School Profile: Yew Chung International School (YCIS)

YCIS: Creating The Next Generation of Global Citizens

As parents in Hong Kong, we all understand that selecting and securing a place at the right school for your child can be a challenging and rather daunting experience. However our children also have a unique opportunity to utilise the richness and diversity that exists in both Western and Chinese cultures, to learn two of the world’s most spoken languages and to receive a truly global education. 

Yew Chung International School (YCIS) is at the forefront of providing high-quality, bilingual learning and through-train education in Hong Kong. The school’s philosophy focuses on providing a fully rounded and balanced education for each child, with an emphasis on dual language acquisition, to produce confident, balanced and socially responsible individuals.

Located in the school’s hub of Kowloon Tong, YCIS has been offering education in English and Mandarin from early childhood, through primary and secondary since 1932, with primary and secondary developing later. It also has schools in Shanghai, Beijing, Chongqing, Qingdao in China and Silicon Valley in the United States, with graduating students heading to some of the world’s best universities including Imperial College London, McGill University and Brown University. Please click here for further details.

The Hong Kong campuses provide through-train education from six months to 18 years, with students following a strong research-based curriculum culminating in the International General Certificate of Education (IGCSE), followed by the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB). Both the IGCSE and IB programmes allow flexibility and ease of transition for students moving between different countries during their academic career.

Undoubtedly one of the major benefits for children growing up in Hong Kong is the exposure to numerous cultures and languages. YCIS captures the best that the two cultures have to offer by operating a unique Co-Principal method with one Western and one Chinese Principal serving as partners in the operations and administration of the school. This cross cultural experience and global mindedness creates a truly international environment for students to develop and learn.

To complement this dynamic approach, students in the Early Childhood Education (ECE) programme also benefit from a co-teaching approach, where classes have up to three fully-qualified teachers; one Western and one to two Chinese, who work together to provide a seamless bilingual learning environment. In Primary there is an increase in percentage of English as the medium of instruction. The teachers provide excellent role models who respect and value one another’s culture and students receive full language immersion, with the objective of creating fluency in both English and Mandarin.

YCIS also nurtures the artistic, social, spiritual and physical development of each student. Testament to this is that all students from four years and up learn the violin at school. Music, art and drama are each given significant emphasis throughout the school with regular performances and events.

To promote the students’ connections with their local community and to develop their critical thinking skills, all children from Year 7 onwards are actively encouraged to participate in initiatives involving community outreach projects, as well as take up opportunities to study overseas.  This may see the students heading to Europe, Asia, Africa or the United States to take part in experiential, project-based learning opportunities that are at the core of YCIS’ World Classroom programme.

YCIS operates an inclusive approach to learning, and can support students with additional needs through the Student Support programme. This support ensures that students are motivated and engaged through their learning experiences and the school believes strongly in differentiated learning to allow all children to access the curriculum. In addition, the pastoral team are on hand for students to discuss any personal issues that they may have and to offer ongoing support and guidance where necessary.

Hong Kong is a city that truly epitomises East meets West. At the forefront of this approach to learning, YCIS strives for all its students to be immersed in, and appreciative of, the best of Western and Chinese cultures to ensure they develop into global-minded, competitive, adaptable and caring global citizens.

The school hosts regular information sessions where parents can meet staff, tour the school and find out more about the admissions process. To register for forthcoming information sessions please click here.

To arrange your school tour, please contact the admissions team: [email protected] or visit the YCIS website.

Essential Facts

Early Childhood Education:  6 months – 5 years
Primary School:  5 – 11 years
Secondary School: 11 – 14 years
IGCSE (Year 10 – 11): 14 – 16 years
IB Diploma (Year 12 – 13): 16 – 18 years

Yew Chung International School

Address: 3 To Fuk Road, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, Tel: 2338 7106 Fax: 2304 6713