King George V School (Hong Kong)

Pre-WWII period

KGV is the oldest of all the schools in the English Schools Foundation. It first opened in 1894 on Nathan Road, and originally catered for the children of British people living in Kowloon. At the time, the school occupied just one small building. It was destroyed in a typhoon in 1896, and Kowloon College opened in its place in 1902. A major opening ceremony took place and was attended by many of Hong Kong's elite, including Major General Gascoigne, the Apostolic Vicar of Hong Kong Louis Piazzoli, and the Colony Secretary J.H. Stewart Lockhart. The school was built using donations from Hong Kong businessman Sir Robert Hotung.^[1] The school was subsequently renamed the Kowloon British School, then the Central British School, and later King George V School.

By 1930, the number of students in the school had grown to 300. Wooden huts were built at the back of the school to create extra classrooms. The playground was only 7 m². The then-headmaster, Mr. Nightingale, asked for a new and bigger school site, which was acquired, and the site plan was designed by a teacher surnamed Rowell. Classes at the new site began on 14 September 1936. The first headmaster of the new school was the Reverend Upsdell. The present school is still on the same site. The foundation stone for the new building was laid by Sir William Peel, and the building was subsequently named the Peel Block in his honour.

WWII period

In 1937, the Japanese army invaded China and many European women and children were evacuated from Shanghai to Hong Kong. They needed a place to stay in the summer and the school was used as a refugee camp. As World War II developed past 1939, the government started to worry about the safety of the children and in August 1940 the government ordered the evacuation of European women and children from Hong Kong. Thereafter, the school site was used by British forces as a hospital. When Hong Kong surrendered in the Battle of Hong Kong, the school site was taken over by the Japanese and used as a hospital for prisoners of war. It is rumoured that the Pavilion was once used as a torture chamber under the Japanese occupation and that ghosts of tortured victims inhabit the clock tower and room P14 which is currently used as a Media Room. Dead bodies were also said to be buried under the school field although when this was extensively excavated in preparation for the construction of an artificial playing surface in 2002/3, no such evidence was found. When classes at KGV resumed after WW2, the back of the stage still had the Japanese military's Rising Sun Flag painted on its back wall.

When the news was received that Japan had surrendered, the Japanese general commanding the school left holding his sword high. As soon as he left, the school raised the British Union flag, probably the first to be raised in Hong Kong following the Japanese surrender. For a short period after the end of the war, KGV continued to be used as a military hospital and British doctors lived in the school. The following message was inscribed at the Hall's main entrance: "Never in the field of human conflict" – a reference to Winston Churchill's famous speech given to the British Parliament on 20 August 1940 – to remind future pupils of the value of peace. The quote remains to this day at the Hall's main entrance.

Post-WWII period

The school re-opened in the summer of 1946 and in 1947 children of all nationalities were able to join the school. Since it was no longer exclusive for British pupils only, the school's name was changed on the school's speech day of 1948 to 'King George V School,' as George V was king when the foundation stone of the Peel Block was laid.

In 1979, principal Angela Smith decided that KGV should join the English Schools Foundation, and the transfer was complete by 1981. KGV is currently the oldest school in the ESF.^[2]

Modern developments

During the summer of 2009, the school installed Wi-Fi coverage over the entire school, making it possible to have a high-speed Internet connection throughout the site. Students are encouraged to bring a laptop to lessons and are allowed to possess mobile devices during free time between lessons, but are not allowed to receive calls. The Octopus card is accepted as a form of payment at the canteen, and are also required to access certain classrooms and used to take attendance. The school also built 2 new buildings: The Performing Arts Block & Science Block which opened in 2013. All of the existing buildings on campus were redeveloped and refurbished.

Middle School Curriculum

The Middle School curriculum is designed for Years 7 to 9. All subjects (Art, Drama, English, History, ICT, Mathematics, Music, Physical Education, Religious Studies, Geography, Science and Design Technology) are compulsory, and students must learn Mandarin and a European language (French, German or Spanish). A coherent skills based curriculum is being introduced in 2014.

In year 7, students are not put into academically levelled sets apart from Maths and Chinese classes because it is considered as a "transition" year, offering a wide variety of "inquiry" opportunities, transitioning from the "PYP" inquiry format learning to KGV's Middle School Curriculum.

