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All schools in the English Schools Foundation group
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (MYP), IB (DP), Cambridge IGCSE
Taught languages Japanese, Mandarin, Spanish
Typical class size 23
Strengths Performing Arts, Outdoor Education, Service and Sustainability
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Community and Service, Leadership and Professional
Stages Secondary School, High School
Introduction
Island School is an ESF secondary school (Years 7–13) located on Borrett Road in Mid-Levels, Hong Kong. Students follow the IB MYP in Years 7–9, progress to IGCSE/GCSE subjects in Years 10–11, and choose the IB Diploma or IB Career-related Programme in Years 12–13; language options at IGCSE include Chinese, Spanish, and Japanese. The campus includes a Performance Space with a 10-metre stage and seating for 300. Whole-school Quest Week takes learning beyond the classroom through local and overseas trips. Daily life runs on a clear timetable, with morning buses arriving by 8:15 and after-school buses departing at 15:40 (Mon–Thu) and 14:40 (Fri). English is the language of instruction. The school serves more than 1,200 students and offers structured Service Learning and student leadership opportunities.
Island School has 1,200 pupils, typical class sizes of 23, instruction in English.
Location
Island School is situated in the Mid-Levels area of Hong Kong Island, a residential hillside district above Central. The campus is easily accessible by public transport and school buses, connecting it to key areas of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. Its elevated setting offers a quiet environment while remaining close to the city’s main business and residential zones.
Stages
The school caters to students from Year 7 to Year 13, covering the full span of secondary education. Programmes progress from the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) in Years 7–9 to IGCSE in Years 10–11, and finally to either the IB Diploma Programme (DP) or the IB Career-related Programme (CP) in Years 12–13.
Type
Island School is a co-educational day school that forms part of the English Schools Foundation (ESF) network in Hong Kong. It does not provide boarding facilities, and all students attend on a day basis.
Additional learning support
Students receive support through a structured House system, with each student assigned a Tutor and Head of House who oversee wellbeing and academic progress. The school also provides access to counselling services and a published Special Educational Needs Policy detailing additional provision for students requiring support.
Country affiliation
Island School is part of the English Schools Foundation (ESF), Hong Kong’s largest provider of English-medium international education. It does not hold affiliation with any other country.
Religious affiliation
The school has no stated religious affiliation and welcomes students of all backgrounds.
School day structure
Lessons begin at 08:25 a.m. and end at 3:35 p.m. from Monday to Thursday, and at 2:35 p.m. on Fridays. Morning buses arrive by 08:15 a.m., and after-school buses depart at 3:40 p.m. (Monday–Thursday) and 2:40 p.m. (Friday).
Bus service
Island School provides an organised school-bus service coordinated with its daily timetable. Buses arrive before classes begin and depart immediately after the end of the school day. The service covers routes to major residential areas on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, helping students reach the Mid-Levels campus conveniently and safely.
Diving Deeper
The school has not added this information
Fees
Annual tuition at Island School ranges from HKD 159,400 to HKD 181,100 for 2026/27.
Application Fees A non-refundable application fee of HKD 2,800 is required for all new applicants to ESF secondary schools. This is paid online by credit card via PayPal at the time of application. Families must also pay a two-month refundable deposit upon accepting an offer of admission. Half of this deposit is credited toward the first month’s tuition, and the other half is offset against the final month’s payment, provided appropriate withdrawal notice is given.
Tuition Fees (Per Year)
Years 7 – 10: HKD 181,100 Year 11: HKD 159,400 Years 12 – 13: HKD 167,600
Tuition fees are billed in 10 equal monthly instalments (September – June) through direct debit (autopay). Fees are payable for any month in which a student attends school for even one day.
Additional Fees Families may incur additional costs for uniforms, school trips, and public examination fees (IGCSE or IB). The English Schools Foundation (ESF) also applies standardised capital contribution schemes and “Other Charges” that support long-term facility investment.
Transportation Fees The school provides a daily bus service with routes across Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. Morning buses arrive before the 08:25 a.m. start, and after-school buses depart at 3:40 p.m. (Monday – Thursday) and 2:40 p.m. (Friday). Transport fees are set by the contracted provider and invoiced separately to families.
Learning Support Island School offers a structured House system and counselling services for student wellbeing. If additional specialist support is required, families coordinate provision directly with the school’s Special Educational Needs (SEN) department.
Refund Policy The application fee is non-refundable. The refundable deposit is returned when families provide proper withdrawal notice and no outstanding balances remain. Attendance during any month renders that month’s fees payable in full.
Payment Options
Direct debit (autopay) for monthly tuition fees Credit card (via PayPal) for application fee.
