ESF Island School is the founding secondary school of the English Schools Foundation in Hong Kong, opened in 1967 and now occupying a redeveloped campus on Borrett Road in the Mid Levels. It teaches students aged 11 to 18, taking many of them from the foundation's primary schools, and offers a choice of the IB Diploma or an applied pathway in the sixth form. As one of the largest and longest established secondaries in the city it is a fixture on our IB schools in Hong Kong hub.
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At a glance
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and exam boards | Broad lower secondary curriculum, IGCSE in the middle years, then a choice of the IB Diploma or an applied learning pathway in Years 12 and 13 |
| Stage range | Secondary, ages 11 to 18 (Years 7 to 13) |
| Founded | 1967, the founding ESF secondary school |
| Accreditation | Authorised IB World School for the Diploma; part of the English Schools Foundation |
| Fee band | ESF standard secondary fee, mid band for Hong Kong |
| Campus area | Borrett Road, Mid Levels, Hong Kong Island |
Curriculum and academics
Island School runs a broad curriculum through the lower secondary years, with IGCSE examinations in the middle years giving an internationally recognised set of qualifications before the sixth form. In Years 12 and 13 students choose between the IB Diploma and an applied learning pathway that blends IB courses with more vocational, BTEC style options, so the school can suit both the academically ambitious and students who want a more practical mix.
As an authorised IB World School, Island School publishes its IB Diploma results each summer, and prospective families should ask the admissions office for the latest cohort figures rather than relying on older numbers. For how the Diploma compares with British A Levels and the American system, and how it builds on the IB Middle Years and Primary Years programmes used across ESF, see our IB curriculum guide.
Weighing Island School against another sixth form?
Put your shortlist side by side with our compare tool, from curriculum and stage range to fees and location, so you can see the trade offs at a glance.
ESF Island School fees
| Stage | Annual tuition |
|---|---|
| Years 7 to 10 | HKD 181,100 |
| Year 11 | HKD 159,400 |
| Years 12 to 13 | HKD 167,600 |
Source: English Schools Foundation (join-us.esf.edu.hk). ESF secondary (Years 7 to 13); fees are flat across ESF secondary schools. Plus a one-off capital levy and deposit. Fees are the most recent published figures and exclude one-off costs such as registration, deposits and capital levies. Always confirm current fees directly with the school.
Island School charges the standard ESF secondary fee rather than a campus specific rate, so its tuition matches the foundation's other secondaries. For the 2025/26 year that is around HK$181,100 for Years 7 to 10, around HK$159,400 in Year 11 and around HK$167,600 for the IB Diploma years in Years 12 and 13, after an average rise of about 4.8 per cent approved across the foundation. Treat any single figure as indicative and confirm the current schedule with the school, since increases are subject to approval each year.
On top of tuition, ESF families pay a one off non refundable capital levy, and the foundation offers nomination right certificates and corporate debentures that bring priority in admissions. Against the city's most premium private internationals the ESF secondary fee is comparatively accessible. Our Hong Kong international school fees guide shows where ESF sits and how the levies and extras add up.
Admissions
Island School admits as part of the central ESF secondary process, with priority given to certain passport holders and to families holding nomination rights or debentures. Many places go to pupils progressing from ESF primary schools, so continuity within the foundation matters, and external applicants are considered subject to space. The academic year starts in August, with sixth form entry shaped by the subject choices a student wants to take.
Because the school is large and popular, applying early helps, particularly for sixth form where the IB Diploma and applied pathway timetables fill up. Register interest, confirm the current criteria and arrange a visit, especially if your child is joining in Year 12.
Location and who goes there
The school occupies a redeveloped campus on Borrett Road in the Mid Levels, close to Central, which keeps it within reach of the inner Island neighbourhoods where many international families live. That central location suits households working in the central business district and wanting a manageable commute, and the catchment draws heavily from the Mid Levels, the Peak and the surrounding Island districts.
The community is genuinely international, reflecting the British, Australian, Canadian, American and local families who settle on Hong Kong Island. To weigh Island School against the other secondary options nearby, including fees and where families live, start with the Hong Kong city hub and our roundup of the best IB schools in Hong Kong.
ESF Island School reviews
We do not yet hold verified parent reviews for ESF Island School. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and no school pays to be listed, so we publish a rating only once we can confirm reviews come from real families. We would rather show nothing than show an invented score.
If your child attends or has attended the school, we would value your first hand account of the teaching, communication and value for money. Share it through our school reviews hub and help the next relocating family decide with better information.
Frequently asked questions
How much are ESF Island School fees?
Island School charges the standard ESF secondary fee. For the 2025/26 year that is around HK$181,100 for Years 7 to 10, around HK$159,400 in Year 11 and around HK$167,600 for the IB Diploma years, plus a one off non refundable capital levy. Confirm current rates with the school.
What curriculum does ESF Island School follow?
Island School follows a broad lower secondary curriculum with IGCSE in the middle years, then in Years 12 and 13 students choose between the IB Diploma and an applied pathway that mixes IB and BTEC style courses.
Is ESF Island School an IB school?
Yes. Island School is an authorised IB World School offering the IB Diploma in the sixth form, alongside an applied learning pathway for students who prefer a more vocational mix.
How do admissions work at ESF Island School?
Island School admits as part of the ESF secondary process, with priority for certain passport holders, nomination right and debenture holders, and continuity for pupils progressing from ESF primary schools. Confirm the current criteria with the school.
Where is ESF Island School located?
The school is on Borrett Road in the Mid Levels of Hong Kong Island, in a redeveloped campus close to Central.
