[cadogan]

Hi
If you had a choice of these 2 schools for your children which would you prefer? We are British and intending to return to the UK in a few years time (but that could always change and we might find ourselves sent to US or Singapore, or end up staying in HK for a much longer time) so i think Kellett probably a better fit, but also love the CNDIS for it's facilities and the feel of the place. The children are currently bright, sporty and confident.
Thank you

[sea princess]

Hi Cadogan
I see you've nailed it down to 2 schools, good for you!
Not an easy decision. I think it's pretty safe to say that Kellett is considered a more nurturing/less academic environment than Canadian. The 3 friends I have who have sent their children there have found there have been really happpy with the school and the community. Their only criticism was that after 7 years in HK and assimilating back into Australian and UK schooling, they felt their children were behind? That's their storey anyhow, I'm sure people will tell you differently. But having a few friends that are teachers in HK have confirmed the stamdard is not great. So if you want an nurturing environement with English curriculum and outdoor space, but not so academic, then this would be a good fit for the family.

The Canadian school has amazing facilities, I agree. It is really good for sporty and artistic children I am told (good art program too). Also, the added bonus of learning Mandarin not offered at Kellett as fas as I know? The only issue (which may not be an issue for you) is that it is predominantly Asian. I think that could be a real gift to the children to have that ethnic diversity, but may be more difficult for western children to assimilate in to? One friend had her white blonde haired daughter there (dutrch family) for two years and said play dates etc. were tricky as was her assimilation into the school and ended up moving her to Bradbury in which she absolutely loves. What comes with a predominantly Asian school often is a tough curriculum and academic environment, one consideration.

I'm sure there are lots of Geokid readers that can give you their first hand experiene as parents with children in the school. But I hope this may be a start for you?

Good Luck.

[cadogan]

Thank you Seaprincess
That is exactly the kind of input i need as i loved both schools on visiting them last week and they were definitely the two that felt right for the boys (along with DBIS but i think living in DB probably won't work as i don't think my husband can get to work early enough from there). We have been offered places at CDNIS for September which is wonderful, but it also looks as though we will secure corporate debentures for Kellett which means places there will hopefully open up sooner rather than later, so i'm just trying to work out what i would want to do in that scenario.
I am possibly concerned about CNDIS being overly asian because although a good thing from a multi-cultural perspective, we were informed that many of those children have alot of extra tuition each day after school in the pursuit of academic excellence, and that you need to do the same to keep up - and my view is that a full school day is more than enough study time and i would rather the children spend their free time doing sport and playing etc. Also, as i don't know people in HK then i would be hoping that I meet people through the school, and your point about playdates etc is a valid one in light of that.
However, I am very concerned about the children falling behind the UK at Kellett as i need them to be at least on a par with the UK but really well ahead of it to ensure they get into the caliber of school I would like when we return. Any Kellett parents have any thoughts on this??!!!
Many thanks everyone - I can't believe I have reached this position in just a couple of weeks after my first panicked post, so now just need to fine tune our choices!

[josoo]

My daughter goes to Kellett and its a great school - superb environment, excellent teachers and it does offer Mandarin. Mandarin is taught three times a week (40 mins each) and English standards are literally the same as UK, but it depends on your definition of good standards! The reception classes use the Oxford Learning Tree books and emphasis on English is definitely a priority - it's their only language!!!

[cadogan]

Thank you Josoo
That is really helpful. I am really torn as i think both are probably great choices but obviously I want to make the right decision - there will be enough upheaval with the move without having to think about switching schools etc. My instinct is still (although only very slightly) with Kellett because i think it will make a return to the UK easier as they are more used to dealing with kids having to sit the 7/8+ or common entrance, but I am concerned about comments about children being behind when they returned to the UK as the schools in the UK we have ear marked for the kids in the future are pretty academic ones and wouldn't accept them in that scenario. Does anyone with knowledge of CNDIS know whether many children go on to UK prep or public schools from there adn whether the school is set up to assist in that process? I've also been informed that CNDIS has won best international school for the second year running - don't know who dishes this one out and how relevant it is, but clearly makes me think hard about turning those places down.......!!
Any more views????!!!!! I need to make a decision!

[barbwong_130]

Originally Posted by cadogan

Does anyone with knowledge of CNDIS know whether many children go on to UK prep or public schools from there and whether the school is set up to assist in that process?

All four of my children have been in the Canadian School at some time. My eldest graduated from there but the other three all left to go to a more English school eventually.

From my experience they have very little knowledge and even less inclination to help children get into English school or universities.

My daughter applied to English universities and they almost missed her UCAS deadline. Fortunately an assistant teacher filing in the school's side about an hour before the deadline!

They seem to have no idea that their mathematics and science are years behind the standards in England - although this will have to change as they now study the IB rather than the Canadian qualifications.

My daughter had to do all her university applications without the school's help as the school knew nothing about applying to England.

My son left to study A levels at boarding school in England in order to be able to go to university - he is now studying mathematics at an English university. He wouldn't have been able to do this with the Canadian qualifications.

Because of these difficulties I moved my younger two children to the ESF schools.

I did like the primary school at the Canadian School (not the upper school) but my children seem happier in the ESF schools. And I love the fact that my daughter, only nine years old, doesn't get loaded with homework every night.

[cadogan]

Oh thank you that is probably the one that makes my decision for us...i really need a school that will allow us to re-access the UK system whether at 8, 13 or uni, and it sounds as though CNDIS just isn't geared up for that, however strong a school they might be. Also, spoken to a UK prep school yesterday to find out how an IB curiculum compares with theirs and whether it would set them up for passing their admission process, and I think that although not a major problem there are definitely enough differences that it could make the whole thing more tricky and reduce their chances of getting in.
Hopefully starting to get there on this decision!!!!!
Many thanks everyone!

[barbwong_130]

One thing I discovered about schools in England is that the headmaster at the school has a large say in whether or not to accept a child. So if your child has done a different syllabus to the rest of the school it often boils down to that individual's viewpoint.

My son applied for four state boarding school for his A levels.

Of the places we applied:

One said a straight no because they wouldn't accept the Canadian qualifications - even asking us to take IGCSEs in all subjects (and not understanding that this just wasn't possible as the syllabus are quite different)

One asked to see a copy of the Canadian syllabus so that they could judge whether he could actually cope with the A level. (This was just in Chemistry as my son took Mathematics and Physics IGCSE with a tutor outside of school).

And two were fine with the different qualifications - especially as the two main subjects he was to study he had the correct qualifications.

I believe that the final decision by these school was based a lot on the interview.

My son and the headmaster got on very well in the school he was accepted for. It turned out the head had studied mathematics - so they had that in common. And once my son said he played rugby they talked about the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens for the next half hour and I knew we were OK.