Diocesan Boys' School Adds Third University

Hong Kong's Diocesan Boys' School plans to offer the International Advanced Level (IAL) curriculum starting in 2027. The move, pending final approval from the Education Bureau, would make it the first school in the city to provide three separate university entrance pathways.

Headmaster Ronnie Cheng Kay-yen announced the plan on Saturday. He spoke at a Primary One admission talk at the school's Mong Kok campus. The school has already secured approval from Cambridge International Education and the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority. "We are now waiting for the Education Bureau's green light," Cheng said.

Three Curriculum Options

Cheng outlined the school's ambitious direction. "We are going full throttle to offer the Diploma of Secondary Education, the International Baccalaureate and the International Advanced Level," he stated. This trio of options is designed to cater to a diverse student body. The school currently has 1,400 secondary students and 900 primary pupils.

Cheng emphasized the need for varied educational models. "Their learning speed, ability and direction are very different," he explained. "We should strive to find ways so they can find a suitable learning model." The first cohort to choose from all three pathways will be Form Three students in the 2026-27 school year. That academic year begins next Tuesday.

Expert Advice on Choosing

An education expert quoted in the source report advised parents on curriculum selection. Parents should weigh international competitiveness and their child's individual suitability when choosing curricula, the expert said. The report did not name the expert.

The school's expansion to three pathways directly addresses this advice. It offers families a broader range of academic routes. The IAL is a UK-based qualification administered by Cambridge. It joins the locally focused Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) and the globally recognized International Baccalaureate (IB).

The Planned Rollout

The planned rollout is specific. Students reaching Form Three in the 2026-27 school year will make their choice. They can opt for the DSE, IB, or the new IAL curricula. This structured timeline gives current students and their families several years to prepare for the decision.

Headmaster Cheng's announcement signals a significant shift in Hong Kong's educational landscape. Diocesan Boys' School is an elite institution. Its move to diversify its offerings could influence other schools. The final step is bureaucratic. The school awaits the formal nod from Hong Kong's Education Bureau.