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Announcement

THE NEXT CHAPTER: NEW SCHOOL TO BE CALLED ‘ESF RENAISSANCE COLLEGE KINDERGARTEN’

The English Schools Foundation (ESF), the largest provider of English medium international education in Hong Kong, today announced that its newest school will be called ‘ESF Renaissance College Kindergarten.’

The move reflects the fact that the new school, a Kindergarten in the Sai Sha development in the New Territories, will be directly linked to the existing ESF Renaissance College.

It is scheduled to open its doors to families in August 2026*.

Students who start their ESF education at the new school - and who can access a mainstream education - will be offered a guaranteed place at Renaissance College, which is an all-through school covering both primary and secondary phases.

This means that families who enrol at ESF Renaissance College Kindergarten will have certainty about their child’s entire educational journey from K1 through to Y13.

ESF also confirmed that the new school will offer a dual-language programme - allowing students the opportunity to access learning in both English and Chinese.

Speaking when ESF confirmed the opening of the new school, CEO Belinda Greer said:

“ESF is a world-class education system – and we believe that joining us at the earliest stage possible helps our students get off to a great start on their learning journey. That is why we invest so much effort in creating the best conditions for learning in the early years.

“Our new Kindergarten will be custom designed to provide a learning space that maximises every opportunity for our students to grow and to develop a love of learning.

“More than that, though, by aligning the new school directly with ESF Renaissance College, we are giving parents much needed clarity about their child’s educational journey; we are enhancing the continuity of learning across the schools and we will be able to create a wonderful new community that students, parents and staff can all be a part of.”

The existing ESF Kindergarten in Tung Chung will relocate to the new ESF Renaissance College Kindergarten in 2026.

*Upon successful completion of the registration process with the EDB.

Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply for ESF Tung Chung International Kindergarten if my child is born in 2023?

Yes, your child may apply for Pre-K for the 2025/26 school year during the central application period of 1-30 April 2025. Parents should also apply for K1 (2026/27) during the central application period of 1-30 September 2025. However, please note that K1 (2026/27) for ESF Tung Chung International Kindergarten will not be available.

Can I apply for ESF Tung Chung International Kindergarten K1 if my child is born in 2022?

Yes, your child may apply for K1 (2025/26). Please note that your child will then transfer to the ESF Renaissance College Kindergarten for K2 and continue their primary and secondary studies at ESF Renaissance College.

Can I apply for ESF Tung Chung International Kindergarten if my child is born in 2021?

Yes, your child may apply for the general application for K2 (2025/26). Your child will be guaranteed a Year 1 place at an ESF primary school. The allocation process for Year 1 (2026/27) will take place in Term 1 2025/26.

 

Can I apply for ESF Renaissance College Kindergarten K1 if my child is born in 2023?

Yes, parents may apply for K1 (2026/27) during the central application period of 1-30 September 2025.

Can I apply for ESF Renaissance College Kindergarten if my child is born in 2022?

You can not apply directly to ESF Renaissance College Kindergarten. However, your child may apply to start at ESF Tung Chung International Kindergarten for K1 in 2025/26, and then transition to ESF Renaissance College Kindergarten for K2 in 2026/27.

Can I apply for the ESF Renaissance College Kindergarten if my child is born in 2021?

There are no classes available for students who were born in 2021 in ESF Renaissance College Kindergarten. Your child may apply for the general application for K2 (2025/26) at an ESF Kindergarten (other than ESF Renaissance College Kindergarten). 

Can I apply for ESF Renaissance College Kindergarten if my child is born in 2020?

There is no class available in ESF Renaissance College Kindergarten for children born in 2020. However, your child may apply for the general application for Year 1 (2025/26) at an ESF primary school.

What will happen to my child after K2 in the ESF Renaissance College Kindergarten?

After K2 at ESF Renaissance College Kindergarten, children eligible for mainstream education are guaranteed a Year 1 place at ESF Renaissance College

How does the curriculum at the ESF Renaissance College Kindergarten align with what my child has been learning at the ESF Tung Chung International Kindergarten?

ESF Renaissance College Kindergarten offers the same IB Primary Years Programme as offered at all our kindergartens. There will be a dual language programme option offered at ESF Renaissance College Kindergarten.

Will the ESF Renaissance College Kindergarten offer Pre-K program?

No, ESF Renaissance College Kindergarten will not offer Pre-K program.

What is the school fee for ESF Renaissance College Kindergarten?

