New YK Pao School to launch in Kowloon Tong with bilingual curriculum and IB PYP pathway

The YK Pao Education Foundation will open its new international school in Hong Kong in September 2026, with plans to enroll at least 100 Primary 1 to 3 students in its inaugural year.

In an interview with Sing Tao Daily, sister publication of The Standard, the foundation’s Chief Executive Officer Wayne Zhang said YK Pao School Hong Kong intends to operate two Primary 1 classes, one Primary 2 class, and one Primary 3 class, with 25 students in each.

Located at 4 Rose Street in Kowloon Tong, the school is modeled after the foundation’s flagship institution in Shanghai and aims to offer a bilingual, dual-culture education to local and non-local students aged six to 15.

Zhang noted that recent recruitment events in Shanghai and Shenzhen have drawn strong interest from mainland parents, including top talents and quality migrants. He said the school is particularly attractive to families who have obtained Hong Kong residency permits and are now exploring educational options in the city.

He added that the current application outlook is “more positive than expected,” with a majority of prospective students coming from non-local families, including children of high-skilled professionals.

The foundation will hold an information session in Hong Kong on December 16 for parents and students. Zhang expressed confidence that enrollment for the new school will remain strong in the coming years.

According to the school’s website, annual tuition for Primary 1 to 3 in the 2026/27 academic year will be HK$220,000, pending approval from the Education Bureau. The fee can be paid in 10 installments.

Zhang said the school is applying to become an International Baccalaureate candidate school and plans to offer the IB Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) with enhanced Putonghua and mathematics instruction.

Earlier, the foundation announced the appointment of Cathy Braithwaite—an educator with more than 27 years of experience in the UK—as the founding head of school.

Zhang said the school expects to hire 16 to 18 teachers in its first year, achieving an anticipated student-to-teacher ratio of 1:8. Offers have already been extended to eight teachers, including some from the Shanghai school who have IB PYP experience.

Zhang added that the first cohort of students will initially be welcomed at the Kowloon East campus in Yau Tong. For the Rose Street site, the foundation will invest HK$100 million in renovations and the construction of a new wing, which will include a gymnasium and multiple specialist rooms, scheduled for completion in 2028.