The Most Admired Schools in Hong Kong, 2021

Study Abroad Hong Kong: An Educational Hub

Robo-Teach Can Robots Replace Teachers?

EDITOR’S NOTE

EARNING THE ADMIRATION

R

eputation has long been important in business, but it’s never had more currency than it does now. This increased interest can be attributed to the democratization of higher education. In the past, reputation was dependent on the opinion of those in power—deans, presidents, and other high-level administrators.

But today, anyone with a web browser can access all of this information about their top target schools. They use this newfound knowledge to inform their collegiate decision-making process. The issue is that many students have limited information available to them. Most college ranking systems are too narrow to offer any real insight into which school is truly best for them.

With the system of ranking available worldwide, some people may think that reputation is just another inflated word used to bloat school administrators’ paycheck. But for others, reputation can be the deciding factor for students and faculty when choosing where to

apply or work — and for investors when deciding where to invest.

When it comes to reputation, colleges and universities know that the insights they get from traditional consumer research don’t tell the full story. It doesn’t tell them how prospective students are talking about their school online, or why they make the decisions they do. And it certainly doesn’t help them determine which factors influence prospective students when making a choice about where to apply.

For an educational institute to have a great business reputation, employees at the school have to give students what they need. It’s the reputation of the schools that put the students on the map. A top-of-the-line education is attractive to potential employers, making alumni’s applications job-worthy. As a result, companies offer high salaries and incentives to students who graduated from recognized institutions.

It’s no secret that schools are now competing for the best faculty and students. The rise in rankings has changed how people think about schools. It used to be that a degree from Harvard was the strongest indicator of success, but the

ranking game has become more competitive. Now schools need to use reputation management as a tool to attract top talent, earning the admiration of being one of the top schools.

With a reputation for excellence in teaching and disseminating knowledge, The Knowledge Review has come up with The Most Admired Schools in Hong Kong, 2021 which are providing value to both students and employers alike.

Hence, to know more about these celebrated schools, browse through the pages! T R

Sumita Sarkar sumita@theknowledgereview.com

C O V E R S T O R Y

08

International School

Delivering a World-class Education with an Effective Learning Environment

18

26

A R T I C L E S Study Abroad

Robo-Teach

Hong Kong: An Educational Hub

Can Robots Replace Teachers?

22

Japanese International

School, Hong Kong Providing Holistic Education with Effective Learning Environment

30

Shrewsbury School

Pioneering the Leaders of Tomorrow

sales@insightssuccess.com NOVEMBER, 2021

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URL

Brief

www.aishk.edu.hk

Australian International School provides the best of both worlds. Though it is undeniably Australian in culture and atmosphere, the school is a colourful and inclusive international community.

Canadian International School of Hong Kong

https://cdnis.edu.hk/

Canadian International School is recognized as an IB World School. It is just one of eight IB continuum schools in Hong Kong to offer three IB programmes across 15 grade levels from Early Years to Grade 12.

Diocesan Boys' School

https://www.dbs.edu.hk/

The Diocesan Boys' School is a day and boarding Anglican boys' school. It is one of the oldest and most prestigious secondary schools in Hong Kong.

https://www.dbis.edu.hk/

Discovery Bay International School imparts curriculum that inspires students to reach their potential and actively make a positive difference to the lives of others.

Harrow International School

https://www.harrowschool.hk/

Harrow International School Hong Kong is the rst and only British international boarding and day school in Hong Kong, providing a highly distinctive education.

Japanese International School

jis.edu.hk

Japanese International School has a vision to produce creative, compassionate and empowered students through its dynamic I.B. PYP curriculum.

https://www.kellettschool.com/

Kellet School has a broad curriculum, coupled with a wide variety of extra-curricular activities. It ensures that all students from Reception through to I/GCSEs and A-levels achieve their personal best.

lis.edu.hk

Lantau International School is a private, apolitical and unafliated school that offers the greenest learning environment in Hong Kong. It is surrounded by the scenic splendour of South Lantau Island.

https://www.rosebud.edu.hk/

Rosebud Primary School enables students to achieve academic excellence while being encouraged to be global citizens who promote global peace through equity, innovation, diversity, integrity, self-respect, and care for the community and environment.

shrewsbury.edu.hk

Shrewsbury International School offers an unrivalled commitment to specialist provision curriculum that promotes interconnection, independence and high attainment within a broad and fullling environment

Name of the Institution Australian International School

Discovery Bay International School

Kellet School

Lantau International School

Rosebud Primary School

Shrewsbury International School Hong Kong

LANTAU

International School

Delivering a World-class Education with an Effective Learning Environment

CoverSt ory

L.I.S. is always striving to develop ways to teach that are tailored to students’ needs and capabilities

The Most Admired Schools in Hong Kong, 2021

L

ocated just south of Hong Kong (HK), Lantau Island is, with its lush greenery and diverse range of flora and fauna, like one might imagine the Garden of Eden.