The school fee is currently being finalised and is subject to approval by the Education Bureau (EDB).

Where can I find detailed information about the school bus service, class sizes, and facilities at ESF Renaissance College Kindergarten?

The development of the new kindergarten is still underway. ESF will provide more information regarding the school bus service, class sizes, and facilities in the near future.

Submit Your Enquiry

Admissions Enquiry

We are happy to answer any questions you may have.

Admissions Hotline:
+852 3762 2411

Email:

kindergarten.admissions@esfcentre.edu.hk

English Schools
Foundation

Get In Touch

  • +852 2574 2351
  • info@esfcentre.edu.hk
  • 25/F, 1063 Kings Road, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong
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Chi Him Tsang

ESF King George V Schooll

Class of 2024

Choice of University

The University of Hong Kong
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (Distinguished MedScholar)

My Story

The greatest medicine is to teach people how not to need it. I see myself as an agent of positive change, a caregiver, a lifelong learner, and someone who constantly strives for personal growth and improvement.

With an intent to specialize in a particular medical field, I aim to delve deeper into an area where I can continue making meaningful impacts on the lives of others. I want to combine my passion for helping people with my dedication to personal and professional development, ensuring I constantly evolve as a healthcare provider.

With my commitment to medicine, I am confident I will have the means to turn my aspirations into a reality and contribute to creating a healthier future for all.

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Year 1 Central Application - Key dates

Parents should refer to the “Determining Year Group” guidelines under the admission process to determine the appropriate year group to apply for when submitting their primary application.

1-30 September

  • The Central application period for parents to submit application
  • An acknowledgement email containing the applicant’s reference number will be sent upon submission
2 SeptemberNomination Rights applications open
First Friday of OctoberDeadline for receipt of supporting documents
Mid-OctoberAcknowledgement email sent to parents to advise admission process
November to January (Following Year)First round interviews conducted at primary schools
March to August (Following Year)Further interviews conducted by primary schools as necessary

Year 7 Central Application - Key dates

Parents should refer to the “Determining Year Group” guidelines under the admission process to determine the appropriate year group to apply for when submitting their secondary application.

1-30 September
  • The Central application period for parents to submit application
  • An acknowledgement email containing the applicant’s reference number will be sent upon submission
2 SeptemberNomination Rights applications open
First Friday of OctoberDeadline for receipt of supporting documents
Early OctoberAcknowledgement email sent to parents to advise admission process
Mid-October to the end of NovemberInterview period
Early/Mid-December Offer for Year 7 places sent out
Mid-DecemberDeadline to confirm places offered by payment of a deposit and non-refundable capital levy

ESF Jockey Club Sarah Roe School (JCSRS)

2B Tin Kwong Road, Homantin, Hong Kong

Founded

1985

Age Range

Age 5 – 19

Number of Students

70

Curriculum

Bespoke curriculum. All secondary-aged students access accredited ASDAN courses.

About Our School

Everything we do at ESF Jockey Club Sarah Roe School is based on an understanding that every child is unique, with their own skills and passions. We offer our students some wonderful facilities to keep them happy, engaged and always learning. Our bespoke curriculum puts our students at the centre.

We reach our goals alongside our students through personalised, progressive and challenging lessons that offer students multiple opportunities for repeated, frequent experiences. Parents are an important facet of this team, since nobody knows your child better than you. Our teachers and therapists work with you to help establish suitable and practical goals for each student and how to support this learning at home. By helping each child to develop their own interests and personality, we help them to be the best they can be.

Meet the Principal

Anna Smakowska

Anna has almost 20 years of experience as a teacher and leader – with a strong focus throughout her career on helping students reach their full potential, regardless of any and all challenges that they may face.

School Bus Routes

The bus service for JCSRS students is managed by ESF Centre and JCSRS. School staff work as Bus Escorts and they are First Aid trained.

*The stops along the school bus routes may be subject to change. For more information, please contact the school.

Phone:

(+852) 2761 9893

Email:

info@jcsrs.edu.hk

Website:

www.jcsrs.edu.hk

Download School Profile
Apply Now

K1 Central Application - Key dates

Parents should refer to the “Determining Year Group” guidelines under the admission process to determine the appropriate year group to apply for when submitting their kindergarten application.

