ESF Kennedy School

Since December 2022, Brenda Cook BEd. A Kiwi national, raised and educated in the North Island of New Zealand, who ‘fell into teaching’ post school, enrolling at teaching college on a whim. She fell in love with the profession and never looked back.

ESF schools offer a non-selective, all-through education. Current waitlist for all years, the school put on more open days this academic year due to demand. Most join aged 4/5 into year 1 via a central online application process (opens the September

Students from an ESF primary school are guaranteed a place at an ‘associated ESF senior school’ (according to catchment, availability and suitability). However, some choose or need to go elsewhere, including their own countries. There is no official

ESF Kennedy School is part of the English Schools Foundation (ESF) super-group of schools in Hong Kong (18,000 students attending 22 kindergartens, primary, secondary and through-schools).

ESF Kennedy is one of the nine ESF primary schools that

ESF schools have an excellent reputation and track record for diversity and inclusivity. Academically non-selective, children are supported according to their level of need. Those flagged as having SEN are assessed by a moderation panel of SEN

Students must demonstrate sufficient English language skills to benefit from ESF’s English-medium learning environment. That said, with 70 different nationalities represented here, there are many without English as a first language and children will

Students are encouraged to ‘create and make things’, while embracing a ‘rich, modern world’. Facilities are excellent ‘by both UK and Hong Kong standards,’ including a truly impressive new art, design and food technology centre with a smart black

Out of all of the ESF primary schools, Kennedy’s student demographic and location probably make it the most ‘sporty’. There are two full-time PE teachers and athletics and cross country team tend to dominate at Hong Kong primary level. The school is

Pastoral care is the priority here, with the school swooping up any child who is anxious, overwhelmed or needing looking after. They are sorted out either within the classroom, wider school or using external specialists. Parents look blankly when we

A 'melting pot' of cultures. The ESF philosophy encourages global thinkers and celebrates all cultures equally (Diwali is given as much airtime as Christmas, and Chinese New Year is a huge event).

A healthy mix of expat and local families make

ESF primary fees are among the most reasonable in Hong Kong and the one-off non-refundable capital levy is very low by Hong Kong standards (although still a new and slightly unwelcome concept for expat families). This encourages a more down-to-earth

A community school where children can be children, offering a high quality, modern and liberal education based on the IB PYP, adapted to meet the needs of children living in Asia. Large class sizes are counterbalanced by excellent pastoral care and