Under the senior secondary (SS) academic structure introduced in 2009, all students will study a three-year senior secondary curriculum after completing the three-year junior secondary curriculum. They will then sit for the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE), which was introduced in 2012 to replace the former Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination and Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination. Subject to satisfactory performance in the HKDSE, students will continue their studies at local universities for four years.
The College adopts English as the medium of instruction. All subjects are to be taught in English with the exception of Chinese Language, Chinese as a Secondary Language, Chinese History and Chinese History for Non-Chinese Speaking Students.
Citizenship and Social Development are offered to S4 to S6 students in either Chinese or English. Students are free to choose their preferred medium of instruction, which will be taken as the language to be used in the public examination.
The College attaches equal importance to both Chinese and English languages, and wherever appropriate and feasible, will use both in its written communications with parents. As the spoken language of Hong Kong is Cantonese, it is understood that Cantonese will predominate as a social language inside and outside of the College. For this reason, it is not always feasible to expect that guest speakers or others from outside the College are as comfortable in using English to the extent that we may be. Therefore, it is likely that parent briefing sessions, presentations by guest speakers and other activities hosted by external parties will be conducted in Cantonese, with simultaneous interpretation provided.
Subjects offered to Junior Forms aim to consolidate students’ knowledge base and prepare them for the Senior Secondary Curriculum (SS).
Subjects offered in S1 – S2:
English Language, Chinese Language, Chinese as a Second Language*, French*, Mathematics, Citizenship, Economics and Society, Chinese History, Chinese History for NCS Students*, History, Geography, Integrated Science, Information and Communication Technology, Home Economics, Music, Visual Arts, Health and Physical Education, Extended Learning Lessons, Minds+ (S1) and STEAM (S2)
Subjects offered in S3:
English Language, Chinese Language, Chinese as a Second Language*, French*, Mathematics, Citizenship, Economics and Society, Chinese History, Chinese History for NCS Students*, History, Geography, Business & Finance, Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics), Information and Communication Technology, Music, Visual Arts, Health and Physical Education, Extended Learning Lessons
Remarks: * Subjects offered to non-Chinese speaking students only
Students in Senior Forms are required to study four core subjects, i.e. English Language, Chinese Language / Chinese as a Second Language, Mathematics and Citizenship and Social Development, plus three electives from a fairly wide variety of subjects. These include Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Information and Communication Technology, Economics, Business, Accounting and Financial Studies (Accounting Module / Business Management Module), Geography, Chinese History, Tourism and Hospitality Studies, Literature in English, Mathematics Extended Part Modules (M1 &M2), French, Visual Arts, Physical Education and Music.
The College believes in providing an all-rounded education and has always encouraged students to participate in a wide range of extra-curricular activities so that they can learn beyond the classroom. Department Days and whole-school co-curricular activities are held within the formal timetable. These activities form an integral part of school life and contribute to students’ other Learning Experiences.
The College has implemented a system of keeping a formal record of students’ achievements in the form of Student Learning Portfolios. To facilitate proper record keeping, we have upgraded our computer system so that we can keep a track record of individual students’ achievements in electronic form.
School-based Assessment (SBA) refers to assessments conducted by the school as part of the teaching and learning process, with students being assessed by their subject teachers. The marks awarded will count towards students’ HKDSE results.
The College has, since its inauguration in 2000, been using internal continuous assessment tools to assess students’ academic performance. The experience and skills so acquired have proved very useful in fulfilling the requirement of SBA under the NSS curriculum.
Our College has put a special emphasis on nurturing students to become self-directed learners via the promotion of Collaborative Learning and Mobile Learning. In order to further enhance students’ learning capacity for lifelong learning, the enquiry-based learning approach has been adopted in lessons as part of our new three-year school plan starting from the 2021/22 school year.
Enquiry Learning is a pedagogical approach that places emphasis on igniting students’ curiosity and quest for knowledge, with students taking a proactive role throughout the learning process. Students will work collaboratively to solve problems and construct knowledge through research, observation and peer interactions. By utilising different teaching strategies in lessons, we believe students can develop effective self-learning strategies and become active lifelong learners.
To enrich students’ learning experience, a module-based course called "Minds+" has been implemented in S1 since 2022/23. In 2023/24, three modules will be taught, covering the topics of Design Thinking, STEAM Education and French. The objective of this course is to equip students with the necessary values, knowledge and skills that will prepare them to be self-directed learners.
The College has also introduced Extended Studies lessons for S1-S3 students starting from 2023/24, with a view to broadening students’ knowledge base. Teaching and learning activities will take the form of talks, seminars and workshops, with a focus on developing students’ critical thinking skills, problem solving skills and creativity, as well as equipping them with subject-specific learning skills.
Both the Minds+ course and Extended Studies lessons are designed to extend students’ learning beyond the formal curriculum, and strengthen their competency for lifelong learning so that will be better equipped to embrace the challenges in this fast-changing world.