International Schools Festival in Hong Kong Highlights Shift Towards Holistic Education Over Perfect Résumés
The International Schools Festival in Hong Kong featured 46 schools and education advisers, offering families guidance on admissions, curricula, university applications, and future education planning. Speakers emphasized that education should prioritize well-being, curiosity, and adaptability rather than being driven by fear or the quest for a flawless résumé.
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According to the South China Morning Post, the International Schools Festival – Hong Kong Island 2026 took place on September 19 at the Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott Hotel, drawing over 1,700 parents, students, and educators. The event included 46 schools and education advisers, offering families guidance on admissions, curricula, university applications, and future education planning.
Across five parent talks and 10 school-led information sessions, speakers returned to one central message: education should not be driven by fear or the pursuit of a perfect résumé. It was suggested that families ought to concentrate on well-being, curiosity, and adaptability.
In a morning panel discussion titled “Rethinking the Admissions Journey,” school leaders questioned the notion that primary admissions should be viewed as an examination that children need to be coached to pass. These leaders indicated that schools are interested in observing curiosity, confidence, emotional preparedness, and a child's inherent capacity to communicate and interact with others, rather than rehearsed responses. Principal Brenda Cook of the English Schools Foundation’s (ESF) Kennedy School stated that they do not seek a single, fixed applicant profile.
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