On the south side of the island, children can play on the beautiful seashores in surroundings that are nothing short of blissful. However, in the 1990s, these kids were missing one thing on Lantau – an international school, and had to travel long distances to go to a school in HK. The parents on Lantau did not like the idea of making their children commute long distances into town to go to a school in a building, especially when

they lived on a picturesque subtropical island with no high rises. They employed a teacher to teach the children in their homes and this eventually led to the establishment of Lantau International School (L.I.S.)

by Serge Berthier, who was one of those parents and is still the Supervisor of the school. Serge only entered the education sector because he wanted his daughter to learn in a natural environment such as the one offered by Lantau. He set up a school so that other children could also benefit from an education far away from the noise, stress, and pollution of the city, surrounded by trees and with swimming lessons in the sea.

L.I.S. was thus established in 1995 and is one of the best schools in HK. Surrounded by the scenic sub-tropical splendour of Lantau, the school is now spread out over three campuses in lowrise buildings, in Cheung Sha (4,500 sq. ft), Tong Fuk (12,000 sq. ft), and Pui O (9,000 sq. ft) and currently operates 13 classes from Reception class to Primary 6 with over 200 students.

The L.I.S. Model – Learning, Inclusivity, and Support L.I.S. is dedicated to its principles – Learning, Inclusivity, and Support:

Ÿ Learning: L.I.S. believes in creating strong foundations for essential academic skills, including literacy, mathematics, and science.

The school also believes that children should be at the class level that is right for their needs, not necessarily the one dictated by their age. Homework is given at the discretion of the teacher and detailed feedback is provided on all work that is handed in by students. Ÿ Inclusivity: L.I.S. is a private, secular, apolitical, and unaffiliated school. It stands for tolerance and respect, and is proud to have students from over 30 nationalities.

The school takes a firm stance on bullying, and this may lead to extreme cases of suspension.

At L.I.S., children receive a wellrounded education of the highest academic standard that combines classroom and outdoor learning, allowing them to flourish both socially and academically

Ÿ Support: Working with parents, L.I.S. does its utmost to accommodate all students’ needs where it has the competency to do so. It also provides education with affordable fees relative to other international schools and may consider requests for financial assistance in exceptional circumstances on a case-by-case basis for parents who are undergoing hardship.

Balancing an English Education with Mandarin Classes The school boasts a unique balance between an English education following the British curriculum combined with extensive Mandarin classes. Its bilingual Reception class has a full-time English, and a Mandarin, teacher.

The school immerses its students in Mandarin throughout the curriculum by giving them multiple short classes a

week (four 30-minute classes a week plus additional Mandarin lunchtime clubs in primary). Mandarin classes are also organized by level within a given year group in order to ensure that the curriculum can be designed to best help the students.

Lighthouse in the Journey L.I.S. was founded by Serge Berthier, a French citizen who began his career as a civil administrator in the Ministry of Transport in Algeria. In 1999, he was selected by the Chinese Government to be one of the 65 experts to establish the Boao Forum for Asia, which was set up in 2001. He founded the quarterly geopolitical magazine ‘Asian Affairs’ in 1999 (in publication until 2012) and was a regular lecturer at the Institute of Strategic and International Studies’ annual conference in Malaysia and has published several books in English and French.

L.I.S. is still very much a family-run business, as Serge is still the Supervisor of the school and his daughter, Anouk Berthier, is now the General Manager. The day-to-day running of the school is ensured by the

Principal – James Lambert, a British citizen born in Liverpool who gained a Master of Science before moving to HK and into the field of education.

James is a popular and approachable figurehead at the school who successfully supported students, teachers, and parents during the challenging COVID-19 period.

L.I.S. believes in stability and offers a high-quality primary education in a unique and unforgettable landscape

Learning Experience in a Pleasant Environment The school has created a warm and relaxed learning environment, with well-lit, brightly decorated classrooms and numerous classes outdoors, on the beach, in the forest, or in the fields amongst the buffaloes, all located within 5-20 minutes of the campuses on foot. This is done in a secure environment, with two adults always supervising any children outside the classroom.

