ESF Kids To Be Guaranteed 13 Years Of Schooling

The English Schools Foundation has announced that from August next year children who join one of their kindergartens will be guaranteed a place all the way up to Year 13.

After the initial kindergarten test to make sure a child is suitable for mainstream English-language learning, they will no longer face any further assessments in order to stay in the ESF.

CEO Belinda Greer told RTHK's Richard Pyne that this will do away with a lot of stress for students and parents.

"That brings real certainty for parents. So the child entering K1 and making good progress, and all the usual assessments and discussions with parents and teachers in the school... the parents then know my child's making good progress and my child is going to be on their learning journey with ESF all the way through from K1 to Year 13," she said

The new “through train” arrangement is being welcomed by parents with children in the ESF system.

Shonda Blunt, whose children are already at ESF schools, said: "I think I need to have a third child... this idea that kids can be stress-free... I praise them. I think a lot of parents have been asking for it for a long time," she said.

Jeff Li, whose son is in his second year of kindergarten at the ESF, said the new arrangement means there is one less thing to worry about.

"Everything is settled. If you want to be hassle-free and don't want to shop around for schools, it's best for them. I think the children and parents will all enjoy it," Li said.