1-30 September
  • K1 Central application period for parents to submit application
  • Acknowledgement email containing the applicant’s reference number will be sent upon submission
2 September at 1pmESF Kindergarten Class A Debenture application opens 
First Friday of OctoberDeadline for receipt of supporting documents
October
  • Application forms will be verified, parents will be contacted if there are any missing documents
  • Applications are processed in random order and are assigned a computer-generated sequential number and then ordered according to the priority criteria
November

Parents receive Play Visit status notification letters

  • Invitation to attend a Play Visit for a place/entry waitlist if successful; or
  • Confirmation of waitlisting for possible future Play Visit opportunities
November to January (Following Year)First round Play Visits conduct at kindergartens
January to Early March (Following Year)Parents receive letter with Play Visit result
March to August (Following Year)Further Play Visits conduct by kindergartens if necessary

ESF Year 6 students transferring to secondary school for August

ESF’s all-through education, K1 to Year 13, enables a seamless transition from kindergarten to primary and from Year 6 to secondary. The close links our primary schools have with their associated secondary schools play an important role in delivering a positive experience and a good start to the year, for our Year 7 students.

ESF will process and allocate according to an ‘associated secondary school’ for Year 7 placement. Below are the associated secondary schools for each primary school.

ESF primary schoolAllocated ESF secondary school
Bradbury SchoolSouth Island School
Quarry Bay SchoolSouth Island School
Glenealy SchoolIsland School
Peak SchoolIsland School
Kennedy SchoolWest Island School
Beacon Hill SchoolIsland School
Kowloon Junior SchoolKing George V School
Clearwater Bay SchoolKing George V School
Sha Tin Junior SchoolSha Tin College

The Year 7 transition information will be sent to parents via email with details to login and access the form.

All Year 6 students enrolled in an ESF primary school by 1 December are guaranteed a place in an ESF secondary school on completion of Year 6.

For Year 6 students in Learning Support (LS): the child’s placement will be managed and allocated through a different process that takes account of the availability of Year 7 LS placements across all secondary schools. The student’s Year 7 placement will be confirmed by the end of November.

A student joining Year 6 from 1 December onwards can not be guaranteed a secondary school place at their corresponding ‘associated secondary school’ but offered a Year 7 place at an alternative secondary school where there is availability.

For Renaissance College and Discovery College Year 6 students

The guarantee of Year 7 place is with the corresponding secondary sections. Transfer requests to an ESF secondary school may be considered based on availability and date of written request starting from 1 September to your school’s admissions office. There is no guarantee of transfer to Year 7 in an ESF secondary school.

Please note transfer between a private independent school and an ESF school and vice versa will mean payment of deposit and capital/building levy to take up the school place.

Please note the following key dates:

First two weeks of SeptemberParents complete the Year 7 transfer form
End NovemberYear 7 offer letters are sent via email from ESF Centre
Beginning of  DecemberDeadline to confirm places the Year 7 places offered. ESF primary students are requested to pay the deposit to confirm the place.

ESF K2 students transferring to primary school for August

Students who are attending ESF kindergartens will complete the Year 1 transition process. Information from ESF kindergartens will support the transition process.

Students in ESF kindergartens identified as needing additional learning support may be recommended to apply through the Admission and Review Process. This is a separate application process managed centrally at ESF Centre. This process also applies to all students applying from outside ESF. There are limited resources for placement within Learning Support and Jockey Club Sarah Roe School. Not all students going through the Admission and Review Process may be placed, as the demand is often greater than the number of places available.

The Year 1 transition information will be sent to parents via email with details to login and access the form.

All K2 students enrolled in an ESF kindergarten before 1 December are guaranteed a place in an ESF primary school on completion of K2.

A new student joining K2 on or after Year 1 offers to go out cannot be guaranteed a primary school place but will be given high priority on the waitlist for a Year 1 place.

Allocation for primary school is based on priority order plus EDB requirements (when necessary), and computer-generated random numbers. K2 children may be directed to an alternative primary school if there is an oversubscription at their first preference school. There is no guarantee of the school of first preference. All ESF primary school offers are accepted with a two-year commitment before any transfer request, regardless of residential address.

Please note the following key dates:

First two weeks of SeptemberParents complete the Year 1 transfer form
End NovemberYear 1 offer letters are sent via email from ESF Centre
Beginning of  DecemberDeadline to confirm places the Year 1 places offered. ESF kindergarten students are requested to pay the deposit to confirm the place

ESF Levels of Adjustment Framework​

The ESF Levels of Adjustment (LOA) provide a framework for identifying and documenting the adjustments and accommodations for students who require support for learning.

