Education experts share top tips on how to get your children into leading international schools and boarding schools.
If you’ve got kids, then there’s no doubt that their education is a huge part of your life, thoughts, and possibly frustrations. Getting their children into the best international schools and boarding schools is something most parents strive for, and we recently held an event where experts from Wycombe Abbey School Hong Kong and ITS Education spilled some great information into how to do just that. Take a look at the top takeaways below or watch the video for the full rundown.
Expert Talk: How to get your kids into the best schools in Hong Kong
Two of Hong Kong’s leading education experts: Howard Tuckett, Headmaster of Wycombe Abbey School Hong Kong and Anne Murphy, Education Services, Director of ITS Education Asia will be on hand to answer your burning questions.
Posted by Honeycombers Hong Kong on Thursday, June 10, 2021
How to get your kids into the top international and boarding schools
1. Align yourself with the experts
Don’t try doing this alone. Getting access to the best schools is a long and complicated process, and if you work with an expert in the field, your chances of success are much higher. One of the greatest assets of having a child at Wycombe Abbey School Hong Kong is the fact that the school can help prepare students for gaining entry to boarding school. With their sister school in the UK, Wycombe Abbey, they have firsthand experience on what is needed to get those elusive spots. Not only that, but the school also offers help to navigate the various selection processes used by the different independent schools.
2. Make it a child-centred exercise
While you may have dreams of your children attending Eton or Rugby, at the end of the day, it’s important to make sure that you’re working towards gaining your child entrance into the school that is most suited to their individual needs. “It’s a matter of matching the child to the most suitable school. There are hundreds of schools out there–some famous, some less well known, but the selection process is only going to go well if you start with the essential character of the child,” explains Howard Tuckett, Headmaster of Wycombe Abbey School Hong Kong.
3. The sooner the better!
To ensure you have adequate time to do all your research and understand the different processes, the sooner you start thinking about secondary education, the better. A good benchmark is to start the discussion around Year Four when students are around age nine. If you can have a list of three or four schools that you’re interested in by this time, you’ll have a clearer path to helping your child gain entry.
4. Consider all of your options
While you may be taken by renowned names like Harrow or Cheltenham Ladies’ College, these are really the tip of the iceberg when it comes to boarding schools. There are hundreds of excellent options across the UK with varying specialties, so be sure to consider options that you may not be so familiar with.
5. Visit the schools
It kind of goes without saying, but it’s really important to visit schools in person. Only then will you get a chance to meet the faculty and explore the facilities. You’ll also be able to get your questions answered and get a better understanding of the culture it will offer your child and family.
6. Never miss a deadline!
Enough said, really.
