Stamford American School opens its West Kowloon Campus – Hong Kong’s First University style High School Campus
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Stamford American School officially opened its new West Kowloon campus on October 24. Spanning 75,000 sq ft, the high school campus has been purpose-built to create a university style learning environment that prioritises students’ self‑management, collaboration and deep focus.
Each detail of the campus is designed to promote cognition and wellbeing. With the harbourside location already offering scenic views and ample natural light, the new campus goes further to feature circadian lighting in the classrooms – bright in the morning and warmer later in the day. Professional acoustic treatment creates a quiet environment that enhances concentration.
“Education is a little like Formula 1,” said Andrew Noakes, Head of School at Stamford. “Every micro adjustment and every shaved gram adds up to performance gains. We’ve applied the same precision thinking to how we design learning environments — so students can be more focused and more self‑directed. Hong Kong’s children no longer need to look overseas for a world class education.”
Mark Michelson, Chairman of the Asia CEO Forum for IMA Asia said, officiated the opening ceremony. “This magnificent facility provides a welcoming, forward-looking learning environment to identify and support the diverse needs and potential of each student — translating educational philosophy into physical form,” he said.
To widen access to a world-class international education, the school has launched the Spirit of Stamford Scholarship. This merit‑based programme supports local students of high academic potential, leadership or specific talents entering Grades 9–11 (equivalent to Secondary 3–5). Outstanding students may receive up to full funding to complete the IBDP.
Applications are open now through 30 November 2025, with interviews in January 2026 and results announced in February 2026 for the 2026/27 academic year. “This scholarship exists to ensure more local students can access an international, stretching education right here in Hong Kong,” said Noakes.
The university-style approach also includes a no-bell schedule, where classroom clocks are synchronised with the computer systems, allowing teachers and students to transition naturally between sessions while building time management and self-discipline. To encourage authentic social connection, the school has also introduced a smartphone-free lunch period.
“At our Ho Man Tin campus (Pre‑Primary to Grade 8) you feel youthful energy; at West Kowloon, the High School atmosphere is immediately calmer and more focused,” said Ocki Fernandes, High School Principal.
The state-of-the-art campus is equipped with four science laboratories and three design and technology labs, positioning Stamford in further enhancing its strong reputation in the Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Innovation (STEMinn) program. The campus also features two visual arts studios, two drama studios, a black box theatre, a music wing with six practice rooms, a gym and a Pilates studio to support broad, student‑led exploration.
Fernandes has noticed that the students, who started using the campus in early October, already treat the new campus as their community space. Students are hosting interviews to run a student-produced campus TV channel, leading their student societies, and collaborating on projects. Several hours after classes ended, Fernandes would still find groups of students discussing their schoolwork at the atrium.
“Everywhere here is a learning space. They just love being here,” Fernandes said. “This campus helps with that internal motivation. You give them the responsibility, they take that on for their own learning.”
Stamford currently employs 141 teaching staff (including 54 in the High School) serving 1,050 students (322 in the High School). The average student to teacher ratio is 8:1. Teachers average 12 years of experience and represent 21 nationalities.
As Stamford is a fully accredited Council of International Schools (CIS) member school and an IB World School, graduates will receive an American High School Diploma and the option of the full International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) courses, offering access to top universities worldwide.