Entry in August 2017

The lists are open for all year groups for August 2017 entry.  Please note deadlines for applications.

Entry in August 2016

Applications from strong pupils after the published deadlines will be considered subject to places being available, especially if applicants are from overseas and do not have a place in a school in Hong Kong.

How to Apply For a Place

1. Download an Application Form from the School website. There is a separate form for Year 12 (Sixth Form) applicants. K1 and K2 (Early Years) applicants should also download an Individual Capital Certificate ('ICC') Application form: it is mandatory for the parents of Early Years students to hold an ICC for admission, apart from under exceptional circumstances at the Head Master’s discretion.

2. Complete and submit the Application Form to the School, along with the non-refundable Application Fee and a copy of the pupil’s most recent two school reports.

3. Registration is not completed until the parents have received an acknowledgement of application and the Application Fee has been duly paid. However, application does not constitute an offer of a place at the School.

4. Pupils can only apply two years before entry. The most appropriate time to submit an Application Form is towards the end of the Summer Term (i.e. fourteen months prior to entry) when your child has received their end of year/term report.

5. Parents of applicants who were not successful in gaining a place for August 2015 entry who would like their child to be considered for August 2016 entry, should inform the Admissions department in writing by the deadlines stated in the Admissions Timeline. Under these circumstances, there is no need to pay a further Application Fee and the application will be rolled over.  Failure to inform the Admissions department by the appropriate deadline will result in their child’s name being withdrawn from our lists.

Priority for Assessment

The School operates a priority for assessment system when and if places become available in particular year groups throughout the year.

Beyond priority group 4, other applicants may be asked for assessment in order for the School to meet the gender, nationality and boarding balance outlined in the guiding principles above.

Individual needs can be discussed with the Admissions Department before applying to the School. If appropriate, an assessment made by the School’s Individual Needs Coordinator and/or the English for Academic Purposes Coordinator will be available at the assessment stage to ensure specific needs can be met if offered a place.

Selection for Admissions

The number of pupils selected for assessment at any one time will be proportional to the number of places available in a particular year group and take into account:

• The priority for assessment system above.

• A preliminary assessment of the Application Form.

• The guiding principles above, which may mean limitations based on gender and nationality.

Format of Assessments

Assessments take place at Harrow International School. Pupils should bring their passports and Hong Kong ID card (if applicable) with them. The dress code is school uniform or smart-casual.

Overseas pupils sit a computerised test, or in some cases written papers, in English, Mathematics and Non-Verbal Reasoning at their current school, or at an authorised Examination Centre. Applicants who demonstrate the required academic ability will subsequently be offered a Skype interview.

Offer of a Place

Following the assessment process, parents are told their child has been either:

• Offered a Guaranteed Place for their child (for Year 12 pupils, places may be conditional upon IGCSE or equivalent results).

• Placed on a Waiting List for possible entry if further places become available.

• Unsuccessful.

Acceptance of Place

In order to accept the offer of a place at the start of the next academic year, the next term or for immediate entry in exceptional circumstances, parents should complete and return the Acceptance Pack and pay a Reservation Deposit (which is non-refundable whether or not the place can be filled, but will be offset against the first Term’s fees) within the time frame specified in the offer letter. Failure to do so may result in the place being offered to another pupil.

The Reservation Deposit consists of:

• For Day Pupils - 10% of the current annual tuition fee.

• For Boarders - 10% of the current annual tuition and boarding fee.

The invoice for the remainder of the current tuition fees (and boarding fees if appropriate), together with any increase in fees approved for the following academic year, and the Annual Capital Levy (for those applicants without a CCC, ICC or Individual Debenture) will be issued before the start of the academic year. For pupils starting during the course of the year current tuition (and boarding fees if appropriate) and the Annual Capital Levy (if applicable) will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.  

Boarding & Day Places (Years 6 - 13)

All pupils from Year 6 and above will be allocated a place in a House, and parents can indicate their preference for either a Day or Weekly Boarding place. Priority will be given to siblings whose parents wish their children to be in the same House.