We have prepared this guide to provide you with important information about our policies and procedures. You may click the links below for details or download  this guide.
We want every child to:
- enjoy their experience of learning with us
- communicate confidently in English
- understand the world around them
- develop an awareness of diversity
- become independent learners
We believe that children and young people …
… learn best in a safe, structured environment.
To encourage language learning:
- we set up clear classroom routines and manage student behaviour
- we make sure that the physical setting is safe and secure
- we have safeguarding, behaviour and diversity policies
… need to understand the learning process.
To help students monitor their progress and develop learning strategies:
- we give regular assessments with feedback on progress and achievements
- we use correction techniques which encourage self and peer assessment
- we plan relevant lessons with clear learning outcomes
- we set homework that reinforces classroom learning
… need exposure to rich, meaningful language.
To help our students speak, listen, read and write in real-life situations:
- we provide models of natural language through genuine communication
- our syllabuses are topic-based with appropriate activities and materials
- we only use English in class
… learn at different speeds through imitation, interaction and problem-solving.
To engage and motivate our students:
- we ensure that there is a variety of individual, pair, group and whole class activities
- we discuss progress with individual students based on observation and monitoring
- we cater to diverse learning styles and students’ own interests
… are more successful when their parents are involved in their learning.
To support this:
- we promptly communicate any issues regarding behaviour and progress
- we issue reports every semester which reflect learning and progress
- we encourage students to keep lesson and homework records
- we give parents opportunities to come into classes, meet teachers and attend workshops
We encourage parents to contact teachers to discuss any questions you may have about the course, your child's progress or our teaching. Please feel free to speak to teachers after lessons about any aspects of learning and development.
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It is very natural for young children to be upset during their first few lessons. Our teachers and teaching assistants are very skilled and experienced at settling children into their new environment and the following points will enable parents to make this transition as easy as possible:
- Prepare your child before the class by talking about the British Council course. If you have time, bring them for a visit so they can see the Kindergarten
- Don’t arrive too early before class
- Be positive about leaving your child in the teacher’s care
- Once you have handed your child over to the teacher, leave the class as quickly as possible - particularly if your child is crying
We do not allow parents to stay in the class as we know from experience that this does not help the child. Children who are upset and who have a parent present do not involve themselves in the lesson or mix with their peers. It may be difficult to leave your child when they are upset but it is in their best interests to integrate them into their new learning environment.
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We regard all students below the age of 18 as children, according to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989. We take our responsibilities towards the children in our care very seriously and we endeavour to make the British Council as safe as possible. However, we are in a public building which anyone can enter.
Door opening times
To avoid congestion in the teaching centre corridors, we have staggered class start times and classrooms are opened for students 10 minutes before lessons begin. Students will not have access to their classroom before this.
Parents of kindergarten and primary students must not leave children without supervision anywhere in the building, including the public toilets on the first floor. Parents or guardians should stay with their child until either the class teacher or designated teaching assistant arrives in the classroom.
Students must also be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times while using the public computers.
Student pick up policy
As we are unable to supervise any children outside class time, we ask parents to ensure that students are dropped off and collected on time before and after classes.
Late pick up policy
If a student is not collected on time they will be taken to a designated point (3rd floor) for collection. Children cannot remain in the classroom because the cleaners have to clean before the next lesson begins. Our teachers and teaching assistants also have other classes to teach and prepare for.
We reserve the right to take action if parents or guardians leave children unattended or without adequate supervision when not in class.
Kindergarten 1 – Primary 2
As part of our Safeguarding children policy, we have pick up procedures that we follow to protect the youngest children in our care.
Parents will be given a ‘pick up pass’ that is used to collect children after each lesson. You must fill in the details on the pass and add a photograph of your child. If the person collecting your child is under 18 years of age then you need to fill in the back of the pass as well.
If you forget to bring your pick up pass (or if you have left it in your child’s bag) then we will ask you to complete the pick up form held by the class teacher. This form asks for your name, contact number and Hong Kong identification number.
Primary 3 – Primary 6
Parents are responsible for the safety of their children before and after class. Parents or guardians should stay with their child until either the class teacher or designated teaching assistant arrives in the classroom and pick up their children promptly after class finishes.
