West Island School

West Island School
West Island School as viewed from Queen Mary Hospital on Pokfulam Road
Location
250 Victoria Road
Pokfulam
Hong Kong
Information
Type Private, International, Secondary School, (Co-educational), English Schools Foundation
Motto Strength from Diversity
Established 1991
Principal Christopher Sammons
Years Seven to Thirteen
Enrolment 1200
Language English
Houses Called dynasties.
6
School colour(s) navy blue
beige
Yearbook WISDOM
Publication

Vision: Your School, Your Voice

Website www.wis.edu.hk
West Island School
Chinese 西島中學

West Island School (WIS; Chinese: 西島中學) is a co-educational, private, international secondary school in Hong Kong that provides an English-language education to students from age eleven to eighteen. The campus is a purpose-built development located at 250 Victoria Road, Pokfulam, on the slopes of Mount Davis on Hong Kong Island. The school is reputed for its strong academic and athletic record, providing students of all abilities with a "modern liberal education" based on British-influenced international curricula. Students from Years Seven to Nine study the West Island School Middle Years Diploma; students in Years Ten to Eleven follow either the IGCSE, or the UK GCSE programme; and students in Years Twelve to Thirteen follow the IB Diploma curricula. The school is a member of the English Schools Foundation, and as such still receives a small but symbolic subvention from the Government that has been frozen since the 1997 Handover of Hong Kong.

History

West Island School began when the English Schools Foundation recognised a need for a new school on Hong Kong Island in the late-1980s; after Island School and South Island School. This was because of the recent residential boom in Discovery Bay, then which had no secondary school to cater for the growing need of secondary school education. After government approval of a site and funding in November 1990, plans for West Island School began in earnest, with the school operating as an offshoot of Island School at a temporary home; the old military hospital in Borrett Road, Mid-Levels.[1]

West Island's first intake was in September 1991, when eighty-four Year 7 students were enrolled in four classes. In the meantime, work progressed on a purpose-built school in Pokfulam, designed by award-winning architect Patrick Lau, who was responsible for two other international schools in Hong Kong, the Lycée Français International Victor Segalen in Tai Hang and the American Hong Kong International School in Tai Tam.

In September 1994, the new purpose-built building opened. This consisted of a ten-storey building consisting of three blocks: housing classrooms, laboratories, an auditorium and a 25-metre indoor pool, linked together by open-air walkways and air-conditioned faculty-corridors.

Over the years, renovations further increased the usability of the building, although by 2001 the school was getting rather crowded with over 1000 students enrolled; paving the way for the creation of a fourth block. This new addition opened for use in September 2003.

Curriculum

The school offers secondary education from Years 7 to 13, for pupils aged 10–18. West Island School students follow the International General Certificate of Secondary Education program in Years 10-11 and pursue the IB Diploma and BTEC Extended Diploma in Years 12–13 (forgoing A-Levels).

The schools also offers AS-Level courses for Year 10 students pursuing in the study of critical thinking and entrepreneurship.

The grades achieved by West Island students in IGCSE and IB examinations place them generously above similar schools across the world. In 2011, around 60% of IGCSE passes were at A* or A.[2]

Almost all students pursue higher education in institutions around the world, including prestigious universities in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom and the United States.

In addition to its academic record, West Island also offer a large selection of extracurricular activities run by both staff and students. Such activities are also comprehensive, though internal competitions are also held; including an annual Sports Festival, Swimming Gala, Sports Day, Music Festival and Language Festival. Furthermore, students also have the opportunity to compete with other teams from other international schools as well as local schools from across Hong Kong and the region.

The school also offers an ongoing activity for 5 days called Horizon's Week, which is an activity aimed at YR7 to YR12 students, for students to get the opportunity to focus on one unique activity for 5 days. Examples are Music Legends, a Horizon's Week activity for students to form a band and to perform.

West Island School also participates in sport, with the school's track, swimming, field hockey, volleyball, martial arts, and netball teams placing well in HKSSF rankings. West Island School's football team has participated in 4 HKSSF finals in the last 5 years, and won three gold medals. In 2011, the school won the BOCHK Bauhinia Bowl, as the highest ranked co-educational school in Hong Kong.[3]

Facilities

The four blocks that comprise West Island School house a range of academic departments and support facilities in its ten floors.

Upper School students are entitled to the use of the Guidance and Achievement Area, which encompasses a common area, staff offices, a pantry, a conference room, a Directed Studies room and a Careers Room. The area is also used for small presentations and talks.

The campus also houses a canteen, coffee shop and refectory as well as an indoor sports hall (basketball, volleyball, badminton, etc.), 2 multi-purpose halls, auditorium equipped with full scale lighting and audio sound system, 25-metre indoor heated swimming pool; and rooftops used as playgrounds and outdoor sports pitches. In 2011, a new "Arena" facility was constructed, providing access to a dance studio as well as a well-equipped gym for use by students.

West Island School also makes use of the nearby University of Hong Kong's Stanley Ho Sports Centre at Sandy Bay, including astro-turf and natural grass pitches, an athletics stadium, a 50-metre outdoor Swimming Pool and several tennis courts.

Management

The current principal of West Island School is Christopher Sammons. Previous principals include Jane Foxcroft (2006–2016), Brian Driver (1999–2006) and Polly Graham (1994–1999). The current vice-principals of West Island School are Jenny Craig, Susan Carey and Clare Haworth.

WIS is a member school of the English Schools Foundation. WIS is governed by the "School Council" composed of teachers, parents, and management staff.

Academic structure

Faculty Head Subjects
Computing TechnologyJames Playford Technologies Information & Communications Technology
Creative ArtsLeigh DalgarnoArt, Drama, Music, Theatre, Dance, Film, Media
Design and TechnologyJames Playford Technologies Design & Technology, Food, Textiles, Graphics
EnglishFiona MulhollandEnglish
English as an Additional LanguageShubha KoshyEnglish as an Additional Language
Individual NeedsGail Wright
Individuals and SocietiesAlex MurchieGeography, History, Psychology, Philosophy & Religion, Business, Economics, I&S, Global Perspectives
MathematicsIan BengeyMathematics
Modern Foreign LanguagesCarlos DiazMandarin Chinese, French, Spanish
ScienceKim IsaacBiology, Chemistry, Physics, Environmental Studies
Physical Education and SportRichard LantPhysical Education

A scene in the 2007 Hong Kong film Happy Birthday (生日快樂) was shot at West Island School,.[4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Our History." West Island School. Retrieved 2017-06-07.
  2. ↑ http://clc.esf.edu.hk/GroupRenderCustomPage.asp?GroupID=1888&ResourceId=19355
  3. ↑ "List of Champion Schools 2010–2011" page 8. HK Island & Kowloon Secondary Schools Regional Committee, Hong Kong Schools Sports Federation. Retrieved 2017-06-07.
  4. ↑ "Happy Birthday" at IMDB

Coordinates: 22°16′21″N 114°07′32″E / 22.27250°N 114.12556°E / 22.27250; 114.12556

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