The Board of Governors of Harrow International School Hong Kong has made the decision to start Phase 3 of its building works. The initial School roll of 750 students when it opened in September 2012 has increased to 1115 in the current academic year. With the new extension, it is expected that the eventual roll will be approximately 1500.
Expansion plans
The work will involve an extension to the western ‘bookend’ of the current main building and some internal changes to the existing building in order to develop a range of additional facilities: Upper School classrooms; science laboratories; extra facilities for sport, music, art and drama; large-multi-purpose areas for examinations; an extra Dining Hall; a new Lower School Library; new, enlarged areas for the Admissions department, Upper School Office and Staff Common Room; and the creation of some Upper School Day Houses. The estimated cost of construction is approximately HK$500 million. Construction will start after the Chinese New Year 2016; Phase 3A will be completed in August 2017 and 3B a year later.
Capital Levy and Capital Certificates
To help finance the building works, the Board of Governors has confirmed that a new and limited batch of Individual Capital Certificates and Corporate Capital Certificates is now available for subscription. The price is HK$5 million, and the terms and conditions are the same as the first batch of capital certificates. The capital certificates are intended mainly for prospective parents and students who are applying for entry in August 2017 and onwards. However, applicants for entry in August 2016 who have not yet been invited for assessment, and parents of current students will also be considered. The certificates provide purchasers with priority for assessment and interview, but they are not a guarantee of entry to the School. Individual Capital Certificates are refundable to any applicants who fail to meet the entry requirements of the School upon request.
The Annual Capital Levy will also be increased from the current charge of HK$50,000 per year per student, which has been in force since the School opened, to HK$60,000 from August 2016.
The Chairman of Governors, Mr Jack So Chak Kwong, GBS, OBE, JP, said:
“The School has rapidly developed a strong reputation for providing a distinctive education in Hong Kong. The capital works are necessary to provide the opportunity for as many students as possible to experience a Harrow education, while maintaining the high quality of academic teaching, extra-curricular activities, pastoral care and facilities that are essential to the characteristic of its educational provision.”
Details of the capital levy and capital certificates can be found here.