Secondary
Children attending our secondary classes can arrive and depart unaccompanied. However, parents need to ensure that students do not arrive earlier than 10 minutes before class time as they will not be allowed access to the teaching floors.
Fire safety
All students will be informed about fire procedures in the first lesson. The assembly point is indicated in each classroom and we conduct regular fire drills which may cause disruption to classes. This is necessary to ensure the highest standards of fire safety are achieved.
Internet safety
While we blend Information Communication Technology and computer based learning into our young learner courses, students must not access social networking sites or personal email accounts during lessons or on our public computers. Please also remind your children not to give out any personal information online.
The use of video or audio recording equipment in the classroom is not allowed without the permission of the parents, the teacher and students. Under the British Data Protection Ordinance, it is a criminal offence to make a recording without consent. If teachers would like to film all or part of a class, you will be asked to provide written permission before the date of the filming. You are under no obligation to agree.
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We are committed to providing an inclusive learning environment in which children are supported to achieve their potential in a spirit of inclusion and acceptance. We value the abilities and achievements of all our students and recognise that parents hold key information and knowledge of their child. If your child needs any additional support in class, please notify us by filling in the form available at our Customer Services Centre or online. Having this information enables us to help your child more effectively. Your information is held in the strictest confidence.
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In order to ensure a secure and happy environment that is conducive to learning for all students, we expect students to behave appropriately. Inappropriate behaviour includes:
- Using abusive language directed towards a teacher or another student
- Possession of dangerous objects in the centre
- Stealing or damaging others’ property
- Bullying or harassment of peers
- Fighting or violence in class
- Smoking in the centre
- Disrupting a class
- Vandalism
If a student behaves inappropriately, the following steps will be taken:
- The teacher speaks to the student. If there is no improvement,
- Parents are contacted, informing them of the inappropriate behaviour and steps to improvement. If there is still no improvement,
- We arrange a meeting between the parents, the student, a Customer Services staff member and a Senior Teacher to discuss and sign a Behaviour Agreement
If sufficient improvement is not consistently demonstrated, the student will be suspended. After the period of suspension, a ‘Return to Learning’ meeting will be arranged with parents, Customer Services staff member and the relevant Senior Teacher to discuss expectations and consequences for any further inappropriate behaviour.
Depending on the extremity of the behaviour and the urgency of the case, some of the above steps may be skipped. In extreme cases, e.g. bullying or physical violence, the student may be immediately and permanently excluded.
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To guarantee a safe and positive learning experience for all our students, the British Council has a zero tolerance policy to all forms of bullying.
Bullying can be very difficult to detect and victims may not even be aware they are being bullied as it can manifest in many forms. Some of these include:
- offensive gestures or comments
- starting rumours / passing notes
- emotional or physical attacks
- stealing / hiding objects
- physical violence
- exclusion
If your child is not happy we want you to tell us. If your child cannot speak to the teachers there are other members of staff who are available to listen to you. Please also let us know if you think someone you know might be being bullied.
If you suspect your child is being bullied, it is important that you get in touch with us as soon as possible so that we can take appropriate steps to deal with the situation delicately and with discretion.
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At British Council Hong Kong, we give homework regularly. As children may already receive a large amount of homework from their schools we do not want to over-burden them so we give short homework tasks which foster independent study habits and consolidate language learned in class. The amount and type of homework given may vary according to individual teachers and the specific needs of particular groups of students but the information below gives an outline of how much and what kind of homework your child can expect to receive.
K1-K2
No formal homework is given but each week teachers will recommend activities that can be done at home with the parent to support classroom learning.
K3, P1-P2
Homework consists of recommendations through the parents’ letter such as songs, reading and activities that you can do together.
MP and UP
Homework is given at least every other lesson and should take students 15 minutes or less to complete. Typical homework tasks could be exercises from the activity book or pupil’s book, collecting information for the next lesson, finishing work started in class and writing tasks.
JS
Homework is given at least every other lesson and should take students 30 minutes or less to complete. Typical homework tasks could be exercises from the student’s book or workbook, writing or reading tasks, collecting information for the next lesson or finishing work started in class.
