The ISF academy

The Independent Schools Foundation (ISF) Academy is located in the Pokfulam area on Hong Kong Island’s southern side. The campus is close to the Cyberport district and served by several public transport routes, making it accessible from central Hong Kong. Its position provides a calm academic setting within easy reach of major urban areas.

The ISF Academy offers education from Foundation Year through Grade 12, covering both Primary and Secondary divisions. The Primary School includes Foundation Year to Grade 5, while the Secondary School runs from Grade 6 to Grade 12.

ISF Academy is a co-educational day school with no boarding facilities. It operates as a not-for-profit, independent school governed by the Independent Schools Foundation.

The school assists the Li Ren Center and the Well-being & Learning Enhancement Program, which promote students’ physical, social, and emotional well-being. The website does not specify the categories of Special Educational Needs supported.

The school has no country affiliation. It is an independent Hong Kong institution offering bilingual education in Putonghua and English.

ISF Academy is non-religious. Its philosophy draws from Chinese cultural traditions rather than any faith-based ethos.

Classes typically run from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Co-curricular activities and clubs are held after regular class hours.

ISF Academy provides a daily school-bus service operated by Kwoon Chung Bus Company. Routes cover major residential areas on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. Fees are paid directly to the transport provider, and parents receive route and schedule details before each school year.

The Primary (Foundation Year–Grade 5) programme is a bilingual immersion in Chinese (Putonghua) and English, with more time devoted to Chinese in the early years and a gradual shift toward English as students progress. From Grade 6 to Grade 10, students engage in the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP) with core areas including languages, science, mathematics, design (including computer science), arts, individuals and societies, and physical and health education. In Grades 11 and 12, the school offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (DP) as the final qualification for graduating students. Students are assessed using established criteria through formative and summative tasks, portfolios, and reflections rather than ranking by cohort position. A distinctive strand runs through all levels: the school’s “Eight Virtues + One” values and an Experiential Learning Programme from Grades 4–11, which integrates applied learning beyond traditional classroom settings.

ISF Academy promotes well-being as a core part of learning, emphasizing that it is influenced by personal, social, and academic factors. The school’s Health, Safety & Well-being Policy outlines students’ rights and responsibilities to maintain their own well-being and to speak up if they have concerns. Students are encouraged to develop awareness and resilience through the school’s values-based framework, known as the “Eight Virtues + One.” These principles are embedded across school life to promote ethical reflection, empathy, and mutual respect.

The school has an Inclusion (SEN) Policy covering both Primary and Secondary levels. It is not a specialist SEN institution but seeks to provide inclusive education and appropriate support for students with learning support requirements. The policy outlines collaboration between teachers, families, and specialists to create individualized strategies when needed. ISF aligns its approach with Hong Kong’s Disability Discrimination Ordinance and uses classroom-based adaptations and targeted interventions to assist learners.

The school does not publicly disclose information regarding EAL support programmes.

ISF addresses mental well-being through its Health, Safety & Well-being Policy and through guidance from teachers and pastoral staff. Students are encouraged to express concerns about health, safety, or well-being and may opt out of activities they believe could cause harm. The school’s published wellbeing reflections discuss the importance of hope, engagement, and motivation in students’ daily lives. These approaches form part of the wider goal of fostering a supportive and caring learning environment.

The ISF Child Safeguarding and Protection Policy establishes the school’s framework for protecting students from harm. Parents agree to support this policy as a condition of enrollment. Staff and students are required to comply with safety and reporting procedures outlined in the Health, Safety & Well-being Policy. All members of the school community share responsibility for maintaining a safe and respectful environment.

1. Application submission:
Parents begin by submitting an online application through the ISF Academy admissions portal. Each application requires a non-refundable fee. Families must ensure all required documents, including birth certificates, school reports, and any relevant assessments, are uploaded before the published deadline. Applications are accepted for Foundation Year through Grade 11.

2. Assessment and interview:
Applicants undergo assessments appropriate to their year group. For the Foundation Year, this may involve classroom observation and interaction activities. From Grade 1 upwards, assessments test Putonghua oral ability and English proficiency to ensure students can access the bilingual curriculum. Shortlisted applicants and their parents are invited to interviews with the admissions team.

3. Review and decision:
Admission decisions are based on assessment results, interview outcomes, and space availability. Meeting the minimum criteria does not guarantee admission, as demand often exceeds available places. Offers are sent by email within the timelines announced on the school’s admissions calendar.

4. Acceptance and deposit:
Families accepting an offer must pay the Acceptance Deposit by the stated deadline to confirm the student’s place. Parents must also agree to comply with ISF’s policies, including its Child Safeguarding and Protection Policy and Health, Safety & Well-being Policy.

5. Orientation and enrollment:
After confirmation, parents receive onboarding details, including uniform ordering, bus service registration, and information about the start-of-year orientation sessions for new students. Orientation activities help students become familiar with the bilingual learning environment and campus routines.

ISF Academy offers several scholarships and financial aid programmes for enrolled students. Merit Scholarships are granted to students who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement, positive conduct, and alignment with the school’s values, providing between 50% and 100% tuition remission. Special Talent Scholarships recognise students with exceptional abilities in areas such as sports, music, or the performing and visual arts, and include 50% to 100% tuition coverage as well as an annual HKD 5,000 allowance for training or competitions. IB Diploma Scholarships are available to senior students in Grades 11 and 12 who show strong academic commitment and achievement within the International Baccalaureate curriculum. In addition, the school operates a need-based Financial Aid Programme that offers 20% to 100% tuition remission for families who meet the eligibility criteria. All scholarships and financial aid awards are reviewed annually, and students must maintain good academic standing and conduct to retain their support.

ISF Academy operates both regular and rolling application cycles. When demand exceeds available spaces, qualified applicants are placed on a waitlist. The waitlist operates on a space-available basis, with priority determined by assessment results, sibling status, and overall fit within the school’s bilingual program. Applicants who are not offered a place during the regular cycle may be reconsidered in subsequent rounds through the rolling admissions process.