The principal of one of Britain's leading boarding schools for girls has warned Hong Kong parents to be wary of agencies and schools that exploit parental ignorance of education overseas.
'Quite a few parents have been disillusioned by the advice given by agencies and have found that their impressions from a distance have not been backed by substance,' said Vicky Tuck, principal of Cheltenham Ladies' College, during a visit to Hong Kong this week to meet parents and alumni.
'Some parents have been beguiled by some schools promoting themselves overseas, relying on people's ignorance,' she said.
It is enshrined in British law that schools must cater to the needs of all their pupils, which would include those with second language difficulties. But some schools were bolstering student numbers rather than setting out to meet these needs. 'Some schools are not doing an honourable job,' she said.
Agencies, she said, placed children in schools where they could receive commission, which might not be the best options for the student.
Ms Tuck is the latest overseas principal to visit Hong Kong, with the SAR being a major market for Britain's independent school sector. Hong Kong students, both local and expatriate, account for around 10 per cent of the 850 girls who attend her school, the largest group of overseas students. Most learned of the school through personal recommendations.