While all the classrooms at L.I.S. are equipped with an interactive board (Active Board) and every student from Primary 4 to 6 is provided with a computer in the classroom for educational use, there remains a big focus on learning through reading and writing on paper at the school, as the administration thinks this is the best way to develop children’s learning and core motor skills, as well as awareness of the environment and memory.

All L.I.S.’s teachers are native English speakers and are permitted or registered with the HK Education Department Bureau. Further, they all regularly undergo first aid training so that the school can guarantee the best education in the safest environment for its students.

L.I.S. offers a range of after-school clubs during school term (these have included soccer, Mandarin, theatre, homework, history, chess, dance, cooking, and hiking), and is also happy to consider hosting clubs on the school’s premises that are run by external persons and/or are open to non-LIS students in order to support a vibrant community on South Lantau Island.

At L.I.S., children receive a wellrounded education of the highest academic standard that combines classroom and outdoor learning, allowing them to flourish both socially and academically. Its student-toteacher ratio that does not exceed 24:1 contributes to a highly effective learning environment. As a result, the amount of one-to-one tailored attention that students get from their teachers is maximized.

L.I.S. believes in helping children develop their full potential. The school is always striving to develop ways to teach that are tailored to their needs and capabilities, and monitors academic progress and the school's high standard via annual testing using written National Framework for Educational Research (NFER) tests in the classroom.

Highlighting Excellence L.I.S. is proud of the achievements of its students some of which have been finalists in local creative writing, mathematics, and art competitions in HK. Many of its alumni have achieved excellent academic results in secondary school. Several have gone on to top universities around the world.

The beauty of the school is that several of its alumni have made the trip back to see the school many years later and still talk fondly about their happy memories of childhood. Some of them have even enrolled their children in the school.

Braving the Pandemic When schools closed in 2020 due to

COVID-19, L.I.S. acted swiftly to set up printed work packs for students. By means of Seesaw and Zoom, online classes were also carried out to cater to both parents who wanted their children to continue learning on paper and those ready to try the online teaching model.

Teachers worked tirelessly for over a year to keep online lessons interesting and stimulating for the students, and also personally delivered work packs to parents when required.

While it is challenging to follow all the hygiene requirements laid out by the HK Education Department Bureau, L.I.S. is currently able to provide full-time onsite teaching, thanks to the high COVID-19 vaccination rate amongst teachers. To ensure that the school can remain open full-time, the school has adopted new health and safety protocols.

Beyond the Horizon L.I.S. believes in stability and is looking forward to continuing to offer

high-quality primary grade education in a unique and unforgettable landscape. The school is also continuously developing and improving its Mandarin teaching to help students become proficient, having introduced a bilingual reception class in 2019.

L.I.S. has applied to the HK Government to lease a derelict school campus in a historic site on Lantau Island in order to rehabilitate it and open a secondary stream. The success of this project depends entirely on the government’s goodwill, as the former school is owned by the government.

The outcome of demand should be known around March 2022. If a lease is granted at acceptable terms, L.I.S. will develop six new classes. The secondary stream would aim to become International Baccalaureate registered, offering the Middle Years Programme for students aged 11-16.

Testimonials I would like to take this opportunity to thank you and all the teachers for their kindness Having attended since

and guidance to my daughter during the past year.

Reception in Cheung Sha campus,

Your tender loving care is much

my son has developed as a happy child and as

appreciated!

parents, we have always been extremely grateful to see his development not only academically but also socially. We would like to thank all of L.I.S.

- Primary 4 parent

staff, teachers, and aunties for all the care they have put in for my son in the last few years.

- Primary 2 parent

I take this opportunity to thank your excellent teaching staff for all the help they have given with my child's study and for making her time interesting and enjoyable at your school.

As parents, we like the school, the exposure

We want to thank all the amazing teachers

to nature, and the teachers' energy and

and staff who make this school a very unique

personalities.

place and hope you'll be able to keep its distinctive spirit alive despite surrounding turmoil.

We feel very fortunate to be a part of this community.

- Primary 5 parent

- Primary 4 parent

Hong Kong An

Educational Hub

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H

Study Abroad

ong Kong has been a developing country in technology with new innovations and is a special administrative region of China. With the technology and innovations, it serves as a unique environment of education for the students so that they can enjoy an enriching experience with the co-existence of culture and academic studies altogether in Hong Kong.

With the recent developments in the education sector, students can explore various avenues for their specialization, and it has become a potential study abroad destination over time.

