KING GEORGE V SCHOOL PROFILE GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCHOOL The English Schools Foundation The English Schools Foundation (ESF) was founded in 1967 by the Hong Kong Government to provide a modern liberal education through the medium of English. The Foundation continues to expand and now educates over 12000 students of over 50 different nationalities. There are nine primary schools for years (grades) 1-6 and five secondary schools for years 7-13. 95% of ESF students take up University education following their schooling in Hong Kong. King George V School King George V School predates the establishment of the ESF and is in fact over 100 years old. It is an international secondary school of approximately 1700 students between the ages of 11 and 18. Founded in 1902 and taken over by the ESF in 1967, KGV School is the largest secondary school in the Foundation offering affordable education through the medium of English. It is open to children of all backgrounds who are resident in Hong Kong. There are no entry requirements. The school employs over 120 teaching staff, trained mainly in the UK, Australia, Canada, the US and Hong Kong. Year 12 and 13 Curriculum Year 12 and 13 students work towards their ESF Diploma, whether that be the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Foundation Diploma. Students will be awarded the Diploma most appropriate to their learning style and/or academic ability. They sit examinations at the end of Year 13 and are not awarded midyear grades. Students taking the IB Diploma choose six subjects to study, three at Higher Level and three at Standard Level. The maximum score awarded for the IB Diploma is 45 points. Each subject is awarded a maximum of 7 points, and there are 3 further points available depending on the student s performance in TOK (Theory of Knowledge) and EE (Extended Essay). Students also have to complete a CAS (Creativity, Action and Service) programme. Students taking the ESF Advanced Diploma follow a career-orientated applied learning pathway. Students choose two GCE Applied A Levels (from Art & Design, Business, Leisure Studies and Media Studies) and complement this study with a choice of two subjects from GCE AS and IB subjects (from Performing Arts, Design and Technology, English and a range of IB Subjects). Their broad curriculum ensures that they continue their studies in English, Mathematics and ICT. Student timetables are enhanced by the addition of PSE (Personal and Social Education) and Physical Education.
Year 10 and 11 Curriculum During these years, students study courses in preparation for the British GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) and IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) examinations. With a core of Mathematics, English Language and Literature, Double Science Award, and a Foreign Language (French, Spanish, German, Chinese), students then opt for subjects from Humanities, Performing Arts, Design & Technology and PE. Students will complete Year 11 with 9 to 11 GCSE awards. Some students also follow an accelerated curriculum and may sit GCE AS Levels/ Modules early. In addition, the opportunity is offered to study for awards in Digital Applications, either AIDA (equivalent to a full GCSE) or CIDA (equivalent to a Double Award GCSE). Students also follow a Personal and Social Education programme. Year 7 9 Curriculum The programme of study during these early years broadly follows the National Curriculum of England and Wales adapted for the Hong Kong and Asia-Pacific context. Students have 5 x 65 minutes weekly of English, Mathematics, Science and Language, as well as Humanities, Design & Technology, Performing Arts, ICT, PSE and PE. Student Welfare KGV prides itself on the support and guidance offered to its students. Students meet daily for 20 minutes with their Form Tutor and also follow a weekly 65-minute programme of Personal and Social Education throughout their seven years at KGV. Students belong to either Middle (Year 7-10) or Senior (Year 11 13) Schools. They also form strong allegiances within their House Teams, namely Upsdell, Rowell, Nightingale or Crozier. Parents are an integral element of