A warm welcome to HKA’s Primary School, a unique and exciting place that prides itself on the recognition that all children have gifts to be nurtured and celebrated.
Our curriculum fosters a natural joy and interest in the social and natural world through hands-on interactions and relationships. We strive to support each child's innate curiosity by encouraging the process of questioning and a quest for knowledge. And as children grow, our curriculum addresses their individual developmental needs, ensuring that our students are challenged and stretched in their learning.
HKA students learn compassion, empathy and tolerance. We support our students to celebrate each other’s strengths and differences whilst recognising the commonalities that they share, valuable dispositions which prepare them for the larger world they will grow into.
During my 15 years at HKA, I have been amazed and inspired by the collective dedication and commitment of the entire HKA community - students, faculty, parents and staff - to our Mission, Core Values and Strategy.
We believe that all children should have choice, voice and ownership for their own learning.
We have designed our Primary School programmes to discover, cultivate and celebrate the individuality of every child. From Playgroup to Grade 5, we create captivating learning environments in which HKA students have a wealth of opportunities to learn from and with one another. We recognise the mutual benefit that comes from authentic relationships and support students in learning how to effectively and successfully collaborate within and beyond the classroom. Every child is a valued member of our Primary School community.
THE IB PRIMARY YEARS PROGRAMME AT HKA
The IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) forms the foundation of our approach to teaching and learning at HKA. Built around the principles of agency and action, the IB PYP invites learners to inquire about themselves, others and the world around them. It provides a common language for teachers, students and parents to understand the learning journey through the Early and Primary Years, framing the contexts through which children make meaning as learners.
The IB Learner Profile is an integral part of our Primary School programme. We use these behaviours and attitudes to build a shared understanding about what it means to be a dynamic and engaged learner, and we celebrate the many ways that students demonstrate these attributes both within and beyond the classroom.
Our teachers use IB PYP concepts, skills and knowledge in creative ways to craft challenging and stimulating units of inquiry. The curriculum builds from year to year, with student learning goals mapped and measured through multiple sources of data. Specialist teachers partner with classroom teachers to integrate key learning objectives
and outcomes across subject areas, meaning that students connect what they do in visual arts, physical education, music, literacy information technology (library) and Mandarin to their homeroom learning experiences.
Our approach to implementing the IB PYP is innovative, adaptive and responsive. New challenges and opportunities continue to arise in our rapidly changing world, and we use the PYP to frame a future-focussed approach to education. We seek to integrate opportunities for real-world application in every unit, helping our students see the ways that they can impact and influence their world. Students go through a process of asking questions, gathering information, and drawing conclusions about global issues, which culminates in taking action. Through exhibitions, assemblies and other celebrations of learning, Primary School students share what they have learned with the wider community. Often, these celebrations also provide students with the opportunity to extend their action further and invite peers and adults to act as well.
Since our founding, we have remained committed to nurturing a diverse community of learners. Cultivating and celebrating an inclusive environment is an essential part of our identity as a school, and we provide a range of programmes, interventions and resources to ensure that every learner can pursue their pathway to individual excellence. Find out more about Learner Support, Occupational and Speech Therapies, and English Language Learning by visiting our Student Support Services page.
A CULTURE OF LANGUAGE LEARNING
We recognise the central role that communication plays in building student identity, community and understanding, and language learning is foundational to our Primary School programme. Our language of instruction is English, and in every classroom, interaction with English language and literature provides opportunities for students to connect with and ask questions about the wider world. Our Primary School teacher librarian actively collaborates with teachers at every grade level to ensure that units of study are brimming with rich and engrossing text resources. Every classroom has its own library, and students visit the Primary School library at least once a week to explore, research and collaborate.
MANDARIN AS A LIVING LANGUAGE
Expression through more than one language is a fundamental element of the IB PYP and child development. English is our language of instruction, and we offer Mandarin as an additional language of study. Our Mandarin language specialist teachers deliver a relevant and engaging written and spoken curriculum which supports students at various stages of fluency and language capability. We recognise the importance of giving students the opportunity to use their Mandarin language in relevant and purposeful contexts. Our Mandarin language lessons are complemented by co-teacher support within homerooms, where students have ample opportunities to see, hear and apply their Mandarin language skills in a classroom context. Our parent-run Panda Club engages Primary School students in conversing and role playing in Mandarin through cultural activities, games and traditions as another chance for students to experience Mandarin as a living language.
INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGY
We take a proactive and developmentally appropriate approach to advancing digital citizenship in our Primary School students. Our youngest learners begin to engage with technological tools that help them shape their communication skills and connect with others with teacher and parent support. As students progress through the Primary School, we introduce a 1-1 inhouse device programme through which students both continue to develop the traits and behaviours of responsible users of technology, they also begin to learn how to care for and maintain devices in a supported environment. Our Primary School maker space is an area in which hands-on exploration, creativity and innovation come to life. By having the freedom to create their own questions and design their own solutions, students begin to develop the courage to experiment and build confidence in their ideas.
