WIS-Whole School-01-FIXED

Vision and Values

Vision and Values

ESF Vision: For every student to be the best that they can be

West Island School Vision: Find your purpose, realise your potential

Values: Community, Compassion, Courage

Motto: Strength from Diversity

 

"Find your purpose, realise your potential" is a statement that will drive every decision we make and every experience we create. It speaks directly to the essence of our educational philosophy—that success is not a narrow path, but one forged by curiosity, exploration, and self-discovery. We want to empower our students to try out different subjects, to embrace new challenges, to find the things that genuinely excite them. When a student finds their purpose, they become a more engaged, resilient, and successful learner. Our role is to provide the environment and the opportunities for them to not only find that passion and purpose but also to realise their unique potential in school and in life.

 

This statement complements and strengthens the values we have always held. It works hand-in-hand with the ESF vision, which is "for every child to be the best that they can be", and it is perfectly underpinned by our school motto, "strength from diversity"

 

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Diversity, equity and inclusion are at the centre of who we are at ESF.

 

We are a community of over 18,000 students and staff from more than 70 nationalities and cultures, with a history stretching back over 50 years. We recognise the importance of creating an environment where everyone is treated equally, with dignity and respect, and appreciated for who they are.

 

This is integral to our vision, mission and values as a leading international school organisation, committed to developing and inspiring every student to be the best that they can be.

 

Each school within ESF holds a shared vision to create a welcoming learning and working environment, including online, where everyone is valued and supported, so that each and every person in our community can thrive. We believe this is a key driver of our excellence and empowers our students and our staff to reach their fullest potential.

 

We are aware of our critical role in shaping the future generation of global citizens and are committed to constantly assessing and challenging our own diversity, equity and inclusion practices to ensure we are doing our very best for our students, staff, parents and the wider community.

 

Our commitments:

  1. To provide students with an equal opportunity to access education and the support they require to enable them to flourish and truly be the best that they can be.
  2. To embrace diversity and celebrate the uniqueness of each student through our personalised learning approach in all ESF kindergartens, primary, secondary and all-through schools.
  3. To educate students and staff on the importance and impact of positive diversity, equity and inclusion policies, practices and behaviours through normalising speaking up, identifying learning opportunities, and holding regular training, awareness events and campaigns.
  4. To promote equitable practices in all of our operations and be fair in the way we deal with all aspects of recruitment and employment.
  5. Not to tolerate discrimination or harassment of any kind, including online, against any student or member of staff such as in relation to gender, pregnancy, breastfeeding, adoption, marital status, age, family status, belief, race, disability or sexuality.
  6. To constantly work on improving our focus and accountability in relation to diversity, equity and inclusion; to have personal responsibility and commitment to learning and growth in these areas; to provide regular training and professional development opportunities across all levels of the organisation; to be transparent about our efforts and our progress in reaching our goals; and to highlight and challenge our unconscious biases and be open to ideas for change and improvement.

Safeguarding and Child Protection

ESF upholds every child’s right to learn and live in conditions that protect them from harm.

 

At ESF we prioritise Safeguarding and Child Protection. Through our actions, we promote the optimum development of our students' intellectual, physical, emotional, and social wellbeing. Wherever possible, we aim to prevent harm through our safeguarding actions, and if harm has occurred, we respond through our child protection procedures.

All ESF staff are trained in preventative and protective measures, with each school having at least two dedicated Child Protection Officers on site to lead on this critical aspect of student life.

Our policy and procedures are based on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, Hong Kong law, and additional guidance from international sources such as Keeping Children Safe, and the International Task Force on Child Protection.

 

Our policy is built on four core tenets:

  • We respond: All our actions are proactive and responsive, guided by strong policy to ensure we do all we can to safeguard and protect our students.
  • We support: We work in hope, towards a future without child maltreatment, in close collaboration with our students and their families. We understand the specific context they live in, and support them in a culturally sensitive manner.
  • We connect: We engage and partner with local and international support services, with our communities, and with each other through the ESF Child Protection Officers Network.
  • We develop: The field of Child Protection is always in motion; we constantly strive to improve our approach. We refine and review our actions, with the aim to constantly better ourselves.

ESF West Island School - Child Protection Officers

Helen Devine Costa, Vice Principal (16-18) (helen.devine-costa@wis.edu.hk)
Guy Hewson, Director of Learning Pre16 (guy.hewson@wis.edu.hk)
Sara Ellison, Director of Learning Post 16 (sara.ellison@wis.edu.hk)
Saffron Brown, Mental Health lead (saffron.brown@wis.edu.hk)
Steve Rudall, Director of Learning (Years 10 -11) (steve.rudall@wis.edu.hk)
Mike Williams, Vice Principal (Years 10 -11) (mike.williams@wis.edu.hk)
Helena Murchie, Vice Principal (Years 7 -9) (helena.murchie@wis.edu.hk)

 

By enrolling their children at ESF, parents agree to work in partnership with us and abide by the ESF Safeguarding and Child Protection policy and procedures.

Download ESF Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy

 

 

Apply Call Enquire

Welcome and please be advised that ESF uses cookies. By accessing an ESF, ESL or PTA web site and other online ESF services, such as ESF’s mobile app, users agree that ESF can store and access cookies, IP addresses and use other methods in order to collect website usage data, and improve user’s online experience. By continuing to access this web site, users agree to the use of cookies, which is handled in accordance to the ESF Data Privacy Policy. Information collected via cookies is handled in accordance with the ESF Personal Data Handling Policy and its related Personal Information Collection Statements (“PICS”). A copy of the PICS can be found on the ESF web site.