Hong Kong is now home to many of the world’s top universities. These include Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, University of Hong Kong, and Chinese University of Hong Kong. As e-Learning is an emerging trend globally, Hong Kong implemented the use of the latest ed-tech tools in all its universities. As a result, students can experience new and advanced academic learning effortlessly.

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These universities are offering integrated portals for online services and information related to studies and academic updates. Students can access their academic services and facilities with this portal, through a mobile application which is conveniently accessible for the staff, students, and administrative bodies of these universities.

Universities in Hong Kong encourage their students to discover, invent, innovate, and create new things by which they can display their creativity and by doing so, students can become focused towards their future by knowledge transmission, innovation, and shape their ingenuity with a better output.

The amenities these universities offer for the students include libraries where students can access academics and reading material which they can use for their research purposes. Computing services centre where they can access their e-Learning material. Language centres where the educators can provide the students with facilities and expertise guidance for independent language studies.

Various activity venues like study room, discussion room, music, and band room, where students can enjoy their activities along with their batchmates and share similar interests. Also, sports and recreation facilities which include fitness training session and sport activities for the students.

In addition to that, when the students are learning their academics, they are offered with numerous opportunities of internship and part-time working. These programs are compulsory, and essential for the students to gain experience and first-hand exposure into the professional world. Students can learn and comprehend certain skills which will help them towards personality development, project management, and provide them with work experience. There are assorted opportunities for international students to seek internships or part-time work in the city or offshore and comprehend the skills which they cannot learn in their classroom. Hong Kong also offers its significant nature with its traditions.

Hong Kong is a place with immense opportunities Hong Kong holds a strong degree of economic competitiveness. It is characterized by its high standard of internationalization with a business-friendly environment, well-established comprehensive financial network, and well-educated workforce complemented by a pool of efficient entrepreneurs.

result, it has become a premier education and trading hub for mainland China and the rest of the world.

There are tremendous career options and opportunities as attending a Hong Kong university for post-graduate studies enables the students to establish a social network and prepare themselves for numerous business opportunities.

Hong Kong is fusion of culture Hong Kong is a place that blends both eastern and western cultures, further enhancing its influence on the students from various international backgrounds. It is also among the world’s leading financial centres, which attracts many people around the globe, for work opportunities.

If combined with the city’s absolutely beautiful connectivity with China and the west, Hong Kong is truly an ideal study abroad destination for studies and working.

Explore the wilderness of Hong Kong Hong Kong is not about just skyscrapers but is also a place which is close to nature. There are islands where students can take a break from their studies. There are also hiking trails that students can explore, while escaping the concrete jungle and finding themselves in the lap of nature.

For an instance, students can visit Po Toi Island, which is composed of weathered granite. Particular looking rocks with beautiful and different shapes is the speciality of this island.

Fast and excellent public transport Students can travel with the efficient public transportation system which is available and is cheaper to afford from the students’ point of view. The options in public transportation system include ferries, buses, and trams by which the students can explore the heart of this city. These public transport systems are the safest, most efficient in the world, and offer a convenient payment method for the students, with discounts and free tickets on the weekend.

People from all around the world come to Hong Kong to study, to work, and to experience a fusion of eastern and western cultures altogether. Hong Kong provides quality education and students can enjoy their academics with traditional culture and heritage with immense learning and career opportunities. With these factors, Hong Kong significantly became an education hub with emerging developments towards providing quality education.

It is also a place where many multifunctional financial and education institutes have set up their operations. As a 20 | November 2021 | www.theknowledgereview.com

- Abhishek Joshi

Japanese International School, Hong Kong

Providing Holistic Education with Effective Learning Environment

A

n infant's first opportunity to become socialized is at school. By that time, the infant's only interpersonal contact is with his or her parents and other family members. Children are not only introduced to new concepts at school, but also to the same extended group of people. This leads to gregarious characteristics including empathy, companionship, participation, and encouragement, all of which are important in adulthood.

Education is responsible for society's overall economic and social improvement, as well as political advancement. The standard of education would be the lynchpin of society's progress. To contribute into the progress of society,

Japanese International School (JIS) was established with the purpose of providing quality education to its students.

The Japanese International School strives to make sure that its students are knowledgeable, passionate, and kind.

Learning is a creative process and should involve all areas of curriculum. Through differentiation, the students are stretched to achieve and broaden their horizons of experience and emotion. Planning for the curriculum is a team process allowing all staff to be involved in development and review of the priorities.

