Which school (DBIS, GSIS, Kellett or FIS)

C

Cecilia & Nadim

Registered User
I have recently moved to HK and kids and Mrs to follow in July 08. Really struggling to decide which school to go for and where to live. We have 2 boys, age 5 and 3yrs. They go to a very good school in London and would like to ensure an equally good school here. We have applied to Kellett, GSIS, FIS and DBIS, but the waiting lists are very long. There is a high likelihood that our boys will get into DBIS, but would like to ask people if it is a good school and how is DB as a place to live. I went to visit DBIS and quite liked the school, but always helpful if people can share their own experience.

We would really appreciate any input. Many thanks.
 
We live in DB and my eldest (4.5) goes to DBIS. We enjoy living here and absolutely love DBIS. Whether DB is convenient for you, may depend on your work. My husband works at the airport and I work in Central, so DB is the most convenient place for both of us. It will also depend on which school you choose for your children. I wouldn't send my young children to a school on HK Island, although plenty of people do.

What are you looking for in a school? DBIS follows a 'learn through play' philosophy which I LOVE for Kindy/primary. The teachers are wonderful, good staff to children ratio and excellent facilities. I think the principal is a wonderful educator and is doing a fantastic job.

GSIS - has an excellent academic reputation. I don't know much else about it.

FIS - I don't know anything about it.

ESF schools - personally I'm avoiding them. I feel they are too political, not community based and not responsive to the wishes of parents and needs of students. Whilst they have a reasonable academic reputation (not as good as GSIS) I think the standard is a bit hit and miss at different schools. I don't know about Kellett in particular. Just having a look at the standard of dress/uniform/behaviour of the ESF schools on the DB ferry is enough to turn me off them for my children.

There is an ESF school currently being built in DB which I believe is opening in Sept 08.
 
Thanks very much. Kind of comments I was looking for.

We are really after a school that follows the philosophy of learn through play. This is what my kids do in school in Lonodn at the moment and I really like that. This makes them more practical and enables them to think outside the box. One of my concerns with HK school is that they tend to be fairly regemented and very academic. I am not a big buyer of that. So good to hear that DBIS is different.

I went to visit DBIS last week, saw children in action, met the deputy principal. I quite liked it all.

Does anyone has any bad things to say about DBIS or DB in general?
 
I found DBIS to be rather limiting when I interviewed the head of the nursery school. I found that they had a way of doing something and could not think outside that box. this is not something that I want from a school for my children. i want them to be able to see something from different ways and come to a conclusion based on all the facts - not just what the school wants to teach!

We are opting for either a montessori program or ESF - the ESF at Tsing Yi is run by a bunch of lovelly teachers and they appear to be very community minded (sorry Jane) and "friends" with each other - you could tell just by listening to them talk.

I know this is different than the above but just thought I would throw in my 2cents worth.
 
I went on an open day around GSIS - it was a bit scary. Very pushy and stern atmosphere - the kids didn't look that happy.

Maybe we just caught them on a bad day...
 
I think it is all down to what you want from a school as a parent and what school would suit your child best.

Personally I don't like the ESF kindergarten in Tsing Yi.In the past they have been lax on literacy and numeracy. I think they've been forced to focus more on it recently but I wouldn't send my son there.

But like I said, I think it's important to visit the schools and make your own judgement call.

I know quite a few people with children at dbis and they have had nothing but good things to say about the school.

I went to an esf school (many years ago), as did my brothers. When I started at my ESF secondary school it had 700 students; the same school now has almost double that number of students.

When I went to the school it was very much a part of the community, all the students knew all the teachers, and the majority of parents were involved in the school.

Today the situation has changed a lot...and it's no longer so involved in the community and vice versa. I personally wouldn't send my children there, which is a shame because I had a wonderful time there and a great education.

But even then there was a lack of support for children who weren't academic, and who didn't partic. like school.

I agree that it is hit and miss with the esf schools, and some are better than others....hence why some are oversubscribed and others are less full.

But again there are plenty of parents who are happy with them so again personal choice.....

The new school in db is not a traditional ESF school. It is a private independent school run by ESF educational services....it follows diff curriculum and the sch fees are more expensive.
 
>> GSIS - it was a bit scary. Very pushy and stern
>> atmosphere

German and Swiss .. would you expect anything less than stern? :)

Academically considered top notch though.
 
Just to clarify - ALL ESF schools are now offereing the IB diploma program: May/June 2008 will be the last A-level graduates.

GSIS does have a good academic record, but I have heard along the grapevine that their results have been not as good (but still, very good, if you know what I mean) 0ver the last two years. Apparently the exchange rate with the Euro means they are having trouble replacing staff.

Kellett is great - fantastic, warm environment. In my opinion, a much nicer primary that GSIS.

