English Schools Foundation
Encyclopedia
The English Schools Foundation (Chinese:
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...

 英基學校協會, abbreviated: ESF or 英基) is an organisation that runs 20 educational institutions, most of which are international schools, which are all located in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...

. It is the largest international educational foundation
Foundation (charity)
A foundation is a legal categorization of nonprofit organizations that will typically either donate funds and support to other organizations, or provide the source of funding for its own charitable purposes....

 in Asia and was founded in 1967 as a direct result of an ordinance
Local ordinance
A local ordinance is a law usually found in a municipal code.-United States:In the United States, these laws are enforced locally in addition to state law and federal law.-Japan:...

 that started the foundation to provide a "modern liberal education" for expatriate
Expatriate
An expatriate is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person's upbringing...

s in Hong Kong. Today, the ethnic groups of the foundations' students include local residents of Hong Kong, Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...

ans and other nearby Asian countries. At the same time, most of their students have parents who are permanent residents of Hong Kong. Its schools have traditionally provided a curriculum based on the British curriculum, but the organisation is undergoing a transition to a more international curriculum from the International Baccalaureate, starting with changing the Year 12 and 13 programme from the British GCSE A-Levels to the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme from September 2007.

The foundation receives an ongoing subsidy (called the "subvention") from the Hong Kong Government as well as charging a substantial tuition fee to parents. In the 2007–2008 academic year, these fees stand at HK$
Hong Kong dollar
The Hong Kong dollar is the currency of the jurisdiction. It is the eighth most traded currency in the world. In English, it is normally abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or alternatively HK$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...

61,000 per annum for primary school students and HK$93,000 per annum for Years 7-11secondary school students (HK$94,000 for Years 12 and 13).

Although all of the ESF schools are comprehensive and "non-selective" , students in the foundation have generally done well academically, 90% of their graduates going to different universities around the world.

The schools have progressively improved their facilities, especially in ICT
ICT (education)
Information and communication technologies in education deal with the use of information and communication technologies within educational technology.-Purpose:...

 with the help of donations from Parent Teacher Associations
Parent-Teacher Association
In the U.S. a parent-teacher association or Parent-Teacher-Student Association is a formal organization composed of parents, teachers and staff that is intended to facilitate parental participation in a public or private school. Most public and private K-8 schools in the U.S. have a PTA, a...

.

The current Chief Executive of the English Schools Foundation is Mrs. Heather Du Quesnay

Government subsidy debate

Unlike most other international schools in Hong Kong, schools run by the ESF receive an ongoing subsidy (called a 'subvention') from the Hong Kong Government. The reason for this is historical and lies in the foundation's statutory basis. Until recently, it was generally accepted that this subsidy was fair and that the foundation had a reason to be subsidised.

There has been some controversy regarding subsidies to the foundation. The fiscal deficit suffered by the Hong Kong Government following the Asian Financial Crisis forced the government to cut costs. There were also allegations that the foundation has misused funds on entertainment and over-extravagant recruitment procedures. A report criticising the ESF's use of funds was published by the Hong Kong Government in November 2004, resulting in a continuing debate about whether the subsidy should be cut or even suspended. The subvention was cut for several years in line with a general reduction in government expenditure and then frozen.

Those in favour of keeping the subsidy argue that:
  1. Students of ESF schools should be allowed the same subsidy that is provided to students of schools in "local" schools. Without the subsidy, some parents could not afford the higher fees and their children would be forced to leave the ESF system.
  2. English is an official language of the HKSAR and there is only limited provision for English language education outside the ESF.
  3. The style of education is different from what is available in "local" schools. Although the government also has the Direct Subsidy Scheme
    Direct Subsidy Scheme
    The Direct Subsidy Scheme is instituted by the Education Bureau of Hong Kong as a means to enhance the quality of private schools in Hong Kong at the primary and secondary levels...

     (DSS) to provide funding to schools which operate more independently than typical local schools, most DSS schools were formerly top-tier local schools and continue to offer the local curriculum.
  4. ESF schools provide better quality education than other international schools such as Hong Kong International School and Australian International School.
  5. ESF already does not have enough money for lots of other educational equipment. Cutting off subventions would make it even harder for ESF to maintain its status as a good quality international school foundation.


Those who argue for the subsidy to be reduced further or stopped put forward several arguments:
  1. Other international schools are not subsidised, so it is not fair that the ESF should be subsidised.
  2. The subvention allows the ESF to charge lower fees and pay higher salaries to teachers than other international schools. This creates unfair competition.
  3. Most students in ESF schools could attend other schools and so do not need a government subsidy.
  4. The ESF has been criticised for its governance and extravagance, which has caused many to question whether the public's money is being used correctly.


The ESF has recently addressed concerns about governance by putting forward a new Ordinance
Local ordinance
A local ordinance is a law usually found in a municipal code.-United States:In the United States, these laws are enforced locally in addition to state law and federal law.-Japan:...

 that will change the way the organisation operates.

