[Sponsored Article] With nearly 500 years of heritage and purpose built award-winning campus, Shrewsbury International School Hong Kong looks primed to become one of the top primary schools in the city. “Shrewsbury offers a British curriculum that delivers a rich academic and extra-curricular experience for students in the great tradition of our sister school in the UK,” explained Principal Mr Ben Keeling. “Our community is growing rapidly, with parents across the region all keen to explore the unique range of experiences and opportunities available here.” The school is the latest addition to the Shrewsbury family, which dates back to the opening of the aforementioned sister school – the UK-based Shrewsbury School in 1552. Despite being centred on traditional British values, Shrewsbury Hong Kong adopts an innovative approach to teaching and learning. It closely follows the English National Curriculum, which provides a rigorous structure upon which student performance can be accurately gauged. At the same time, the school adopts a dynamic, research-centred approach to teaching and learning. Studies have shown that young children learn as much from one another as they do from their teachers. At Shrewsbury, students are encouraged to explore the ideas, principles and beliefs of their peers. This is supported directly and indirectly, within and beyond lessons, so that students quickly develop independence and confidence within a complex social network. “Children learn best when they are happy and connected,” Mr Keeling continued. It helps that teachers also have access to a state-of-the-art campus, which won the 2019-2020 Asia Pacific Property Awards for Public Service Architecture; part of the global International Property Awards, one of the world's premier programmes for recognising and rewarding excellence in the property sector. “The architecture and design has been shaped by our educational philosophy - to ensure that our students receive the best possible care and the most incredible range of opportunity,” Director of Schools for Shrewsbury in Asia, Mr Stephen Holroyd explained. “The spaces are laid out to promote learning through an inspiring design that maximises our incredible mountainside surround and encourages student interaction across classes and year groups so that friendships can be made easily.” The school’s interior includes extra-wide, three-metre corridors, which are used as flexible, collaborative learning spaces. The classrooms have been arranged in clusters which can be opened up and connected with one another. The campus has several other noteworthy features, including a special design that allows fresh air to flow into both the common spaces and classrooms and glazing system that maximizes the use of diffused natural light. According to Mr Keeling, this innovative design supports students both during and beyond their time at Shrewsbury. “We are actively engaged in the lives of our students as they settle into life at Secondary school, continue further study and enter the workforce.” To that end, Shrewsbury International School Hong Kong also provides a personalised secondary school selection programme, designed to ensure that every child is placed into a setting of best-fit. For Shrewsbury students in particular, the decision of whether to stay in Hong Kong or enrol in the sister school in the UK, can be especially challenging. “The selection of a school should be a deeply personal process,” Keeling explained. “The needs and interests of a child at five differ enormously from those observed at the age of 15. But our children receive a broad, balanced and aspirational range of opportunity. They are also offered personal guidance and direct support at their point of departure, most commonly to either enter the secondary school system here in Hong Kong or the British independent system back in the UK.” Shrewsbury’s detailed knowledge of schools helps to provide the context required to make an informed and intelligent decision. The process involves gathering together crucial thoughts and ideas from both students and parents, as well as considering the individual characteristics of each child and the personal circumstances of his/her family. “Guided by a detailed action plan, exploration, selection and application are tracked closely to ensure that every student is placed into a school that allows them to thrive,” Keeling said. “For our 2018/19 graduates, the process has proven to be enormously successful and has led to as diverse a range of outcomes as you might expect from such a personalised service.” With a thorough curriculum, excellent staff and facilities, and unique secondary school selection programme, Shrewsbury International School Hong Kong just might be the safest bet when it comes to ensuring your child receives the best education possible and has a bright, prosperous future. The school is located just 30 minutes from Central, beside LOHAS Park MTR station in Tseung Kwan O. Visit www.shrewsbury.edu.hk for more information on enrolling or join the first Shrewsbury Hong Kong Open House on 12th October to enjoy some fun, creative and focused activities with your children including art and crafts, football and story telling.