ESF Pathway 2027/28
English Schools Foundation · Early Years new approach

Every moment matters,
from K1 to Year 13.

From September 2026, every ESF kindergarten is linked to an associated primary school — mirroring the primary-to-secondary links ESF has run since 2019. Apply for K1 in the 2027/28 school year and you know the whole path: kindergarten, primary and secondary.

6Kindergartens (K1–K2)
9Primary schools (Y1–Y6)
5Associated secondaries (Y7–Y13)
3All-through colleges (Y1–Y13)
2024Birth year of the first cohort

What actually changes

The through-train is complete. Kindergartens are no longer a standalone choice: the kindergarten you pick determines the primary schools your child can move into — and through those, the associated secondary.

Absolute certainty

Enrol in an ESF kindergarten and your child has a guaranteed primary and secondary place.

Seamless journey

Transitions between phases are managed jointly: joint play sessions, shared specialists, and K2 experience days in the future primary.

Resources shared across schools

Specialists and support teachers are available to your child whichever school in the pathway they attend.

One community

A true all-through system: K1 to Y13 in a single, connected ESF community.

Applicants for K1 in the 2027/28 school year are told their linked primary school or schools when they apply. Parents then confirm their Y1 place in K2, and may give a preference order among the linked primaries. Allocation for kindergartens with more than one associated primary is by priority, computer random number and — where necessary — EDB requirements. Renaissance College Kindergarten and Quarry Bay School Kindergarten have a direct 1:1 feed, so the guaranteed place is unambiguous.

The pathway, end to end

Every edge below is the official ESF associated-school link. The Sankey view shows the same pathways with volumes attached; the map underneath shows every link as it is published. Hover or tap a kindergarten in either to trace the schools that open up from it.

Guaranteed pathway (1:1 feed, or primary → associated secondary) Central allocation (kindergarten links to several primaries) Placement decided through the Admission & Review Process

Flow volumes

The same pathways drawn as flows, so a three-class link and a six-class link no longer look identical.

All official pathways 22 published pathways across 6 kindergartens
ESF 2027/28 pathway flows: kindergartens to primary and all-through schools, then to secondary schoolsSankey diagram of the official ESF 2027/28 associated-school pathways. Kindergarten to primary widths use the published class transitions; primary to secondary widths use each primary’s published classes per year group.Quarry Bay KGHillside KGWest Kowloon KGWu Kai Sha KGTsing Yi KGRenaissance KGQuarry BayBradburyGlenealyPeakKennedyClearwater BaySha Tin JuniorBeacon HillKowloon JuniorDiscovery CollegeDiscovery CollegeRenaissance CollegeRenaissance CollegeJockey Club Sarah RoeJockey Club Sarah RoeSouth IslandIslandWest IslandKing George VSha Tin CollegeKINDERGARTEN · K1–K25–6 schoolsPRIMARY · Y1–Y69 primaries + all-throughSECONDARY · Y7–Y135 secondariesSolid = guaranteed feed / associated secondary · dashed = central allocation · dotted = Admission & Review placementKindergarten→primary widths use the published class transitions; primary→secondary widths use each primary’s published classes per year group. Two published bases, so widths are indicative.

↔ Swipe the chart sideways to pan — the labels stay readable.

Hover or tap a ribbon, a school box or a row to trace the full pathway — upstream to the kindergartens and downstream to the destinations. Tap again (or Reset) to release it.

    Ribbon width is indicative: kindergarten→primary widths use the brochure’s published class transitions, primary→secondary widths use each primary’s published classes per year group — two separate published bases, not a single measured intake. All-through colleges carry their own Y1–Y13 progression; Jockey Club Sarah Roe placements run through the Admission & Review Process and have no published class count.

    Associated-school map

    Every published link, drawn as a map.

    Secondary · Y7–Y13 · age 11–18

    All Through · Y1–Y13

    Primary · Y1–Y6 · age 5–11

    Kindergarten · K1–K2 · age 3–5

    Quarry Bay KG

    Hillside KG

    West Kowloon KG

    Wu Kai Sha KG

    Tsing Yi KG

    Renaissance KG

    Quarry Bay

    Bradbury

    Glenealy

    Peak

    Kennedy

    Clearwater Bay

    Sha Tin Junior

    Beacon Hill

    Kowloon Junior

    Discovery College

    Renaissance College

    Jockey Club Sarah Roe

    South Island

    Island

    West Island

    King George V

    Sha Tin College

    One kindergarten at a time

    Pick a kindergarten to see exactly which primaries it links to, and which secondary each of those primaries feeds.

