SECONDARY School AT HKA

Joanna Crimmins
Secondary School Principal

A warm welcome to HKA's Secondary School, where we welcome students into a community where they are empowered to discover their own unique pathway to success. Our mission is to nurture a culture of belonging that inspires students to become intellectually curious, intrinsically motivated, and interculturally minded global citizens. We believe that by creating an environment where every student feels seen and supported, they can thrive and make a lasting impact on our world.

HKA’s dynamic learning programmes are designed to support pathways to individual excellence that reflect our ever-changing world. By engaging in authentic, real-world problems and contexts, students are invited to build on their strengths and skills, delving deeply into complex topics. Our emphasis on inquiry-based learning encourages students to ask challenging questions, uncover solutions, and become intrinsically motivated learners who are excited about what they can achieve.

A strong sense of community is at the heart of our learning journey. We take a proactive approach to supporting each student’s academic, physical, social and emotional wellbeing. Our extensive curricular and co-curricular programmes provide multiple opportunities for students to build strong relationships with one another, guided by our passionate and highly skilled teachers and coaches. Parents are also active partners in our learning initiatives, providing expertise and insights that strengthen the classroom experience and deepen our collective culture of belonging.

I invite you to explore our Secondary School and learn how our programmes and community will prepare your child to be a capable, creative, compassionate and confident contributor to global society.

Our Secondary School programme recognises, addresses and celebrates the unique needs of adolescent learners.

From Grade 6 to Grade 12, students at HKA are encouraged to pursue their individual pathways through the wide range of learning experiences and co-curricular activities on offer. We provide opportunities for every child to grow intellectually, physically, socially and emotionally during their time at HKA. As students become increasingly independent and self-sufficient, we recognise the importance of maintaining a strong sense of community and network of support. The relationships nurtured between faculty, staff, administrators, parents and students help to individualise our programme, enhancing and enriching all aspects of student learning in our Secondary School.

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OUR DYNAMIC SECONDARY SCHOOL PROGRAMME

At HKA we believe that a rigorous education should provide opportunities for students to become confident, resilient and influential both now and in the future. Our programmes inspire curiosity, encourage innovation and nurture a strong sense of identity in every individual. Through authentic and meaningful learning experiences, our students discover the joy and passion that comes from an HKA education.

Our Secondary School curriculum is organised according to the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (IB MYP) and Diploma Programme (IB DP), and learning is inquiry-based, conceptually driven and developed around real-life contexts. We use the IB MYP to structure teaching, learning and assessment for students in Grades 6-10. Designed to provide both breadth and depth across the curriculum, the IB MYP supports students as they develop their knowledge and skills within eight subject areas. Through the IB MYP, learners are encouraged to become more aware of their growing sense of identity as they enter adolescence, and to feel empowered to take action within their community.

As they move through the IB MYP, HKA students are encouraged to consider who they are as learners and their aspirations for the future as they determine their best-fit pathway to graduation. Our Grades 11 & 12 programme provides a range of options for students to earn the required credits to earn an HKA Diploma, and they are encouraged to pursue additional credentials through the IB Diploma Programme (DP) and the Global Citizen Diploma (GCD).

From Grades 6 to 12, our approach to instruction is practical, dynamic and student-centred. Teachers build strong relationships with students, gathering evidence of learning on a regular basis and providing timely feedback. They also work in partnership with parents to ensure that every student feels supported and successful as they progress through the Secondary School programme.

LEARN MORE ABOUT

OUR GRADES 6-10 PROGRAMME OUR GRADES 11 & 12 PROGRAMME

LEARNING FOR TODAY & TOMORROW

We know that the learning is more meaningful when students are partners in the instructional process. Within IB MYP and IB DP classes, through HKA-curated programmes such as hkaFLOW and work placements, and across a range of student-led clubs and projects, our students use their passions and interests to seek problems and generate solutions. Through a wide range of authentic assessment tasks, students demonstrate how the ideas they explore in the classroom translate to the world beyond school. They are also encouraged to pitch ideas to and seek feedback from industry experts, bridging their learning with authentic applications.

PROVIDING A HOLISTIC EDUCATION

Wellbeing is a key focus in our programme and we provide daily opportunities for students to actively nurture a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Students begin each day in advisory, where they check in with their advisor and small peer group before starting their classes for the day. Longer advisory sessions provide an opportunity to dive deeper into developmentally appropriate issues, often with the support of a member of our counselling team. Our bespoke wellbeing programme is taught by a wellbeing specialist who provides direct instruction and experiential learning to help all students Grades 6 to 12 to nurture their mental, physical and social wellbeing.

Learn more about counselling & wellbeing at HKA here.

OUR DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY OF LEARNERS

We were founded on the belief that all students benefit from being part of an inclusive learning community. Through our curricular and co-curricular programmes, every learner is encouraged to pursue their individual passions and develop their unique skills. Our class sizes are intentionally small, allowing teachers to personalise instruction and support every student to learn and grow through inquiry and reflection. Visit our Student Support Services page to find out more about Learner Support, Occupational and Speech Therapies, and English Language Learning at HKA.

Language Learning

Being able to communicate in more than one language is a fundamental element of an IB education and an advantage in our highly connected world. English is the language of instruction across the school, and each child’s unique language profile is used to nurture their reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. Secondary School students can opt to take MYP Chinese A language and literature, MYP Mandarin B or MYP Spanish B as an additional language. Grade 11 and 12 students can choose to study a bilingual IB Diploma by studying IBDP Chinese A Language and Literature or their home language as a self-taught course, or may choose IBDP Mandarin, Spanish or French as B or ab initio language courses.

FIELD TRIPS AND EXPERIENCES

Secondary School students go on a number of field trips during the school year, providing opportunities for students to take the understanding and skills they have developed in the classroom and use them to engage with the wider community. Students in Grades 6-11 participate in a week-long experiential learning programme. Unique from the usual rhythms and routines of the school day, these off-campus learning experiences inspire students to develop an evolving understanding of our changing world, challenge them to connect with each other and themselves in new ways, and become more impactful global citizens.

QUICKLINKS

SECONDARY School AT HKA

OUR DYNAMIC SECONDARY SCHOOL PROGRAMME

LEARN MORE ABOUT

LEARNING FOR TODAY & TOMORROW

PROVIDING A HOLISTIC EDUCATION

OUR DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY OF LEARNERS

Language Learning

FIELD TRIPS AND EXPERIENCES

Limited places available for August start date.

Apply now, decision given within 7 days of application submission.

We are now accepting 2025-2026 applications.

Join the HKA’s Academic Pathways workshop Thursday 26th September

Join the HKA’s Exploration Day