Playtimes HK Magazine The School Book 2019-2020 | Page 12

Variety of Curricula
The curricula available in Hong Kong
falls broadly into five basic models:
1. The International Baccalaureate
(IB) The globally accepted diploma
is currently available in some
international schools, all ESF
schools (to varying levels) and some
local private schools. Some schools
offer this throughout primary and
secondary education, whilst others
just at upper levels.
Offering what some consider
a more rigorous and balanced
approach compared with that of the
UK’s A-Level system, the IB requires
students to study six subjects,
including their own language, a
second language, mathematics,
a science and one subject from
humanities and an art or other
subject of choice. Three of these
subjects are studied in greater
depth, broadly equivalent to the
current UK A-levels, and three at
standard level. Students also study
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a philosophy-related course, known
as Theory of Knowledge, conduct
an independent research project
culminating in a 4,000-word essay
and spend at least one afternoon
per week on activities that come
under the heading of Creativity,
Action and Service (CAS).
2. The UK (or UK adjusted)
curriculum has been adopted
by many international schools in
Hong Kong, such as Nord Anglia
International School. The curriculum
has led to the prominence of
General Certificate of Secondary
Education (GCSE) (or IGCSE’s
commonly offered in international
schools) and Advance Levels
(A-Level) examinations.
3. The US-based curriculum leads
most directly to further education
at North American colleges and
universities. Hong Kong based
schools offering such curricula
include the Stamford American
School Hong Kong, who offer the
American High School Diploma as
well as the IB Diploma Programme,
Hong Kong International School and
several others.
4. The Australian International
School of Hong Kong offers the New
South Wales curriculum - the School
Certificate (SC) and the Higher
School Certificate (HSC) – alongside
the IB Diploma Programme.
5. The Hong Kong curriculum is
broadly modelled on that of the UK
and culminates in students studying
towards the Hong Kong diploma
of Secondary Education, which in
terms of academic achievement, is
comparable to other internationally
recognised high school leaving
examinations such as the IB
Diploma and UK A-Levels.
The Hong Kong school system can feel
complex but rest assured, hundreds of
thousands of children throughout the
territory are already thriving in it. With a
bit of patience (and lots of deep breaths)
you are highly likely to find a good fit for
your family too.