NS
Homework is given at least every other lesson and should take students 45 minutes or less to complete. Typical homework tasks could be exercises from the workbook, coursebook or electives booklet, writing or reading tasks or finishing work started in class.
HKDSE S5I and S5U, S6I and S6U
Homework is given at least every other lesson and should take students 45 minutes or less to complete. Typical homework tasks could be writing, reading or viewing tasks, finishing work started in class or preparing for the next lesson.
S5P and S6P
Homework is given at least every other lesson and should take students 45 minutes or less to complete. Typical homework tasks could be writing or reading tasks, finishing work started in class or preparing for the next lesson.
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If your child misses over half of a lesson, they will be recorded as absent in class registers.
The teacher or Customer Services must be informed in advance if your child needs to leave early. For safety reasons, the teacher will not allow a child to leave a class early without permission from a parent or guardian.
In cases of planned absence, please tell us as soon as you can. We will not make up or refund lessons missed due to personal commitments, truancy or illness.
If your child is absent for two or more lessons without us being told in advance, we will inform you by SMS or letter to confirm and check the reason for the absence.
If your child has a cold, flu or any other contagious illness, they should not attend lessons. If a child's health poses a threat to other students, they will not be allowed to join the class.
Reports and certificates
K2-S7 students will receive a report in the last lesson containing comments on performance, provided that students have attended at least 75 per cent of their course. If students are absent from the final lesson, the report will be posted to the specified address within one month.
K1 and Phonics children will receive a certificate of attendance at the end of the course.
If a report is lost or damaged, you can request a replacement report within one month from the date of your last lesson at a charge of HK$100. After the first month, you can request a certificate of attendance, which is available up to one year from the date of your last lesson at a charge of HK$50.
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Changing Class
Transferral of your child to a different class is possible while the registration period is still open. In order to change class, places in other classes must be available and supporting reasons must be provided. Please be aware that there are extra charges for transferring from weekday (Monday to Thursday) to weekend (Friday to Sunday) classes.
Great care is taken by our course counsellors to place students in the appropriate level depending on their age and proficiency. However, on rare occasions, we find it beneficial to transfer students to another level. Teachers, parents or students can make this request by the 3rd lesson of a semester.
In these cases, teachers will gather evidence of a student’s work in class and meet the Senior Teacher responsible for that course. However, students may only transfer if:
- the Senior Teacher agrees, and
- if there is a place available in another class
Sometimes this means that a teacher might have 21 students in a class and we then have to ask the teacher to agree to this additional student.
Customer Services then informs the parents about the transfer and the procedure is complete.
Occasionally a student may approach their teacher with a request to transfer to another level but the final decision rests with the teacher’s professional judgement in conjunction with the Senior Teacher.
Change of teachers
While we make every effort to timetable the same teacher for the duration of a course, we reserve the right to change class teacher without notice according to operational needs.
Refund Policy
Registered courses are neither transferable nor refundable except when a course is cancelled.
Any request for withdrawal due to special circumstances, once approved, will receive a credit note for the course fee. 10 per cent of the course fee will be charged as an administration fee.
Classes cancelled due to bad weather, teacher sickness or other circumstances will be made up. If make-up classes cannot be arranged or the rescheduling of the make-up lesson(s) is to a date or time that you are unable to attend, we will offer you course credits on a pro-rata basis.
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To find out how your child will progress between levels and move from primary to secondary courses, please use our progression chart.
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| Weather |
Procedures |
T1
T3 |
Follow EDB announcement |
| T8 + |
Class cancelled |
| Amber Rain |
Follow EDB announcement |
Red Rain
Black Rain |
- Class cancelled unless already in progress
- K1-S4 students to remain where they are until the warning is lowered
- Students cannot leave unless accompanied by a parent or guardian
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- Parents should follow guidelines as announced by the Education Bureau for school arrangements during bad weather, which we are abided to;
- When there is no announcement from the Education Bureau (on Sundays and non-teaching days,) please refer to details on our website.
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Study at any one of our seven centres, located around Hong Kong for your convenience.
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Liability
The British Council shall not be liable to any party in respect of the following:
- for any loss or damage to your property or any property in your possession in the course of engaging with the British Council or participating in courses as arranged by the British Council;
- for death, or any injury or incapacity (except as may be required by law).
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