The Harbour School - The Grove Campus

The Grove Campus is situated on the south side of Hong Kong Island in the Ap Lei Chau neighbourhood. It lies within a primarily residential area that offers convenient access to public buses and the South Island Line (MTR). The campus is easily reachable from central parts of the city while maintaining a quieter local setting.

The school serves Primary (Junior Grade 1 through Grade 6) at the Grove Campus, with the overall school offering Primary through Secondary (up to Grade 12).

It is a co-educational day school; no boarding provision is publicly listed for the Grove Campus.

The school offers a Learning Support programme for students with additional academic needs, including accommodation plans and specialist staff working alongside classroom teachers.

The school is an international independent school in Hong Kong and does not have an affiliation with a specific national government.

No religious affiliation is stated on the school’s website.

According to the Education Bureau listing, the school hours are Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm, with a half-day on Wednesdays ending at 1:00 pm.

Yes, the school offers a school bus service. According to official data, the school bus service is available for students to travel to campus.

The Harbour School follows an adapted American curriculum aligned with the U.S. Common Core State Standards, Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), and National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) frameworks. The curriculum integrates core academic subjects—English, mathematics, science, and social studies—with specialist instruction in art, music, physical education, and modern languages (Mandarin and French). Learning is project-based, emphasizing practical applications and interdisciplinary connections. In the upper grades, students prepare for U.S.-standardized assessments and college entry, while primary students develop foundational skills through inquiry and thematic units. Distinctive programs include marine science taught aboard the school’s 50-foot ketch The Black Dolphin and technology-driven learning at The Foundry, a dedicated makerspace that supports STEM exploration.

The Harbour School integrates social and emotional learning through structured wellbeing activities and counselling initiatives featured in its “World of Wellness” program. These activities promote emotional awareness, resilience, and positive relationships among students across primary and middle levels. Guidance and counselling staff lead sessions addressing coping strategies, values, and community awareness. The school also observes awareness events such as Anti-Bullying Week and Wellbeing Month. These initiatives are designed to help students understand empathy, cooperation, and self-management in an age-appropriate way.

The Harbour School provides a structured Learning Support program coordinated by Learning Support Specialists. The program creates accommodation plans in collaboration with classroom teachers and parents to support students with diverse learning needs. The school offers interventions for language, literacy, numeracy, and executive functioning challenges, and also provides extension programs for advanced and twice-exceptional learners. While the school supports a range of mild to moderate learning differences, it is not a specialist SEN institution. The model emphasizes inclusion within mainstream classrooms with tailored assistance as needed.

THS offers a formal English as an Additional Language (EAL) program to support students whose first language is not English. The program focuses on academic writing, reading comprehension, summarisation, and subject-specific vocabulary. EAL teachers collaborate with classroom staff to integrate language development within core subjects. Students are grouped based on proficiency levels, with progress monitored throughout the year.

The Harbour School promotes student wellbeing through its guidance and counselling services, along with its “World of Wellness” initiative. Counsellors facilitate workshops and discussions focused on stress management, empathy, and personal growth. Primary and secondary students take part in activities encouraging reflection, peer connection, and emotional regulation. The school also participates in community wellbeing campaigns and themed awareness days throughout the year.

The Harbour School outlines a child protection framework overseen by senior leadership and the school board. Staff members receive regular training to identify and respond to safeguarding concerns, and a designated safeguarding officer monitors compliance with local Education Bureau guidelines. The policy emphasizes prevention, staff awareness, and confidential reporting procedures. While the full text of the safeguarding policy is not published, its existence and oversight are referenced on the governance and policy pages of the school’s website.

1. Application Submission – Families begin the process by completing the online application form through the school’s admissions portal. Required documents include a copy of the student’s and parents’ passports, the last two years of school reports (in English), and any specialist or support reports if applicable.

2. Supporting Documents – A teacher reference form is submitted directly by the student’s current teacher, and overseas applicants must also provide samples of written work, math assessments, and a reading list indicating their comfort level.

3. Assessment or Trial Day – Younger applicants (Junior Grade 1–Grade 1) participate in a trial day on campus, while students in Grades 2–6 may also be invited for one. From Grade 3 onward, students complete a MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) assessment in reading, math, and language usage.

4. Review and Decision – The admissions team reviews the application holistically, considering academic records, assessments, and classroom readiness. Offers are made based on space availability and learning support capacity.

5. Acceptance and Enrollment – Once an offer is made, families have seven days to accept the place by paying the entry fee and either purchasing an Admissions Right or paying the Annual Capital Levy to secure enrollment.

The Harbour School provides need-based financial assistance rather than merit-based scholarships. Each year, over HKD 4 million in financial aid is awarded to qualifying families. Assistance is determined through a confidential application process that reviews family financial documentation. Awards are granted annually, and families must reapply each year for continued consideration.

The Harbour School operates a waiting pool system rather than a first-come, first-served list. When spaces are unavailable or a grade reaches its learning support capacity, applicants are added to this pool. Several factors, including gender balance, sibling priority, nationality, and learning need,s determine placement. Applicants remain in the pool until a suitable opening arises.