Anfield International Kindergarten, Kowloon Tong

Introduction

Anfield International Kindergarten is an independent Catholic International Kindergarten for boys and girls aged between 2 years 8mths old to 6 years old.

The Head of School is responsible for admissions and the operation of this policy.

The aims of this policy are:
(i) To set selection criteria and procedures that are consistent and fair to all children.
(ii) To identify children whose academic and other abilities appear to match the ethos and standards
of the School and whose personal qualities suggest they have the potential to contribute
sufficiently to the School community and benefit from the many opportunities that are offered
here.
(iii) To ensure each child is given a solid foundation of learning, has a sense of self-confidence and
self-belief, and is self-motivated, flexible and cooperative.

Motto
Educating Hearts and Minds

Vision
Our vision is to ensure each child is given a solid foundation of learning, has a sense of self-confidence
and self-belief, and is self-motivated, flexible and cooperative.

Our mission
Anfield is a Catholic school, in an international setting, where all are committed to creating a loving and
joy-filled environment that is inspired by Jesus Christ. Anfield is a culturally diverse environment where all
children are challenged, both academically and spiritually, to embrace and expand their international
connections, enabling them to achieve their full potential and thrive within the global community.

Goals
• To encourage the development in all students, the qualities of personal responsibility, consideration, courtesy and respect in their relationships with one another, their teachers, the local and global community and the environment.
• To work for excellence in all academic, cultural and sporting endeavours, stimulating excitement in learning and requiring discipline in study, whatever the ability of the child.
• To encourage children to be self-motivated, to strive to do their best in everything they do and to have confidence to take risks.
• To encourage children in independent and critical thinking about the standards and values in society and the global community, and to discover and develop a personal faith to guide them throughout their lives.
• To develop in each child a knowledge, understanding and respect for the Catholic faith.
• To prepare children for their next stage of learning in an internationally-minded environment that encourages high standards of achievement and a life-long love of learning.
• To provide an environment where everyone in our school community feels safe and is aware of their rights and responsibilities.
• To continually move forward, through innovation, creativity and endeavour, and to explore the world with its myriad of opportunities and challenges.

The selection criteria and interview/assessment procedures are determined and reviewed from time to
time by the Head of School.

If the Schools are oversubscribed, and upon satisfactory completion of the entry assessment, the
following criteria will apply:
(1) Children who are native English speakers
(2) Siblings of children already attending Anfield Schools
(3) Parent of children is a full-time employee of Anfield
(4) Date of receipt of a complete application

No children will be treated less favourably during the application process or during assessment on the
grounds of their skin colour, race, nationality or ethnic and national origin, gender, religious faith,
disability, orientation, or socio-economic group.

Special Educational Needs

The School is committed to providing a quality education for pupils with additional and special
educational needs and promotes a positive culture towards inclusion through full inclusion or within a
dedicated class for those pupils with moderate special educational needs who have the potential to be
included in the mainstream classes at a later stage of their educational development.

Parents or guardians of a child who has any special educational needs should provide the Head of School with full written details when submitting an Application Form. A copy of all reports, prepared by an Educational Psychologist or other appropriate specialist should also be included. Following interview, the School will be able to advise whether it is able to provide an education that meets the needs of a particular child, and if so, where the child might best be placed in the School (mainstream inclusion or the St. Bosco Centre, the dedicated class for children with learning difficulties). The child will only be included in a mainstream class if his/her presence will not interfere with the other pupils’ learning.

The School needs this information so that, in the case of any child with particular needs, we can assess those needs and make sure the School can provide adequately for them throughout the admission process. The School shall determine whether special conditions will apply to the child during the application process.

The School must feel confident about being able to cater properly and appropriately for the special
needs of the child, and that his/her presence will not interfere with other pupils’ learning. Should individual assistance be required, parents will pay the extra charges.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

Anfield is a multi-national, multi-cultural school. The Schools want all of their pupils to have the same
educational opportunities and experiences.

The Schools will admit children for whom English is an Additional Language (EAL).

Entry – Introduction

Anfield Kindergartens are private independent international co-educational schools with Catholic values that provide an excellent all-round education so that every pupil can develop the academic, artistic, sporting and personal strengths needed for later life.

Anfield Kindergartens welcomes enquiries from all interested parents irrespective of colour, race or religion. All aspects of parental enquiries, visits, registration and entry procedure are the responsibility of the Admissions Secretary, who reports to the Head of School. Prospective parents are invited to arrange an individual visit to the Schools or attend Open Days in order to get a real sense of the school. We hope to be able to get to know you and your child well to assess whether their needs and aspirations fit best with what we can offer.