IGCSE

In Years 10 and 11 all students follow a course leading to IGCSE examinations (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) in their chosen subjects. Some subjects are compulsory, but there is a choice to suit the aptitude and interest of students. All students are required to study the core subjects of English, Mathematics, Science (split into Biology, Chemistry and Physics), PE and PSE (Personal and Social Education). Students also have to take a further course in ICT, CIDA (Certificate in Digital Applications), which is equivalent to two GCSEs. Students must choose four further subjects by choosing one of the subjects from each of the boxes:

The boxes are designed to be balanced and to ensure that students can build on their strengths whilst keeping their options open for the future.

IB Diploma

Starting from September 2007, KGV replaced the existing British A-Level Program with the International Baccalaureate diploma, offering the Diploma Programme. All students have to complete the core syllabus, consisting of an Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge and Creativity, Activity, Service.^[4] as well as 6 subjects, wherein a subjects in First Language, Second Language, Individuals and Societies, Science and Mathematics are required. Artistic or creative subjects are also offered, though these are optional.

BTEC

From September 2011 the school replaced the A-Level Programme (which was an option for students who did not want to take IB) with the BTEC International Diploma, a vocational course.

School Council

The KGV School Council is responsible for the governance of the school. The council has a number of responsibilities including monitoring, reviewing and evaluating the school development plan; the appointment and promotion of staff; approving the school budget; ensuring the condition and state of repair of the school premises and also acts as a link between ESF management, the school and the community as a whole. Current heads include: Natalie Kainz and Ismet Ozer.^[5]

Student Council

The Student Council is the student government of KGV. It consists of fifteen students in Years 11 to 13. All of them are elected through student voting (weighted-point system favouring more senior students), with a two- to three-week process where the candidates run campaigns and give speeches about their ideas for the school. The president and vice president of the council are then voted in by Year 11 and 12 students after another round of speeches.

The Student Council listens to the student opinion through form representatives and assists the school's development and improvement. It has a powerful and respected voice on all facets of school administration. Many of its achievements in the past include input on the school Healthy Eating policy, smart card system, vertical tutoring, ICT usage, environment, assembly structure, physical education (PE) kits, and site redevelopment.

Every year the Student Council also hosts or assists in fundraisers, such as the annual Christmas Fair.

In recent elections, issues of concern for KGV students have included congestion in the school's stairways, the lack of means through which students can voice their concerns, and the replacement of malfunctioning computers in the Senior Student Centre Resource Room.

Rugby

Rugby has been a traditional sport at KGV for a very long time. In the 2007–2008 term, the A-grade rugby team won the 15s, 10s and 7s tournament; this had not been achieved before in the history of the school. This team includes many Hong Kong rugby representatives and the 2010 Larry Abel award winner; Aiden Bradley. A single word, "MANA" (meaning 'pride'), is shouted out at every practice and match to build up confidence in team members.

The school has recently embraced female rugby. The women's team includes many Hong Kong Bauhinia U16 rugby representatives, as well as players for the Hong Kong U18 Development and U18 Nationals for XVs and VIIs. In 2013 the women's team won the cup against the Hong Kong Standard Charter Select team in the first Bill Williams 7s tournament with a women's section.

Cricket

Cricket has been a popular sport with KGV students for many years, with strong Junior and Senior teams. The KGV Junior Boys won the Hong Kong Schools league in May 2018.

Football

Football has been a traditional sport at KGV for a long time.

The school often takes part in the Jing Ying Inter- School Football Tournament which is regarded as the elite football tournament within Hong Kong with best teams participating.

Girls' Lacrosse

Girls' Lacrosse was introduced in 2011. In May 2012, the KGV Girls' Lacrosse Team joined the Hong Kong Lacrosse League, which was between 2 adult teams and HKIS.

Basketball

The season of 2011–2012, KGV A-grade boys' basketball team had won the HKSSF Division 3 basketball championship, it was first time for KGV basketball to win a championship.

Netball

The netball team at KGV has been one of the school's best performing athletic team. The teams are divided according to A, B, C grade depending on the player's age.

Buildings

Peel Block

KGV Peel Block – during Karnival 2004

Completed in 1937, this block is named after Sir William Peel, the Governor of Hong Kong from 1930 to 1935. His name can be found on the foundation stone at the north-east corner of the building. This is the first block built on the present school site. It is protected under Hong Kong law because of its age and historical significance. The building's plan view is shaped like the letter E and has two storeys. The Peel Block currently houses the School Hall, the Middle School Office, the reprographics room, the Learning Resource Centre, SSC rooms, the staff room and offices on the ground floor.