this student support and are regularly informed about student progress both academically and socially. Co-curriculum Students are offered many different opportunities to enhance their learning and take their experiences outside the classroom. All KGV students are required to commit to an activity during Challenge Week, which also serves as a structured section of the year to develop their CAS commitments. Year 7 students participate in a Hong Kong based camp, whilst Years 8 13 can choose between local and overseas ventures. Senior students can also pursue a leadership role with younger students, or else work with orphans in Cambodia, in a children s home in China or in a rural school in Tibet, to name a few of the many activities on offer this year. Students in Years 12 and 13 all complete community service programmes and arrange a two-week work experience programme for themselves. A large proportion of KGV students sing, play musical instruments or commit to sports programmes and/or drama productions both within KGV and in the wider community. The House System offers an excellent avenue for our talented athletes, musicians, debaters and artists to compete and represent their House. A large number of our older students also complete the Bronze/Silver/Gold Awards for the HKAYP (Hong Kong Award for Young People) Duke of Edinburgh equivalent. - 2 -
PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS & INTERPRETATION OF ACADEMIC GRADES Students in Years 10 and 11 (Key Stage 4) King George V School follows the National Curriculum for England and Wales. Year 10 and 11 students, at Key Stage 4 of the National Curriculum, follow a two-year cycle of study in which they prepare for the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) or International GCSE (IGCSE) examinations. The results of these examinations are graded from A* G. Grade U means Unclassified/Ungraded. The pass grades which are acceptable to universities and employers are A*, A, B and C. At KGV there is a long track record of students exceeding the minimum 5 GCSE subject passes at Grade C or above that are required for entrance into the most challenging courses in Years 12 and 13 as well as eventual entrance into universities in many different countries of the world. In the academic year of 2010-2011, 92% achieved Grades A* - C in 8 or more GCSE exams (see Fig 1 below). Fig. 1: GCSE Results (2006-2011) 100.00% 80.00% 60.00% 40.00% 20.00% 0.00% 2005-2006 2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-2009 2009-2010 2010-2011 A* 24.10% 24.80% 26.10% 27.60% 25.90% 24.40% A* - A 52.20% 51.90% 53.10% 55.50% 51.70% 52.50% A* - C 94.00% 93.20% 93.50% 94.70% 91.80% 92.00% A* - E 99.70% 98.80% 99.20% 99.60% 99.50% 98.90% A* - G 99.80% 99.80% 99.90% 100.00% 99.80% 99.90% Students in Years 12 and 13 At KGV, students in Years 12 and 13 follow a two-year cycle of study in which they prepare for the ESF Diploma. At the end of Year 13, approximately 80-90% of students go on to study at university in many parts of the world. The balance typically takes a gap year, employment or military service. Students who apply to universities in the United States also sit the SAT I and SAT II tests during their time in the Senior School. Fig. 2 shows the IB results of KGV students: Fig. 2: IB Points Results Comparison 40.00% 35.00% 30.00% 25.00% 20.00% 15.00% 10.00% 5.00% 0.00% 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 KGV 2011 Session 18.50% 32.90% 30.50% 14.00% 3.90% 0.20% 0.00% KGV 2010 Session 13.56% 28.39% 36.91% 15.35% 5.57% 0.21% 0.00% KGV 2009 Session 10.11% 25.28% 33.80% 22.19% 7.87% 0.75% 0.00% - 3 -
