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Kennedy School

Hong Kong

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees HK$139,000
Ages 5 - 11 years
Pupil numbers 900
Type Co-educational
Opened 1961
Bus Service Yes
Availability Not shared by this school
Part of
English Schools Foundation
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (PYP)
Typical class size 30
Strengths Sport, Performing Arts, STEM
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Social and Hobbies, Leadership and Professional
Stages Primary School, Elementary
Introduction

ESF Kennedy School is a primary school for children aged 5–11 in Pokfulam on Hong Kong Island. It offers the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) across Years 1–6. The language of instruction is English as part of the English Schools Foundation’s English-medium network. The school enrols around 900 students. Families can use a dedicated bus service operated by Kwoon Chung Motors, with routes across Hong Kong Island and West Kowloon. School hours run with gates open from 8:10 am and dismissal at 2:50 pm for bus users and 2:57 pm for others. The school’s activities programme features staff-run clubs, including sports, robotics, arts, and music, alongside ESF Explore classes and external providers, with offerings that vary each term. Student support includes an inclusion team, a multi-tiered system of support, and access to speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, and social-emotional counselling on a user-pay basis.

This campus is part of English Schools Foundation

19號 Sha Wan Dr, Sandy Bay, Hong Kong.

The Essentials

Kennedy School has 900 pupils, typical class sizes of 30, instruction in English.

Location
ESF Kennedy School is situated in Pokfulam on the southwest side of Hong Kong Island. The area overlooks the South China Sea and is well connected by public transport, including green minibuses serving Pokfulam and Central. Families who drive can find parking nearby at Cyberport. The school also provides its own bus service covering multiple districts across Hong Kong Island and West Kowloon.

Stages
Kennedy School caters to students aged 5–11 and offers the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) for Years 1–6. It focuses on inquiry-based learning across the core primary subjects, forming part of the English Schools Foundation (ESF) network of IB World Schools in Hong Kong.

Type
Kennedy School is a day school for primary-aged children. It is co-educational, enrolling both boys and girls, and does not provide boarding facilities.

Additional learning support
The school offers structured learning support through an inclusion team that uses a multi-tiered system of support (MTSS). This includes differentiated classroom instruction, targeted interventions, and access to speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, and social-emotional counselling services on a user-pay basis.

Country affiliation
Kennedy School is part of the English Schools Foundation (ESF), a Hong Kong-based educational organisation. It does not have a formal affiliation with any other country.

Religious affiliation
The school has no religious affiliation and operates as a secular institution.

School day structure
School gates open at 8:10 a.m., and classes begin shortly after. The school day ends at 2:50 p.m. for students taking the bus and 2:57 p.m. for others. A school nurse remains on site until 3:30 p.m., and the schedule includes time for lunch and breaks during the day.

Bus service
Kennedy School offers a comprehensive bus service operated by Kwoon Chung Motors. Routes cover a wide area, including Pokfulam, Kennedy Town, Mid-levels, Central, Island East, Aberdeen, and West Kowloon. Each bus has a designated supervisor to ensure student safety. Parents can arrange and manage routes directly through the provider’s online portal, with options for one-way or return trips.
Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement
Kennedy School has a uniform. Guidelines on proper uniform wear are published, and the full range of uniforms can be viewed and purchased online from the supplier's site. The supplier's warehouse for fittings is Unit B1, 1/F, Tai Cheung (Liberal) Factory Building, 3 Wing Ming Street, Lai Chi Kok, Kowloon, Hong Kong.

Food Options
Hot lunches are offered and coordinated by Zebratasty. Parents register and place orders online via Zebratasty. A sample menu and related user guides are available on the lunch information pages.

House System
Kennedy School operates a house system. Year 6 House Captains are elected by peers and lead assemblies, school tours for prospective families, and manage the house points system. There areAmbassadors and Monitors across multiple areas and a Student Representative Council for Years 2 to 6.

Governance and Ownership
The Kennedy School is part of the English Schools Foundation (ESF), the largest English-medium international school network in Hong Kong. The Kennedy School Council has 13 members, is accountable to the ESF Board of Governors, and includes a Chairman appointed by the Board, three external appointees, three elected teachers, three parent members, one staff representative, the ESF Chief Executive Officer (or delegate), and the Principal; the Council meets five times a year.
Fees

Annual tuition at Kennedy School ranges from HKD 139,000 for 2026/27.

Application Fees
A non-refundable application fee of HKD 2,800 is payable upon submission of the online application form for all ESF schools. This fee is required for each child applying and covers administrative processing. No additional registration or deposit fees are listed for Kennedy School specifically.

Tuition Fees (Per Year)
Years 1 – 6 (Primary): HKD 139,000 per year
Tuition is billed over 10 monthly instalments (September–June) at HKD 13,900 per month, payable by autopay.

Additional Fees
Families are automatically enrolled as members of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA), with a compulsory annual PTA fee billed in Term 1. Additional costs may include uniforms, stationery, school trips, and optional extracurricular activities.

