The English Schools Foundation educates about 12,000 students, accounting for 40 per cent of the international sector. About half these students are ethnically Chinese. Its schools include 10 primary, five secondary and the Jockey Club Sarah Roe Centre special school that are subvented by government, as well as a private independent school and three kindergartens, which are self-financing.
The ESF has been dogged by crises and controversy over the past three years, which culminated last winter in criticism of its management by the Audit Commission, legislators and government. But under its chairwoman Felice Lieh-Mak, appointed last year after the mass resignations of the previous leadership, it is recovering. The arrival of Heather Du Quesnay, the founding director of Britain's National College for School leadership, as its new chief executive has helped.
Major changes in management, governance and staff remuneration are planned for the coming year. The ESF ordinance is likely to be amended, with the 137-member foundation and its executive committee to be replaced by a board of 25 governors.
At school level, the focus of reform is on ensuring the better consistency of quality, that the needs of all children are met - in particular those with special needs and the gifted; professional development of staff; and in upgrading the quality of Putonghua teaching. Evaluation has been tightened and improvement programmes are underway after reviews of all primary schools.
The future of its public funding, which now accounts for about 27 per cent of income for the foundation schools, remains uncertain.
Management: Although overseen by the foundation, schools are run independently, managed by their principals under the authority of their school councils. Despite their common aims, they have developed their individual characters, plus strengths and weaknesses. All schools have active PTAs, which are represented on councils and higher levels of ESF management. Parents can help out in classrooms in the primary years.
Curriculum: ESF schools offer a modern liberal education based on the National Curriculum of England and Wales, adapted to Hong Kong. Putonghua is taught as a second language.