Victoria Shanghai Academy

Admissions Policy Rationale

• The admissions policy at VSA echoes with its guiding statement which is to develop passionate, healthy and accomplished bilingual learners who are globally engaged.
• VSA’s admissions policy is inclusive and non-discriminatory. In regards to religion and race, customs will be respected provided they do not disrupt the school routine, interfere with the learning of other students. In addition, we are sensitive to students’ individual needs and will provide a wide range of support for students who have language and learning needs, physical and medical conditions, or social, emotional and behavioural issues. The school may require parents to allow their children to undergo psychoeducational assessment in order for them to receive appropriate and comprehensive support.

Admissions Criteria

In accordance with our PIS service agreement, we are obliged to ensure 70% of places are reserved for Hong Kong Permanent Residents. In compliance with Hong Kong Law, students must be Hong Kong Permanent Residents or Residents with a valid Hong Kong visa stamp. Factors of consideration for admissions:

• Communication skills in Chinese and English (For Y1-2 applicants, students must demonstrate strength in at least one language (Chinese or English), necessary to build our bilingual foundation.)
• For Y2-Y11 applications, entrance assessment results of languages (reading and literacy skills in both Chinese and English) and Mathematics
• Others such as critical thinking, logical response, etc. to see if applicants have the right profile to be active partners in learning who will positively contribute to our learning community
• Reference from previous schools, such as Victoria Kindergarten survey form, school reports, school reference letter

Admission procedures are tailored to different age groups across the school.

Admissions Priority

In the case of candidates of similar calibre, considerations may be given to parties who have strong bonding with the VSA community, such as but not limited to

• nominees of debenture holders,
• nominees of school board members,
• children of VSA staff,
• siblings of VSA students,
• students from our feeder kindergartens,
• child of alumni.

Procedure

Year 1

• Applications for Year One admissions are accepted from October each year. Parent information evening is in early February of the preceding year e.g. February for admission in August.
• The deadline for application is March in the same year as the parent information evening e.g. March for August admission.
• No late applications will be accepted, unless in the case of debenture holders.
• Priority is given to student applicants from Victoria kindergartens or debenture holders.
• New students entering Victoria Kindergartens K3 are also eligible to apply for admissions to Year One (for the following academic year). However, the applicants will only be notified for acceptance when a vacancy arise.
• Students that miss the original interview because of illness may be interviewed in the following weeks following submission of a medical certificate.
• Following the interviews, there will be four categories:

1. Acceptance
2. Students to be given second interview to be held in June or September. Second interviews will only be offered to siblings and/or debenture holders. At the interviews in September, students that have entered K3 classes and late debenture holders will also be interviewed
3. Waitlist
4. Decline

Year 2- 11

School Campus Tours

Introductory meetings for prospective parents and students are organized on selected dates during the academic year. Schedule is available for parents’ booking online. There will be a guided school tour and Q&A session in each scheduled event.

Application

Online application can be submitted with the following:

• A passport size of applicant’s photo
• A copy of applicant’s HKID Card / Birth Certificate / Passport (for a non-local child, please also provide a copy of the Immigration Endorsement on his/her passport showing the expiry date of visa/entry permit)
• A copy of the applicant’s report cards for the last two years
• Non-refundable application fee of HK$1000

Entrance Assessment

Applicants will be invited to an interview if a school place is available.

Year 2 – Year 11

Applicants need to take written assessments for Chinese language, English language and mathematics. They also need to attend interviews in English and Putonghua. Based on written assessment results, shortlisted students’ parents (PYP, MYP, DP) will be invited on a latter date to attend a more in-depth parent meeting with a member of the Senior Management Team.

Application results

Application results are released within 4 weeks from the assessment and/or parent interview date (whichever is later) and will fall into any one of the following categories :

• acceptance
• second interview (in the case of primary application)
• waitlist
• decline

How to Apply

Online applications must be submitted with the following:

• A passport size photo of the applicant
• A copy of applicant’s Birth Certificate
• A copy of applicant’s HKID Card / Passport (for a non-local child, please also provide a copy of the Immigration Endorsement on his/her passport showing the expiry date of visa/entry permit)
• A copy of the applicant’s report cards for the previous two academic years
• A non-refundable application fee of HK$1,000