It is generally accepted that the government will not allow the ESF to expand any further under the existing subsidy arrangements. Future ESF schools will have to be under the "Private Independent School" scheme with no "subvention". One (Renaissance College
Renaissance College Hong Kong
Renaissance College, Hong Kong is a co-educational, through-train, private independent international school in Ma On Shan, Hong Kong, serving primary, middle, and high school students . It is under the umbrella of English Schools Foundation...

) opened in Ma On Shan
Ma On Shan (area)
Ma On Shan is a new town along the eastern coast of Tolo Harbour in the New Territories of Hong Kong. Although it was initially an extension of Sha Tin New Town, it has been designed to have its own town centre and is now classified as a separate new town in government reports...

 in August 2006 and Discovery College
Discovery College
Discovery Collegeis the second private independent school operated by the ESF in Hong Kong. It offers both primary and secondary education on one purpose-built site. The school opened in August 2008, and replaced a former ESF primary school, Bauhinia School....

 in Discovery Bay
Discovery Bay
Discovery Bay is a mixed, primarily residential, development comprising a residential development and private and public recreational facilities in Hong Kong. It is situated on the north-eastern coast of Lantau Island in the New Territories. The development spans an area of 650 hectares , and...

, which opened in August 2007.

Ordinance

ESF was established by government ordinance in 1967. There were then no amendments to the ordinance until 2008. Shortcomings in the governance of the organisation were highlighted by the Legislative Council Public Accounts Committee in January 2005.

The ESF carried out an extensive consultation process to produce an Amended Ordinance and Regulation, which provide for a number of changes to the governance and management of ESF. Some of these are in response to the shortcomings identified by the Public Accounts Committee. The most substantial changes are to the structure and composition of ESF's governing body and committees, including the creation of a new Board of Governors to replace the Foundation.

The new Ordinance was approved by Legco in April 2008 and came into effect shortly afterwards.

List of schools run by the foundation

  • Abacus International Kindergarten
  • Hillside International Kindergarten
  • Tsing Yi International Kindergarten
  • Wu Kai Sha Kindergarten
  • Beacon Hill School, Hong Kong
    Beacon Hill School, Hong Kong
    Beacon Hill School is an international school in Hong Kong, offering primary education. The school is located near Beacon Hill in Kowloon Tong. It was founded in 1967 and is part of the English Schools Foundation. Beacon Hill School is one of the oldest ESF schools in Hong Kong and one of the...

  • Bradbury School
  • Clear Water Bay School
  • Glenealy School
  • Kennedy School
    Kennedy School
    The Kennedy School is a former elementary school that has been converted to a hotel, movie theater and dining establishment in northeast Portland, Oregon. The facility is operated by the McMenamins chain.-External links:*...

  • Kowloon Junior School
    Kowloon Junior School
    Kowloon Junior School is a primary school in Kowloon, Hong Kong. The current principal is Mr. Mark Cripps, and the school has approximately 900 students. It is run by the English Schools Foundation .-History:...

  • Peak School
    Peak School
    Peak School is a school on Plunketts road in Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong. The school opened in 1994, and teaches students from Year One to Year Six....

  • Quarry Bay School
    Quarry Bay School
    Quarry Bay School is the oldest English Schools Foundation primary school in Hong Kong. There are around 720 students. The principal is currently Debra Gardener. The previous principal was David James Harrison who, before he retired, had been at Quarry Bay School for 23 years.The juvenile hall was...

  • Sha Tin Junior School
    Sha Tin Junior School
    Sha Tin Junior School is a primary school run by the English Schools Foundation in Fo Tan, Sha Tin, Hong Kong.The school opened in 1988, and the founding principal Gordon Lewis remained in this post until his retirement in 2004. He was subsequently awarded an OBE in recognition of his services to...

  • Island School
    Island School
    Island School is a co-educational non-profit international school in Hong Kong. The campus is situated in the Mid-Levels district of Hong Kong on 20 Borrett Road...

  • South Island School
    South Island School
    South Island School is an international school founded by the English Schools Foundation of Hong Kong, located at 50 Nam Fung Road, Aberdeen, Hong Kong...

  • West Island School
    West Island School
    West Island School is a co-educational, international secondary school in Hong Kong. The campus is a purpose-built development located at 250 Victoria Road in Pokfulam, near Sandy Bay at the western part of Hong Kong Island. Students come to West Island from all over the world, with over 40...

  • King George V School
    King George V School
    King George V School , often shortened to "KGV" is a co-educational international secondary independent school of the English Schools Foundation, located in the Ho Man Tin area of Hong Kong. Currently school 1,700 students in the Kowloon peninsula, it is one of the oldest schools in Hong Kong,...

  • Sha Tin College
    Sha Tin College
    Sha Tin College is a private secondary school in Hong Kong and a member of the English Schools Foundation – the largest independent schools organization in Asia....

  • Renaissance College, Hong Kong

Important People

  • Chief Executive: Heather Du Quesnay
  • Committee of Principals' Governor: Perry Tunesi
  • School Council Chairmen: Gordon Lamb, Bill Sharp, Virginia Wilson
  • Committee of Parents' Governor: Marc Castagnet
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