A state-of-the art new international school in Discovery Bay will open its doors to prospective parents today, but only 80 places remain unfilled.
Discovery College, which opened last year in temporary premises at Lai King, will move in August into the HK$290 million eco-building, which boasts an aerodynamic canopy, a professional-standard theatre and rooftop swimming pool.
The private independent school will provide 240 places in the first two years of secondary school - years seven and eight - under its staged admissions plan. But 160 of the places have already been filled, while the primary sector is completely full.
Children from the Lai King site, including many from the English Schools Foundation's former primary Bauhinia School, which merged with the college last year, will transfer to the new building, which unites the through-train school on one site.
As a private independent school, Discovery College is required under its ordinance to allocate at least 70 per cent of its places to children of permanent residents, but school managers say they only have to do this once the school is full.
Principal Mark Beach said the year seven and eight places would be open to any children who met the school's entry requirements, regardless of their residency status.
'We have had surprisingly strong demand for places in year seven, in particular, and also for year eight,' he said. 'Because it is an exceptional year in a new school, we will fill these classes with any pupils who want to come to our school.