Fig. 2 (continued): Further statistics on IB results achieved by KGV students KGV 2011 KGV 2010 KGV 2009 Number of Students 166 158 172 % of IB Diplomas Awarded 97% 92.4% 92.4% % of Bilingual Diplomas Awarded 7.2% 1.9% 7.5% % of Students with 30 or more IB Points 81.4% 12% 10.5% Average Total Point Score 34.4 33 32.1 % of Students Awarded Core Points 89.8% 75.9% 67.4% % of Students Awarded 3 Core Points 21% 13.3% 23.8% % of Students Awarded 2 Core Points 24% 26.6% 22.7% % of Students Awarded 1 Core Point 44.9% 44.3% 38.3% % of Students Awarded 0 Core Point 10.2% 15.8% 15.1% Until 2008 students in Years 12 and 13 at KGV studied between three and four subjects at GCE Advanced Subsidiary (AS) or Advanced (A2) Level. The pass grades at AS and A2 Level are A, B, C, D, and E, with the fail grade being U. In the academic year of 2010 2011, 82% achieved grades A E in three or more A2 subjects (see Fig. 3 below). Fig. 3: Applied A Level Results 100.00% 50.00% 0.00% 2009 2010 2011 A 0.00% 10.30% 5.10% A C 20.00% 51.70% 46.20% A E 88.00% 86.20% 82.10% While in Years 12 and 13, students enrich their studies with TOK (Theory of Knowledge) lessons, PSE (Personal and Social Education) classes and Enrichment sessions during which speakers from outside the school address students. Year 13 IB students also complete a 4000-word Extended Essay on a topic of their choice. IB Diploma students also have to complete a CAS (Creativity, Action and Service) commitment of 150 hours. Many universities in the USA have granted our students credits for their performance in these programmes. - 4 -
Interpretation of Academic Grades Subject Grades (internal examinations and predicted AS and A2 grades) NB: KGV does not issue mid-term reports. A = Excellent B = Above Average C = Average D= Below Average E = Weak GCSE Grades (NB: Percentages subject to fluctuation between examination boards and year on year. Please check with examination boards for accurate percentages) A* = 90% D = 53% A = 80% E = 43% B = 70% F = 33% C = 63% G = 23% U = Unclassified/Ungraded GCE AS and A Level Grades (NB: Percentages subject to fluctuation between examination boards and year on year. Please check with examination boards for accurate percentages) A = 80% B = 70% C = 60% D = 50% E = 40% U = Unclassified/Ungraded IB Grades Students follow six subjects (three at Higher Level (HL) and three at Standard Level (SL). The grades awarded for each course range from 1 (lowest) to 7 (highest). Students can also be awarded up to 3 additional points for their combined results for Theory of Knowledge (TOK) and the Extended Essay (EE). Therefore the highest total that an IB Diploma student can be awarded is 45 points. Fig. 4 on the next page shows a comparison between IB points and GCS AS and A Level points. - 5 -
Fig. 4: Comparison between IB points and GCE AS and A Level points (Source: UCAS) GCE Qualifications GCE AS Level (per subject) GCE A Level (per subject) British Universities points tariff International Baccalaureate Diploma Total points score 720 45 698 44 676 43 654 42 632 41 611 40 589 39 567 38 545 37 523 36 501 35 479 34 457 33 435 32 413 31 392 30 370 29 348 28 326 27 304 26 282 25 260 24 A* 140 A 120 B 100 C 80 A D 60 B 50 C E 40 D 30 E 20 From 2010 UCAS also gives credit for individual components of the IB, for those students who complete single-subject certificates and/or complete the TOK/EE programme. This is shown below. IB Higher Level Subjects IB Standard Level Subjects Grade Tariff Points Grade Tariff Points 7 130 7 70 6 110 6 59 5 80 5 43 4 50 4 27 3 20 3 11 IB Core (TOK/Extended Essay) Grade Tariff Points 3 120 2 80 1 40 0 10-6 -
UNIVERSITY DESTINATIONS OF KGV STUDENTS Mr. E. Wickins Principal October 2011-7 -
USEFUL CONTACT DETAILS Head of Careers & Guidance: Mrs. Carolyn Tattam Tel: (852) 2760-6658 E-mail: carolyn.tattam@kgv.edu.hk Higher Education Counsellor: Mr. Terence Yau Tel: (852) 2760-6659 E-mail: terence.yau@kgv.edu.hk Careers & Guidance Administrator: Ms. Alice Lo Tel: (852) 2760-6626 E-mail: alice.lo@kgv.edu.hk CEEB Code of KGV School: 670530 SAT data for the school year 2008 2009: Number of test-takers: 68 Critical Reading Mean: 573 Mathematics Mean: 648 Writing Mean: 585 Writing Sub-Scores Multiple Choice Mean: 57.8 Essay Mean: 8.4 SAT data for the school year 2009 2010: Number of test-takers: 66 Critical Reading Mean: 590 Mathematics Mean: 657 Writing Mean: 602 Writing Sub-Scores Multiple Choice Mean: 59.6 Essay Mean: 8.5 SAT data for the school year 2010 2011: Number of test-takers: 82 Critical Reading Mean: 578 Mathematics Mean: 640 Writing Mean: 597 Writing Sub-Scores Multiple Choice Mean: 59.2 Essay Mean: 8.4 NB: King George V School does not issue Mid-year Reports or grades. King George V School does not rank students. - 8 -