Secondary Schools in Hong Kong for Expat Families: IB, A-Levels & More

Secondary school selection in Hong Kong requires British families to make a genuine qualification pathway decision: IB Diploma or A-Levels. Unlike primary, where ESF offers a relatively uniform experience across all nine schools, secondary is where the market diverges significantly in terms of curriculum, selectivity, fees and outcomes.

This guide covers the five ESF secondary schools, the leading private secondary options, the qualification choices and 2025 examination results.

ESF Secondary Schools

The English Schools Foundation operates five secondary schools across Hong Kong. All five:

• Charge HKD 181,100 per year in 2025-26 (rising to HKD 188,300 in 2026-27)
• Offer the IB Diploma Programme (DP) at Years 12–13
• Also offer IGCSE/GCSE pathways at Years 10–11
• Feed predominantly from their linked ESF primary catchment schools

The five schools are:

Island School (Mid-Levels)

• Feeds from Kennedy, Glenealy, Peak and Quarry Bay ESF primaries
• Large school; strong community; central location on Hong Kong Island
• One of the busiest ESF secondaries

South Island School (Aberdeen)

• Feeds from Bradbury School catchment (Happy Valley, Repulse Bay, south side)
• Well regarded; suits families on the south side of Hong Kong Island

Sha Tin College (Fo Tan)

• Feeds from Sha Tin Junior School
• Serves the New Territories; popular with families in the Sha Tin area

West Island School (Pok Fu Lam)

• Covers Discovery Bay and outlying islands catchment
• Works alongside Discovery College (all-through) for the western Hong Kong Island and Lantau community

King George V School (KGV) (Ho Man Tin)

• The main ESF secondary for Kowloon
• Feeds from Beacon Hill and Kowloon Junior School primaries
• Large, well-resourced; strong IB results

ESF All-Through Secondary Sections

Discovery College (Discovery Bay) and Renaissance College (Ma On Shan) both extend to secondary and sixth form, offering IB pathways. Discovery College charges HKD 213,600–215,300/year (2025-26) for secondary; Renaissance College HKD 193,600–195,700/year.

Kellett School: The A-Level Route

For British families specifically seeking IGCSE and A-Levels — the most directly familiar pathway for UK university applications — Kellett School is the standard choice.

Kellett takes students from Year 7 through to Year 13, with IGCSE examinations in Years 10–11 and A-Levels in Years 12–13. The school is selective and conducts an academic assessment at Year 7 entry.

Fees 2026-27:

• Senior (Y7–Y11): HKD 271,300 per year
• Sixth Form (Y12–Y13): HKD 279,100 per year
• Annual Capital Levy: HKD 40,000 per year (all new students from September 2025)
• Total per year: HKD 311,300–319,100 (approximately GBP 31,130–31,910)

Kellett is the school most comparable to a UK independent school in structure, expectation and UK university outcomes. Its sixth formers apply to UCAS using standard A-Level predicted grades and go through the same process as UK-based applicants.

Harrow International School Hong Kong: A-Levels and Boarding

Harrow HK offers IGCSE and A-Levels in a British boarding school environment in Tuen Mun, New Territories. Boarding is available from Year 6 upwards.

Fees 2025-26 (day secondary):

• Years 6–11: HKD 229,949
• Years 12–13: HKD 239,070
• Capital Levy: HKD 60,000/year

Total day secondary cost approximately HKD 289,949/year (~GBP 29,000).

Harrow HK is well suited to families who want boarding or who live in the New Territories. Its remote Tuen Mun location is a practical barrier for families based on Hong Kong Island, but the school bus network covers a wide area. As a brand, it carries strong recognition with UK universities.

GSIS English International Stream: IGCSE into IB

The German Swiss International School's English stream offers a hybrid pathway: IGCSE at secondary (Years 10–11), followed by the IB Diploma Programme at sixth form (Years 12–13). It does not offer A-Levels.

GSIS is remarkable for its IB results. In 2025, the school achieved an average of 41.0 IB points — among the highest averages of any school globally, and well above the Hong Kong city average of 36.72. For context, Oxbridge typically requires 38–42 IB points for competitive subjects.

