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Hong Kong
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The International Montessori School (IMS) was founded in 2002 by Anne Sawyer and Karin Ann, both long-time Montessori educators. The school was established to provide an authentic bilingual Montessori education in Hong Kong, beginning with a single campus and later expanding to four sites, including Stanley, South Horizons, Aldrich Bay, and Mid-Levels. IMS operates as a non-profit institution under the International Montessori Education Foundation (IMEF), a registered charitable organisation in Hong Kong. IMEF manages funding for school development, facilities, and capital improvements through its contribution options programme.
IMS fosters a diverse, bilingual school community with families representing a wide range of cultural and professional backgrounds. The school promotes participation in family events, school performances, and student-led initiatives that strengthen connections between home and school. Cultural festivals, such as the Chinese New Year and International Day, are celebrated annually, encouraging students to share traditions and build cross-cultural understanding.
The IMS Parent Teacher Association (PTA) was established in 2002 and plays an active role in school life. It supports the school through community-building events, such as holiday fairs, charity drives, and workshops for parents on Montessori education. The PTA also organises volunteer opportunities that connect parents with classroom activities and school events. Regular meetings provide a platform for parents and school leadership to exchange feedback and collaborate on community projects. The association’s focus is on maintaining a supportive, family-oriented atmosphere across all IMS campuses.
IMS South Horizons is IMS’s dedicated early years campus on Ap Lei Chau, a minute from South Horizons MTR and next to a seaside community playground. It serves ages 1–6 through Montessori First Steps (1–2), Foundation (2–3) and Casa dei Bambini (3–6), taught bilingually in English and Putonghua with one teacher for each language in every classroom. IMS follows an authentic Montessori curriculum, with clear teacher-to-student ratios (e.g., 2:8 in First Steps and 2:25 in Casa) and AMI-trained educators. Families can use the IMS bus network covering most of Hong Kong Island. IMS is part of a four-campus school serving about 1,000 children from 1–14, with elementary and middle school continuing at other campuses; older students join student council, clubs, and service initiatives. South Horizons focuses on a calm, hands-on start to school in a bilingual environment.
