bodyType

customContents

entityId

printArticlePageQuery

filter

article

body

urlAlias

articleSectionsContent

articleSeoArticle

articleSourceHeaderArticle

contentSchemaRenderContent

contentSubHeadlineContent

contentHeadlineContent

mainImagePrintArticleArticle

authorBlockPrintArticleArticle

contentSponsorTagContent

articlePianoPaywallContent

scmpYoutubeContent

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

query printArticlePageQuery(
  $entityId: String!
  $customContents: [CustomContentInput]
  $bodyType: BodyFormatTypeEnum
) {
  article(filter: {entityId: $entityId}) {
    entityId
    body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
      json
    }
    urlAlias
    ...articleSectionsContent
    ...articleSeoArticle_3o8td4
    ...articleSourceHeaderArticle
    ...contentSchemaRenderContent
    ...contentSubHeadlineContent
    ...contentHeadlineContent
    ...mainImagePrintArticleArticle
    ...authorBlockPrintArticleArticle
    ...contentSponsorTagContent
    ...articlePianoPaywallContent
    ...scmpYoutubeContent
    ...hooksTrackPageViewArticle
    id
  }
}

fragment articlePianoPaywallContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksPaywallPromiseContent
}

fragment articleSectionsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      ...helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection
      ...entityLink
      name
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment articleSeoArticle_3o8td4 on Article {
  ...hooksArticleSeoArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersGetArticleTypeArticle
  entityId
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
  summary {
    text
  }
  subHeadline {
    text
  }
  body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
    text
  }
  keywords
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  topics {
    name
    entityId
    id
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  images {
    style(filter: {style: "768x768"}) {
      url
    }
  }
  readingTime
}

fragment articleSourceHeaderArticle on Article {
  urlAlias
  ...entityLink
}

fragment authorBlockPrintArticleArticle on Article {
  ...defaultArticleDateContent
  ...authorNamesArticle
}

fragment authorNameAuthor on Author {
  ...entityLink
  name
  entityUuid
}

fragment authorNamesArticle on Article {
  authorLocations
  authors {
    entityId
    location
    ...authorNameAuthor
    id
  }
}

fragment blockquoteQuoteContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment contentHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  socialHeadline
  ...contentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
}

fragment contentNewsletterWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
    id
  }
  sections {
    value {
      relatedNewsletters {
        ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
        id
      }
      id
    }
  }
  ... on Article {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment contentSchemaRenderContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...blockquoteQuoteContent
  ...imageContent
  ...inlineWidgetContent
  ...photoGalleryWidgetContent
  ...scmpYoutubeContent
}

fragment contentShareWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  shortUrl
  socialHeadline
  headline
}

fragment contentSponsorTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentSubHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  subHeadline {
    json
  }
  summary {
    json
  }
  ...contentSchemaRenderContent
}

fragment defaultArticleDateContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksArticleDateUtilsContent
}

fragment entityLink on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  entityUuid
  urlAlias
  urlRedirect {
    toUrl
    id
  }
  application {
    entityId
    id
  }
  ... on Section {
    fullSectionPath {
      entityId
      id
    }
    parentSection
  }
  ...helpersAppBarVariantBase
  ...helpersApplicationBase
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersAppBarVariantBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsLiveArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...helpersSectionContent
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersApplicationBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
}

fragment helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection on Section {
  name
}

fragment helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle on Article {
  entityId
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  disableOffPlatformContent
  sponsorType
  published
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment helpersCheckIsLiveArticle on Article {
  flattenTypeIds
  liveArticle {
    status
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    paywallTypes {
      entityUuid
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsStyleArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersGetArticleTypeArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        entityId
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter on Newsletter {
  entityId
  name
  alternativeName
  description {
    text
  }
  summary {
    text
  }
  homepageDescription {
    text
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle on Article {
  authors {
    types
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersStyleSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersUseContentSponsorContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    sponsor {
      ...sponsorTagSponsor
      name
      type
      id
    }
    id
  }
  ... on Article {
    sponsorType
  }
  ...helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent
}

