State schools offer a more affordable alternative
Parents who cannot afford overseas independent boarding school fees do have an alternative - the state sector.
State schools in Britain and Australia recruit large numbers of international students, including from Hong Kong.
In Britain, there are 36 state boarding schools, all members of the State Boarding Schools' Association. These offer free tuition to British passport holders, which means parents only have to pay the boarding fees. Those are in the region of GBP7,300 (HK$113,000) a year, compared with average fees of GBP22,000 for tuition and board in British independent schools.
Some state sixth-form schools and colleges, including the state boarding schools, recruit international students who do not hold British passports. They pay tuition fees, of about GBP5,000 a year, excluding board.
These schools may be an option for parents who feel their children are best suited to British A-level courses, now no longer readily available in Hong Kong except in a few schools.
The state boarding schools should, in general, be of similar academic quality to each other, and many students will achieve academic results comparable to those in the independent sector.
They range from selective single-sex grammar schools in large cities to small comprehensive schools in rural areas. Many perform academically well above the national average, and international students perform well, according to Andy Thompson, director of boarding at Shaftesbury School.
'The state boarding schools provide high-quality pastoral support,' he said. 'They are often good at promoting under-achievers.'
They may, however, have less extensive facilities for extra-curricular activities than independent schools, and accommodation at sixth form is often shared, rather than single.
Information on schools can be found through the State Boarding Schools' Association website.
Another low-cost option in Britain is further-education colleges, which provide a more adult learning and living environment. Students can either choose traditional academic subjects and courses such as A-levels, or vocational alternatives such as the BTEC national diploma.
Schools and FE colleges may have their own specialisms, such as arts, engineering or sports. Some FE colleges have hostel facilities for students, while others organise private accommodation. Many are used to supporting international students, and will offer English as a second language support if needed.
FE colleges charge fees of between GBP4,000 and GBP8,000 a year, excluding board.
In Australia, many state schools admit international students on a fee-paying basis. These are day schools and will help arrange home-stay accommodation if necessary. Fees range from A$10,000 (HK$74,600) to A$12,000 a year.
The education department in each state provides information about state schooling for international students and the schools that accept them.
