Hong Kong Academy (HKA) places sustainability at the core of its identity. As a globally-minded international school they work to integrate sustainable practices into the curriculum, daily operations and community initiatives.
Living Learning Lab
Aiming to inspire new ways of living and contributing to the world, HKA views the school campus as a “Living Learning Lab.” This philosophy manifests in various initiatives, including beach clean-ups, the Fix-It club, biodiesel school buses, solar power, Green Mondays, freecycle uniforms, single use plastic ban, waste composting, rainwater harvesting and more. These efforts build a future leaders mindset in their students and help drive sustainable change.
Circular Economy and the Fix-It club
HKA promotes the 5Rs: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair and Recycle. The Fix-It club has become an ongoing student-driven initiative whose purpose is to instill a culture of mending and repair across the school community. Based in the Design Tech workshop students repair learning resources and school equipment, create theatre props and mend personal items brought to them by fellow students, faculty or family, helping to promote low carbon living. Grade 7 student Luka has been part of the Fix It club for 18 months, he shares:
“When people have broken items they bring them in. We can’t guarantee that we will fix the item but we will try our best and definitely learn along the way! There’s a lot of trial and error and so as well as being about fixing things it’s about finding out how things work and how to choose the right tools and use them safely. Another good thing is that I can share my experience with younger students - like how to change the saw parts on the wood cutting machine. ”
Grade 5 Sam is also in his second year of Fix It club says: “Fix It Club is a very creative activity that teaches us about building and fixing things and being helpful. Kids love playing with toys and one day they might break so it’s really important to take care of your belongings. If things break I think we should always try to repair them!”
Organic Gardening and Biodiversity
HKA’s student gardeners cultivate various crops, learning about optimal planting conditions and the impact of extreme weather. The gardens also provide a pesticide-free habitat for butterflies and insects, enhancing biodiversity. The school is currently planning further biodiversification of the campus with the addition of green stairwells in their central courtyard space.
Renewable Energy and Climate Action
HKA installed rooftop solar panels in 2023. The installation generated over 5,550kw of clean energy for the local grid in its first year - enough to power an average Hong Kong home for over a year. This project serves as a learning tool for students, and the school benefits from an electricity subsidy that supports further sustainability initiatives. Students are actively advocating for the expansion of solar panel installations.
Partnerships and Recognition
HKA’s purpose-built campus was designed as a low carbon construction and was the first whole-school campus to have been awarded BEAM Plus Final Gold rating by the Hong Kong Green Building Council. The school collaborates with local and regional organisations to promote sustainable curriculum and practices and recently installed LED lighting to further reduce energy consumption.
Curricular Integration
Sustainability is woven throughout HKA’s curriculum. In Primary School, teachers connect each Unit of Inquiry to at least one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and encourage students to take action to promote positive change. In Secondary School, learning units focus on the impact of humans on the planet and vice versa, with central ideas such as energy usage and sustainable practices, consumption patterns and circular economies, political systems and climate change. The Secondary School also schedules “Flex” blocks for student-led sustainability projects and students can opt to study “Environmental Systems and Societies” in the final years of the IB Diploma programme.
HKA’s educational programmes, strategic leadership and purposeful action in support of a sustainable world make them stand out amongst schools in Hong Kong. Tours available Monday - Friday if you would like to find out more. https://hkacademy.edu.hk/admissions/school-tours-and-consultations/
-----
Hong Kong Academy
33 Wai Man Road, Sai Kung, New Territories, Hong Kong
Tel: 2655 1111
Email: admissions@hkacademy.edu.hk
Website: www.hkacademy.edu.hk
