Ocki Fernandes, High School Principal (left) and Andrew Noakes, Head of School (right), Stamford American School Hong Kong
A reimagining of secondary education
“Education is a little like Formula 1,” says Andrew Noakes, head of school at Stamford. “Every micro‑adjustment and every shaved gram add up to performance gains. We’ve applied the same precision thinking to how we design learning environments — so students can be more focused and more self‑directed. Hong Kong’s children no longer need to look overseas for a world‑class education.”
Noakes was speaking at the opening of Stamford American School’s new, 75,000 sq ft campus of in West Kowloon on October 24. Stamford, a private school headquartered in Ho Man Tin, Hong Kong, founded in 2017, is part of the global network of Cognita Schools, a community of over 100 schools that endeavours to equip students for a rapidly evolving world. Its Ho Man Tin campus is for pre-primary to grade 8, while the West Kowloon high school campus completes the K-12 spectrum.
He also announced the Spirit of Stamford Scholarship, aimed to provide promising Hong Kong youth an opportunity to complete their pre-university education at Stamford’s West Kowloon campus. “This scholarship exists to ensure more local students can access an international, stretching education right here in Hong Kong,” Noakes added.
Dr. Mark Michelson, chairman of the Asia CEO Forum for IMA Asia, and a former chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, delivered a keynote address at the opening ceremony. Reflecting on the school’s mission and the significance of its state-of-the-art facilities, Dr. Michelson said: “This magnificent facility provides a welcoming, forward-looking learning environment to identify and support the diverse needs and potential of each student — translating educational philosophy into physical form.” His words captured Stamford’s commitment to redefining pre-university education in Hong Kong and preparing students to thrive in a rapidly evolving global landscape.
Stamford’s West Kowloon campus was purpose-built for grades 9-12. It embodies concept of “turning every corner into an intentional learning space.” The university‑style learning environment develops students’ self‑management, cross‑disciplinary collaboration and deep focus. To mark this milestone, the school is launching the Spirit of Stamford Scholarship, opening a pathway for high‑potential local students to pursue the IB Diploma Programme (IBDP).
In terms of its physical footprint, the new West Kowloon campus is equipped with four science laboratories, three design and technology labs, two visual arts studios, two drama studios, a black box theatre, music wing with six practice rooms, a gym and a Pilates studio to support broad, student‑led exploration.
Redesigning the high school experience at the West Kowloon campus
Engineered to transform the secondary experience, West Kowloon campus has capacity for up to 630 high school students. Each detail has been calibrated to promote cognition and wellbeing. Classrooms feature circadian lighting — bright in the morning and warmer later in the day — paired with professional acoustics, use of a natural palette for furniture and interiors, and curved forms designed to reduce anxiety and enhance concentration and comfort.
The university‑style approach also eliminates bells between sessions, to foster a more mature atmosphere and minimize disruptions. Stamford believes that changes in the environment can drive positive changes in behavior. All classroom clocks are synchronised with the school’s computer systems, allowing teachers and students to transition naturally between sessions while building time‑management and self‑discipline — a rhythm that mirrors university and modern workplace expectations. It fosters students’ autonomy and provides flexibility in scheduling to allow for collaborative projects or research meetings in the school library.
Instead of traditional classrooms, the physical layout is structured in “learning communities” that cluster disciplines and activity types across three levels. A vibrant ground‑floor hub is designed for campus life and creative expression; a first‑floor humanities and library serve as a collaboration zone; and a second‑floor environment is dedicated to scientific inquiry and wellbeing.
“At our Ho Man Tin campus (pre‑primary to grade 8) you feel youthful energy; at West Kowloon, the high school atmosphere is immediately calmer and more focused,” High School Principal, Ocki Fernandes said at the opening ceremony. “The no‑bell schedule, combined with Learning Communities, has students moving between sessions in a natural and orderly way — their self‑management has visibly stepped up.”
To encourage authentic social connection, Stamford has introduced a smartphone‑free lunch period, reinforcing a healthier on‑campus culture of social interaction. Students treat the campus as their own community space — from leading student societies and hosting interviews to running a student‑produced campus TV channel — building ownership, agency and civic responsibility.
Two campuses, each pursuing excellence
Between the two Hong Kong campuses, Stamford offers a world-class international education with a rigorous standards-based curriculum and inquiry-driven program of study for children aged 5 to 18. As a through-train school, Stamford offers K-12 education from elementary (pre-primary to grade 5) through secondary (grade 6 to grade 12).
Stamford students get the best international and American education to prepare them to live, learn, and work in the increasingly globalized world. The curriculum is concept-based, building on students’ natural curiosity through formal content mixed with a broad range of associated “real-world” experiences. The curriculum emphasizes STEMinn(Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Innovation) subjects and includes daily foreign language instruction in Mandarin Chinese and Spanish, as well as a bilingual option (Mandarin/English) in elementary school.
As a fully accredited Council of International Schools (CIS) member school and an international baccalaureate (IB) WorldSchool, Stamford’s graduates receive an American High School Diploma and the option of the full International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) or IBDP courses, offering access to top universities worldwide.
To support the school’s expansion and the launch of the new campus, Stamford operates with five principals across the two campuses. Three division principals lead the high School, middle school and elementary school respectively — ensuring dedicated attention to the different needs of every age and stage, faster front‑line decision‑making, clear accountability and seamless K–12 vertical alignment across curriculum, assessment and student support.
Two additional whole‑school principals strengthen continuity and community. One of the whole school principals oversees camps, trips and enrichment, extending learning beyond the classroom. A Chinese principal leads multilingual education, community inclusion and parent engagement. Stamford currently employs a teaching staff of 141, including 54 in West Kowloon. Between the two campuses, Stamford serves over 1,000 students including 322 at the secondary level. The average student‑to‑teacher ratio is 8:1. Teachers average 12 years of experience and represent 21 nationalities.
Spirit of Stamford Scholarship for local talent
The Spirit of Stamford Scholarship underscores the school’s commitment to widening access. This merit‑based programme supports local students of high academic potential, leadership or specific talents entering Grades 9–11 (equivalent to secondary grades 3–5 in the Hong Kong public school system). Outstanding students may receive up to full funding to complete the IBDP. Applications are open now through 30 November 2025, with interviews in January 2026 and results announced in February 2026 for the 2026-27 academic year.
For more information, Contact our Admissions Team
Tel: 2500 8688
Email: admissions@sais.edu.hk