Anchors Academy, often referred to as the "Hong Kong version of Cambridge," has announced to expand to Junior Secondary (Years 7 to 9) at its Yuen Long campus and to establish St Bees (Anchors) Sixth Form College in partnership with St Bees School in the United Kingdom, offering a seamless K-12 through-train education in the city.

At its recent admissions briefing, the school revealed that its Junior Secondary division for Years 7 to 9 is slated to open this September, pending final government approval.

Through its strategic partnership with the historic St Bees School, all Year 9 students at Anchors Academy will progress to the newly co-established St Bees (Anchors) Sixth Form College. 

A vision comes true

"For years, we've been waiting for this tremendous opportunity while insisting on educational quality," said Carmen Choi Ka-man, executive director and school manager at Anchors Academy.

Sharing with St Bees the same philosophies – namely, of valuing both Chinese and Western education, and being student-centered and committed to nurturing talents – Choi expressed gratitude for the partnership with St Bees to fulfill the school's K-12 blueprint.

Under the expansion, Choi explained that students who complete their Primary Year 6 will advance seamlessly to the new Junior Secondary section at the same Yuen Long campus.

"It's not opening a new school," Choi stated. "Our campus has ample space, allowing our students to seamlessly enter the next grade level."
The school is accepting expressions of interest for its inaugural 2026-27 Years 7 and 9 intakes, which are set to commence this September, seeking curious, active learners with strong thinking skills to join the journey.

A curriculum built on STEAM

With the school's deep roots in STEAM education, Choi noted that the curriculum incorporates elements of innovation and requires students to have a solid foundation in mathematics and science.

For Choi, true learning happens when students are genuinely engaged. By fusing teaching with a lively, creative environment, she wishes that students can experience the joy of discovery along with a sense of achievement.

Coming from a family toy business, Choi likened toy development to STEAM – where engineering and scientific theories are heavily involved.

"We hope that the children can learn to design their own toys from a young age," she said, noting that the school's curriculum is designed to prepare students for tertiary education, progressing from foundational work with clay in kindergarten to more complex applications involving motors and chips in primary, and finally to advanced mechanics at the secondary level.

Going beyond STEAM, AI, and robotics, the school's international curriculum will also explore aerospace technology to equip students with all the skills they might need for future pursuits.

Additionally, Choi stated the school focuses on positive thinking, resilience, and media education. "Media education is a key part of information literacy," she added. "It helps children develop holistically, not just in one area."

With the unique blend of an internationalized UK curriculum (Key Stage 3) and the Hong Kong curriculum, Choi believes the school provides strong support for student development.

With the University of Cambridge's academic standards as a reference, the school aims to cultivate students with sights set on the world's top universities.

"We encourage our senior secondary students to learn in different regions. For instance, students in Years 10 and 11 can choose to study one year in Hong Kong and one year in the UK or St Bees' China campus – an innovative and forward-looking arrangement," said Choi.

Having studied abroad herself, Choi understands the value of exploring different environments and building global networks to broaden horizons.

"Whether students pursue further studies in Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, the United States, or elsewhere, they will thrive, as the school' goal of establishing the "Hong Kong version of Cambridge" has always been rooted in this vision," she added. The goal of gaining admission to top institutions like the University of Cambridge, Choi believes, is the motive that drives their students forward.

Dual-track arrangement: University of Cambridge lecturers on board

The partnership between Anchors Academy and St Bees School – an institution with over 440 years of history – has become "more than the sum of its parts."

Olly Wells, the incoming headmaster of St Bees School, described the partnership as long-awaited and complementary, especially after its Global Campus branch took off in the mainland.

He noted that the establishment of St Bees (Anchors) Sixth Form College led to the connection of Anchors' innovative primary and junior secondary curriculum with British educational experience – giving students the tools to excel in any field.

Citing the intense academic focus of Hong Kong students, Wells attributed their pursuit of excellent results as precisely why world-class universities like Cambridge are eager to admit them.

In response to the rising global university competition, Wells advised students to identify target universities and programs from day one, and to prepare themselves during their senior secondary years.

He added that the College will establish specialized academies for fields such as medicine, artificial intelligence, mathematics, and engineering, targeting top universities in Hong Kong and the UK.

Notably, students will also experience university foundation courses during senior secondary to boost their competitiveness.

The partnership also brings impressive credentials, including a former University of Cambridge pro-vice-chancellor serving as chair of the Joint Board of Governors, as well as lectures by the University of Cambridge professors.

The inclusion of top lecturers ensures the College stays aligned with the standards of overseas institutions while extending Anchors' "Hong Kong version of Cambridge" philosophy through to senior secondary.

Wells explained that, building on the strong foundation laid at Anchors, the senior secondary curriculum allows students to choose the international stream with UK curriculum IGCSE and A-Levels/IAL qualifications, or follow the local curriculum for the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination.

Apart from academic success, Well ensured that school will emphasize resilience, interpersonal skills, and cultural literacy – qualities essential for thriving at top universities.

It will also introduce British boarding school traditions of character education, aiming to cultivate students who are not only academically gifted but also morally grounded.

New campus in West Kowloon to facilitate exploration

To support the new chapter of Anchors Academy, the new campus for the St Bees (Anchors) Sixth Form College will be located in West Kowloon, separate from the Yuen Long junior secondary school site.

Carmen Choi said the move aims to give students opportunities to experience new environments, engage with diverse communities, and develop independence.

"High school students require greater self-discipline and a focused environment to prepare for university," Choi added.

The West Kowloon campus is designed to resemble a university, featuring subject-specific zones that aim to create a serious academic atmosphere similar to traditional British schools. This environment is intended to help students concentrate on their studies.

Situated at a major transport hub, the new campus will offer students convenient access to cultural facilities and activities throughout West Kowloon, encouraging exploration beyond the classroom.

With the government's "Study in Hong Kong" initiative now including secondary education, Choi revealed that the school may soon admit non-local students. The accessible West Kowloon location, she said, will help promote the educational philosophy of Anchors and St Bees to a wider audience across Hong Kong.