Brief About the School Japanese International School was established in 1997 as a sister campus to two other Japanese administered schools in Hong Kong. The school has a Japanese section, utilizing a Japanese state national curriculum and an international section which utilizes the IB PYP curriculum. The international section is a small community-based school, operating in a large well-equipped campus on the edge of one of Hong Kong’s most interesting country parks.

The community of the school is very supportive and interested in the school. Its students come from very diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds to achieve a truly international environment for the school. Staff is recruited within Hong Kong and from other international schools in Asia – many have IB teaching experience and understandings of quality inquiry-based learning. The school is part of a small network of schools within Hong Kong that was established to support the needs of the international Japanese community in Hong Kong.

The school development planning is a shared process managed by the leadership team but is developed through consultation on all levels. The PYP coordinator meets regularly with all staff members for planning and has a keen

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The Most Admired Schools in Hong Kong, 2021

overview of the school curriculum which can be further developed through professional development opportunities.

The Three Core Values: Kindness, Commitment, and Respect The school has a strong personal identity which allows it to be clear and decisive in presenting itself to the HK community. It is a school where the three core values ‘Kindness, Commitment, and Respect’ are clearly defined and regularly referred to the students and the community.

These values were decided upon the research with students, staff, and community as the best way to define what the school strives to be in actions, words, and thoughts. The mission and vision for the school are to create informed, creative, and positive people who care about their environment and are keen to succeed in all areas of life.

The school has a strong environmental and outdoor education program, which links the curriculum and students to many aspects of the learning opportunities beyond the classroom walls. In planning, the staff use the UN Global Goals as direct link to learning opportunities and possibilities.

Dynamic Leadership Mr Walton, the Principal of the school has been delighted to create strong ethos for the school, alongside recruiting a team of likeminded staff, who share an appreciation of creative learning, passion for the environment and planet, and a love of ensuring students access and opportunity for the best educational options available.

The school strives to make sure that its students are knowledgeable, passionate,

and kind. Learning is a creative process and should involve all areas of curriculum

The ECA Program The ECA program at JIS is managed through an affiliated external company that works within its building, creating an ideal option for development, mutual trust, and support. The students are offered a very wide range of activities, some of which they can do with students from the Japanese Section of the school and some of which they can do within the school’s own community.

The school has some excellent sporting facilities which supports the range of activity on offer and music, dance, drama spaces for other activities. The school program has a wide variety of options which are complemented by its ECAs, which students can apply to join. It is popular but not compulsory.

Outside the Classroom Environmental and civic education forms a huge part of the school and its ethos. The curriculum is planned to carefully respect and develop a passion for the environment and the planet. There is a strong emphasis on recycling with easy access recycling centers in the school for all the school community to use. The outdoor education program allows

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students to regularly experience local forests, beaches, and rural environments, as well as outdoors in the school’s large campus.

In the past, the school has managed an artist in residence program linked to environmental themes and the school community has done extensive fundraising to rebuild and help maintain a school in rural Shanxi province in China.

The student council regularly brings new ideas and initiatives to the school community based on news or international appeals. JIS students are very interested and passionate about their world!

Appreciation of Excellence In 2018, the school was awarded the accolade as one of the top ten schools in Hong Kong and this year in 2021-22, in the inaugural Hong Kong Education Awards run by a local media organization, the school was voted as ‘Primary School of the Year’. The school has been very positively reviewed by many local journalists and was described as the ‘holy grail of HK international schools’ in 2016.

Facing the Pandemic JIS was able to click into gear quite quickly when COVID19 led to school closures and online learning. Access to hardware was supported and managed through parents and the school to allow all students to safely access an online curriculum and internet-based learning. Alongside the daily activities online, the school arranged for library books drop

JIS strives to make sure that its students are knowledgeable,

passionate, and kind.

Learning is a creative process and should involve all areas of curriculum. off and collection of packs and goodies from the school was given to the community.

The sunflower growing competition proved very popular – all students were given seeds, pots, and compost to get started. The school ‘happy bus’ was manned by the Principal and Deputy Principal as they drove to different

24 | November 2021 | www.theknowledgereview.com

Testimonials “JIS is a powerful institution for

nurturing confidence and rendering

children not only to be learning-ready but also life-ready.”

