ESF Milestones
Timeline
1894
King George V School opened in Tsim Sha Tsui
In 1894, the school was first opened in Tsim Sha Tsui as Kowloon British College. In 1923, the college was renamed Central British School (CBS) to offer a secondary curriculum, and junior age children were allocated to the new Kowloon Junior School. In 1936, CBS moved to its current Ho Man..Read More
1902
Kowloon Junior School Opened on Nathan Road
The history of Kowloon Junior School begins in 1900 when a donation of HK$15,000 was received from Mr Robert Hotung to pay for the cost of the building of a British School. A site was provided in the original Robinson Road, later to be renamed Nathan Road. In 1902, Kowloon..Read More
1911
Peak School Opened
Peak School was opened in 1911 when a mother recognised the need for a school in her area, so she opened up a room in her house to cater to a small group of neighbouring early learners. Due to swelling numbers of students, the school moved into a suite of rooms at..Read More
1926
Quarry Bay School Opened
Founded in 1926, Quarry Bay School (QBS) was opened to provide education for the children of expatriate employees of Swire at the Taikoo Dockyard and Sugar Refinery. With just 41 children, the school was originally located on top of a large flight of stairs with no air-conditioning. During World War..Read More
1959
Glenealy School Opened
Known as Glenealy Junior School at that time, the school first opened its doors in 1959 in Mid-Levels with 11 classes and 14 staff. In 1979, the school became an ESF school. However, it was demolished in 1981 to make way for property development. About 400 students were temporarily moved to..Read More
1961
Kennedy School Opened in Mid-Levels
Kennedy School was first opened in 1961 as Kennedy Road Junior School in the Mid-Levels before it moved to Pok Fu Lam in 1989. The school became an ESF school in 1979. The current campus has two main blocks – the original North Wing and the newer East Wing, which..Read More
1966
Beacon Hill School Established in Ho Man Tin
Established in 1966, Beacon Hill School was temporarily housed in the Tin Kwong Road Police School in Ho Man Tin. In 1967, the school became an ESF primary school with student numbers rapidly increasing to 760 within a few years. The school moved to its current location in Kowloon Tong in 1968.
1967
Establishment of ESF
The English Schools Foundation (ESF) was founded in 1967 in response to the recommendation of the 1965 Government White Paper on education, which proposed that future expansion of English schools in Hong Kong should be through the aided sector rather than by Government control. The first ESF schools, Island School..Read More
Island School Opened on Borrett Road
Island School opened in 1967 in the Old British Military Hospital on Borrett Road with 267 students. The building was originally the British Military Hospital built in the reign of King Edward VII. In 1973, the new school building was completed and students moved in – just across the road from..Read More
1975
Bradbury School opened
Starting out as Causeway Bay School in 1975, with 161 students and six teaching staff, the school first shared premises with a Chinese primary school in Eastern Hospital Road. In 1980, the school was renamed to Bradbury Junior School and moved into its new home located on Stubbs Road, just..Read More
1977
South Island School Opened
South Island School (SIS) originated as a nucleus of additional classes to Island School in 1977. In 1978, SIS moved to 5 Eastern Hospital Road near Causeway Bay, opposite the British Army Sports Ground. In 1983, the school moved to its present site at Nam Fung Road with 800 students..Read More
1979
Six schools joined ESF
Following a government review, it was determined that English-language grant-aided schools were no longer viable. These schools were subsequently handed over to ESF. Glenealy School, Kennedy School, Kowloon Junior School, Peak School and Quarry Bay School became ESF schools in 1979, followed by King George V School in 1981.
1982
Sha Tin College Opened on KGV premises
Sha Tin College was first opened in 1982 on the premises of King George V School known as Sha Tin Annexe. There were about 50 students and six teaching staff. Sha Tin Annexe was renamed Sha Tin College in 1983, and in 1985, the college moved to the site on..Read More
1988
Sha Tin Junior School Opened
Having first opened its doors in Fo Tan, Sha Tin back in 1988, Sha Tin Junior School is now gearing up to celebrate its 30 year anniversary. The primary school’s modern educational ethos is reflected in the motto, Learning For Life, an inspiring philosophy that can be seen all over..Read More
1991
West Island School Opened in Mid-Levels
West Island School (WIS) was opened in 1991 in the Old Military Hospital in Mid-Levels, opposite to Island School. At that time, the school had just 60 students and four members of staff. In 1994, the school moved to Pok Fu Lam and was officially inaugurated by Chris Patten, the Governor..Read More
1992
Clearwater Bay School Opened
Clearwater Bay School’s predecessor was Boundary Junior School which was opened in 1975 on a temporary site in Rose Street near Boundary Road. It was after long and persistent lobbying with the government when the school was allocated its permanent site in Clearwater Bay in 1992. Today, the school has..Read More
1994
Jockey Club Sarah Roe School set up in ESF Therapy Centre
In 1985, following a donation from the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Jockey Club Sarah Roe School (JCSRS) was originally set up in the ESF Therapy Centre as two classrooms with six students enrolled. It was named after Sarah Roe who was an occupational therapist in Hong Kong. JCSRS quickly increased to..Read More
1996
ESF Educational Services Ltd established
ESF Educational Services Ltd (ESL) was established with a vision to “provide the best and most comprehensive range of educational services to the Hong Kong community in a caring and cost effective manner”. Today, ESL offers a rich range of ESF Sports and ESF Language & Learning after-school activities for..Read More
1997
ESF celebrates 30th anniversary
1999
ESF Hillside International Kindergarten opened in Sheung Wan
ESF Hillside International Kindergarten was originally situated in Sheung Wan. The small premise was just large enough for about 170 students. In 2010 the school moved to Stubbs Road and received the name “Hillside” which it bears today. In a venue transformed from the previous ESF Centre offices, which moved to Quarry Bay,..Read More
ESF Tsing Yi International Kindergarten opened
Opened in 1999, the kindergarten is located on the beautiful waterfront of Tsing Yi, attached to Maritime Square shopping mall. The school is a purpose built kindergarten covering two floors (ground and first floors) with inside and outside provision, now accommodating 336 children.
2004
ESF Abacus International Kindergarten opened
Housed in what used to be an old village school, Abacus was established over 20 years ago in Clearwater Bay, Sai Kung. In 2004, ESF took over the operations of the kindergarten, refurbished the site and re-opened the school as ESF Abacus International Kindergarten. The school has 194 children and..Read More
2005
Implementation of IB across ESF schools
ESF announced its decision to phase in the International Baccalaureate (IB) qualification across its schools in place of the A-level. By 2013, all 20 ESF kindergartens, primary, secondary and private independent schools were authorised IB World Schools.
2006
Renaissance College established
Founded in 2006, Renaissance College (RCHK) is a student-centred all-through IB World School located in Ma On Shan. RCHK was established as a Private Independent School, similar to Discovery College in Discovery Bay. The college occupies a world-class campus and is led by an experienced international faculty, many of whom joined through..Read More