As for ESF, it depends which school you go to. They all have varying demographics and routines and staff. But apparently >95% go on to university, so that';s pretty good in my book!

If you're considering DBIS - DB is a FANTASTIC place to live with young kids. Just really check out the school's literacy programs - I'm not really sure how they compete academically with with ESK/Kellett/GSIS. I hear varying reports, and as a previous poster said, it comes down to what your priorities are.
 
Since my children began ESF high school I have been most impressed. We were looking at boarding schools as an option from year 8, however, seeing the high standard of education and facilities, the excellent level of committment from the teachers and the whole community feel along with the responsiveness to both parents and students and thriving children educationally and socially, thankfully boarding school is no longer an option.

Excellent acedemic results compared to not only other schools in HK but in comparison to UK private schools also adds to the decision.

Overall an excellent choice.

In regards to children miss behaving on the ferry, parents do have to take responsibillity for their teenagers out of school, but if this behaviour was reported to the respective schools they would take action immediately, and it's not just esf teenagers let me assure you, so not a constructive comment by Jane01.
 
Freya - I appreciate your comment that parents are the ones responsible for their children outside school. I understand that behaviour of children on the DB ferry to and from school has been reported numerous times. There is even a special announcement telling "boys and girls" to behave themselves. There is sometimes a minor improvement immediately after the incident, but overall, no change.

However, from the point of view of a member of the public, how else do you judge a school except for the behaviour of its students in general? How can I help but think the school has low standards of behaviour when I see teenagers with short skirts, high heels and make up every day going to school. When I overhear conversations about sex and drugs on the ferry and bus. Frankly, that is not what I want for my daughters.

I'm not the school police. As I have mentioned, there have been many complaints over the years. I don't have the time or inclination to get involved. I will, however, make sure that my daughters are not exposed to what I believe is inappropriate behaviour in young girls. I can't protect them forever, but I can try !
 
There will always be the minority who will misbehave, and I don't think it is the schools fault, but sadly how they are brought up at home, and lack of parental involvement in thier upbringing in most cases, along with too much disposable income. Unfortunately, though you are going to find it very hard to find a school for your girls as I have witnessed teenagers from all of the internatinal schools on the DB ferry misbehaving and I have to say worse than some of the ESF teenagers.
 
If anyone was in Wanchai on NY's Eve, I'm sure you must have seen the ESF teenagers who were buying alcohol from the 7-11. They were over 100 kids drinking on Lockhart Rd. At midnight they all got really rowdy and spilled onto the road and stopped traffic. A few jumped and sat on taxis and one boy actually stood on top of a moving taxi. Another Mum and I watched in horror, hoping none of the kids would get hurt. The police watched from across the street and were a bit late to react. Fortunately, none were injured.

I have to agree with Freya. As HK is a safe city, the kids have a lot more freedom than they would back home. Plus high disposable incomes mean more pocket money for the kids.

Am a ESF brat. So have witnessed and admit to doing some crazy stuff too.
 
If its learning through play you are after, have a look at HK Academy. Like everywhere a very long wait list, but worth a try. The keener you are to be involved in the school, the more they want you!

Kellett is great, but much more formal teaching style.
 
I think teenagers will be teenagers regardless of where they go to school.

I am also an ESF brat and am pretty sure could tell some stories that would make many parents horrified at goings on in ESF secondary schools.
HOWEVER my point is these goings on happen wherever teenagers congregate.....I spent two years at one of the top boarding schools in the UK and believe me things were the same there.

The difference with ESF schools is that the majority of children are from stable homes, with good incomes and parents who are usually professionals and so while yes as teenagers they do crazy things (who doesn't/hasn't) but they still get the results and go on to great universities etc.

I speak from experience!

My ESF secondary school was fantastic....I don't think it's as good now because I think like most ESF schools over the past ten years they have grown too big and that changes their atmosphere etc.

As for the children/teenagers misbehaving on the ferry, from my experience it is kids from all schools that act up on the ferry....not just ESF kids.
 
Jane01 - You should be on the MTR at Kowloon Tong when the school bell goes! You'll get the same conversations from the students pouring out of AISHK and Yew Cheung (the most expensive school in HK, along with HKIS).

I agree though about the dress standards at sone ESF schools. I've heard staff saying that everytime they do a uniform bliz, they get complaints from parents, saying that their child is being 'picked on'. I personally think that the biggest problem is that the Y12-13 students don;t haev to wear uniform. Even though they have a dress code, what these students (especially girls) wera to school is just unreal. It does make the school look sloppy.

I went to a private school, and while we didn't like hearing it, how you look is important. We know as adults that it is true, but convincing a teenager is another matter. Again -0 if a child is leaving the house in the morning wearing 2inch heels a a skirt that shows their underwear, then the school can only do so much - again, I think it's (mostly, partly) up to parents to enforce that their kids look respectable.
 
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