History and Vision, Mission & Values

History

The Independent Schools Foundation was established in February 2000 as a registered charitable organization to provide diversity in choice of education for local students. In 2003, the Foundation established a non-profit, private independent school, The Independent Schools Foundation Academy (The ISF Academy), for Grade 1 to 12 to cater to the increasing demand for the highest caliber Putonghua and English education in an inquiry-based learning environment.

Starting with just 56 students in Grade 1 to 4 in August 2003, The ISF Academy soon outgrew its temporary campus in Wanchai. This necessitated us setting up a second temporary campus in Causeway Bay before moving to our new campus in Pokfulam in July 2007.

In February 2008, the school commenced its Foundation Year program, a preparatory year for students prior to Grade 1. The academic year 2008/09 marked the first full year of our Foundation Year program.

Our Vision

The Independent Schools Foundation Academy is a community of learners, independent in thought and action, deeply rooted in Chinese culture, global in understanding and experience, and excellent in all endeavors.

Our Mission

The ISF Academy:

• Educates learners in a Chinese-English bi-lingual environment;
• Anchors its values on the Eight Virtues plus One;
• Nurtures curiosity, critical thinking, and a lifelong love of learning; and
• Builds life skills through experiential learning.

Our Core Values

Eight Virtues + One (八德一智)

Deeply rooted in Chinese culture and with a global perspective, The ISF Academy focuses on instilling in its students core values that draw from our Chinese heritage and which are updated to be relevant to today's world.

智 (zhi) and the Eight Virtues

Having strong academic standards is crucial to a successful school. However, beyond good test scores is a higher concept, the concept of 智(zhi). 智 implies having intelligence and wisdom, being able to use knowledge and experience to make decisions that benefit ourselves and our community. The ISF Academy believes that only by having the following eight virtues can an individual truly have 智 and thus reach academic, personal, and professional success.

Our Eight Virtues are:-

忠 (zhong) – embodies the concept of loyalty and responsibility to others, making a commitment and being devoted to what is important to us.

孝(xiao) – recognizes that sometimes we are leaders and sometimes we are followers.

仁 (ren) – recognizes that we need to approach every person and all living things with kindness and care.

愛 (ai) – encourages a love for the community and a passion for knowledge. 

禮 (li) – is how we do things at The ISF Academy and how our core values are manifested in our traditions, our habits and our daily routines.

義 (yi) – is being principled and standing up for our beliefs.

和 (he) – is approaching our world with moderation, tolerance, good humor, and joy.

平 (ping) – is balance, equality, fairness. It is closely tied to the concept of 和 and when the two characters are combined, they form the word "peace".