Island School

What Island School does

Island School is a non-profit international secondary school located at 20 Borrett Road in the Mid-levels area of Hong Kong, operating as a member of the English Schools Foundation (ESF) — the largest English-medium international school organisation in Hong Kong. Founded in 1967 and employing approximately 211 staff, the school delivers a full secondary education pathway for students aged 11-18 across Years 7-13: the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) for Years 7-9, the iGCSE curriculum for Years 10-11, and either the IB Diploma Programme or the IB Careers Programme for Years 12-13. Layered on top of this academic structure is the proprietary 'Futures Curriculum,' which develops six core competencies — Character, Citizenship, Collaboration, Communication, Creativity, and Critical Thinking — through themed Elements and Explorations. Supplementary programmes include the Thrive wellbeing initiative, an integrated Learning Technology Programme with laptop provisioning, Quest Week experiential learning, and comprehensive student support services encompassing pastoral care, counselling, and learning support.

The school's business model is subscription-based, generating revenue primarily through recurring tuition fees charged to enrolled families. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; fees are set centrally by ESF and administered through the ESF centralised admissions and billing platform. The go-to-market motion is admissions-driven and consumer-targeted, relying on the school's website (island.esf.edu.hk), social media presence (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube), in-person school tours, and the shared ESF enquiry funnel to recruit prospective families. The customer segment is narrow but deep: Hong Kong-based families seeking English-medium international education with globally recognised qualifications and holistic student development.

Outcomes cited by the school include a 98% IBDP pass rate and 34% of IBDP candidates achieving over 40 points. The school operates a six-house system, an active Parent-Teacher-Student Association, and student leadership structures including Student Council, House Prefects, and Ambassador roles. Governance is exercised through a School Council within the broader ESF centralised framework, and the institution is positioned as part of the largest English-medium international school network in Hong Kong rather than as an independent operator.

Name

Island School

Legal name

English Schools Foundation

Website

https://island.edu.hk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Island School is a non-profit international secondary school in Hong Kong, part of the English Schools Foundation (ESF), delivering the IB MYP, iGCSE, and IB Diploma/Careers Programme for ages 11-18, supplemented by its proprietary Futures Curriculum and Thrive wellbeing programme. It serves Hong Kong families seeking globally recognised English-medium education.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Secondary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.) (EDAJABAG)

Keywords

• International secondary education
• IB diploma programme
• English medium schooling
• Secondary school education
• International baccalaureate

Headquarters

HQ city

Hong Kong

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and School Fees: Island School generates revenue primarily through tuition fees charged to enrolled students. As part of the English Schools Foundation (ESF), fee structures are set by ESF and cover educational programmes, facilities, and access to the ESF network resources.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Island School is a Hong Kong-based private secondary school operating under the English Schools Foundation (ESF) that delivers international education to students aged 11-18 (Years 7-13). The school offers the IB Middle Years Programme, iGCSE curriculum, and IB Diploma or IB Careers Programme, supported by its proprietary Futures Curriculum framework that develops six core skills through Elements and Explorations. Revenue is generated through recurring tuition fees administered via the ESF centralized admissions and billing system.

Product overview

Island School offers a comprehensive international education programme structured across multiple educational stages: the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) for Years 7-9, iGCSE curriculum for Years 10-11, and either the IB Diploma or IB Careers Programme for Years 12-13. The school operates The Futures Curriculum alongside its academic programmes, developing key skills in Character, Citizenship, Collaboration, Communication, Creativity, and Critical Thinking. Supporting the core academic offerings are the Thrive Programme (wellbeing), Student Support Services (pastoral care, counselling, learning support), and Quest Week (experiential learning). The school achieved a 98% IBDP pass rate with 34% of students achieving over 40 points.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Futures Curriculum A proprietary skills-based curriculum that develops six core competencies — Character, Citizenship, Collaboration, Communication, Creativity, and Critical Thinking — through engaging Elements and Explorations. Underpins all academic programmes across Years 7-13.
• IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme offered in Years 7-9 (ages 11-14), providing a wide range of subjects that allows students to discover new strengths and interests that inform their iGCSE choices.
• iGCSE Curriculum International General Certificate of Secondary Education curriculum offered in Years 10-11 (ages 14-16), preparing students academically while the Futures Curriculum develops their skills and interests for Years 12-13 pathways.
• IB Diploma Programme Two-year pre-university IB Diploma Programme offered in Years 12-13 (ages 16-18), recognized globally for university admission. Island School records a 98% IBDP pass rate and 34% of students achieving over 40 IB points.
• IB Careers Programme Alternative to the IB Diploma offered in Years 12-13, providing career-oriented pathways alongside leadership opportunities in school initiatives.

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% IBDP pass rate
• +1 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• English Schools Foundation (ESF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIsland School is part of the English Schools Foundation (ESF), the largest English-medium international school organization in Hong Kong. This partnership provides students access to shared resources, opportunities, and the broader ESF network of schools. ESF manages centralized admissions, fee structures, and governance across member schools.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Yew Chung International School (YCIS): YCIS Hong Kong is a private international school offering IGCSE and IB programmes through secondary level. Competes in the premium international-curriculum segment with overlapping parent demographics.
• Sha Tin College: Sha Tin College is a fellow ESF English-medium international secondary school in the New Territories delivering IB MYP and IBDP. Same network, same curriculum stack, overlapping admissions pool — Island's closest structural peer.
• German Swiss International School (GSIS): GSIS is a private international school in Hong Kong serving primary and secondary students through IB programmes. Competes for international-curriculum families seeking a globally aligned secondary education.
• Canadian International School of Hong Kong (CDNIS): CDNIS is a private international school in Hong Kong serving students through secondary level with IB and OSSTDP curricula. Competes head-to-head with Island School for the same international-curriculum, expat and returning-family segment.
• King George V School (KGV): KGV is an ESF English-medium international secondary school in Ho Man Tin, Kowloon, delivering IB MYP and IBDP. Same ESF governance and curriculum stack as Island School with overlapping applicant families.
• Hong Kong Academy (HKA): HKA is a private international school in Hong Kong offering IB programmes from primary through IBDP. Direct competitor in the international-curriculum secondary space with a comparable IB-focused value proposition.
• Victoria Shanghai Academy (VSA): VSA is a private ESF bilingual international school in Hong Kong delivering IB programmes across primary and secondary years. Competes in the same premium international-curriculum segment and through the central ESF admissions system.
• Chinese International School (CIS): CIS is a private bilingual international school in Hong Kong offering IB MYP and IB Diploma across secondary years. Directly comparable in target market (international-curriculum families) and curriculum stack (IB through to IBDP).
• Hong Kong International School (HKIS): Hong Kong International School is a leading private English-medium international school offering IB programmes to secondary-aged students. Direct competitor for the same expatriate and internationally-minded family segment on Hong Kong Island and surrounding areas.
• South Island School: South Island School is an ESF English-medium international secondary school on Hong Kong Island offering IB MYP, iGCSE and IBDP. Sister ESF school with directly overlapping curriculum and admissions dynamics.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UConw2sLSwws0KRVU0G-eE3A
• Facebookfacebook.com/islandschool
• Instagraminstagram.com/islandschoolhk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/island-school

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Island School