Re-zoning

One of the problems facing the ESF is that changing demographics are affecting the number of applications received by different schools. The biggest problems (as previously mentioned) are in Kowloon and the New Territories, where the population is expanding, but it also affects other areas where applications are falling.

Towards the end of last year, the ESF announced changes to the zoning. The most radical part of this is that the harbour is no longer a barrier, and so children from the West Kowloon reclamation area will be directed to Island School rather than KGV, and in the Tsing Yi area to Island School rather than Sha Tin College

In addition, primary school children from Lamma and Lantau (including Discovery Bay) will go to Bradbury rather than to Kennedy School. Some areas have been transferred to Clearwater Bay School from Kowloon Junior School and Sha Tin Junior School.

There are some obvious problems with this, particularly during the changeover period:

• Groups of friends/neighbours of similar ages going to different schools.
  
• Although younger siblings will be allowed to go to the same school as their older brother(s) or sister(s) that will mean that they will be separated from their local friends of the same age.

The journeys may be more difficult, which is obviously a concern (particularly with younger children) and it also creates some logistical difficulties with school bus arrangements.