Head of School’s Welcome
The Independent Schools Foundation Academy (the “ISF Academy” or the “Academy”) is an internationally accredited independent International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, founded on Chinese values, offering a unique immersive Chinese and English language education with a global perspective. Boasting world-class, purpose-built facilities, the learning environment at ISF is second to none. A highly talented and richly experienced teaching faculty forms the solid foundation for academic success at ISF.
Through its sustained academic excellence and outstanding university offers, ISF is ranked amongst the world’s leading independent schools. ISF offers an education unlike any other.
From their first steps in formal education, ISF students achieve accelerated literacy in Chinese through the bespoke Qilin Program in the primary years of education.
The unique Shuyuan Program offers a rich and diverse range of individualized learning experiences that embrace the full spectrum of knowledge domains from STEM to the Classics, catering to all ages and interests. In collaboration with the world’s leading tertiary institutions, including Oxford, Cambridge, Stanford, and Columbia, ISF students engage in advanced research in science, technology, mathematics, and medicine. Many ISF students publish their research findings prior to graduation.
A particular area of excellence in our Secondary School is the ISF Hao Xue program, which offers middle school learners an unprecedented depth and breadth of individual choice, culminating in the newly developed Hao Xue Shi Chinese language assessment. The Hao Xue suite of electives promotes intellectual curiosity and academic literacy in the years leading up to the IB Diploma Program.
Experiential learning forms another core pillar of an ISF education, with a rich and diverse range of challenges offered to all ages, both within Hong Kong and overseas. The Shek Pik base on Lantau Island provides a crucial physical setting for a wide range of adventure-based learning experiences. It is through experience, that ISF learners build individual character, self-reliance, and resilience. Together, these educational programs and approaches foster sustained excellence in the IB Diploma Program, giving access to the world’s leading universities and colleges.
At the heart of an ISF education lies the essential human values that form the philosophical foundation of our school: commitment, respect, care, passion, courtesy, integrity, harmony, and balance: these are the Eight Virtues that culminate in wisdom – the One. It is our daily practice, and challenge, that these values are embodied in our words, deeds, thoughts, and attitudes.
As the builders and shapers of tomorrow, our graduates have the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values to make their own outstanding and unique contribution to an increasingly interconnected global community. Creatively innovative, culturally adept, intellectually agile and technologically fluent, ISF learners are well prepared for future success in their chosen field.
I am delighted that you are interested in our school and invite you to explore The ISF Academy experience in person.

Dr. Malcolm Pritchard
Head of School
The ISF Academy
