Principal's Message

Dear KGV Families,

Being focused in a world full of distractions is a challenge for our young people, and indeed for adults. Mobile devices are one of those distractions, particularly as much of social media and messaging apps are designed to provoke quick responses. This can have a negative impact on the ability of students to immerse themselves in their learning, particularly as it may reduce their attention span.

This is why, starting from Monday and as shared previously by Carole Beer, we are trialling KGV being a mobile device free campus from ‘gate-to-gate.’  We are keen to find out the impacts this has on the student experience at KGV, particularly in terms of their focus in lessons and social interactions at other times of the day. If your child has a mobile device, a useful conversation at home may be how this approach has affected their experience at school, particularly in terms of their focus in lessons. A starting point could be watching this video clip together and sharing perspectives on the message.

Student voice also reflects they are looking for adults to be role models in their use of mobile devices, which creates a positive challenge for teachers and parents. During this trial, we will be seeking feedback from students, parents and teachers.

I appreciate your support and engagement in this trial, and we will provide further updates in due course. Have a  good weekend ahead.

Best regards,

Mark Poulsum

Year 11 Message

We are very proud of the way our Y11 students are tackling their exams. Exams are challenging and stressful, but we are seeing students support each other, be organised and turn up well-prepared.

Please help your child to ensure they know exactly when and where all their exams are over the next two months. We will be here to meet them and support them before and after every exam. Students may choose to study at school during normal school days. Please wear normal uniform and work in the LRC.

• Full detailed exam timetable
• Exams overview

All exam instructions and reference materials are available here.

Results Website & Login Information

Two emails (Cambridge and Edexcel) regarding results websites and login information have just been sent to students.

Cambridge: On results day, follow the instructions in the email to check your results. Please keep your username and password safe. You may wish to print out a copy of the email for safekeeping.

Edexcel: Follow the instructions on the email to activate your ResultsPlus account as soon as possible. If you do not activate your account, you will not be able to check your results. During the activation process, you will be asked to input your email address. Please use an email account you have access to. If you are leaving KGV, you might wish to use your personal email address. *IMPORTANT* Do NOT wait until results day to activate your account. Account activation takes time and doing it on results day will cause a delay (up to 1-2 days) in accessing your results.

If you have registered for AQA subjects, please note that results will be emailed to you on results day.

Please contact Exams Office (exam@kgv.edu.hk) if you have any questions. Thank you!

Year 8 & 9 Message

New Mobile Phone Policy

As Mr. Poulsum mentioned, from Monday 12th May we are trialling KGV being a mobile device free campus from ‘gate-to-gate.’ Our aim is to identify any impact this has on student ability to focus in lessons and the social interactions they have throughout the day. A group of our Year 9 students are taking this one step further and piloting the use of phone pouches during this period. If your child has a mobile device, we would appreciate you taking the time to discuss how not having a mobile phone readily available is affecting their experience at school. During this trial, we will be seeking feedback from students, parents and teachers.

I appreciate your support and engagement in this trial, and we will provide further updates in due course. 

Mental Health Awareness Week 

Mental Health Awareness Week 2025, scheduled for 12-18 May, focuses on the theme of "Community" and features a variety of engaging activities designed to promote mental well-being amongst students. Highlights include the distribution of green ribbon pins to symbolise support for mental health, a "Try Gym" initiative with creative workshops for making pins and tote bags, and fun events like a Kahoot quiz and the Human Knot game. Throughout the week, students will also participate in the Spoon Theory experience and enjoy a break from assessments and homework, fostering an environment of connection and support. We encourage you to engage with your  children about these initiatives and the importance of mental health.

Attached are some resources for Mental Health Awareness Week 2005 co-created by Mrs. Barton the wellbeing student leaders (prefects and ambassadors) and our social workers Christina and Vicky. 

Year 8 Options

The system is now open on Lionel for students to make their Language and Arts choices. They have until the end of the day  on Wednesday 14th May to confirm their Languages and Arts choices for Year 9. If they have any subject specific questions, please encourage them to speak to the relevant teacher of Head of Department. 

Year 10 Message

Year 10 students are aware that our mobile phone policy changes from next week. If students choose to bring a phone to school, it must be turned off and away in their bags from the moment they arrive at school until they leave at the end of the day. If you need to contact your child urgently, please call the main school office.

Next week is also Mental Health Awareness Week with a range of activities to raise awareness of Mental Health and it's impact as well as self-care and caring for others. Please take a moment to talk to your child about these issues next week.

Year 12 & 13 Message

As our Principal, Mr Poulsum, has shared above, we are trialling KGV being a mobile device free campus from ‘gate-to-gate’ beginning Monday 12th May for 6 weeks. We are keen to find out the impacts this has on the student experience at KGV, particularly in terms of focus in lessons and social interactions at other times of the day.

This trial does not include our Year 13 students.

Our Year 12 students are engaging with this trial and we very much appreciate your support and feedback during this time.

