The Standard International Schools Fair helps parents make an informed decision for their child's education

The fair provided useful first-hand information in guiding Hong Kong families toward enriching, uplifting educational experiences to help mold the leaders of tomorrow.

October7 marked the conclusion of yet another successful International Schools Fair organized by The Standard. Held at Marco Polo Hongkong Hotel, the fair brought together representatives from over 20 top international schools across Hong Kong to meet with prospective students and their families.
Attracting hundreds of attendees over the course of the day, the event provided a one-stop-shop for families deciding on the best international education option as the new school year began. Booths were arranged school-by-school, with knowledgeable admissions officers, teachers, principals and program directors on hand to discuss each school’s unique strengths and curriculum offerings.

Topics of discussion ranged from early education programs and primary school priorities to specialized streams in the secondary years such as the IB, AP, A-Levels and more. Schools also highlighted extracurricular opportunities, state-of-the-art facilities, distinguished alumni networks and competitive university placement rates. Attendees came equipped with a diverse array of questions to best match their children’s interests and needs.

Panel discussions

In addition to school booths, two insightful panel discussions were held during the day. The first panel titled ‘Thinking Holistically: The Importance of Holistic Education Post-Pandemic’ brought together school leaders to discuss the challenges students now face returning to the classroom full-time after a prolonged period of remote learning.

Moderated by The Standard’s Senior Reporter Gigi Wong, Dr. Cora Hui, Head of School at Christian Alliance P.C. Lau Memorial International School, Grace Yen, Vice Principal and Head of Primary at Korean International School of Hong Kong, and John Shooter, Principal of Oxbridge School Hong Kong, shared strategies for fostering emotional well-being through a holistic whole-child approach and emphasized the essential role ongoing home-school collaboration will play.

The second panel ‘Whole-Child Development: The Value of Child-Led Learning in the Early Years’ featured Derek Pinchbeck, Head of School at International College Hong Kong – Hong Lok Yuen, Richard Vanderpyl, Head of School at Christian Alliance International School, and Sophie Burdel, Head of Kindergarten, German Swiss International School.

Hosted by Alris Chan, the panelists analysed the latest developments supporting child-led curriculums proven to maximize young learner development. Attendees gained practical advice on how teachers can best balance student autonomy while ensuring all developmental goals are met. The interactive discussions provided valuable insight for families to consider when selecting a school’s philosophical approach that matches their child’s unique needs.

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