ESF uses LOA 1 to 6 to describe the amount and type of support a student requires in order to access the curriculum. The LOA also reflects the level of provision required.

Outlined below are the most common placements for students with LOA 1 to 6. Occasionally, placements may differ depending on the profile of the individual student.

LOA 1

Mainstream with support
Additional Differentiation:

Additional, ongoing class-based teaching and learning adjustments led by the class or subject teacher, in liaison with the IN department and/or short-term small group or individual intervention in 1 or 2 dimensions of schooling.

LOA 2

Mainstream with support
Additional Differentiation:

Regular, individualised teaching and learning adjustments of objectives, outcomes, materials or equipment, in multiple dimensions of schooling, as a result of class-based assessments and teacher judgement.

A combination of additional small group support, for minimum 2 cycles of intervention, in multiple areas. The student has an IEP, there is an ongoing liaison between class/subject teachers and the IN department, and there is regular contact with parents. These students often sit well below age-related expectations in one of the dimensions of schooling.

LOA 3-4

Learning Support
Daily, continuous differentiation:

Daily, individualised teaching and learning adjustments of objectives, outcomes, materials or equipment.

Access to daily push-in support in mainstream lessons and pull-out support focusing on skill development, concept reinforcement, and functional life skills teaching. Access to alternative curriculums at the secondary level.

LOA 5-6

Jockey Club Sarah Roe School
Continuous individualised differentiation:

Continuous, individualised support. Systematic interventions and highly individualised teaching programmes through multidisciplinary approaches with a high staff-to-student ratio.

Learning Support

Mainstream with Support

Many students who require less extensive, class-based teaching and learning adjustments are catered for within mainstream classes in all kindergartens and schools.

Learning Support

Students who require more extensive, daily teaching and learning adjustments are catered for within learning support (LS) within ESF primary schools and secondary schools.

Entry to this level of provision is through a central process called the Admissions and Review Process, not through the local school.

Jockey Club Sarah Roe School

Students who require the most extensive teaching and learning adjustments are catered for within the Jockey Club Sarah Roe School (JCSRS).

JCSRS has a bespoke curriculum that is designed to be broad and balanced to meet the needs of our diverse learners. The curriculum is taught through subjects but has significant elements of project based learning that enhance transdisciplinary application of knowledge and skills.

  • Built around Global Competencies that put the student at the centre of everything that we do
  • Designed to be personalised, progressive and challenging for all the students in our school
  • Designed to give students multiple opportunities to practice skills through repeated and frequent exposure to similar knowledge and skills to develop deep learning and generalisation skills that they can take beyond the classroom
  • Designed to reflect the whole person with strong links to therapeutic interventions
  • Pathway driven and implemented through taught subjects


The JCSRS curriculum is divided into six pathways, each with its own distinct learning approach and priorities. The pathways are determined by age and also by the needs of students.

  1. Foundation Pathway
  2. Builders Pathway
  3. Integrated Pathway
  4. Life Skills Pathway
  5. Independent Living and Learning Pathway
  6. Post 16 Pathway

Secondary School (Year 12-13)

IB Diploma Programme:

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP) is a course designed for students aged 16 to 19. Students can choose to follow either the full IB Diploma Programme or their choice of individual IB Diploma courses. Widely recognised as the best possible preparation for study at university, the IB DP builds research skills, promotes personal responsibility and encourages independent learning.

The full IB DP core comprises six subjects and the following key components:

  • Theory of Knowledge (ToK)
  • Extended Essay (EE)
  • Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS)

Students can choose one subject from each of the groups below, three at Higher Level (HL) and three at Standard Level (SL).

  1. Studies in Language and Literature (Language A);
  2. Language Acquisition (Language B or ab initio), or a second Language A;
  3. Individuals and Societies (Humanities);
  4. Experimental Sciences;
  5. Mathematics;
  6. Arts (or a second Science, or a third language).

Specialised Pathways:

Our personalised pathways allow students to focus on creative projects and inquiries and reflect on their achievements. Students whose strengths are in applied learning are often practical and goal-oriented. Courses are routed in practical and real-world situations and are made relevant to the world of work. The courses are modular with no external examination element.

ESF schools currently provide Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC ) courses which are recognised by many universities worldwide. These courses can be studied alongside other subjects and provide a varied learning experience for students.

A number of ESF schools are also developing the International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme (IBCP) to offer opportunities for those students who have a particular career path in mind. The IBCP allows students to specialise and dedicate themselves to a career path that they know they want to pursue. The IBCP encompasses some elements of the IB Diploma Programme within its structure. It also encompasses the IB’s educational philosophy and mission.