WHOLE CHILD EDUCATION
Our holistic approach to education provides children with tools and strategies to help them know who they are, become self-directed and develop empathy for others. Our intentionally small class sizes allow us to differentiate learning experiences for every child, with teachers guiding and encouraging all students to ask questions and providing opportunities for them to explore their ideas. We maintain a two teacher model in every Primary School classroom, which promotes strong student-teacher relationships and ensures every child is known and understood as an individual. Our Primary School Counsellor works with both teachers and students to integrate wellbeing education into the curriculum. Students learn the science of how the brain works, how it impacts their learning and interactions and how they can manage their emotions and behaviours both in and outside of the classroom.
From an early age, Primary School students at HKA learn about their rights and responsibilities as citizens of the world. Our programme of inquiry is designed to provide developmentally appropriate opportunities for every learner to take meaningful action towards real world issues. Through these curricular explorations, students start to develop their identities as global citizens and advocate for change through responsible action. Our students learn to think flexibly and consider various perspectives and are able to speak to the impact that their actions have on the planet, on other people and on themselves.
Day 2: Half the class come in for 1 hour 30 minutes 8am – 9:30am with the other half from 10am – 11:30am. There will be an 8:00am and 11:30am bus available.
Day 3: Half the class come in for 1 hour 30 minutes 8am – 9:30am, with the other half from 10:30am – 12noon. There will be an 8:00am and 12:00pm bus available.
Day 4: All students in, 8am – 10:30am. Arrival and Dismissal bus available.
Day 5: All students in, 8:00 – 10:30am. Arrival and Dismissal bus available.
For children applying to Grade 2 and up, current grade level will also be a factor in grade placement decisions in addition to age.
Kindergarten
Day 1: First Day of School 8am – 12noon. Students will have scheduled group sessions of 30 minutes with the teachers and parents (3 students in a group). No bus available.
Day 2: Half the class in school morning and other half in an afternoon session without parents. 8am and 3pm bus available.
Day 3: All students attend half-day 8am – 12noon (including eating snack in the classroom). Arrival and Dismissal bus available.
Day 4: All students attend half-day 8am – 12noon (including lunch at school). Arrival and Dismissal bus available.
Day 5: All students attend half-day 8am – 12noon (including lunch at school). Arrival and Dismissal bus available.
Grade Level Equivalencies
For children applying to Grade 2 and up, current grade level will also be a factor in grade placement decisions in addition to age.
For other country grade level comparison inquiries please see here or contact our admissions team.
SCHOLARSHIP
ANNUAL FUND
Donations in support of ROAD
CAPITAL PROJECTS
LEARNER SUPPORT
CLUBS
Our Secondary School students have many opportunities to pursue their interests during lunchtime and after school clubs. Faculty and staff offer a variety of activities such as Math Competitions, Young Investors Club, and Student Media Team. Students can also join student-led groups and leadership teams that are supervised by faculty. These include Action for Refugees, Project Plastic, Sai Kung Stray Friends, ImpactHK, Dragonfly Council, Student Council and GCD Student Leadership Team.
ANNUAL FUND
The Annual Fund is a general fund that supports HKA’s operational budget. Unrestricted gifts to the Annual Fund help us realise additional innovative school projects not fully covered by tuition and the operational budget. Giving to the Annual Fund is a powerful way to support creative ideas and initiatives that bring HKA’s mission to life.
DONATE NOW
LEARNER SUPPORT
HKA’s Learner Support programme caters to a wide range of students with diverse learning styles and needs. Inclusive education is at the heart of our mission, and HKA’s leadership in this area is known throughout the international school community.
15% of the student body is supported by this programme.
The Learner Support programme operates on an 80% recovery model. HKA is committed to subventing the remaining 20%.
HKA’s Learner Support programme is designed to ensure that all students can thrive in our rigorous learning environment. Inclusive education is at the heart of our mission, and HKA’s leadership in this area is known throughout the international school community. The Learner Support programme operates on an 80% recovery model. HKA is committed to subventing the remaining 20%.
Our commitment to diversity and inclusion includes socio-economic inclusion. Families may apply for a range of means-tested scholarships. HKA also offers financial assistance to families experiencing short-term challenges.
HKA offers scholarships at the 30, 60 and 90 percent levels.
The school will offer as much scholarship support as funding allows.
CAPITAL PROJECTS
HKA seeks to stay ahead of the curve by investing in capital projects that enhance our capitivative learning environment. We strive to implement a new learning initiative capital project, community artefact, or renovated building infrastructure on an annual basis. These multi-phased, costly projects are not included in the annual operating budget. They are critical to the long-term viability and sustainability of the school.
get involved test 3
HKA is committed to diversity and inclusion, including socio-economic inclusion. Families may apply for a range of means-tested scholarships. HKA also offers financial assistance to families experiencing short-term challenges.
HKA offers scholarships at the 30, 60 and 90% levels.
The school offers as much scholarship support as funding allows.
How to Get Here
The following information will assist you in arriving at our campus. If you have any issues while travelling, feel free to call our Main Office on 2655 1111 for more advice.
“Sai Kung Rocket”: Mong Kok <-> Sai Kung ‘red-top’ from Dundas Street
MTR & Taxi
The nearest MTR stations are Wu Kai Sha, Choi Hung or Hang Hau and all are approximately 20/25min away by taxi. Click here for an image to show the taxi driver with the school address in English & Chinese (香港新界西貢惠民路33號).
Private Car
There is no parking on campus but there are 2 public car parks, one opposite and one behind the campus.
