Hong Kong’s biggest international school group has rolled out a “through-train” arrangement, linking all its kindergartens to its primary schools from September next year and guaranteeing pupils a place all the way to secondary graduation.
The English Schools Foundation (ESF) said on Friday that starting next academic year, all its kindergartens would, for the first time, be directly linked to its primary schools.
Families applying for a K1 place for the 2027-28 academic year this September will be offered a guaranteed place for their child at one of the linked primary schools.
The move completes the through-train model introduced by the ESF in 2019, when some of its primary schools were linked with associated secondary schools.
The group said that it meant pupils joining at K1 would know exactly which school they would attend until the end of Year 13.
“This is a significant moment in the history of ESF, one that will bring immense benefits to our students and their families,” chief executive Belinda Greer said.
According to the group, the move aims to give families greater certainty and peace of mind about their child’s schooling.
It will also allow schools to better share resources, including specialist teachers and support services, across all phases, and ensure that key transition stages between kindergarten, primary and secondary education are managed more effectively.
Greer added that the arrangement would encourage early-years educators to work more closely together to better understand each child.
“Teachers in our kindergartens and their linked primary schools will collaborate deeply to understand each child’s unique learning style, ensuring the transition to primary school is a progression, not a new start,” she said.
“For our families, this means greater coherence and a seamless progression in their child’s learning. From the moment they first walk through our gates until they graduate from secondary school, each child will experience a single, connected ESF community.
“This is the next exciting chapter of our story.”
Ruth Benny, the founder of Top Schools education consultancy, said the ESF’s new arrangement would provide families with more choice and certainty, especially for local children.
“If they can gain entry to a kindergarten at the age of three, they can relax and know that their pathway to an ESF primary and secondary school is secure,” she said.
The new arrangement is also expected to help attract and retain students, after recent reports showed the group failed to admit enough non-local students this academic year, breaching its pledge to the government.
In its latest annual report, the ESF said student enrolment remained a key focus, but warned of risks ahead both locally and internationally.
“With the uncertain global economy and the increased number of non-local curriculum offerings in Hong Kong, competition for student enrolment is expected to intensify,” the group said.
“To combat this, the group is focusing its efforts on modernising our marketing strategies to attract new audiences across Hong Kong, including various talent passes and family offices in Hong Kong.”