Registration

Parents or guardians are invited to arrange an individual visit to the School through the Admissions Office.

Admission to the School is at the discretion of the Head of School.

To apply to the School, parents or guardians of children must apply online on the Anfield Schools website for the desired campus (Kowloon Tong or Whampoa). Each campus has its own application form and registrar, so parents must ensure they are correctly applying to their chosen school.
Parents may register a son or daughter at any age. The completion of an application form and the payment of the non-refundable application fee does not guarantee a place. When the number of registrations for a particular year reaches capacity, the year list will be closed and a waiting list will be brought into operation.

Candidates for all year groups will be invited to attend an interview individually, and / or within a group of up to eight children. The interview schedule begins in November for entry in August of the next year.
As vacancies are available, new applicants will be invited to attend an assessment and / or an interview throughout the school year until spaces are full.

Selection

The preconditions for admission are that:

The child is of the appropriate age. The age of child must be:
Nursery (Whampoa)
2 years old by 15th August for an August entry
2 years old by the 15th October for an October entry
2 years old by the 31st December for a January entry.
K1 (Both)
3 years old by 31st December of the year of entry
K2 (Both)
4 years old by 31st December of the year of entry

The School is able to provide adequately for any special educational needs (if any) the child may have following assessment of the pupil by the Head of School and/or the Special Educational Needs Coordinator if required.
The child fulfils any conditions of the offer set out in the conditional offer letter.
The selection criterion to be fulfilled by the pupil will be determined by the School.

Notes

In accordance with regulations of the Education Bureau and Immigration Department all students joining Anfield Schools must be in possession of a valid Hong Kong ID card allowing unconditional stay or must have a valid passport with authorised residency status to be eligible for a place at Anfield Schools. A visitor visa does not entitle the holder to attend any school in Hong Kong.

Interview / assessment

At the appropriate time, parents are contacted and an appointment is made for an interview and/or
assessment of the child’s ability in English and Mathematics. The interview/assessment is to gauge a child’s potential to follow the School’s curriculum. For entry, children should be of sufficient ability and capability to be able to progress comfortably at an appropriate pace, and to benefit from the whole educational experience offered by the School. At the discretion of the Head of School, some children having additional educational needs may be considered for places, provided the school has the resources to meet the child’s needs. In these cases the Head of School’s decision is final.

For applicants wishing to join the school in Year One at the start of the academic year each August, candidates for this year group will be invited to attend an interview individually, and / or within group of up to eight children. The interview schedule begins in January/February for entry in August of the same year.
Applications for all year groups are welcomed throughout the school year. Offers of acceptance are made dependent on places being available within the class or year group relevant to the applicant’s current age. For students relocating to Hong Kong within the year please contact the Admissions Team.

Confirmation of Entry

Parents of students who are accepted by the School are formally notified in writing. On acceptance of a place, parents of all prospective students are invited to confirm their intention of sending their child to the School by the date set out in the conditional offer letter together with a completed and signed Acceptance Form and the debenture (refundable under certain conditions)

(i) The Debenture of $20,000 should be paid by cheque made payable to “Anfield Educational Services”
(ii) The Debenture of $20,000 will be credited against the school fees for the child’s last 2 months of K2
at the School.

A closing date for acceptance of a conditional offer will be given to parents at the time. Confirmations after the closing date cannot be guaranteed a place at the school.

Debenture
Once a place is offered and accepted, a fully refundable under conditions and non-transferable Debenture of $20,000 is due immediately.
Registration will only be completed after the School has received the Debenture.
The Debenture is non-refundable if the child does not eventually take up the place at the school.

Once the child has taken up the place and attends at the School, the Debenture is fully refundable
under conditions.

• $20,000 of the Debenture will be credited against the school fees for the child’s last 2 months of K2.
• To obtain a refund of $20,000 of the Debenture, parents are obliged to give advanced “Due Notice of Withdrawal” in writing within the required 2 month notice period. For example, if a student withdraws from Anfield on 30th June, notice must be given before 30th April. The notice period does not include school holidays: Christmas, Easter, the summer period of July and August and may not span two academic years.
• Please note that the fees for a full month are charged even if only part of the month is attended, e.g. for a student leaving on April 15th, the fees must be paid until the end of April. Notice, once given cannot be withdrawn unless with the agreement with the school.