Tucked away in Tin Wan – near Aberdeen – lies Wycombe Abbey; a school that’s gaining traction as a British prep school whose pupils are able to move onto even the most academic of schools
Exploring Wycombe Abbey Hong Kong
Entering the Wycombe Abbey campus you’d never know the building was a shopping mall in its former life (with fierce competition from other schools to take over the site.) In it’s new guise as a four-storey school campus, it’s full of light and interesting shapes and doesn’t feel at all compromised – very appropriate for a school that prides itself on not having to compromise at the expense of its students.
Wycombe Abbey Hong Kong is unapologetically a primary school. There is no pre-school and no plans to add a secondary school. It’s a British prep school catering to children age 5-13. And it’s been created to suit the needs of those children.
Headmaster Howard Tuckett, who has over 20 years experience in British Independent Schools, was employed at the very beginning of Wycombe Abbey Hong Kong’s journey and literally designed the school from scratch. He wrote the curriculum structure, which covers 14 subjects across the eight-year levels and is based on the British National Curriculum, Enriched Common Entrance and the EDB Primary System (which is also rooted to the British system). The campus was then designed and built around the curriculum and the teaching model, ensuring it provides students and teachers everything they need.
Wycombe Abbey Hong Kong is a private school, not an international school. It’s an important distinction to make as it affords the school more flexibility and control. It’s able to be as British as it likes, isn’t on government land, has no government loans and pays regular commercial rent. There are no quotas to fill; Wycombe Abbey is there for everyone, explains Tuckett. It does have to “teach well and be safe” not only to satisfy the EDB but also Wycombe Abbey UK, who has the right to ensure the quality of education, pastoral care and safeguarding of Wycombe Abbey Hong Kong. Tuckett’s original interview took place in Wycombe Abbey in UK and his annual appraisal is by the governor of the UK school. Does this mean Hong Kong students get a pass to move to the UK school? “No, but it’s as good as being at a top British prep school, which is the best route you’re ever going to get,” explains Tuckett.
Looking through the list of schools that students applied to last year and this year is impressive. And confirmed offers are in place for schools including Rodean. “We have the right curriculum to feed into the top schools in the world.”
When Tuckett arrived in Hong Kong, he brought with him a team of eight teaching staff from the UK. All bar one are at still at the school. All teaching staff are required to be British trained and familiar with the National Curriculum, as a starting point. “It’s a British school, taught by British teachers on a British curriculum,” Tuckett is quick to point out. However “because of the EDB flavour, it keeps it local and relevant to Hong Kong.” Children learn Chinese history. We offer Cantonese and Chinese opera and calligraphy, we offer all the cultural enrichment and broader aspects of Chinese as extra curricular activities.
While not a bilingual school, Wycombe Abbey does teach a second language “really well. ” It teaches Putonghua with simplified characters, “because that is the business language of South East Asia.” There is a double or single lesson of Chinese every day. The Deputy Head of Wycombe Abbey is also the head of Chinese, which works well.
Now in its third year, the school has grown steadily – despite what has undeniably been a difficult few years, courtesy of protests and COVID-19. The school was commended on how well it coped during the pandemic enforced school closure; for online lessons it opted to use Microsoft Teams and OneNote and as a result is a Microsoft Accredited School.
Parents interested to send their children to Wycombe Abbey are strongly encouraged to visit the school where they will discover more about the curriculum and are sure to be won over by the solid and reassuring presence of Mr Tuckett who, determined not to cash in on the school application craziness, has insisted on not charging parents for registering or for the assessment process (children below the age of seven participate in a teacher assessment, while children above seven sit a cognitive ability test).
An Intensive English Programme at the school is a “supportive, stimulating programme of intensive English designed to allow bright and capable pupils with minimal English to join Wycombe Abbey Hong Kong” this then arms them with enough English to be able to move into mainstream classes.
Another aspect we really liked at the school; each class has a teaching assistant who doesn’t belong to the class teacher but will instead follow the children to their specialist lessons adding a level or pastoral care that stands out. There is also a boarding and secondary school guidance programme.
Overview
Wycombe Abbey School Hong Kong stands as a beacon of educational excellence, seamlessly blending the rich heritage of British education with the vibrant cultural tapestry of Hong Kong. Its commitment to nurturing well-rounded individuals equipped with academic prowess, creative thinking, and moral integrity is evident in its holistic approach to learning. As it continues to grow and evolve, Wycombe Abbey School Hong Kong not only prepares students for the challenges of the future but also instills in them the values and skills necessary to become compassionate and effective global citizens. This institution’s dedication to fostering a supportive and dynamic learning environment ensures that it remains at the forefront of premier educational institutions in the region, setting a high standard for academic and personal development.
Address: 17 Tin Wan Street, Tin Wan, Aberdeen, Hong Kong
Website: www.was.edu.hk/en/
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