Since the KGV site was used as a hospital and a dungeon by the Japanese in World War II, there are many rumours about this block. Many have said that the former computer room is haunted and was a torture chamber during the Japanese Occupation, while others say that footsteps can be heard on the Peel Block's roof (or along the upper floor) at night.

Hall

KGV School Hall – Speech Day 2001

The Hall, located in the centre of the Peel Block, has hardwood flooring in the centre and marble flooring on the side walkways and up halfway along the wall. It is used for events ranging from assemblies, Speech Day, to music and dance competitions. The large hall is 2 storeys tall, and includes a terraced balcony at the rear, for additional seating. Traditionally, manned theatrical (projection) lighting was staged at either end of the balcony's front rail/wall, often with a central "spotlight", for theatrical and/or orchestral recital performance evenings; video cameras on tripods were also set up here during the 80s and 90s, for filming many of KGVs traditional and other events.

Other facilities

KGV School Field

Future site development

There were plans to amalgamate King George V School,Jockey Club Sarah Roe School and Kowloon Junior School to allow the three schools to grow further and work more closely given the close proximity of the three schools.This project was known as the Kowloon Learning Campus (KLC).This caused over 100 parents to sign a petition against the KLC in 2015.The then-KGV Principal Dr.Edward Wickins was appointed as the executive principal of the KLC who often informed the students of KGV of the progress of the KLC.However, in 2017 the ESF Board announced that the same goals the KLC would work to achieve would have also worked with three separate schools.Therefore, the project was scrapped. That same year Dr.Edward Wickins retired after 12 years at KGV.

In September 2008, KGV introduced an Octopus card registration system, replacing paper registration (attendance).

Assembly

Formerly held Monday and Friday mornings, they are now held on Tuesday or Wednesday mornings (and no longer on a weekly basis). Assemblies are where announcements are made to the whole of middle or senior school and performances are given. However, due to the growth in student numbers since 2003, assembly can no longer be held with all students under one roof. Currently, whole school assemblies are broadcast live to other various locations on campus, including the Guilford Lecture Theatre and tutor rooms.

Pantomime

KGV Year 13 Pantomime

The Pantomime, otherwise known as the "panto", is performed by Year 13 students on the final day of the first term, prior to the start of the Christmas Break. Generally making fun of the school or its teachers, this event is invariably a great comedy show for all students. Unfortunately, in 2017, the crossdressing was deemed sensitive content and middle schoolers are no longer permitted to watch.

One of the highlights of the production is the male students' cross-dressing show, as well as the traditional 'Brown Boys' segment.

Speech Day

Speech Day is a formal occasion for Students from Years 9–12 who have achieved academic excellence in KGV. Each subject comes with a subject prize and only one student from each year is awarded. Other awards include prizes for Community Service, the Lion Yearbook, School Public Spirit, Art, Acting, Music, and many more. As this is a very important event to prize winners, teachers and alumni frequently attend, and the KGV Orchestra and Choir plays music to make the night even more ceremonious.

Christmas Carol Concert

The Carol Concert is a concert, given by the KGV Orchestra, Choir, and Jazz band, which is open to the general public. White Christmas has been a staple of every KGV Christmas since the late 1980s, originally instituted by then head music teacher, Mr. Thompson, and sung by the School Choir at the Carol Concert evenings. In later years, it was performed by the Staff Choir during the Christmas Final Assembly (pictured).

KGV – Christmas Final Assembly

KGV Karnival

Known as the "Beach@KGV" in 2008, "KGViva" in 2007 and "Spring Fair" prior to 2003, this event is held annually in March or April where KGV is set up to be like a bazaar. Students set up games stalls and merchants set up small shops, with raffle ticket sales contributed to the PTSA to cover its general expenses. There are also performances by student groups, the Orchestras (Junior Orchestra and Senior Orchestra) and the Jazz Band. This tradition was discontinued in recent years.

KGV Survivor

An elimination game, which is held on the last day of each school year, is held on the school field or in the hall where a series of questions are asked, different houses are separated and joined up at the finale. The winner of the game will get a prize that is different every year.

Year 13 final assembly

A final assembly on Year 13's final day before exam leave in the summer. Usually, a performance is given by Year 13 students, and final goodbyes are said. There is a recital of Rudyard Kipling's poem If— by the Head Boy, and Phenomenal Woman by Maya Angelou by the Head Girl. At the end, a band of teachers play Summer Holiday by Cliff Richard while the rest of staff (on stage) and school sing along. Prior to 2002 (but some time after 1992), students would spend the night at the school as well; this tradition was scrapped due to safety concerns.