    The 23 schools

    Locations, target places, class sizes, curriculum and admission contacts — as published in the 2027/28 pathway brochure.

    Kindergarten

    ESF Quarry Bay School Kindergarten

    英基鰂魚涌小學幼稚園 · 香港鰂魚涌康愉街14號

    Location14 Hong Yue Street, Quarry Bay
    OpeningOpen in August 2026
    Target places200
    CurriculumIB PYP
    Linked schoolsQuarry Bay School
    Kindergarten

    ESF Hillside International Kindergarten

    英基曉新國際幼稚園 · 香港司徒拔道43B號

    Location43B Stubbs Road, Wan Chai
    Founded1999
    Target places384
    CurriculumIB PYP
    Linked schoolsBradbury School · Glenealy School · Peak School
    Kindergarten

    ESF West Kowloon Kindergarten

    英基西九龍幼稚園 · 香港九龍海輝道8號UG

    LocationUnit 1 & 2, UG/F, The Long Beach, No. 8 Hoi Fai Road
    OpeningOpen in August 2026
    Target places300
    CurriculumIB PYP - English/Dual Language Stream
    Linked schoolsKennedy School · Clearwater Bay School
    Kindergarten

    ESF Wu Kai Sha International Kindergarten

    英基烏溪沙國際幼稚園 · 香港沙田馬鞍山西沙路599號L1

    LocationLevel 1, 599 Sai Sha Road, Ma On Shan
    Founded2009
    Target places350
    CurriculumIB PYP
    Linked schoolsSha Tin Junior School · Beacon Hill School
    Kindergarten

    ESF Tsing Yi International Kindergarten

    英基青衣國際幼稚園 · 香港青衣青敬路33號地下及閣樓

    LocationMaritime Square, 33 Tsing King Road, Tsing Yi
    Founded1999
    Target places392
    CurriculumIB PYP
    Linked schoolsBeacon Hill School · Kowloon Junior School · Discovery College
    Kindergarten

    ESF Renaissance College Kindergarten

    英基啓新書院幼稚園 · 香港海映路8號G01

    LocationShop No. G01, G/F, GO PARK 2, 8 Hoi Ying Road, New Territories
    OpeningOpen in August 2026
    Target places300
    CurriculumIB PYP - English/Dual Language Stream
    Linked schoolsRenaissance College · Jockey Club Sarah Roe School
    Primary

    ESF Quarry Bay School

    英基鰂魚涌小學 · 香港北角寶馬山校園徑6號

    Location6 Hau Yuen Path, Braemar Hill
    Founded1926
    Target places720
    Classes / grade4
    CurriculumIB PYP
    Associated secondarySouth Island School
    Primary

    ESF Clearwater Bay School

    英基清水灣小學 · 香港九龍清水灣道DD229地段235號

    LocationDD 229, Lot 235, Clearwater Bay Road, Clearwater Bay
    Founded1992
    Target places720
    Classes / grade4
    CurriculumIB PYP
    Associated secondaryKing George V School
    Primary

    ESF Sha Tin Junior School

    英基沙田小學 · 香港沙田火炭麗禾里3號A

    Location3A Lai Wo Lane, Fo Tan
    Founded1988
    Target places900
    Classes / grade5
    CurriculumIB PYP
    Associated secondarySha Tin College
    Primary

    ESF Beacon Hill School

    英基畢架山小學 · 香港九龍塘義德道23號

    Location23 Ede Road, Kowloon Tong
    Founded1967
    Target places540
    Classes / grade3
    CurriculumIB PYP
    Associated secondaryIsland School
    Primary

    ESF Kowloon Junior School

    英基九龍小學 · 香港何文田巴富街20號

    Location20 Perth Street, Homantin
    Founded1902
    Target places900
    Classes / grade5
    CurriculumIB PYP
    Associated secondaryKing George V School
    All Through

    ESF Discovery College

    英基智新書院 · 香港大嶼山愉景灣澄湖畔路38號

    Location38 Siena Avenue, Discovery Bay
    Founded2008
    Target places1,470
    Classes / grade4
    CurriculumY1 - Y6: IB PYP
    Y7 - Y11: IB MYP
    Y12 - Y13: IBDP/IBCP
    All Through

