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If your children are not thriving, being challenged and exposed to new ideas in school it is time to do your homework.
Research the opportunities Britain's boarding schools have to offer and you will find high academic standards, excellent facilities and a broad range of extra-curricular activities.
Thousands of Hong Kong families grant full marks to British boarding schools as institutions that make learning rigorous and fun. 
There are 5,612 Hong Kong students in independent schools in Britain, accounting for 27 per cent of the international student population, the highest proportion from any single country.
Katherine Forestier, education director at the British Council Hong Kong,  said this was an impressive figure.
'Britain is the most popular destination among Hong Kong families for schooling overseas,' Ms Forestier said.
Interest in British boarding schools is rising in Hong Kong despite the economic downturn. The 2009-2010 entry will end a losing streak that saw Hong Kong-based admissions decrease by about 10 per cent. Schools and agents are now reporting significant increases in applications and numbers are expected to rise. 
This phenomenon is due largely to the favourable exchange rate making the cost of education and housing more affordable. 
'The majority of parents, according to surveys, indicated the crisis won't make them less likely to choose overseas education. In fact many see it as more important than ever to give their children a competitive advantage in the tough economic times that may lie ahead,' Ms Forestier said.
Statistics also show that parents are sending their children at a younger age than in recent years. It is not uncommon, and is generally advised, for local children to enter a boarding school aged 12 to 13 years, before starting Form Two. Giving them one to two years before starting their GCSE at 14 allows them to adjust to a different education system, ways of learning and build their language skills. 
'The longer they have in Britain the easier it will be for them to reach their full potential,' Ms Forestier said.
Prestige being important, well-meaning parents may be tempted to choose a school based on league tables. But it would be a mistake to make a choice based solely on the school's ranking. 
A child's success at boarding school is determined by several factors, such as suitability of the school for the child, the academic programme, choice of subjects, qualifications and extra-curricular activities specific to your child's interests, academic abilities and ambitions.
Lisa Freedman,  an education consultant who runs the independent education advice service and website At The School Gates, said: 'Parents should certainly ask to see performance statistics. At the best schools, a high proportion of pupils will be getting primarily As and Bs in their A-levels,' she said.
As in many Hong Kong international schools, the highly regarded International Baccalaureate is also popular in Britain, either alongside A-levels or as an alternative. Parents are advised to ask which academic programme they follow, and then choose the one that is best for their child.
Parents should ask questions and ask to see a list of leavers' destinations for the past few years. It is a clue to which university your child may attend.
Another factor in the decision-making process should be the quality of the school's accommodation and facilities. Parents should tour the school and try to imagine if they would be comfortable living there.
Better yet, parents should bring their child.
Ms Forestier said: 'The child will probably be happier if he or she can be involved in the choice and decision making.' 
Children can also be tempted with music lessons, sports, theatre, arts or an array of speciality clubs. The range of extra-curricular activities is one of the main reasons parents choose a British boarding school, but parents should choose a school that will support their child's interests.
'There's no point, for example, opting for a school where everyone plays rugby, if your child only wants to play football,' Ms Forestier said.
Parents should also consider how their child will cope in the new environment.
And parents should consider the number of international students, in particular Chinese students at a school. Around 40 per cent of all international students are Chinese, and some parents may wonder what they are paying for if there is little integration.
'Most families prefer to send their children to schools where there are not too many Chinese students to ensure they are truly immersed in an English-medium environment and mix with local and other international students,' said Ms Forestier, adding, 'However, it helps to have some students from their own background.'
While there is no official list of the most popular schools for Hong Kong students, it is safe to say that the schools doing best among local students are those with established links to the city or recommended to friends by parents and alumni.
Ms Freedman said that the most famous English public schools - Eton, Harrow, Rugby, Charterhouse and Cheltenham Ladies' College - remain as popular as ever with parents from Hong Kong. 
'There are now some successful schools, such as Concord College in Shropshire, which specifically cater for an international market,' she said.
Coping is also related to the location of the school. What location works for your child's temperament (a bustling city or bucolic countryside), and logistically for your family?
Once you have your short list, application procedures are straightforward. Hong Kong students have the choice of applying directly to British schools or through the school's representative agent.
 The student may be asked to take an entry test or interview before being admitted. In most cases contact information and details about the application process can be found on the school's website.
Applications are best made a year in advance, although places in good schools can still be found relatively late in the application cycle, even in the summer before an autumn start date. But research should begin at least a year in advance of an application.



British boarding schools get full marks