South Island School
South Island School is a non-profit international secondary school in Aberdeen, Hong Kong, operating within the ESF network. It delivers the IB Middle Years Programme, I/GCSE, and IB Diploma/Career-related pathways for students aged 11–18, serving families seeking English-medium international education and global university preparation.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1977
- HeadquartersAberdeen, Hong Kong SAR China
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What South Island School does
South Island School is a private, non-profit international secondary school located at 50 Nam Fung Road in Aberdeen, Hong Kong, operating as part of the English Schools Foundation (ESF), which is described as the largest English-medium international school organization in Hong Kong. Founded in 1977 and employing 51–100 staff, the school delivers a continuous secondary curriculum for students in Years 7 through 13, structured in three stages: the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) for Years 7–9, I/GCSE preparation for Years 10–11, and three parallel pathways for Years 12–13 — the IB Diploma Programme (IBDP), the IB Career-related Programme (IBCP), and the proprietary SIS Diploma. Academic outcomes include a 98% IBDP pass rate, with 35% of 130 IBDP students achieving 40+ points, and 600+ university offers across 12 countries for the Class of 2026.
The school's core "technology" is its curriculum framework rather than software; instructional delivery centres on the IB and I/GCSE curricula, supplemented by a Pastoral Learning Curriculum (PLC) taught during Tutor Time and a Values in Action experiential learning programme. The business model is a recurring tuition-fee subscription paid by enrolled families, processed through ESF's centralized admissions portal at join-us.esf.edu.hk. Revenue is generated from a single stream (tuition), with no publicly disclosed fee schedule. The customer base consists of families in Hong Kong seeking English-medium international education with global university preparation; the school reaches these families through its website, open days, campus visits, social media channels (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube), and Parent-Teacher-Association engagement. Governance is provided through a School Council and PTA, with a six-house system structuring student community life.
South Island School firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- South Island School
- Legal name
- South Island School
- Website
- https://sis.edu.hk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1977
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- South Island School is a non-profit international secondary school in Aberdeen, Hong Kong, operating within the ESF network. It delivers the IB Middle Years Programme, I/GCSE, and IB Diploma/Career-related pathways for students aged 11–18, serving families seeking English-medium international education and global university preparation.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
South Island School industry classification
Industry- Product category
- International Secondary Education
- NAICS
- Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.) (EDAJABAG)
Keywords
Where South Island School is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Aberdeen
- HQ country
- Hong Kong SAR China
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
South Island School business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Tuition fees: The school generates revenue through tuition fees charged to enrolled students. As part of ESF, fees support educational programs, facilities, and staff.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
South Island School product offering
Product offeringCore offering
South Island School provides English-medium international secondary education for students in Years 7-13, delivering the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) for Years 7-9, I/GCSE for Years 10-11, and three senior pathways (IBDP, IBCP, and SIS Diploma) for Years 12-13. Education is complemented by a Pastoral Learning Curriculum (PLC), Values in Action experiential programmes, and structured pastoral support from tutors, heads of year, and counsellors, all delivered on its hillside campus in Aberdeen, Hong Kong.
Product overview
South Island School is an international school offering a unified educational programme structured around three key stages. The core academic products include the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) for Years 7-9, I/GCSE preparation for Years 10-11, and three parallel pathways for Years 12-13: the IB Diploma Programme (IBDP), the IB Career-related Programme (IBCP), and the SIS Diploma. These are complemented by the Pastoral Learning Curriculum (PLC) for well-being and the Values in Action Curriculum for experiential learning, all integrated within the ESF Network. The school does not operate a technology product in the traditional sense.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) A framework for Years 7-9 offering a challenging and practical learning programme that supports students' transition into secondary school, building a foundation of critical thinking and global mindedness.
- I/GCSE Curriculum A common curriculum plus elective subjects for Years 10-11 preparing students for I/GCSE exams while providing guidance for future pathways both local and abroad.
- IB Diploma Programme (IBDP) One of three Year 12-13 pathways, providing agency in studies based on learning style and aspirations while fostering a well-rounded, global-minded outlook through leadership and community involvement. The school reports a 98% IBDP pass rate.
- IB Career-related Programme (IBCP) One of three pathways for Years 12-13, offering career-related education within the IB framework, fostering practical skills and a global-minded outlook.
