YMCA Christian Academy (YCA) in Hong Kong

Name: YCA School Promo
Uploaded: 2026-01-13T02:32:27.000Z
Description: YCA School Promo

Street view of the YMCA Christian Academy main campus building.

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What makes this school unique

We offer small class sizes with differentiated learning tailored to each child’s unique academic needs.

Focusing on wellbeing, pastoral care, and Christian values, we foster holistic social and character development.

We prioritize community building and foster strong, collaborative partnerships with our families.

The school at a glance

Instructs in English

Fees HK$148,800

Ages 5 - 11 years

Pupil numbers 200

Type Co-educational

Opened 2012

Bus Service Yes

Availability Are there places?

Geoff Blaik

School Principal

Academic offering

Curriculum IPC (International Primary Curriculum), British Curriculum, Christian Curriculum

Taught languages English, Mandarin

Typical class size 20

Strengths Service and Sustainability, Outdoor Education

Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Social and Hobbies

Stages Primary School

Introduction

Welcome to YMCA Christian Academy (YCA), a cozy and caring primary school nestled in the heart of Sheung Wan at 70 Bridges Street. Here on Hong Kong Island, we offer a warm, community-centered space where every child has a safe space to develop and thrive. Our English-medium learning journey blends the engaging International Primary Curriculum with the trusted UK National Curriculum for English, alongside White Rose Maths to make learning numbers fun and intuitive. To help children feel connected to the vibrant local culture, we enjoy daily Chinese lessons taught in Mandarin & Traditional characters. Specialist classes include art, music, PE and innovation. Right across from our campus, students have access to wonderful facilities at the historic CYMCA Bridges Street Centre, including a lovely indoor swimming pool. After school, children can explore their passions and make new friends in our varied activity clubs—whether that means diving into Competitive Sports, trying hip-hop dancing, learning to somersault in gymnastics, building in Lego Club, or learning how to code. Most importantly, we nurture compassionate hearts through our special YCA Agents project. We love watching our students grow into confident learners who take gentle ownership of their progress and delight in helping their community. We would love to welcome your family into our close-knit school comm

yca.edu.hk Contact by phone

70 Bridges Street, Sheung Wan Hong Kong

Gallery

Street view of the YMCA Christian Academy main campus building. (credit YCA)

YCA School Promo (credit YCA)

Year 1 Classroom (credit YCA)

Year 1 Learning (credit YCA)

Vibes and Culture

Parent involvement

Informal

Formal

Daily

Weekly

Social-Emotional Climate

Light-touch

Stronger emphasis

Teacher guided

Self-driven

School Spirit

Low-key

High energy

Academic / Cultural

Sporting / Festive

Teaching & Learning

Traditional

Progressive

Less homework

More homework

Community Size & Feel

Intimate

Expansive

Everyone's familiar

Multiple groups

Cultural Identity

Fewer nationalities

More nationalities

Single identity

Multiple identities

Family Social Life

Mostly outside of school

School is central hub

Parent events

Whole family events

Communication Style

Occasional

Frequent

Formal

Conversational

The Essentials

Location

YMCA Christian Academy (YCA) is conveniently located at 70 Bridges Street, Sheung Wan, in the vibrant heart of Hong Kong Island. Our central position makes us easily accessible for families commuting from neighboring districts such as Mid-Levels and Sai Ying Pun.

Stages

We are an international primary school offering education for children aged 5 to 11 (Years 1 to 6). Following the British educational framework, children are eligible to enter Year 1 if they turn 5 years old within their entry year.

Type

We are an independent, co-educational private primary school in Hong Kong. As a close-knit, small school community, we place a strong focus on providing a safe, caring, and supportive environment where boys and girls can grow, learn, and thrive together.

Pupil Nationality Mix

We proudly reflects a diverse, international community. Around half of our student body comes from local Hong Kong Chinese families, while the other half represents a vibrant global mix, with children hailing from the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, France, and beyond.

Additional learning support

YMCA Christian Academy (YCA) is dedicated to nurturing every child’s individual journey through our inclusive mainstream classrooms. Supported by a passionate team of learning diversity teachers and assistants, we partner closely with families to craft tailored Individual Learning Plans and host regular progress meetings to ensure every child thrives.

