portal, uploading photo ID, birth certificate or passport, and previous two years’ academic reports of their children. 2. Payment of Application Fee A non‑refundable and non‑transferable application fee of HKD 2,000 is required upon submission to initiate the review process. 3. Document Verification and Review Applications with missing documents will be held pending complete submission. If documents are not submitted within one month, the application is considered withdrawn. 4. Assessment / Interview Candidates undergo assessments (e.g. for English, mathematics) and possibly interviews depending on the grade level applied for. 5. Admission Results Notification The school shares results within about one month after the assessment, or after interview. Accepted, waitlist, or declining outcomes are communicated. 6. Enrollment Procedures Once accepted, families complete enrollment formalities (sign contracts, pay fees) within the deadlines specified in the offer letter.
Scholarships	Scholarships ISF Academy offers several scholarships and financial aid programmes for enrolled students. Merit Scholarships are granted to students who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement, positive conduct, and alignment with the school’s values, providing between 50% and 100% tuition remission. Special Talent Scholarships recognise students with exceptional abilities in areas such as sports, music, or the performing and visual arts, and include 50% to 100% tuition coverage as well as an annual HKD 5,000 allowance for training or competitions. IB Diploma Scholarships are available to senior students in Grades 11 and 12 who show strong academic commitment and achievement within the International Baccalaureate curriculum. In addition, the school operates a need-based Financial Aid Programme that offers 20% to 100% tuition remission for families who meet the eligibility criteria. All scholarships and financial aid awards are reviewed annually, and students must maintain good academic standing and conduct to retain their support.	Scholarships VSA has a scholarship programme for both internal and external students. These scholarships cover categories including academic excellence, leadership, performance, and improvement.
Waitlist	Waitlist ISF Academy operates both regular and rolling application cycles. When demand exceeds available spaces, qualified applicants are placed on a waitlist. The waitlist operates on a space-available basis, with priority determined by assessment results, sibling status, and overall fit within the school’s bilingual program. Applicants who are not offered a place during the regular cycle may be reconsidered in subsequent rounds through the rolling admissions process.	Waitlist The school does not have a waitlist.
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