Our student voice also reflects that adults need to be role models in their use of mobile devices, which creates a positive challenge for teachers and parents. During this trial, we will be seeking feedback from students, parents and teachers.

Wishing you a great weekend.

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Phone Free, Gate to Gate

This week, we have been working with Year 7 students and preparing them for the start of next week’s mobile phone expectations.

As you will be aware, from Monday 12th May, we are going Phone Free, Gate to Gate. For Year 7 students, this means that if they bring a mobile phone to school, they should turn their phone off and put it in their bags from the moment they enter the school gates. Phones are to stay in bags until they leave the campus. Please make sure your child carries with them a physical Octopus card to swipe in and purchase items from the canteen/  PTSA. If you need to contact your child, please call the school reception. We look forward to updating you on our work in this space across the next six weeks.

Mental Health Awareness Week

Mental Health Awareness Week 2025, scheduled for 12-18 May, focusses on the theme of "Community" and features a variety of engaging activities designed to promote mental well-being amongst students. Highlights include the distribution of green ribbon pins to symbolise support for mental health, a "Try Gym" initiative with creative workshops for making pins and tote bags, and fun events like a Kahoot quiz and the Human Knot game. Throughout the week, students will also participate in the Spoon Theory experience and enjoy a break from assessments and homework, fostering an environment of connection and support. We encourage you to engage with your children about these initiatives and the importance of mental health.

Attached are some resources for Mental Health Awareness Week 2005, co-created by Mrs. Barton, the wellbeing student leaders (prefects and ambassadors), and our social workers, Christina and Vicky.

Have a good weekend.

Phone Free, Gate To Gate: Parent Feedback

Your feedback is important to us. Your involvement in this trial is essential.

Please can you spend 2/3 minutes completing this simple pre-trial questionnaire.

I will close it on Sunday, 7 pm.

Phone Free, Gate to Gate starts Monday 12th May. Your child needs to bring a physical Octopus Card to school to swipe in and purchase items from Canteen and KGV Shop.

Please refer to the attached announcement in the weekly parent newsletter regarding requests for school references and grade summaries.

Parents are kindly advised to submit requests for school references via this form by 6 pm on 23 May 2025. This allows teachers sufficient time to complete the references before the end of the school year.

Requests received after this deadline will be processed, but we cannot guarantee completion before the summer break. Such requests are expected to be fulfilled upon the school's resumption in August.

School references for higher education application process for Year 12 and Year 13 are handled in a different process.  There is no need for a request.

Parents are also encouraged to use their parent Lionel login to access semester summaries on their child's CCF page. Grade summary requests will be processed in July, following the release of the 2024-25 Semester 2 summaries.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

KGV Careers & H.E. Team

Careers & H.E. Guidance

Year 13

Link of the week: KGV’s IB Result Service 2025 Form. This service allows IBO to send students’ final IB exam results directly to specified universities right after result release. This is crucial to confirm offers.

Sending positive vibes to our students for smooth IB exams and coursework! You've got this!

Applications & Decisions. Students should continue to keep their H.E. Counsellors informed about their applications and regularly check Google Classroom for updates and resources related to higher education.

Year 13 Exit Preparation – Parent: 1 pm on Tuesday 29 Apr, via Zoom. The presentation deck was shared with all Y13 parents on Wed.

Year 12

Link of the week: EU's Study in Europe Resources webpage

Google Classrooms for Y12s, set up to share H.E.-related information.

The Y12 1-1 H.E. meetings. All appointments are now scheduled. Students should refer to the schedules posted on Google Classroom for their appointments.

Y12 H.E. Presentation Series. The HE Team started presenting to Y12 students on various topics related to higher education. Topics covered so far: Personal Statement – Part A&B, H.E. Refresher+Unifrog , Advanced Unifrog, UK Applications & HK Applications, Oxbridge, and Medicine, Dentistry & Vet. Coming up: USA Applications, USA Personal Essay, and Canada Applications.  Students can find the full schedule on Google Classroom.

H.E. Events

Our KGV Careers Calendar lists known H.E. events.

KGV is not responsible for the quality of any external events. All information is subject to change by event organisers.

H.E. Visit @ KGV (Lunch break)
23 May: Foothill & De Anza Colleges + University of San Francisco
28 May: University of Nottingham

U.K.
10 May: KCL’s Dickson Pool School of Law – Student Info Session in HK
14 May: Falmouth University Online Event: Budgeting for International Students Advice Session
15 May: Falmouth University Online Event: Student Visa Information Session
23 May: The Medic Portal Webinar – Verbal Reasoning Tips & Strategies
29 May: University of Bath: Supporting your child’s UCAS application for courses starting in 2026
30 May: The Medic Portal Webinar – International Applicant Advice

U.S.A.
21 May: EducationUSA – Introduction: Community College Seminar

Europe
17 May: EHL’s Taster Discovery Webinar – From Asia to Switzerland
17 May: Study in Sweden Fair (online)

KGV Careers & H.E. Team

12 -16 May 2025