In Collaboration With ESF
For the first time, from this coming September, all English Schools Foundation (ESF) kindergartens will be directly linked with ESF primary schools. As ESF primary schools are already linked to associated secondary schools, students joining at K1 will have clearer visibility of their educational journey from age three through to graduation at Year 13.
Under the new scheme, families applying for a K1 place for the 2027/28 school year will be offered a guaranteed place at a linked ESF primary school once their child completes the kindergarten phase. In other words, children born in 2024 will be the first cohort to benefit from their new approach.
ESF Kindergartens To Be Linked with Primary Schools From September
The change means that each ESF kindergarten will become part of the ‘Associated School Model’, ESF’s term for its through-train approach.
In simple terms, parents applying for K1 will be informed of the linked primary school or schools, helping them understand what the next step is likely to look like after their child graduates from kindergarten.
After completing K2, children will be offered a guaranteed Year 1 place at one of the associated primary or all-through schools.
As Hong Kong’s largest provider of English-medium international education, ESF currently operates 24 schools across the city. The associated pathways for K1 students in 2027/28 and onwards are:
| ESF Kindergarten | Associated ESF Primary School | Associated ESF Secondary School |
| Hillside International Kindergarten | Bradbury School | South Island School |
| Glenealy School | Island School | |
| Peak School | ||
| Wu Kai Sha International Kindergarten | Sha Tin Junior School | Sha Tin College |
| Beacon Hill School | Island School | |
| Tsing Yi International Kindergarten | Kowloon Junior School | King George V School |
| Beacon Hill School | Island School | |
| Discovery College | Discovery College | |
| West Kowloon Kindergarten | Clearwater Bay School | King George V School |
| Kennedy School | West Island School | |
| Quarry Bay School Kindergarten | Quarry Bay School | South Island School |
| Renaissance College Kindergarten | Renaissance College | Renaissance College |
A Complete Education Pathway From K1 To Year 13
ESF introduced its associated secondary school model in 2019, linking primary schools with secondary schools to support a smoother transition from Year 6 to Year 7. By adding kindergartens to the same model, ESF is now completing the pathway from K1 to Year 13.
For families, the biggest benefit is certainty. Hong Kong parents often have to think several years ahead when choosing a school; and under the new model, they will have peace of mind about where their child can continue after kindergarten, primary and secondary school.
More importantly, for children, the benefit is continuity. Moving from kindergarten to primary school can be a major step, but the new model is designed to make that transition feel more like a natural progression.
Teachers, principals and support teams within the network will be able to work more closely together, giving students better access to specialist teachers, support services and aligned learning experiences.
Belinda Greer, Chief Executive of ESF, said:
“By completing our through-train model, ESF is evolving from a network of associated, individual schools into a truly unified education system.
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.”
What Parents Need To Know About K1 Applications
ESF kindergartens will accept K1 applications from 1 to 30 September in the year before the child starts school in August.
For the 2027/28 school year, the first cohort affected by the new kindergarten-to-primary approach will be children born in 2024. These children will begin K1 in August 2027 and, under the new pathway, are expected to start Year 1 in August 2029.
Families who are interested can find further details through the ESF website.
About English Schools Foundation (ESF) Kindergartens
- Address: 6 kindergartens in Quarry Bay, Wan Chai, West Kowloon, Ma On Shan, Tsing Yi, and Sai Sha
- Website: https://join-us.esf.edu.hk/
- Phone number: +852 2574 2351
- Email: info@esfcentre.edu.hk
Image credits: English Schools Foundation (ESF)