Most schools describe their academic performance in high sounding terms like "outstanding", "top", "comparing very well with world averages", "teachers congratulated on their skill, tenacity and ability" (real quotes). Do they depict the real picture?
Parents face the challenge that unless you are within the teaching team, it is almost impossible to accurately gauge how competent and committed the teachers really are. By publishing the IB performance ranking of Hong Kong's International School below, the author wishes to add transparency against some misleading overstatements from schools not performing as bluffed.
Some notes on the ranking:
IBDP result is selected for comparison because the curriculum demands more intellectual vigor and all-roundness than other public exams e.g. IGCSE. Its adoption by majority schools also allows fairer comparison.
Ranking is ordered by average diploma score. When two scores differ <0.4, a school receives higher rank if (1) its 40+ or 35+ pointers is 10% higher or +3 more (whichever is higher); or (2) 45 point full scorer is present. The criteria emphasize on the upper-tier students' performance, which the author considers more relevant to the school's academic standing.
The ranking assesses the overall academic outcome but not necessarily teacher's input. Lower ranking can be caused by factors beyond teacher's control, such as inclusive caring to SEN student, weaker student intake, non-selective student admission to IB cohort, to name a few; On the other hand, higher ranking can be contributed by small student population, higher parent/student's awareness of off-school private input e.g. private tutoring, which may be irrelevant to teacher's input.
The ranking does not measure many important aspects of education other than academics, thus it should not be used as the sole factor when considering a school.
This list covers all international schools in Hong Kong with IB graduates (as of 2016). 4 schools in the list do not have international student profile therefore not receiving ranks. They are included for academic comparison. Schools adopting other curricula, for examples US curriculum and UK A-Levels, are yet to include until the ranking's next revision.
Amendment and correction requests are welcomed. Please email to "sylau.tutoring@gmail.com".
Martin S.Y. Lau is a BSc, MSc and PhD candidate in biology with 9 years of teaching/tutoring experience on high-school, sub-degree and degree level. Mentored by late Prof Edmond KO, the former chairman of HK Curriculum Development Council, Mr Lau was inspired to switch to education sector, co-authored a HKDSE Biology eText and taught in a high school. Currently he is running his own private tutoring service while lecturing in a local tertiary institution on life science.
Email: sylau.tutoring@gmail.com Phone: 9013 8572 Web: www.sylau.com.hk