Our Graduates

Ellen spent four years at ICHK and says her time at the school has been invaluable in preparing her for the demands of university. She is currently studying for a Contemporary Theatre and Performance BA at Manchester Metropolitan University.

What did you most enjoy about your time at ICHK?

The small and tight knit community of ICHK really separated the school from others in HK. It allowed me and all my other classmates to have a lot more individual tutoring and time spent on making sure we understood everything we were taught and were comfortable with it all. Apart from that aspect of the teaching i really enjoyed the multiple after school activities/events/performances available to be a part of. Since I’d always wanted to pursue theatre, it allowed me to develop those relevant skills as well as still achieving high marks in my academic subjects.

How do you feel that teachers at ICHK prepared you for life after school?

The teachers at ICHK were amazing with regards treating us like adults, especially in our last years of school (IB). Independent studying was obviously encourage yet guidance was always provided for us when we needed it. When I started uni, I felt a lot more comfortable with the work we had to do then some of the other pupils initially did in my course.

Mr Clarke was my tutor for 4 years and my economics teacher for IGCSEs.  I can’t thank him enough for not just helping me improve in economics (which I found extremely difficult!) and pushing me to achieve a grade I never thought I could in a subject like that, but for also always encouraging me to perform in and outside of school musically and theatrically.

Of course I can’t express how grateful I am for the work of my theatre teachers Ms Goldthorpe and Mr Greenall! I have never met such dedicated and passionate teachers in the performing arts. I don’t think i would have ever been accepted into the unis I auditioned for it it wasn’t for their guidance and teaching.

How do you think that ICHK differs from other schools?

As I mentioned before, ICHK is small in numbers compared to other international school which created a close community. I received a lot of attention and individual teaching I haven’t experienced in my previous years in a HK school.

What were the key skills that you learnt at ICHK?

Leadership, professionalism and discipline are the main three of many skills I acquired at ICHK.

Any significant moments / highlights / achievements at university so far that you may like to share, and do you think your time at ICHK helped you prepare for them?

Definitely receiving the academic bursary when I first started was a huge achievement for me, I was very proud of my IB grade which I couldn’t have done without the help of all my teachers at ICHK. Also just little things such as putting myself forward for representative positions of my course and societies here was a lot easier thanks to the experience I had at ICHK when I was given multiple responsibilities.

Harry spent three years at ICHK moving relocating to the UK. He is currently studying at Sedbergh School.

What did you most enjoy about your time at ICHK?

I found my time at ICHK enjoyable because of my surrounding not just in the classroom but also out in the small yet diverse outdoors areas. These are the places I was able to socialize with my peers and my teachers, developing extensive friendships whilst being encouraged to fulfill my own potential.

How do you feel that teachers at ICHK prepared you for life after school?

I feel as though the teachers have given me a platform to succeed in many different aspects of life without limiting my options to only Hong Kong.

Are there any teachers that you would single out for their work with you?

Over my time at ICHK I had the pleasure of working closely with Mr. Raymond Chan not only in terms of rugby but in the form group environment. I found him to be a great mentor who continuously guided me to balancing my passion for sport with academia and behavior. Also Mr. Christopher Wong for being a caring, believing and very approachable educator who seamlessly has time for everyone.

How do you think that ICHK differs from other schools?

The small class sizes combined with a unique suburban environment are a substantial difference to any school in Hong Kong.

What were the key skills that you learnt at ICHK? 

I believe that a skill that was nurtured at ICHK was the skill of leadership. I was allowed to take control on different tasks in and out of the classroom and the outcomes have helped me develop myself into a more all rounded person.

Any significant moments / highlights / achievements outside of ICHK so far that you may like to share, and do you think your time at ICHK helped you prepare for them?

Achieving 4A*’s, 4A’s and 2B’s at GCSE’s and receiving my 1^st XV rugby colours in year 12 for my school have been hugely satisfying events. I think that finding a balance has been the biggest struggle whilst striving to succeed and ICHK was a key step in the right direction and vital to improving how I approached studying and life.

Selene Lee spent six years at ICHK and is currently studying at Central Saint Martins.

How many years did you spend at ICHK?

I started ICHK at Year 8 when the school first opened and 6 years later graduated at Year 13.

What course / university are you studying at?

In Central Saint Martins I currently study the course Culture, Curation, and Criticism.

What did you most enjoy about your time at ICHK?

Mostly classes that needed analysis, it was fun to exercise my critical thinking. I also have the most fun being competitive in PE games.

How do you feel that teachers at ICHK prepared you for life after school?

Not only do you learn to be flexible in terms of personal schedules, workloads, and class environments; it is also the different classmates and teachers that you need to learn to not only respect but also work together. It is the attitude of mutual respect that allows both student and teachers to gain more understanding of each other that makes learning and teaching effective.

Are there any teachers that you would single out for their work with you?

Personally I would like to thank Mr Clarke, Miss Lee, Miss Cook, and Mr Spadafora for their feedback throughout my studies in ICHK. It is their constructive criticism and overall friendliness that makes me compelled to be better.

How do you think that ICHK differs from other schools?

One unique feature I realised during my time at ICHK was the interactions of teachers and students due to the sizes of the classrooms being relatively small, but it is this advantage that helps teachers realise the strengths and weaknesses of individuals so they can create a class that effectively teaches all.

What were the key skills that you learnt at ICHK? 

One major skill which influenced where I study in university was the ability to analyse and observe. For my course based on analytical research and visual understanding, those skills stood out to me when it came to class performances. Another major skill that I was happy to learn is time management, when it comes to balancing work and leisure I realised strategising with my time can go a long way.

Any significant moments / highlights / achievements at university so far that you may like to share, and do you think your time at ICHK helped you prepare for them?

Knowing what a bibliography is and how to use it effectively. In my class of 60 where the average age is 22-26 and less than a handful are 18-20, more than half of them do not know what a bibliography is and we needed 2 classes to know how to use a bibliography and the proper use of footnotes. The essays you will write in IB are your best chances of practicing this skill and it will make it easier for your first few weeks of university. Good Luck!

Alris is a IB Diploma graduate 2016 who is now studying at HKUST and a HKUST Business school student ambassador.

Everyone knows ICHK is a small and sweet community, not so much friends as brothers and sdisters! I am going to talk more about the academic sides of ICHK and the university prospects that many parents will be concerned about.

Since the classes in ICHK are very small, teachers really get to know each student extremely well. That’s not only important in learning, but also the advice teachers gave us about our future was invaluable. I was so fortunate to have had a group of supportive teachers who knew my personality and abilities thoroughly. Teachers who not only knew me well, they also wrote excellent recommendation and reference letters for me, which was absolutely key for getting university offers.

ICHK has teachers with an overview of different universities in different parts of the world, making sure that every student finds what they need and gets appropriate help. The environment for senior students is great as well. I always made use of the common room and library to study.

In general, ICHK has a very good study atmosphere and teacher and students are all very supportive.