    ESF Jockey Club Sarah Roe School

    英基賽馬會善樂學校 · 香港何文田天光道2B

    Location2B Tin Kwong Rd, Ho Man Tin
    Founded1986
    Target places70
    Classes / grade6
    CurriculumBespoke curriculum
    All secondary-aged students access accredited ASDAN courses
    Secondary

    ESF South Island School

    英基南島中學 · 香港香港仔南風道50號

    Location50 Nam Fung Road, Aberdeen
    Founded1977
    Target places1,421
    Classes / grade6
    CurriculumY7-Y9: IBMYP
    Y10-Y11: GCSE/IGCSE
    Y12-Y16: IBDP/IBCP/BTEC
    Secondary

    ESF West Island School

    英基西島中學 · 香港薄扶林域多利道250號

    Location250 Victoria Road, Pokfulam
    Founded1991
    Target places1,228
    Classes / grade6
    CurriculumY7-Y9: IBMYP
    Y10-Y11: GCSE/IGCSE
    Y12-Y13: IBDP/IBCP/BTEC
    Secondary

    ESF King George V School

    英基英皇佐治五世學校 · 香港何文田天光道2號

    Location2 Tin Kwong Road, Homantin
    Founded1902
    Target places1,950
    Classes / grade14-16
    CurriculumY7-Y9: IBMYP
    Y10-Y11: GCSE/IGCSE
    Y12-Y13: IBDP/IBCP/BTEC

    The 15-year curriculum

    Kindergarten to graduation: IB PYP through primary, MYP and IGCSE in the middle years, then IBDP, IBCP or BTEC in the final two years.

    IBDP / IBCP / BTEC

    IGCSE

    Secondary · MYP

    Primary · IB PYP

    Kindergarten

    Guaranteed Y1 place

    Guaranteed Y7 place

    K1
    age 3

    K2
    age 4

    Y1
    age 5

    Y2

    Y3

    Y4

    Y5

    Y6
    age 10

    Y7
    age 11

    Y8

    Y9
    age 13

    Y10
    age 14

    Y11

    Y12
    age 16

    Y13
    age 17

    Graduate
    age 18

    Target places by school

    Published target places for 2027/28 — useful when weighing how competitive a pathway is.

    KINDERGARTEN Quarry Bay School Kindergarten 200 Hillside International Kindergarten 384 West Kowloon Kindergarten 300 Wu Kai Sha International Kindergarten 350 Tsing Yi International Kindergarten 392 Renaissance College Kindergarten 300 PRIMARY Quarry Bay School 720 Bradbury School 720 Glenealy School 360 Peak School 360 Kennedy School 900 Clearwater Bay School 720 Sha Tin Junior School 900 Beacon Hill School 540 Kowloon Junior School 900 ALL THROUGH Discovery College 1,470 Renaissance College 2,127 Jockey Club Sarah Roe School 70 SECONDARY South Island School 1,421 Island School 1,357 West Island School 1,228 King George V School 1,950 Sha Tin College 1,262

    Dates that matter

    How many classes move where

    Projected kindergarten-to-primary class transitions for the first cohort (born 2024, Y1 in August 2029).

    KindergartenClasses to primary
    ESF Wu Kai Sha International Kindergarten5 classes to Sha Tin Junior School · 2 classes to Beacon Hill School
    ESF Hillside International Kindergarten4 classes to Bradbury School · 4 classes to Glenealy School and Peak School
    ESF Tsing Yi International Kindergarten5 classes to Kowloon Junior School · 3 classes to Discovery College and Beacon Hill School
    ESF West Kowloon Kindergarten4 classes to Clearwater Bay School · 2 classes to Kennedy School
    ESF Quarry Bay School Kindergarten4 classes to Quarry Bay School
    ESF Renaissance College Kindergarten6 classes to Renaissance College
    Classes per grade by kindergarten 12 listed transitions summing to 46 classes
    ESF 2027/28: classes moving from each kindergarten to its associated primary schoolsDirected chord diagram of the published kindergarten-to-primary class transitions for the first cohort under the associated school model.Renaissance KG → Renaissance College: 6 classesWu Kai Sha KG → Sha Tin Junior: 5 classesTsing Yi KG → Kowloon Junior: 5 classesHillside KG → Bradbury: 4 classesHillside KG → Glenealy: 4 classesHillside KG → Peak: 4 classesWest Kowloon KG → Clearwater Bay: 4 classesQuarry Bay KG → Quarry Bay: 4 classesTsing Yi KG → Beacon Hill: 3 classesTsing Yi KG → Discovery College: 3 classesWu Kai Sha KG → Beacon Hill: 2 classesWest Kowloon KG → Kennedy: 2 classesWu Kai Sha KGHillside KGTsing Yi KGWest Kowloon KGQuarry Bay KGRenaissance KGSha Tin JuniorBeacon HillBradburyGlenealyPeakKowloon JuniorClearwater BayKennedyQuarry BayDiscovery CollegeRenaissance CollegeCLASSES PER GRADEArrow direction: kindergarten → primaryPublished class transitions for the first cohort (born 2024, Y1 in August 2029). Where the brochure groups two schools under one count, the count is shown against each.

