17th January 2024 – (Hong Kong) In recent years, many schools in Hong Kong have embraced the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme, which offers seamless pathways to universities abroad. This has become a crucial consideration for parents who are planning or interested in arranging overseas education for their children. According to data from a U.K. education website, a remarkable total of 20 schools from Hong Kong made it onto the list of the top 100 IB schools worldwide in 2023. Among them, three schools achieved the remarkable feat of securing a place in the top 10. These schools are St. Paul’s Co-educational College, Diocesan Boys’ School, and German Swiss International School, all of which have achieved outstanding results. Let’s take a closer look at the top 10 schools and the information about the three Hong Kong schools that made the list.
2023 Global IB Top 10 Schools
- Letovo School
- Anglo Chinese School
- St. Paul’s Co-educational College
- St. Joseph’s Institution
- K. International School Tokyo
- King’s College School – Wimbledon
- Godolphin & Latymer School
- Diocesan Boys’ School
- German Swiss International School
- Singapore School of the Arts
Third Place – St. Paul’s Co-educational College
While St. Paul’s Co-educational College secured the third position, their average score after the deadline improved to an impressive 42.3 points. Although their ranking did not change, this marks the highest score St. Paul’s has achieved in recent years.
St. Paul’s Co-educational College, often referred to as St. Paul’s or SPCC, is an Anglican secondary school located at 33 MacDonnell Road, Mid-Levels, Hong Kong. Founded in 1915 as a girls-only college, it transitioned to a co-educational institution after World War II. The college offers both the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) concurrently. It holds the distinction of being the first Round Square school in greater China and has been under the Direct Subsidy Scheme since 2001. St. Paul’s Co-educational College has an affiliated primary school, forming a through-train education system.
St. Paul’s Girls’ College, as it was originally known, was established in 1915 by the Hong Kong Anglican Church. The school’s motto, “Faith, Hope and Love,” is derived from 1 Corinthians 13 of the Bible.
In 1918, St. Paul’s Co-educational College became the first school in Hong Kong to introduce school uniforms. The college relocated to 33 MacDonnell Road in 1927, where it has remained ever since. In 1932, the school adopted the current school badge.
During the outbreak of the Second World War and the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong in 1942, the college temporarily suspended its operations. In 1945, the college resumed its activities and began admitting boys alongside girls. This marked the transformation of St. Paul’s into the first co-educational school in Hong Kong. Additionally, a full-day primary school was established, with Mr. Maak Ying Kei appointed as the Headteacher.
When St. Paul’s Boys’ College moved back to their campus on Bonham Road in 1950, St. Paul’s Co-educational College continued to accept both boys and girls, maintaining its co-educational status. Before the primary school transitioned into AM and PM sessions in 1957, it was temporarily located at 1 Calder Path. Ms. Fok Lan Hing assumed the position of Headteacher of the PM primary school. In 1959, the new west wing of the college was completed as part of the secondary school expansion.
St. Paul’s Co-educational College has produced 13 perfect scorers, known as “10As,” in the history of the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (HKCEE). Additionally, the college has had 17 students recognized as “Top Scorers” and “Super Top Scorers” in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE).
The “Top Scorers” category includes seven students who obtained perfect scores of 5** in each of the four core subjects and three electives.
The “Super Top Scorers” category consists of eight students who achieved seven Level 5** in the four core subjects, three electives, and an additional Level 5** in the Mathematics Extended (M1/M2) module.
Seventh Place – Diocesan Boys’ School
Diocesan Boys’ School secured the seventh position, with justa fraction of a point separating them from the sixth-place school. Their average score in the IB programme was an impressive 41.9 points.
Diocesan Boys’ School (DBS) is an Anglican boys’ school in Hong Kong. Founded in 1860 as a girls’ school, it later became a boys’ school and was renamed DBS. The school operates under the Direct Subsidy Scheme since 2003 and uses English as the medium of instruction.
In its early years, the school faced challenges due to anti-British sentiment and financial difficulties. In 1869, it transitioned into an orphanage and admitted boys. Over time, it went through various name changes and experienced growth and improvements under different headmasters.
During the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong, the school building was used as a military hospital. After the war, the school reopened, and repairs and renovations were carried out. Several changes and improvements were implemented, including the introduction of a house system and the construction of new facilities.
In the 2000s, DBS joined the Direct Subsidy Scheme, allowing greater autonomy and flexibility in its operations. A primary division was established as part of the expansion, and the school introduced a mobile app for communication.
In 2020, DBS achieved recognition as the world’s top International Baccalaureate school based on its students’ average marks.
Ninth Place – German Swiss International School
German Swiss International School (GSIS) secured the ninth position in the global IB rankings. The school’s average score in the IB programme was an impressive 41.2 points.
German Swiss International School (GSIS), established in 1969 by German and Swiss families seeking a bilingual German-English education in an international environment, is an international school in Hong Kong. With an initial enrollment of 73 students, GSIS now boasts approximately 1,250 students from over 30 countries.
The school’s history dates back to 1969 when German and Swiss parents, led by Ingrid Buchholtz, founded GSIS. After unsuccessful attempts in 1967 and 1968, the school finally found its first campus at 1 Barker Road. A collaborative effort between the German and Swiss communities, the school received financial support from companies in both countries. GSIS adopted a bilingual German-English curriculum from its inception.
In 1972, the Hong Kong Government provided land on Guildford Road, where the current upper building was constructed. The school experienced growing enrollment, leading to the relocation of primary classes to May Road and later to the former hospital on Borrett Road. The Guildford campus, completed with a cost of $7 million, opened in 1975, accommodating a total of 525 students.
Throughout the years, GSIS continued to expand. The middle and lower buildings were established in 1985 and 1993, respectively, as student numbers surpassed 1,000 in 1989. The governments of Austria, Germany, and Switzerland provided subsidies and teaching staff to the school. In 2006, the kindergarten and Business College were temporarily relocated to different areas in Hong Kong, but a permanent second campus in Pok Fu Lam was secured in 2007.
GSIS operates under the governance of a board of trustees, including representatives from Switzerland. English serves as the school’s language of governance, and it is the medium of communication between the Anglophone and German classes. The curriculum at GSIS offers two parallel streams: the English International Stream and the German International Stream. The school also has a Business College that provides training programs in Wholesale & Foreign Trade and Transport & Logistics Management.
Under the English International Stream, the primary department offers a curriculum encompassing various subjects such as English, Mathematics, Geography, History, Music, and Science. German is taught from Year 2, and Chinese (Mandarin) is introduced in Year 4. In the secondary department, GSIS adopted the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma program, replacing the GCE A-level program in 2013. Students also have the option to take SAT I/II or Sprachdiplom examinations for university applications.
The German International Stream follows an eight-year Gymnasium course based on the curriculum of German schools in Southeast and East Asia. The stream offers English, French, Latin, and Mandarin programs. GSIS is one of the first German Schools Abroad to offer the bilingual Deutsche Internationale Abiturprüfung (DIAP, German International Abitur Examination), allowing up to 50% of the exams to be taken in English. The Business College is located on the Pok Fu Lam Campus.