Transportation Fees
Kennedy School offers a bus service managed by Kwoon Chung Motors, with routes across Hong Kong Island and West Kowloon. Routes and pricing vary by distance and area, and parents arrange services directly through the provider’s online system.

Learning Support
Additional services such as speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, and social-emotional counselling are available on a user-pay basis.

Refund Policy
Application fees are non-refundable. Refunds for tuition fees follow ESF policy, typically requiring one month’s written notice of withdrawal.

Payment Options
All tuition and related fees are paid via autopay or direct bank transfer. Credit card and cash payments are not accepted.
Academics

Kennedy School teaches IB (PYP) for students aged 5 to 11.

Curriculum
Kennedy School follows the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) for students in Years 1–6, covering ages 5 to 11. The curriculum integrates key subject areas, including language, mathematics, science, social studies, arts, and physical education, through an inquiry-based approach. Students explore six transdisciplinary themes designed to connect learning across disciplines and encourage critical thinking. Specialist teachers provide instruction in physical education, music, and Mandarin as part of the core programme. Assessment focuses on concept understanding, skills, and attitudes rather than examinations. The PYP framework provides a foundation for progression to the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) at ESF secondary schools.

Academic calendar
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The school states that personalised learning supports each child’s needs and abilities, and that teachers work with students to develop self-regulation, perseverance, and confidence. It also lists social-emotional small group sessions and counselling among the therapy services provided. The overall approach emphasises an inclusive environment where students feel safe and valued.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Kennedy School uses a multi-tiered system of support and has an inclusion team working in classrooms and dedicated learning spaces. The school offers access to speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, and counselling on a user-pay basis. It provides differentiated instruction and targeted interventions to meet individual needs. Kennedy School is a mainstream primary institution and not a specialist SEN school.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The school does not publicly disclose detailed information specific to an EAL programme for English-as-an-Additional-Language learners.

Mental Wellbeing
Kennedy School includes mental well-being as part of its Student Support & Wellbeing provision. The school offers social-emotional small group sessions and counselling as part of its available therapy services. Staff focus on understanding each child’s strengths, needs, and identity to help them develop confidence and emotional resilience.

Safeguarding
The school is part of the English Schools Foundation (ESF), which publishes a comprehensive Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy. This policy applies across all ESF schools and outlines that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, covering physical, sexual, psychological harm, and neglect. Staff complete annual declarations, and there is clear guidance on reporting procedures via designated Child Protection Officers. The policy includes online-safeguarding, confidentiality requirements, and the transfer of records when students change schools.

Safeguarding Policy
Parent Experience

History
Kennedy School was originally opened in 1961 as Kennedy Road Junior School and later came under the auspices of the English Schools Foundation (ESF) in 1979. The school relocated in 1989 to its current campus in Pokfulam and expanded its facilities with the East Wing opening in 1998. Over the years, it has grown from 12 classes to around 30 classes, with a capacity for approximately 900 students.

Community
The school hosts a range of community and cultural events, including its annual “Festive Fair” in November, dress-up days, market days, and sustainability-awareness collaborations with local organisations. Parents, students, and staff regularly come together for social and fundraising occasion, which help strengthen the community atmosphere.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
All Kennedy School families are automatically members of the PTA, which comprises 11 parent representatives, three teacher representatives, and the Principal. The PTA organises events such as the annual Festive Fair, quiz nights, coffee mornings for new families, and dress-up days. It also runs fundraising initiatives to support extra resources for students and facilities. The PTA maintains open communication with school leadership and provides input on educational developments and parent-school partnerships.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The Kennedy School is located at 19 Sha Wan Drive, Pokfulam, Hong Kong. The campus has a wide array of sports, arts and drama facilities. Classrooms are designed to support learning both individually and as part of teams or wider groups. Students also access facilities beyond the school site, including the Stanley Ho Centre sports complex at the University of Hong Kong for games, extracurricular activities, swimming and lunchtime play.

Sports Facilities
The campus provides a wide range of sports facilities. Students use the Stanley Ho Centre sports complex at HKU for games and swimming. The school uses facilities for lunchtime play and extracurricular activities.

Academic Facilities
Classrooms are designed for individual and collaborative learning. The campus has well-equipped facilities to support a broad curriculum.

Extra Curricular Facilities
After-school clubs offer over 100 diverse experiences, including sports teams. Trips and camps include adventure camps and cultural immersion trips. Performance opportunities include year-level showcases, choir, band and cultural celebrations. The school emphasises diversity, equity and inclusion as part of extracurricular life.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The Kennedy School uses the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) framework to shape learning. Learning is organized around the Programme of Inquiry, uniting subjects through integrated units of inquiry. The approach is student-centered, lifelong, inclusive, and focused on meaningful, deep understanding. The curriculum includes a strong emphasis on student well-being and action as part of learning.