Secondary School (Year 7-11)

IB Middle Years Programme:

The Middle Years Programme (MYP) prepares students to become active, caring, lifelong learners who demonstrate respect for themselves and others and have the capacity to participate in the world around them. Learning focuses on the development of the whole child as an inquirer, both in and beyond the classroom and encourages students to be critical, creative and reflective thinkers. The MYP is a framework on which to hang a challenging and rigorous curriculum, which provides authentic, real-world connections to the learning in the classroom.

The curriculum consists of 8 subject groups integrated through 6 interactive areas providing global contexts for learning.

  1. Language acquisition
  2. Language and Literature
  3. Individuals and Societies
  4. Sciences
  5. Mathematics
  6. Arts
  7. Physical and health education
  8. Design

Our MYP centres around and is underpinned by the following five key components:

  • Teaching and learning in context
  • Conceptual understanding
  • Approaches to teaching and learning
  • Service as action through Community Service
  • Inclusion and learning

 

As a further means of developing autonomous, self-directed learners, students are given the opportunity to demonstrate their learning through completing a project, which encourages reflection on their learning and outcomes of their work. This is a long-term project, which is embedded within a global context and generates a synthesis of creative and critical thinking and approaches to learning through an in-depth investigation.

MYP Projects
Students who complete the MYP in Year 9 or Year 10 complete the community project, enabling them to develop their commitment to service as action within the community. All students who complete the MYP in Year 11 complete the personal project.

International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE)
(Years 10 & 11):

The IGCSE is a two year course of study with an externally set syllabus with assessment criteria for Years 10 to 11. The five ESF secondary schools design courses to meet these criteria. This includes a range of language courses available in foreign, second and first languages. The examinations are externally set which is similar to the IB Diploma final examination period. Grades are awarded with students typically taking between seven to ten subjects.

Students will also be able to access a range of co-curricular courses in the creative, community service and physical domains. Some of these activities have qualifications associated with them.

Primary School Curriculum

IB Primary Years Programme (Age 5-11):

International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP) is an international, trans-disciplinary programme designed to foster the development of the whole child, not just in the classroom but also through other means of learning. The PYP focuses on the total growth of the developing child, encompassing academic, social, physical, emotional and cultural needs.

We provide a wide range of curricular and co-curricular programmes and opportunities. The curriculum is expressed in three interrelated ways:

  • Written curriculum — concepts, knowledge, skills, attitudes and action
  • Taught curriculum —  Students are encouraged to be curious, be inquisitive, to ask questions, explore and interact with their local and global environments.
  • Assessed curriculum —Students are assessed both formatively and summatively. Students who are in their final year of the programme carry out a collaborative inquiry project, known as the exhibition, under the guidance of their teachers.
Examples of co-curricular activities include:
  • Tournament of the Minds
  • Primary Choir
  • Battle of the Books
  • Year 6 Chinese Cultural Tour to Beijing
  • Sporting competition
Our schools aim to develop internationally minded students by encouraging the development of the traits described in the IB student profile. We support children to become inquirers, thinkers, communicators, risk-takers and to be knowledgeable, principled, caring, open-minded, balanced and reflective.

Kindergarten Curriculum

ESF Pre-Kindergarten (Age 2-3):

Our approach to learning is through play based theory. Across five key areas of enquiry; Wellbeing, Belonging, Communication, Contribution, and Exploration, each toddler’s voice will be heard, their progress celebrated, and their language and knowledge nourished. Our curriculum centres on the premise that everything that occurs with or for the child is curriculum. It is inquiry based and concept driven. It is designed to be stimulating yet flexible to provide for the children’s desire to explore and investigate.

IB Primary Years Programme (Age 3-5):
The Primary Years Programme (PYP) is built on 6 Transdisciplinary Themes through which students explore and engage in the different subject areas. The core of the PYP model shows the 5 Essential Elements which are common to all teaching and learning: concepts, skills, knowledge, attitudes, and action. The PYP Curriculum provides:
  • Content guidelines and learning objectives
  • A teaching methodology
  • Assessment strategies
Mandarin Chinese is the specialist language and is integrated into the PYP programme, forming a core aspect of the curriculum. At Abacus and Tung Chung International Kindergartens, there is a choice between an English stream and a bilingual English and Mandarin Chinese stream.
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