    ↔ Swipe the chart sideways to pan — the labels stay readable.

    Hover or tap a ribbon, a school ring or a row to trace the full pathway — upstream to the kindergartens and downstream to the destinations. Tap again (or Reset) to release it.

      Published class transitions for the first cohort under the associated school model (born 2024, Year 1 in August 2029). Where the brochure groups two schools under a single class count — Hillside to Glenealy and Peak, Tsing Yi to Discovery College and Beacon Hill — the same count is drawn against each school, so the 12 listed links total 46 while the brochure names 43 classes.

      Questions parents ask

      Answered from ESF’s own admissions FAQ for the new Early Years approach.

      What is the “Associated School Model” and how does it benefit my child?
      The Associated School Model is another way of describing ESF’s ‘through-train’. Essentially, it means that certain ESF schools are linked with each other, with children transitioning between those linked schools. So when your child enters an ESF kindergarten, you will already know which primary and secondary schools they will attend.
      How does this improve the transition from Kindergarten to Primary?
      Principals from associated schools now collaborate closely on curriculum alignment and social scaffolding. This includes joint play sessions, shared specialist support, and ‘experience days’ where K2 students spend time in their future primary classrooms.
      What are the benefits of the ‘One ESF’ community for parents?
      Beyond student benefits, parents join a lifelong network. You’ll have access to cross-school workshops, a unified parent portal, and a consistent communication style that simplifies your engagement with your child’s education for the next 15 years.
      When should I apply for K1 for my child?
      Applications to K1 are invited from 1 to 30 September of the year prior to the start of school in August for the following year. This application period is called ‘September Central Applications’.
      Which birth year will the new Associated Primary School affect?
      Children born in 2024 will be the first cohort of the new approach to Early Years at ESF. They will start Year 1 in August 2029.
      What happens if I miss the September Central Application window?
      Applications may be submitted, and will be wait-listed behind on-time applications.
      Is there a different transition process for children who require additional learning support or a specialist placement?
      Yes. For children who require additional learning support, ESF runs a dedicated, highly collaborative process. Kindergarten teams work closely with families during the K1 year to identify support needs. For children who require enhanced levels of support, an Enhanced Transition Plan is built during the K2 year, with a specialised team designing a personalised roadmap. If a child’s needs are best met by a specialised environment such as Jockey Club Sarah Roe School, a dedicated review panel evaluates the best placement — places at JCSRS are subject to availability.
      Can I choose which ESF Primary school my child goes to?
      Parents need to consider the kindergarten associated with their choice of primary school. At the start of the K2 year, parents complete a transition form to confirm their place for Y1 the following academic year, and may indicate a preference order among the associated primaries. There is no guarantee of allocation to the 1st-preference school, except for kindergartens with a direct feed into their associated primary school.
      Is it possible for me to select an ESF primary school that is not associated with the ESF kindergarten?
      It is not possible to select a primary school that is not associated with the child’s kindergarten. The guaranteed Y1 place is at the associated school.
      When will I know which ESF Primary school my child will go to?
      ESF K2 parents will be informed of allocation results for the primary school at the end of October / early November for the following academic year.
      If a sibling is attending a non-associated primary school, can my younger child join the sibling’s school?
      The guaranteed Y1 place is at an associated primary school for their kindergarten. There is no guarantee of a place elsewhere, as there is very limited availability of Y1 places after all priority children from the associated kindergarten(s) transition.