fragment hooksArticleDateUtilsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  createdDate
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
}

fragment hooksArticleSeoArticle on Article {
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle
  entityId
  headline
  socialHeadline
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
  images {
    generic_og: style(filter: {style: "og_image_scmp_generic"}) {
      url
    }
    styles(filter: {styles: ["og_image_posties_article", "og_postmag", "og_image_style", "og_image_scmp_analysis", "og_image_scmp_explainer", "og_image_scmp_editorial", "og_image_scmp_fact_check", "og_image_scmp_debate", "og_image_scmp_live", "og_image_scmp_obituary", "og_image_scmp_opinion", "og_image_scmp_review", "og_image_scmp_series", "og_image_scmp_generic"]}) {
      url
      style
    }
    type
  }
  urlAlias
}

fragment hooksContentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        name
        entityId
        description {
          text
        }
        id
      }
    }
    ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  }
  flag
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  ...hooksContentHelperContent
}

fragment hooksContentHelperContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle
  ...helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle
  ...helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle
  flag
}

fragment hooksPaywallPromiseContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment hooksTrackPageViewArticle on Article {
  entityId
  publishedDate
  headline
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  entityUuid
}

fragment imageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  ...checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent
}

fragment inlineWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentNewsletterWidgetContent
}

fragment mainImagePrintArticleArticle on Article {
  images {
    title
    url
    isSlideshow
    size_652x446: style(filter: {style: "652x446"}) {
      url
    }
  }
}

fragment photoGalleryDialogContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment photoGalleryWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...photoGalleryDialogContent
}

fragment scmpYoutubeContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  publishedDate
}

fragment sponsorTagSponsor on Sponsor {
  name
  type
  images {
    url
  }
}


sections

types

disableOffPlatformContent

sponsorType

published

headline

socialHeadline

authors

images

publishedDate

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

keywords

topics

readingTime

authorLocations

entityUuid

SCMP Reporters

[First published on 7 December, 2014] It is not every student’s dream to pursue academic subjects or get straight As in them. To some, picking up practical skills in fashion design, hotel management, music or information technology is far more appealing.
That is only natural in a world inhabited by individuals of different interests and abilities. Yet it is beyond doubt that many parents and families attach immense weight to academic success. Schools waste no time in announcing the results of their topscorers in public or international examinations, leaving many with lesser results feeling left out in the cold. Indeed, in today’s multifaceted economies, a whole range of practical skills may serve a society just as well as traditional academic disciplines such as law and physics, vital as these disciplines have always been.
Nonetheless, albeit slowly, there is growing recognition in Hong Kong for applied learning, which is part of the senior secondary curriculum that was launched in 2009. More than 300 schools are offering 30-plus applied learning subjects in areas ranging from performing arts to event management, and from sports to business studies. Students can take them as electives on top of the four compulsory subjects required for the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education – Chinese, English, liberal studies and maths. However, the take-up rate for applied learning subjects is very low, principals say, as universities tend to focus on academic scores for admissions purposes.
“There are no paper-based examinations for applied learning subjects,” says Lee Suet-ying, chairman of the Hong Kong Association of the Heads of Secondary Schools. “Students are assessed on their task performance, for which they are given only fail, pass or distinction grades. There [is no] conversion system between their grades and scores [as in] mainstream subjects.”
With applied disciplines, there are far more opportunities for further study abroad than there are in Hong Kong. For the past eight years, the English Schools Foundation, the largest provider of international education programmes here, has given its upper secondary students the option of work-related courses leading to the BTEC qualifications awarded by Edexcel, Britain’s largest awarding body. The pre-university vocational qualifications are recognised internationally and also by a string of institutions in Hong Kong, including the Hong Kong Design Institute, SCAD Hong Kong (the local campus of US-based Savannah School of Art and Design), and Polytechnic University.
ESF students can combine BTEC with IB diploma and/or GCE A-level courses to increase their range of choices for higher education. Currently, more than 140 students in Year 12 and 120 students in Year 13 have gone down the applied learning route, studying various subjects.