Arts & Creative
Performance is central at Kennedy School, with year-level showcases, choir, bands, and cultural celebrations. The school supports arts and creative expression through regular opportunities to perform and participate in cultural events. After-school activities include arts and performance as part of the broader extracurricular program.

Cultural & Language
The Kennedy School is part of the English Schools Foundation, an English-medium international education network. Mandarin is taught daily as part of the language program. The Chinese language curriculum is organized around three strands: oral language, written language, and visual language. Chinese language learning includes three pathways—CNN (Chinese native/near-native), CSL (Chinese as a second language), and CAL (Chinese as an additional language)—to support different learner needs. The program integrates culture and provides opportunities to experience Chinese culture, including trips such as Beijing for Year 6.

Social & Hobbies
The school offers over 100 after-school activities, with a strong emphasis on sports and competition, including participation in HKPSSA events. Programs include Outdoor Education and Action & Student Leadership. Trips and Camps provide experiential learning and social opportunities beyond the classroom. Students have opportunities to collaborate with peers across ESF and international schools.

Community & Service
The Kennedy School PTA welcomes all families; all Kennedy families are PTA members. The PTA supports parent volunteering, school resources, and improvements, and there is a School Council and Student Voice and Leadership. The school emphasises a strong family connection within the ESF network. Community and service activities are integrated through family involvement and school-wide initiatives.

Leadership & Professional
Leadership development is supported through student leadership opportunities, including Student Voice and Leadership and extracurricular roles such as Action & Student Leadership. The school emphasizes visible leadership by its leaders, with high standards, personalised support, and compassionate, visible leadership. After-school programs include leadership-focused activities as part of the broader program.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Student well-being is a core focus, integrated into the curriculum through Student Support & Wellbeing. The school offers a strong sports program with access to the HKU Stanley Ho Sports Centre. Technology use is complemented by digital citizenship education and parent seminars to guide healthy use. Outdoor education, trips, and diverse after-school activities support physical fitness and social-emotional development.
Languages

Language Provision
The Chinese language program offers various learning pathways to access Chinese language and culture, enabling support and extension. The Programme of Inquiry provides opportunities to integrate Chinese language learning across disciplines, including standalone units that focus on exploring Chinese language and culture. The Chinese curriculum blends cultural elements to provide authentic contexts for language learning, such as celebrations of Chinese festivals; the school also runs a cultural and language immersion trip to Beijing for Year 6.

Immersion Programs
The Kennedy School runs an annual cultural and language immersion trip to Beijing for Year 6 students. The trip provides immersive exposure to Chinese language and culture in authentic contexts. It connects classroom learning with real-world experiences and supports language development. The immersion trip is part of the specialist provision for Chinese language and culture.
Reputation

Awards
Certificate of Merit in the Hong Kong Green School Award: Kennedy School received a Certificate of Merit for its environmental education practices and green school initiatives.

Accreditations
Authorized to deliver the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP): The school is authorised by the International Baccalaureate Organisation to implement the PYP, ensuring the curriculum meets international IB standards.

Member of the English Schools Foundation (ESF) school network: As part of ESF, Kennedy School is governed within the framework of Hong Kong’s largest English-medium international school group.
Admissions

Admissions
1. Book a school visit or attend an information session.
Families can explore ESF schools online or arrange visits through the English Schools Foundation’s admissions office. Visiting helps parents understand the facilities, teaching approach, and learning environment at Kennedy School, which caters to primary-aged children.

2. Submit the application form and supporting documents.
Applications are submitted through the ESF online system during the central admissions period. Parents must upload supporting documents such as the child’s passport, Hong Kong visa (if applicable), birth certificate, and recent school reports. Each child can be listed for up to four ESF schools.

3. Schedule an interview and assessment.
Shortlisted applicants are invited for an interview or assessment to determine readiness for English-medium instruction and school placement. Assessments vary by age and year level, focusing on communication, social skills, and learning development.

4. Receive an offer and confirm enrolment.
Successful applicants receive a formal offer via email. Parents must accept the offer within the stated timeframe and complete all enrolment documents. Once confirmed, the school provides details about class placement and start dates.

5. Pay tuition fees and prepare for school start.
Families must set up the monthly tuition payment by autopay before the start of term. Orientation information, uniform requirements, and transport arrangements are shared before classes begin.

Scholarships
Kennedy School does not offer individual scholarships. However, families across the ESF network may apply for the ESF Financial Assistance Scheme, which provides partial or full tuition remission based on demonstrated financial need. Eligibility is determined by household income and supporting documentation. The scheme is available to current ESF students after their first year of enrolment.

Waitlist
Kennedy School operates under the ESF central admissions system, which includes a waitlist for each year group. Applicants not offered a place immediately are placed on the waitlist and may be contacted if a vacancy becomes available. Priority is given according to ESF admission categories, such as children of full-fee debenture holders or siblings of current students. Waitlisted families remain in consideration until the end of the academic year.
School Events
The school has not added events
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