Discovery College

{{Infobox school

| name = Discovery College

| native_name = 智新書院

| logo = DiscoveryCollege.png

| logo_size = 275px

| image = ESFDiscoveryCollegeHK.jpg

| alt = Exterior of Discovery College.

| caption = Exterior of Discovery College.

| type = Co-educational private primary and secondary school

| principal = Mr. James Smith {{cite web |title=Principal's Welcome |url=http://www.discovery.edu.hk/about-us/principals-welcome/ |website=Discovery College |access-date=2 July 2020}}

| established = August 2006

| website = {{url|http://www.discovery.edu.hk/}}

| location = Yi Pak Bay, Discovery Bay, Lantau Island

| country = Hong Kong

| colours = Red and grey

| enrollment = 1,448

| houses = Jin Shu (metal), Qing Mu (wood), Liu Shui (water), Lie Huo (fire) and Re Tu (earth)

}}

{{Chinese

|order=ts

|t=智新書院

|s=智新书院

|j=zi3 san1 syu1 jyun6*2

|p=Zhì Xīn Shūyuàn

}}

Discovery College ({{zh|t=智新書院}}) is a private independent school operated by the ESF in Discovery Bay, Hong Kong. It offers both primary and secondary education on one campus. The school first opened in August 2009 after replacing another ESF school, Bauhinia School, which first opened in January 2002.{{Cite web|title=Hong Kong International Schools: Bauhinia School|url=http://www.internationalschoolguide.com/hong_kong/bauhinia.htm|access-date=2020-09-09|website=www.internationalschoolguide.com}} Discovery College has five houses, and provides education from year 1 to year 13.{{Cite web|title=Discovery College - IB Through school, Discovery Bay, Hong Kong|url=http://www.discovery.edu.hk/|website=Discovery College|language=en|access-date=2020-05-26}}

Discovery College was established by the English Schools Foundation to serve the needs of the local and expatriate communities in Hong Kong. It is a full Years 1 to 13 school offering the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP) for Years 1-6, Middle Years Programme (MYP) for Years 7-11, and Diploma Programme (DP) for Years 12-13.

Under the Private Independent School Scheme, 70% of the students of Discovery College must be Hong Kong permanent residents.{{cite report |date=23 October 2004 |title=Government subsidies to the English Schools Foundation |url=http://www.aud.gov.hk/pdf_e/e43ch03.pdf |publisher= Audit Commission|pages= 2–3|access-date= 28 March 2018|location= Hong Kong}}

History

File:Discovery College Under Construction.jpg

Plans to set up Discovery College as one of ESF's first private schools began in 1999.{{cite news |last=Forestier |first=Katherine |date=2 September 2006 |title=Renaissance College Puts Fresh Face on the ESF |url=http://www.scmp.com/article/562500/renaissance-college-puts-fresh-face-esf |work=South China Morning Post |location=Hong Kong |access-date=28 March 2018 }} As a private ESF school, Discovery College would not receive recurrent government subsidy. In 2001, the Education and Manpower Bureau (EMB) granted ESF a lot of land in Ma On Shan and another in Discovery Bay to build two primary-cum-secondary schools under the Private Independent School Scheme. The Discovery Bay site would eventually become the permanent campus of Discovery College.

Designed by Integrated Design Associates, the permanent campus was built between 2003 and 2008.{{cite magazine |author= |title=Discovery College |url= http://www.building.com.hk/feature/2009_0630discovery.pdf|magazine= Building Journal|location= Hong Kong|date= November 2008|access-date= 30 November 2018|page=36}} The 70,000 sq ft campus cost HK$290 million,{{cite news |last1=Heron |first1=Liz |title=ESF on a mission of green Discovery |url=https://www.scmp.com/article/642385/esf-mission-green-discovery |access-date=30 November 2018 |work=South China Morning Post |date=21 June 2008}} of which HK$137 million was granted by the Hong Kong Government.{{cite hansard|jurisdiction= Hong Kong Special Administrative Region |title= Official Record of Proceedings|url= http://www.legco.gov.hk/yr10-11/english/counmtg/hansard/cm0601-translate-e.pdf|house= Legislative Council|date= 1 June 2011|page=11192|speaker= Jasper Tsang Yok-Sing|position=President}} Operated by ESF Educational Services Limited (ESL), an ESF subsidiary, Discovery College needs to repay ESF its capital costs of HK$168 million within 20 years of opening.{{cite news |last1=Heron |first1=Liz |title=ESF chief admits levy could have been avoided |url=https://www.scmp.com/article/731989/esf-chief-admits-levy-could-have-been-avoided |work=South China Morning Post |date=30 November 2010}}

In 2007, the primary section of Discovery College opened in a temporary site in Lai King, merging with former ESF primary school Bauhinia School.{{cite news |last1=Heron |first1=Liz |title=Discovery day at new DB college |url=https://www.scmp.com/article/641457/discovery-day-new-db-college |access-date=30 November 2018 |work=South China Morning Post |date=14 June 2008}} About two thirds of the school's students were transferred from Bauhinia School. The 450 students moved into the Discovery Bay campus when it began operation on 20 August 2008.

Curriculum

Discovery College adopts a range of long-standing International Baccalaureate programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), Diploma Programme (DP), and the newly added Career-related Programme (CP), a curriculum for students aged 16-19 that is more personalized for those who are more certain of their future career paths.{{cite web|author=Discovery College|title=Curriculum – General|url=https://www.ibo.org/programmes/career-related-programme/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928181933/http://www.discovery.edu.hk/content.php?contentid=7|archive-date=28 September 2007|access-date=2007-08-30|df=dmy-all}}

Access

Access is through Siena Avenue in Discovery Bay, which can be accessed by bus.

References

Category:English Schools Foundation schools

Category:Association of China and Mongolia International Schools

Category:International Baccalaureate schools in Hong Kong

Category:2000s establishments in Hong Kong