ESF school development advisor (secondary) Chris Durbin says the foundation adopted a personalised approach to practical subjects, allowing students to combine a specialist interest with more generic applied learning.
In the context of Hong Kong culture, Durbin notes, youngsters with less academic aspirations sometimes have self-esteem issues. “They are more immune to the culture in international schools but it still lingers a bit,” he says. “It is not so much in the teachers as in the families, the students themselves.”
In late September, the foundation held its first Asia-Pacific Applied Learning Conference at the campuses of West Island School and South Island School, showcasing to teachers from across the region its achievement in creating alternative pathways for students. Held concurrently was an education fair on further study opportunities in applied subjects that 70 universities and colleges took part in. Twelve accomplished figures from different fields, including a chef, a marketing director, a civil engineer and a fashion designer, shared insights about their career paths with students at talks and workshops. There was also a professional development day for BTEC teachers from Hong Kong, China and other countries including Taiwan, Myanmar, Malaysia, and Thailand. In September, ESF private independent school Renaissance College (RCHK) in Discovery Bay launched Hong Kong’s first
International Baccalaureate Careerrelated Programme in partnership with SCAD Hong Kong. On the twoyear programme, students can take up to six SCAD courses, which make up about one-third of the total. Talks, lectures, career pathway discussions and other events held by SCAD Hong Kong at its campus are also open to students taking the programme.
Among the five ESF secondary schools, business studies is a core applied subject. “We are trying to prepare students for thinking about business and enterprise. The philosophy is business and ‘something’ - business and art; sport and business etc. What is the point of doing business, if you don’t have something to do it with and about?” says Durbin, adding that creativity, enterprise and ethics form the basis of the study framework.

Whatever their area of speciality, students on applied programmes are expected to do work-based learning and projects. Assessment is based far more on portfolios than on pen and paper examinations. As well as exposing them to the world of work, the aim is to help all students learn happily, and be energised by doing what they are passionate about.
 “We know from studies on wellbeing amongst young people that different things can make them demotivated, even depressed,” says Durbin. “If students don’t have a good time in school, and they don’t do appropriate things that progress to where they are going to, their motivation goes down, their grades go down. What we are doing is saying to the 16-year-olds: ‘Here is a range of things you can do and here is the route to do it. Meanwhile, we will make sure you have a portfolio of experience and assessment that looks really good, to get you accepted by universities or colleges’.”
There is no shortage of interest in fast-growing practical fields. Alex Llewellyn, a Year 12 student at South Island School, and Michelle Leung, a Year 13 student at Island School, were among ESF students who joined a tour of Hotel Icon, PolyU School of Hotel and Tourism Management’s teaching hotel, which coincided with the conference. Both are interested in joining the hospitality field. “It is amazing to see students running a hotel here,” says Alex, who is also considering studying aviation. “I am planning to study in UK but may come back to work afterwards.” Michelle is drawn to studying hotel management in Switzerland. “Hong Kong is my second choice,” she says. “It seems interesting that you get to work in different departments in a hotel. My cousin did a hospitality course in Australia and she liked it. She showed me pictures of her working in a restaurant as an intern. That’s so cool.”


A Practical Inclination

ESF students with teacher Mathew Rappel (second from right) visiting the kitchens of Hotel Icon, the PolyU’s teaching hotel. Photo: SCMP Pictures

ESF students enrolled in the new IB career programme. Photo: SCMP Pictures

News

Hong Kong

Education

A wide range of senior secondary programmes is now available for students who want to pursue a vocational degree leading directly to a career


It is not every student’s dream to pursue academic subjects or get straight As in them. To some, picking up practical skills in fashion design, hotel management, music or information technology is far more appealing.


ESF The First 50 Years - In the news

English Schools Foundation