Academics
Island School teaches IB (MYP), IB (DP), Cambridge IGCSE for students aged 7 to 13.
Curriculum
Island School follows the International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme (MYP) in Years 7 to 9, providing a framework that integrates subject learning with real-world application. In Years 10 and 11, students work toward the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) across core subjects including English Language and Literature, Mathematics, Science (Double Award), Global Perspectives, and a modern language (Chinese, Spanish, or Japanese). In Years 12 and 13, students choose between the IB Diploma Programme (DP) or the IB Career-related Programme (CP), allowing pathways either toward university study or career-focused qualifications. The curriculum also includes Personal and Social Education (PSE) and structured Service Learning, supporting community engagement and personal development. Specialist subjects in the arts, technology, and design complement academic study throughout all years.
1. Application Submission Applications for Island School are managed centrally through the English Schools Foundation (ESF. Families must submit applications online via the ESF Admissions Portal, selecting Island School as their preferred campus. Each application requires a non-refundable fee, payable online by credit card via PayPal. Applications are accepted year-round for available year levels.
2. Document Review and Assessment Once the application is received, ESF reviews submitted documents, including proof of residency, school reports, and identification. Depending on availability and year group, the applicant may be invited to attend a placement interview or assessment to determine readiness for the ESF curriculum. Assessments are conducted in English and focus on communication and general aptitude.
3. Offer of Place If a suitable place is available, families receive an official offer directly from ESF. The offer letter includes details on tuition fees, start dates, and required deposits. To secure the place, parents must pay a two-month deposit corresponding to the annual fee for the assigned year group.
4. Acceptance and Enrolment Upon payment of the deposit, families complete the enrolment formalities through ESF. They are then issued joining instructions, including details about uniform, transport, and start dates. Island School provides a Parent Handbook and transition materials to support students entering Year 7 or transferring mid-year.
Scholarships
The Island School and ESF websites do not list any academic or merit-based scholarship programmes for secondary students. Admissions and tuition follow the standard ESF structure, and no financial aid or fee-waiver schemes are described in official materials.
Waitlist
ESF operates a centralised admissions system, and each school maintains a waiting list for year groups that are at capacity. When places become available, ESF contacts families in order of application date and eligibility. Island School does not operate a separate or internal pool system; all admissions are coordinated directly through ESF’s central admissions office.
School Events
The school has not added events
FAQs
What curriculum does Island School follow?
Students follow the IB Middle Years Programme in Years 7-9, IGCSE in Years 10-11, and choose between the IB Diploma Programme or IB Career-related Programme in Years 12-13.
What are the tuition fees at Island School?
Tuition ranges from HKD 159,400 to HKD 181,100 per year depending on the year group. A non-refundable application fee of HKD 2,800 is also required.
How does the admissions process work?
Applications are managed centrally through the ESF Admissions Portal. Families submit applications online, pay the HKD 2,800 fee, and a two-month refundable deposit is due upon accepting an offer.
What is the House system at Island School?
The school has six Houses: Da Vinci, Einstein, Fleming, Rutherford, Nansen and Wilberforce. Each student is assigned a Tutor and Head of House who follow them from Year 7 through Year 13.
How many students attend Island School?
The school has approximately 1,350 students across Years 7 to 13.
What languages can students study?
In addition to English, students can study Putonghua Chinese, Japanese and Spanish at various levels through the MYP, IGCSE and IB Diploma programmes.
Does Island School provide SEN support?
Yes, Island School has a published Special Educational Needs Policy. Support is provided within mainstream classrooms through collaboration between teachers, support staff and the pastoral team under the ESF framework.
What are the school hours?
Lessons run from 8:25 am to 3:35 pm Monday to Thursday, and 8:25 am to 2:35 pm on Fridays. Morning buses arrive by 8:15 am.
Is there a school bus service?
Yes, Island School provides an organised bus service coordinated with the daily timetable, covering areas across Hong Kong Island and Kowloon.
What facilities does the school have?
The campus includes a Performance Space seating 300 with a 10-metre stage, a large gymnasium with sprung floor, rooftop sports courts, and four catering stations.
What is Quest Week?
Quest Week is an annual whole-school programme that takes learning beyond the classroom through local and overseas experiential activities and service learning.
Does Island School offer scholarships?
Island School and ESF do not list academic or merit-based scholarship programmes for secondary students. Admissions follow the standard ESF fee structure.
What support is available for student wellbeing?
The school runs the THRIVE Programme covering physical, social, cognitive and emotional wellbeing. Students have daily contact with their Tutor and access to on-campus counsellors.
When was Island School founded?
Island School was founded in 1967 as one of the first ESF secondary schools, and has been serving Hong Kong's international community for over 50 years.
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