YCIS’s Admissions Team and Co-Principals gathered at the inaugural International Schools Festival on September 26. The event at the JW Marriott was co-organised by SCMP’s Education Post and Top Schools. Over 3000 parents attended the event with more than 30 schools and education providers also in attendance.

The event proved to be a great success and provided the perfect forum for parents and schools to interact, exchange ideas and discuss the education trends impacting Hong Kong’s residents.

Nicky Weir, our Early Childhood Co-Principal participated in a panel discussing bilingual learning and biliteracy in Chinese for schools following an international curriculum. A lively debate ensued with panelists from Singapore International School (Hong Kong), Canadian International School and the International Montessori School. The session was moderated by Ruth Benny, Founder of the Education Consultancy, Top Schools.

The panellists highlighted how young children were highly capable of mastering three or four languages at once allaying parents’ fears that their children might find it too confusing. The panel also overwhelmingly agreed that the key to future success at school and work would be the mastery of both English and Chinese languages.

YCIS looks forward to joining the next International Schools Festival in 2016.