A New Era for True Bilingual Immersion 

 Hong Kong’s education landscape is about to welcome a very special new addition, one that blends academic rigour, bilingual and bicultural learning, holistic development and joyful learning. 

In September 2026, YK Pao School Hong Kong will open its doors to its first cohort of students. And the timing couldn’t be more perfect.

YK Pao School Hong Kong, established by the YK Pao Education Foundation, continues the philanthropic legacy of the late Sir YK Pao, esteemed shipping magnate and humanitarian whose vision was deeply rooted in education and global understanding.

The school builds on the exceptional success of its flagship bilingual school in Shanghai, long recognised as China’s No. 1 bilingual school by both the Hurun Report and Forbes China for six consecutive years. With this expansion to Hong Kong, YK Pao aims to serve both local and non-local families offering a not-for-profit, mission-driven education that empowers students to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world.

Its permanent home will be a purpose-built, 9,000-square-metre campus at 4 Rose Street in Kowloon Tong, nestled within one of Hong Kong’s most respected educational districts. A new teaching and learning building will open in 2028, but families won’t have to wait to start their journey — the inaugural 2026 cohort will begin learning at an initial campus in Kowloon East, ensuring a smooth and inspiring launch.

Why Immersion Matters

For years, parents in Hong Kong have been dreaming of a school that goes beyond teaching languages as subjects. They want their children to think, create, problem-solve and collaborate in both English and Putonghua, from a young age, through to graduation.

This is where YK Pao’s model stands apart.

So what is the difference between language learning and immersion?

In most schools, students take Mandarin or English class as a separate subject. But the rest of the day, maths, science, humanities, happens in just one primary language. This is commonly known as second-language instruction.

Immersion, on the other hand, means children learn real academic content through both languages.

At YK Pao:

• Primary students experience a 50/50 English – Putonghua immersion model, developing communication fluency in both.
• Middle Years students shift to a 60/40 model, achieving academic proficiency across subjects.
• Units of Inquiry are taught in alternating languages, strengthening conceptual understanding by approaching ideas from multiple linguistic angles.
• Maths is often considered the “neutral” subject, however at YK Pao it is taught in both languages to build flexibility and mastery.
• Even the playground languages, homeroom settings, and co-curricular activities are intentionally bilingual.

This transforms how students think and learn. They don’t just grow up speaking two languages; they grow up thinking in two languages.

Research consistently shows that immersion students develop:

• Enhanced cognitive flexibility
• Stronger cross-cultural understanding
• Better long-term biliteracy
• Equal or stronger academic outcomes than monolingual peers

In Hong Kong, a city that opens doors to the world and the Chinese Mainland, that’s a game-changing advantage.

If you’re interested in knowing more about YK Pao School Hong Kong, join us to meet the Founding Head, Cathy Braithwaite on 16 December 2025 at 5pm.

Booking is essential: https://topschools.link/YKPAO