ESF Sha Tin Junior School is the English medium primary that anchors the English Schools Foundation presence in the New Territories of Hong Kong. It opened in 1988 next to Sha Tin College and teaches children from the early years through to Year 6 using the IB Primary Years Programme. Sharing a campus with the college means pupils can continue straight into secondary without changing school.
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At a glance
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| Curriculum | IB Primary Years Programme, taught in English |
| Stage range | Primary, early years to Year 6 (roughly ages 5 to 11) |
| Founded | 1988, beside Sha Tin College |
| Accreditation | Authorised IB World School for the Primary Years Programme; part of the English Schools Foundation |
| Fee band | ESF standard primary fee, mid band for Hong Kong |
| Campus area | Fo Tan, Sha Tin, New Territories |
Curriculum and academics
Sha Tin Junior School teaches the IB Primary Years Programme, a transdisciplinary framework built around units of inquiry rather than isolated subjects. It was among the first ESF primaries to gain full authorisation for the programme, and the inquiry approach is designed to develop the whole child across academic, social, physical and emotional growth.
Because the school sits on the same campus as Sha Tin College, the Primary Years Programme leads naturally into the IGCSE and IB Diploma continuum offered next door. Families who want to understand how the Primary Years Programme connects to the Middle Years Programme and the Diploma can read our IB curriculum guide.
Comparing Sha Tin Junior with another primary?
Put your shortlist side by side with our compare tool, from curriculum and stage range to fees and location, so the trade offs are clear at a glance.
ESF Sha Tin Junior School fees
Sha Tin Junior School charges the standard ESF primary fee, which is lower than the foundation secondary rate and sits in the mid band for Hong Kong primaries. Fees are reviewed each year and any increase is subject to approval, so treat a single figure as indicative and confirm the current schedule with the school.
As with the rest of the foundation, families also pay a one off non refundable capital levy, and nomination right certificates and debentures bring priority in admissions. Compared with the city premium private primaries the ESF rate is relatively accessible. Our Hong Kong international school fees guide sets out where ESF sits, and the school appears in our cheapest international schools in Hong Kong roundup.
Admissions
Admission runs through the central ESF primary process, which uses catchment zones alongside priority for certain passport holders and for nomination right and debenture holders. The academic year starts in August, and the main intake is into the early years, with occasional places higher up the school depending on movement.
Demand in the New Territories is steady, so register interest early, confirm your zone and the current criteria, and arrange a visit. A place at Sha Tin Junior is also valuable for the continuity it offers into Sha Tin College.
Location and who goes there
The school is in Fo Tan, Sha Tin, on a shared campus with Sha Tin College in the eastern New Territories. Good MTR and road access put it within reach of Sha Tin, Tai Po, Ma On Shan and the surrounding residential districts where many families settle for more space than Hong Kong Island offers.
The community is broadly international, with British, Australian, Canadian and local families well represented. To see how Sha Tin Junior fits alongside the other primary options nearby, begin with the Hong Kong city hub.
ESF Sha Tin Junior School reviews
We do not yet hold verified parent reviews for ESF Sha Tin Junior 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.
If your child attends or has attended the school, your first hand account of the teaching, communication and value for money would help other relocating parents. Share it through our school reviews hub.
Frequently asked questions
How much are ESF Sha Tin Junior School fees?
The school charges the standard ESF primary fee, which is lower than the secondary rate and sits in the mid band for Hong Kong, plus a one off non refundable capital levy. Confirm current rates with the school.
What curriculum does ESF Sha Tin Junior School follow?
It teaches the IB Primary Years Programme in English, an inquiry based framework for the early years to Year 6.
Does Sha Tin Junior feed into Sha Tin College?
Yes. The two schools share a campus, and pupils can progress from the primary into the secondary, which offers IGCSE and the IB Diploma.
When do ESF Sha Tin Junior School applications open?
Admission runs through the central ESF primary process with an August start and a main intake into the early years. Register interest early and confirm the current window with the school.
Where is ESF Sha Tin Junior School located?
The school is in Fo Tan, Sha Tin, in the New Territories, on the same campus as Sha Tin College.