– A JIS parent, 2018

“It seems I may have found what

many parents may consider as the holy grail of international primary

schools in Hong Kong – a very small

but authentic community school with creativity at the core, sharing an

impressive campus and the facilities of a school ten times its size”

areas of the school community to meet with students and their families. (HK was not in full lockdown during COVID-19. The schools were closed for over one year but safe distancing in the community allowed staff to be out of school and in the community) Scaling the Future The school has a positive future within the Hong Kong community. The parents and students who come to the school are well informed of its directions and planning and subscribe to this. The location of the school allows very varied access from many areas of Hong Kong. There is no natural core to the school community, so it is varied and dynamic, attracting a wide variety of interest from many areas.

– A local education journalist commented on JIS in 2016

“Principal Walton leads a happy

student body and a passionate, close-

knit teaching staff with a kindness and patience that is unique in our bustling and overstimulated city. Surrounded by lush greenery, JIS is located in a beautiful setting.”

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Robo-Teach

T

he application and implementation of various technological innovations have made our lives much easier. Advanced innovations are allowing us to imagine the impossible, which has brought the world to our fingertips today. In fact, most of the automated and manual jobs that require extreme labour are done by robots.

Will the robots replace humans and carry out all the traditional tasks? This is the question that is buzzing in every mind concerned about technology today.

Teaching is one of the challenging professions in the world, and teachers all around the world have proven their mettle through their dediated endeavors. However, the debate of robots replacing teachers is a concerning topic, as the introduction of technology has increased the dependency on robots and Artificial Intelligence (AI) while teaching, which, in turn, has raised the question of morality.

It would be nearly impossible for Artificial Intelligence to replace teachers, as Steve Jobs believed, that machines can solve problems but cannot replace a human. To back this statement from a visionary CEO, here are some of the reasons why robots cannot replace teachers.

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Developing thinking and curiosity Teachers and schools are important in one's life to develop thinking ability. Robots are programmed by humans for humans. It would be foolish to doubt its skills, but it cannot embed the thinking skills in a human, especially in a growing mind of a child. The AIs today can solve complex thinking like playing a game of chess better than humans.

helpful and reliable. So, it can be expected that if teachers were to be replaced by robots, they would probably rely on the internet for information. Since the internet is a place of endless possibility, it would be very difficult to trust the internet for educational purposes. Though most of the information it gives is correct, the internet is also a source of wrong information.

They can play and give solutions, but can't teach us to how to extract the solution. That is why a teacher is important to be a guide, building a safe haven for the children and not allowing them to get stuck on a repetitive program or a problem.

On the contrary, teachers pass on the knowledge they have acquired from their own mentors, the books they have read, their in-depth experience, and the chain continues. This will not only broaden the understanding of a person but also the whole process of learning will be complete, where the student can explore opportunities that might not even be known to mankind until then.

Curiosity on the other hand can be developed from anything. But it is the act that inspires curiosity and not the result. Even the father of modern computers, Alan Turing, was inspired by a simple puzzle of cryptography, that inspired him to build a computer way ahead of his time.

Teachers direct the students by widening their thinking capacity and opening doors to uncountable possibilities.

Whereas, robots can assess and provide results but not take place of a teacher in helping the student to think and decide.

The ability to understand Every human being is different, in fact, the growing brain of the child in its life span goes through various changes. The emotional state of childhood; the fragile and fluctuating state of teenage; to acceptance of hard reality in adulthood, a person needs to understand every stage of life differently.

There is no better person to understand a student than a teacher. Whereas, a machine is just a program that can assess, understand, and give a solution. However, it can be a good communicator and a good assistant at teaching, but as the role of a teacher is much more than just to teach, it cannot completely replace a teacher. A teacher assesses the student while a robot assesses the problem.

Excellent assistant but not a teacher Robots and machines have proven countless times that they are better than humans. Even the teachers have accepted it to the world's surprise. However, a robot as a teacher can help students excel in academics but cannot teach how to become a person. Teachers can enhance their activites with the assistance of robots. Students can excel in academics and upgrade their deep understanding and accuracy with the help of a machine. On the other hand, teachers can help the students to become better people altogether.

The reliability of humans on the machine have surely raised many questions. This can however change as automated and manual things will be done more by robots, while humans will tend to choose more creative tasks. Humans are after all social animals and it is in their nature to stay in a group, learn in a group and grow in a group. Humanity, the ability to understand and other similar things are what stands as differentiating points, which will never allow robots to replace teachers.

Do not trust the internet completely It might seem easy and fun to ask an AI for an answer.

