New financial management has brought in fee increases for the next academic year, by 8.9 per cent at primary level and 5.1 per cent at secondary. More fee rises in the coming years are possible, particularly if the government fulfils its intention of withdrawing its funding, which has been steadily reduced and now accounts for about 25 per cent of ESF income.

The future of this subvention is due to be resolved after the ESF's revised ordinance is passed, replacing its executive committee with a 26-member board of governors.

ESF schools include 10 primaries, five secondaries and the Jockey Club Sarah Roe Centre special school that are subsidised by the government. It also runs the new private independent school Renaissance College and three kindergartens, which are self-financing.

Management: Although overseen by the foundation, schools are run independently, managed by their principals under the authority of their school councils. Despite their common aims, they have developed their individual characters. All schools have active PTAs, which are represented on councils and higher levels of ESF management. Parents can help out in classrooms in the primary years.

Curriculum: ESF schools offer a modern liberal education based on the National Curriculum of England and Wales but are moving towards the International Baccalaureate at all levels. All secondary schools will teach the IB Diploma for Years 12 and 13 from 2007, with vocational qualifications available for the less academic. At primary, Sha Tin Junior School and Bauhinia School are candidates for the IB Primary Years Programme. The IB framework and inquiry-based approach is expected to be adopted by all primary schools, with elements of the British curriculum retained, such as its literacy and numeracy strategies. The IB Middle Years Programme is also on the agenda, to replace Britain's GCSE and IGCSE examinations currently taken at the end of Year 11, though so far there is no timetable for this.

The move to the IB is accompanied by a greater emphasis on languages at all levels. Three primary schools are involved in pilot projects to extend and differentiate Putonghua instruction. Mother-tongue teaching for Japanese, Korean, Hindi and Hebrew is being made available to both students and parents, on an inter-school basis.

Extra-curricular: Limited extra-curricular activities are offered at primary level, and a wide range at secondary. Secondary schools offer local and overseas camps, though some are in doubt because of working practices laid down by the teachers' union. Hong Kong-based camps are organised for upper primary years.

Special needs: All schools have specialist provision for children with learning difficulties. Bradbury, Kowloon Junior and Beacon Hill at primary level and Island School and King George V School at secondary offer greater support for those with more extensive learning disabilities through special learning support classes. The Jockey Club Sarah Roe Centre caters for those who cannot be taught in mainstream schools. Special needs provision has been reviewed and rationalised, with greater targeting of specialist support and efforts to cater better for diversity in mainstream classes. (See Page 42).

Facilities: Campuses vary according to age, with the oldest schools identified as in need of major renovation. Facilities such as school halls, ICT and music rooms are standard in primary schools. Electronic whiteboards have been introduced across primary and secondary levels. At secondary level, art, drama, music, PE and technology are well catered for, although only King George V School has extensive outdoor sports grounds. All have pools.

Exam results: The academic performance of all five secondary schools is generally high, although the ESF does not allow individual schools to publish results. These should be available if parents ask and may be on their websites. There are small differences in results between schools, and between subjects. Across the foundation, 92.5 per cent of entries for last summer's GCSEs were awarded grades A* to C, with 52 per cent achieving A or A*. For A-levels, the pass rate was 98.9 per cent, with 40 per cent at grade A. This qualified top students for entry to leading universities. In the Key Stage Two tests for Year Six students, 94 per cent reached Level Four or above in English compared with the average for England and Wales of 79 per cent. Ninety-four per cent also reached that level in maths, compared with 75 per cent. Numbers reaching Level Five in ESF were 34 per cent for English and 55 per cent in maths, compared with 27 per cent and 31 per cent in England and Wales. But ESF students are in general more highly motivated than students in state schools in the UK, which contributes to a stronger performance.

About 40 per cent go on to universities in the UK, 20 per cent to the US, 20 per cent to Canada, 10 per cent to Hong Kong and 10 per cent to Australia.

Admission: Entry is comprehensive, which means children can be admitted regardless of academic ability. However, their ability to be taught in English is tested. Places are allocated according to residential zones, but in response to long waiting lists, a new order of priorities has been introduced this year. Children from non-Chinese speaking families will be considered first. For Year One admission, parents must apply to head office. Applications are divided between schools with the aim that children should join the nearest available school. Applications should be lodged by September 22 for Year One and October 7 for Year Seven. For other primary and secondary places, parents should apply directly to the schools within their residential zone.

School fees 2006-07: Primary: $51,500; Secondary: $82,600 (both annual). There is no debenture.

The private independent Renaissance College is listed under private independent schools - Page 24. Kindergartens are under international and bilingual preschools - Page 15