Kellett, Carmel share facilities in Shau Kei Wan

Two international schools facing shortages of space will open a new shared campus in September for their expanding secondary sections.

The Kellett School in Pok Fu Lam and Carmel School on The Peak will share arts, science and sports facilities at the campus in Shau Kei Wan and plan joint music and drama performances and sports activities.

The two schools are also sharing the multimillion-dollar cost of refurbishing the derelict buildings of the former St Mark's School, which have been provided free by the Education Bureau. .

Carmel School, which serves the Jewish community, will occupy the two top floors of the six-storey building, with the British-style Kellett School in the middle two and science labs, music, art and craft, design and technology studios and an 500-seat auditorium on the lower floors.

Kellett principal Ann McDonald said it would move secondary Year 7 and Year 8 classes to the new building and would progressively open new secondary classes following the British national curriculum up to GCSEs and IGCSEs in Year 11, starting with Year 9 in September.

'It's our first home for a secondary school and it gives a continuity of curriculum and allows us to offer a through-train education up to age 16,' she said. 'We are also looking at offering joint music and sports activities with Carmel School.' Kellett was bidding for a greenfield site in Kowloon, where it hoped to build a permanent secondary school that would take students from age 11 to 18 after the five-year lease on the campus expired, she added.