Fees: Primary HKD 203,700; IB Diploma years HKD 256,700 (2025-26).

GSIS is selective at secondary entry and the IB DP years are particularly competitive. For families primarily targeting Oxbridge or leading Russell Group universities via the IB route, GSIS is the strongest academic option in Hong Kong.

Malvern College Hong Kong: Full IB Continuum

Malvern College HK operates at Pak Shek Kok near Tolo Harbour and follows the full IB continuum — PYP in primary, MYP in lower secondary, and IB DP at sixth form. Its 2025 IB DP average was 39.0 points, well above both the global mean and the Hong Kong city average, and close to GSIS's exceptional result.

Malvern is a growing school with a strengthening reputation. It is an increasingly credible alternative to ESF and GSIS for families committed to the IB pathway.

Hong Kong International School (HKIS): AP and the US Track

HKIS follows an American curriculum with AP (Advanced Placement) courses at secondary and sixth form. It is best suited to families whose children plan to apply to US universities. For UK university applicants, the AP pathway is less intuitive — UK admissions offices can accommodate it, but it requires explanation and conversion.

HKIS is the most expensive secondary option in Hong Kong: Grade 9–12 tuition HKD 297,100 plus Annual Capital Levy HKD 24,500 = approximately HKD 321,600/year (~GBP 32,160).

Discovery Bay International School (DBIS)

DBIS offers a British curriculum (IGCSE and A-Levels) from secondary. It is the most affordable British-pathway secondary option, with fees from approximately HKD 120,100–185,500 per year. The school is located in Discovery Bay and serves primarily the local community.

The Qualification Choice for British Families

Qualification	Schools in HK	UK university pathway	US university pathway
A-Levels	Kellett, Harrow, DBIS	Direct and familiar	Possible but less optimal
IB Diploma	ESF, GSIS, Malvern, Renaissance, Discovery College	Fully accepted; strong results	Also widely accepted
AP	HKIS	Possible but less familiar	Optimal

For most British families planning a return to the UK for university:

• A-Levels at Kellett provide the most familiar pathway and the clearest UCAS application experience
• IB at GSIS, ESF or Malvern is fully accepted by all UK universities, produces excellent results in Hong Kong, and adds the benefit of IB breadth
• AP at HKIS is the least optimised for UK applications

If there is any possibility your child may apply to US universities as well as UK ones, IB has a significant advantage — it is accepted by virtually all US universities and removes the need to sit SAT or ACT tests in addition to A-Levels.

Hong Kong IB Results: Context

Hong Kong's 2025 city IB average was 36.72, compared to a global mean of 30.58. This is one of the strongest city-level IB performances in the world. A student achieving the ESF group average (approximately 36.1) is already at the threshold for many Russell Group universities.

For more detail on the IB specifically, see our IB schools in Hong Kong guide. For A-Levels and GCSEs, see GCSEs and A-Levels in Hong Kong.

New Secondary Provision in 2026

Nord Anglia International School HK — Sixth Form Centre (Hung Hom, opening August 2026) will be the first school in Hong Kong to offer both IB Diploma and A-Levels in the same sixth form, with a scholarship programme. This is significant for families who want to defer the IB vs A-Level decision until Year 12.

NLCS Hong Kong (North London Collegiate School) is targeting a 2026 opening. NLCS's UK parent school was ranked first in the UK in 2025 IB results (36.5 average). The HK campus will add a high-performing IB option to the city.

How Global Investments Can Help

Global Investments helps British families relocating to Hong Kong identify properties in areas that provide practical access to their preferred secondary school — whether that means securing an ESF secondary catchment address, proximity to Kellett's campus, or access to GSIS near the Peak. We can advise on the neighbourhoods best suited to your school shortlist and your budget, ensuring your property decision supports your education plan.

This guide is for general information only. School fees, ESF admissions criteria, debenture structures, and entry requirements change regularly. Always verify current information directly with schools before making decisions.