Quarry Bay School

Quarry Bay School is situated on Braemar Hill on Hong Kong Island, within a quiet residential area of North Point. The campus is well connected by public transport, including bus and minibus routes, making it easily accessible from other parts of the island. The surrounding neighbourhood combines convenient city access with a calm, family-friendly setting.

QBS offers primary education from Year 1 through Year 6, catering for children approximately aged 5 to 11. It focuses on the first stage of international schooling (primary level) rather than secondary education.

QBS is a co-educational day school, welcoming both boys and girls. It is part of the English Schools Foundation (ESF) and does not provide boarding facilities.

The school provides tailored support for students with additional learning needs through its Student Support & Inclusion department (“The Hive”). Services include in-class adaptations, learning support teachers, social-skills programmes, and optional parent-funded Speech & Language Therapy and Occupational Therapy. QBS is inclusive but not a specialist SEN institution.

The school is part of the Hong Kong-based English Schools Foundation (ESF), which follows international rather than national curricula. It does not have a direct affiliation with any specific country.

The school is secular and has no stated religious affiliation.

The daily schedule typically runs from around 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., though exact timings may vary by year group. Break and lunch periods are built into the day to balance lessons with rest and play.

QBS operates a dedicated school bus service managed through its ESF Join-Us admissions network. Bus routes cover many areas across Hong Kong Island, allowing families to choose stops convenient to their home locations. The service is fee-based and coordinated directly by the school’s transport provider.

Quarry Bay School follows the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP), authorised since May 2010. The PYP provides an inquiry-based framework designed for children from Year 1 to Year 6, focusing on the development of conceptual understanding, global awareness, and personal responsibility. Learning is organised through six transdisciplinary themes, integrating subjects such as English, mathematics, science, social studies, the arts, and physical education. English is the language of instruction, while Chinese is taught as an additional language from Year 1 onwards. The curriculum also includes personal, social, and emotional development to support student well-being. Assessment is continuous and aligned with IB expectations, emphasising progress within each area of learning.

Quarry Bay School integrates social and emotional development into its daily learning through its Student Support and Inclusion Department, known as “The Hive.” The school provides ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) sessions, counselling, and social skills programmes to help students build emotional awareness and resilience. Trained staff, including a Head of Inclusion, learning support teachers, and educational assistants, coordinate SEL interventions across year levels. Additional initiatives, such as play therapy and therapy dogs, are used to create a calm and supportive environment. These provisions aim to help students manage emotions, build positive relationships, and engage confidently in school life.

QBS identifies itself as an inclusive mainstream school and is not a specialist SEN institution. The Inclusion Department supports students with a range of needs, including specific learning difficulties, attention deficit disorders, speech and language challenges, and autism spectrum disorder. Support is delivered through classroom adaptations, targeted interventions, and collaboration between teachers and the Learning Support Team. Families may also arrange speech and language therapy or occupational therapy services privately, with school coordination. The approach emphasises enabling all students to access the curriculum through tailored support within the mainstream environment.

The school does not publicly disclose information regarding EAL or specific English language support programmes on its website.

QBS promotes student wellbeing through a structured pastoral care system and support offered by counsellors, ELSA staff, and the Inclusion Team. The school provides access to counselling, social skills groups, and play therapy sessions for students who require emotional support. It also features initiatives such as therapy dogs and calm spaces to promote positive mental health. Information on external community hotlines is available for additional well-being support outside school hours. These provisions are part of the school’s broader “Student Support & Wellbeing” framework.

Quarry Bay School outlines its commitment to child protection on its Student Support & Wellbeing page. The school maintains clear safeguarding procedures and lists external contact hotlines for students and families seeking help beyond school hours. All safeguarding responsibilities are overseen by trained staff members, including the Head of Inclusion and the senior leadership team. The published information highlights a clear protocol for responding to wellbeing or safety concerns in line with ESF policy.

1. Book a school visit or information session
Families are encouraged to attend an information session or open day organised by ESF and Quarry Bay School. These visits give parents the chance to see the facilities, meet staff, and learn about the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) and inclusion support. Registration for these sessions can be made through the ESF “Join Us” portal.

2. Submit the online application and supporting documents
All applications are processed centrally by ESF. Parents complete the online application form and upload required documents, including proof of residence, the child’s birth certificate or passport, and recent school reports (for Year 2 and above). An application fee must be paid at this stage for each child.

3. Attend an interview or assessment (if applicable)
Children applying for Year 1 usually take part in a school readiness assessment, while those applying for higher years may be asked to complete an age-appropriate academic and language screening. Assessments help determine grade placement and language support needs.

4. Receive an offer and confirm enrolment
Successful applicants will receive an official offer letter via ESF’s admissions office. To confirm the place, families must pay the non-refundable capital levy and accept the place within the deadline stated in the offer.

5. Prepare for school entry
After enrolment confirmation, parents will receive joining details, uniform information, and guidance on school bus registration. The admissions team provides orientation materials to help new students transition smoothly into the QBS community.

Quarry Bay School and the English Schools Foundation do not publicly offer scholarships or merit-based fee reductions at the primary level. All students pay the standard tuition and capital levy as stated in the ESF fee structure. Financial aid and fee remission schemes are not listed for QBS.

Quarry Bay School operates under the ESF waitlist system. When more applications are received than available spaces, students are placed on a waitlist managed by ESF Admissions. Placement priority follows ESF’s published criteria, which include siblings of current students, children of ESF staff, and those with Nomination Rights or Corporate Surety. Applicants remain on the waitlist until a space becomes available or they withdraw their application. There is no pool system; priority and availability determine offer order.