- SIS Diploma One of three pathways offered in Years 12-13, providing students agency in their studies based on learning style and aspirations, alongside the IBDP and IBCP options.
- Pastoral Learning Curriculum (PLC) A curriculum taught during Tutor Time aimed at explicitly teaching and promoting health and well-being, building resilience, enhancing academic care, and building human and social capital among the school community.
- Values in Action Curriculum An out-of-class activities programme offering diverse opportunities for students to apply classroom learning in real-world contexts, fostering leadership, community engagement, and personal growth.
Quantifiable outcome
- 98% IBDP pass rate
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use South Island School
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
South Island School technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
South Island School partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- English Schools Foundation (ESF)coreSouth Island School is part of the English Schools Foundation (ESF), the largest English-medium international school organization in Hong Kong. The ESF network provides shared resources, centralized admissions, professional development, and institutional support across its schools. Students benefit from resources and opportunities available through the ESF network.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights3 records
South Island School competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- French International School of Hong Kong: A major Hong Kong international school offering French-medium and IB pathways. Targets similar internationally mobile families and competes in the same premium secondary market.
- Island School (ESF): A sibling ESF secondary school in Hong Kong offering the same IB framework (MYP, IBDP, IBCP) to Years 7-13 students. Shares the centralized ESF admissions system and competes for the same applicant pool.
- Discovery College (ESF): ESF K-12 school in Hong Kong delivering IB programmes including the MYP and IBDP. Sibling ESF institution with overlapping secondary-level offerings and shared admissions funnel.
- German Swiss International School: A long-standing private international school in Hong Kong combining German, English, and IB streams. Competes with SIS for premium international secondary enrollments in the same city.
- King George V School (ESF): ESF secondary school in Hong Kong offering IB curriculum to Years 7-13. Operates within the same ESF network and competes for the same English-medium international family demographic.
- Canadian International School of Hong Kong (CDNIS): A private international school in Hong Kong serving expatriate and local families with IB curriculum offerings. Competes head-to-head with SIS for English-medium international secondary enrollments.
- Chinese International School (CIS): A leading private co-educational international school in Hong Kong offering IB programmes to a similar globally mobile family demographic. Directly competes with South Island School for premium secondary enrollments in Hong Kong.
- West Island School (ESF): Another ESF secondary school in Hong Kong delivering IB programmes. Direct ESF-network competitor sharing the same admissions infrastructure and brand umbrella as South Island School.
- Hong Kong Academy (HKA): An independent, non-profit international school in Hong Kong offering IB programmes. Targets the same premium, internationally mobile family segment as South Island School.
Regional players
- Singapore American School: One of Asia's largest premium international schools offering American and IB-style programmes to globally mobile families in Singapore. Comparable in scale, premium positioning, and university placement outcomes, though operating in a different country.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
South Island School social profiles
Digital presenceSouth Island School financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
South Island School leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
South Island School funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
South Island School M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about South Island School
What does South Island School do?
South Island School provides English-medium international secondary education for students in Years 7-13, delivering the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) for Years 7-9, I/GCSE for Years 10-11, and three senior pathways (IBDP, IBCP, and SIS Diploma) for Years 12-13. Education is complemented by a Pastoral Learning Curriculum (PLC), Values in Action experiential programmes, and structured pastoral support from tutors, heads of year, and counsellors, all delivered on its hillside campus in Aberdeen, Hong Kong.
Is South Island School a public or private company?
South Island School is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was South Island School founded?
South Island School was founded in 1977. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is South Island School based?
South Island School is headquartered in Aberdeen, Hong Kong SAR China, in the Asia region.
How does South Island School make money?
One revenue line is on record: tuition fees.
Who are South Island School's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are French International School of Hong Kong, Island School (ESF), Discovery College (ESF), German Swiss International School, King George V School (ESF), Canadian International School of Hong Kong (CDNIS), Chinese International School (CIS), West Island School (ESF) and Hong Kong Academy (HKA). Singapore American School is listed as a regional player.
Does South Island School have an API?
No public API is recorded for South Island School.
What industry is South Island School in?
South Island School's product category is International Secondary Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJABAG, International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.). Its NAICS code is 6111 and its SIC code is 8200.