Alexa, Siri, Google Assistant, etc. have proved to be very

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- Ashlesh Khadse

Shrewsbury School

I

t is widely believed that someone’s personality and the way he or she responds with life’s problems are shaped by the learning process. In schools, the shift in thinking from academic knowledge to practical knowledge has resulted in a life changing thought process. People are looking at the idea of education as a means to a wellrounded growth rather than just a means to obtain degrees and financial success. Education must aid in the development of a healthy thought process and the enhancement of our cognitive talents.

Education, after food, clothing, and shelter, is a basic requirement for human beings in today's competitive world. However, it wasn’t the case in the medieval period.

When education sector had just started toddling, Shrewsbury International School, Hong Kong, kicked off its journey.

Creating its own destiny, the school has come a long way in almost 500 years.

In our quest of finding ‘The Most Admired Schools in Hong Kong,’ we crossed paths with, Mr Ben Keeling, the Principal of Shrewsbury International School, Hong Kong, where he sheds light on the journey of his school, its story of success, and the future aspects of education sector.

Below are the highlights of the interview:

Pioneering the Leaders of Tomorrow

Kindly tell our readers about Shrewsbury school, its history, and its infrastructure.

Shrewsbury School was founded in 1552 by Royal Charter and recognized as one of seven ‘great schools’ in 1868.

Positioned on the spacious Kingsland estate since 1882, it has developed a reputation for dynamism and community-centered education over a period of almost 500 years.

Shrewsbury International School Bangkok was founded in 2003 and is located on the banks of the Chao Phraya River. It has an outstanding

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academic record underpinned by a lasting commitment to care and compassion.

Shrewsbury International School, Hong Kong was allocated a greenfield site by the Education Bureau in 2014, appointed its Founding Principal in 2017 and opened in 2018, alongside a second campus in Bangkok. In 2020, it received commendation from both the

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The Most Admired Schools in Hong Kong, 2021

Our Mission outlines a commitment to English language education, continuous improvement, and the provision of outstanding opportunities

children between 3 and 11. Its worldclass, purpose-built campus has been designed to serve the needs, interests, and ambitions of students, with facilities such as: • • • • • •

An auditorium, able to accommodate almost 500 guests A recital hall, for more intimate performances An indoor sports hall, featuring a 90-meter running track An aquatics center, containing two pools A gymnastics center, equipped to Olympic standard A rooftop football pitch

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Tell us about the mission, vision, and core values of Shrewsbury school.

Shrewsbury International School serves as an ambitious, innovative, and dynamic international community. Our Mission outlines a commitment to English language education, continuous improvement, and the provision of outstanding opportunities. It is further supplemented by the detailing of seven core values: Selectivity, Exceptional People, Commitment & Renewal, Outstanding Opportunities, English Language, Care & Compassion, The Shrewsbury Way. Intus si recte ne labora - If the heart is right, all will be well.

Council of International Schools and the Federation of British International Schools in Asia.

The Shrewsbury family is now made up of five interconnected and united schools of unparalleled vision. Situated just 30 minutes from Central, Shrewsbury International School Hong Kong provides a unique range of opportunities and experiences for

What are the priorities of Shrewsbury school in terms of course objectives and learning outcomes?

We are a primary school and the vast majority of unique benefits enjoyed by students stem from this relatively simple premise. Offering a unique commitment to the lives and successes of students aged between 3 and 11, we provide a broad and bespoke program that draws upon the academic rigor of the English National Curriculum.

Offering an unparalleled range of experiences and opportunities, designed exclusively for young learners, we connect learning through a thematic framework that maximizes contact with specialist academic staff of the highest possible caliber.

Chinese language (delivered daily via a three-tiered structure), music, performing arts, physical education (to include athletics, gymnastics and dance) and swimming are taught by designated teams of formally and specifically qualified colleagues.

Please brief us about the personality (Director/Principal/Chancellor/ other) behind the success of the school, and how he/she has helped enhance the outreach and development of your reputed institution?

I am the Founding Principal of Shrewsbury. I was appointed 18 months in advance of the school opening in August 2018. This enabled me to play a critical role in the development of the campus and the appointment of the academic and operations team. I direct at all levels of the organization and engage closely with colleagues region wide, as a prominent member of the Education Committee at the British Chamber.

I work closely with internal and external stakeholders and have recently announced the launch of a new strategic plan titled Together We Flourish. Designed to guide the progress of the school over the next ten years, it arrived as the result of extensive consultation and draws upon rich heritage, a defining ambition unique to Shrewsbury schools and the voices of our own proud community. It will act to guide, inform, and inspire operational planning and the work undertaken by the school team each day.

