Cities / Hong Kong / International College Hong Kong, Hong Lok Yuen
International College Hong Kong, Hong Lok Yuen
ICHK Hong Lok Yuen is the kindergarten and primary campus of the ICHK family, founded 1983 in the Hong Lok Yuen residential village in Tai Po. Around 400 children, IB PYP, daily Mandarin, and a serious Forest School programme.
In brief
ICHK Hong Lok Yuen is the kindergarten and primary campus of the ICHK family, founded 1983 in the Hong Lok Yuen residential village in Tai Po. Around 400 children, IB PYP, daily Mandarin, and a serious Forest School programme.
Fees run roughly HKD 25,000 in kindergarten to HKD 145,000 in upper primary. The school is one of a handful of Bilingual and Multilingual Learners Smart Schools globally and is an accredited Forest School Leadership Centre, so outdoor learning is a genuine part of the week.
Around 30 nationalities, with a near-even mix of Hong Kong permanent residents, British, and other European families. The board is elected parents, which sets the tone for a community-school culture, with regular family BBQs, camping, and movie nights. Year 6 students continue to the ICHK Secondary campus at Sha Tau Kok on a continuous IB pathway. Commute from Hong Kong Island is meaningful, but a school bus network covers most addresses. Best fit for families in Tai Po, Sha Tin, or Kowloon East wanting a small, outdoorsy IB primary.
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Nursery (3 afternoons/week) | 2 | HK$25,170 |
| Annual Capital Levy (Part-time Nursery 60%) | 3 | HK$12,300 |
| Part-time Nursery | 3 | HK$83,500 |
| Full-time Nursery to Year 6 | 3 | HK$145,110 |
| Annual Capital Levy (standard) | HK$20,500 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Assessment Interview Charge | HK$800 | |
| Application Charge | HK$1,850 | |
| One-off Capital Levy | HK$75,000 |
Reviews
- Parent voices online consistently centre on the Forest School programme and outdoor time as the school's defining feature.
- One parent said her children "have really flourished through being able to be outside," and another described "plenty of physical space and a curriculum that does not over-emphasise the academic."
- Families value the small primary set-up (two-form entry, small class sizes in early years) and a continuous pathway into the Sha Tau Kok secondary site.
- The school is described as a community-feel campus inside a private estate, with parent-elected governance.
- One reviewer flagged the trade-off: a small school "may not offer the bells and whistles" of larger Hong Kong internationals.
- No public criticism of teaching standards or pastoral care surfaces in the reviewed sources.
Positives
- Outdoor and Forest School learning. The accredited Forest School Leadership Centre and emphasis on outdoor learning is the most-cited reason families choose ICHK HLY.
- Small school feel. Two-form entry and small class sizes in lower years draw families wanting a less industrial environment.
- Continuity into secondary. Direct pipeline into ICHK Sha Tau Kok for years 7-13 is treated as a planning advantage.
- Community involvement. Parent-elected board and the wider Hong Lok Yuen estate community are highlighted as part of the appeal.
Considerations
- Scale and resourcing trade-off. Reviewers note the small site lacks the breadth of facilities and specialism a larger school would provide.
Leadership
Derek Pinchbeck
Accreditations
- Council of International Schools 01