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We are a primary school and the vast majority of unique benefits enjoyed by students stem from this relatively simple premise

What kind of extra-curricular and co-curricular activities and events do you conduct at Shrewsbury school?

How do you ensure maximum student engagement in these events?

Co-Curricular activity at Shrewsbury offers students the opportunity to broaden and extend their interests in three key domains.

After School Aquatics (ASA) acts to supplement provision available during the course of each school week, Extra Curricular Activity (ECA) promotes the development of a broad range of new, interconnected skills, and the Instrumental Music Program (IMP) affords the opportunity to engage in one-to-one instrumental tuition.

The opportunities available provide inspiration and balance that further improves the well-being of our students and help to enhance their academic, social, and physical performance. The Excellence Program forms part of ECA and allows for the identification, acceleration, and promotion of students able to demonstrate particular strength or ability.

Please mention your school’s most notable achievements, accolades,

accreditations, and awards.

In 2020, Shrewsbury International School Hong Kong received commendation from both the Council of International Schools and the Federation of British International Schools in Asia.

During our two day visit, it was possible to see the vibrant school in action, to meet with a significant number of the constituents, and to triangulate documentation and evidence in situ, which made it a worthwhile and enjoyable experience.

The evaluator gained a strong sense of the commitment and energy which permeate SISHK and characterise its values-based ethos as a member of the Shrewsbury family of schools.

The combination of an ambitious and committed board that invested in an intentional pre-operational preparation phase, visionary drive of the founding principal who started January 2017 and the careful recruitment, deployment and dedication of quality staff have enabled SISHK to achieve a fantastic founding year.

CIS Evaluative Report Summary Overall, there is substantial evidence that Shrewsbury International School Hong Kong has comfortably met the requirements for membership. The

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school has a clearly defined mission and set of value statements common across the Shrewsbury family of schools. Safeguarding governance, individual needs, language teaching and an overall teaching and learning environment that promotes high academic standards is extremely impressive. The Principal and his leadership style is seen as outstanding and has contributed enormously to the schools successful launch.

FOBISIA Evaluative Report Summary We benefit from a sincere, deep and warm relationship with both our host school in the UK and sister schools in Thailand. The Shrewsbury Parents Association acts to deliver community centred events and The Friends of Shrewsbury supports connection between Hong Kong based families soon to join Shrewsbury School and those already based in the UK. Together with our partner Eliteswim Academy, founded by Hong Kong champion swimmers and record holders Mr Kent Cheung and Mr Gary Wong, we have designed and developed a market-leading aquatics programme.

Covid-19 has put additional responsibility on the education sector in terms of online educational

trends, hygiene, and safety precautions. How did you adapt to these circumstances whilst preparing and safeguarding your students for the same?

The episodic and extended suspension of physical school services over the last few years has inspired radical (and likely permanent) transformative revision to educational engagements worldwide. While undoubtedly challenging, circumstances have most often inspired. The practical application of educational technology stands as a particular prominent example, but there are many others.

School suspension has taught us to think responsively and with an open mind.

We collaborate with greater freedom and have better utilized the views and voices of students and parents as cocreators. Our approach to the continual refinement of our online learning program, in recognition that we are innately social beings, epitomized our creative endeavor.

We took an approach that supported fluid intervention. Teachers were available to families throughout the working week and responded to an average of over 200 individual requests for feedback each day in the belief that the provision of accurate and

individualized feedback is the most critical function of a teacher in the modern classroom. Ours was an ondemand service. In order to best safeguard the experience of students, conference sessions were hosted in small groups of no more than eight.

We collaborate with greater freedom and have better utilized the views and voices of students and parents as co-creators

How do you envision the future of your illustrious school going forward?

Our recently launched new strategic plan, entitled Together We Flourish, lays out the ambitions of Shrewsbury International School marked over a period of ten years. Celebrating connectedness and community, ‘Together We Flourish’ stands in recognition of the inherent privilege we are afforded in working to harness the enterprise, initiative, and enthusiasm of our students. The focus is on four themes: In order to Embed, we will place explicit focus upon: • School Culture • Routine and Tradition • Organizational Stability In order to Enhance, we will place explicit focus upon: • Opportunity and Experience • Breadth of Expertise • Reputation In order to Connect, we will place explicit focus upon engagements with: Parents, Students and Alumni Our Professional Network The Growing Shrewsbury Family In order to Achieve, we will place explicit focus upon: • Formal Accreditation • Regional Recognition • Collectively Defined Targets

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