To maintain the high quality of our personalized care, learning support spaces are limited, and applicants may be placed on a waitpool pending availability.

Country affiliation

The school does not have any country affiliations.

Religious affiliation

We are a faith-based primary school deeply rooted in a Christian ethos. We center our school culture around timeless Christian values, fostering a compassionate, inclusive, and grounded environment where children learn the importance of kindness, integrity, and respect for others.

School day structure

The school day at YMCA Christian Academy (YCA) runs from 8:00am to 2:30pm, Monday through Friday. To help families with smooth morning drop-offs, school doors open early at 7:35am. Optional after-school activities take place directly after classes from 2:30pm to 3:30pm.

Bus service

YMCA Christian Academy (YCA) partners with a dedicated school bus provider to offer convenient transportation options for our families. Bus routes currently cover key neighborhoods, including Island East, Kennedy Town, Mid-levels, Happy Valley, Olympic, Ho Man Tin, Whampoa, and Kowloon West.

Diving Deeper

Boarding Arrangements

We do not offer boarding arrangements,

Uniform Requirement

YCA's uniform is an important part of the school's identity. The uniforms can be purchased online at the Uniform Station's website or at their shop. House t-shirts are available for purchase at the School Office.

House System

YCA has a house system: David, Esther, Moses and Ruth. House t-shirts are available for purchase at the School Office.

Governance and Ownership

The School Sponsoring Body is the Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong, a Christian service organisation established in 1901. The SSB oversees the operation of YMCA Christian Academy and will strengthen direct management of the school under YMCA Christian Academy since the 2022/23 school year.

Gallery

YMCA Christian Academy (YCA) — international school in Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Fees

Tuition fees (by year group, 2026–28)
Year 1 - Year 6: HKD 148,800 per year in ten installments

Annual Capital Development Contribution (CDC)
Enrolled students will pay the annual CDC of HKD 6,515 every year.

Academics

Curriculum

YCA delivers the International Primary Curriculum (IPC), which is comprehensive, thematic, creative curriculum designed for children 5-11 years old. It has a clear process of learning with specific learning goals for every subject. English and Maths follow the UK National Curriculum developing strong foundations in literacy and numeracy.

Student Teacher Ratio

1:10 to 1:12

Academic calendar

Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

At YCA we foster a holistic, strength-based approach to student well-being by highlighting key elements of the Jigsaw (UK PSHE Curriculum) and Positive Education Enhanced Curriculum (Australian Geelong Grammar Curriculum). By using the strengths of both curriculums, we aim to proactively teach children the skills and concepts of well-being using evidence-based practices from the field of positive psychology.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)

In collaboration with class and specialist primary teachers, our school’s Learning Diversity Team aims to support students with diverse learning needs within the mainstream classroom, such as providing English as Additional Language (EAL) support.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

YCA is an EAL-friendly primary school that provides dedicated support to help students whose first language is not English. This support enables students to develop English language skills and strategies that help them access the school curriculum and acquire the academic language across the different subject areas.

Mental Wellbeing

SEL support aims to help students who need guidance and support in their social-emotional skills and competencies. This support enhances student development towards a healthy sense of self, improved connection with others, and cooperative habits that can further enable positive student contributions to the community. This support includes supporting the social and emotional needs of the gifted and talented.

Parent Experience

History

The school was established through a partnership between Generations Christian Education and the Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong.

Following the restructuring in 2022, the school transitioned to sole governance under the Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong. It serves students from Year 1 to Year 6, utilizing the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) alongside a pastoral care programme.

Community

YCA hosts many family events bringing together the YCA community, such as Christmas Fair, CNY Fair, YCA's Got Talent and Parents Day. Families are invited to 3-4 Exit Points a year, celebrating their child's learning in the unit of inquiry.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)

The YCA PTA supports this objective and facilitates a range of supportive services and events to bring our community together.

Facilities

Facilities Overview

The school is a private, community-oriented primary school on Hong Kong Island. It opened in 2012 and was renamed in August 2022. It teaches in English and offers a vibrant, future-ready international IPC-based curriculum within a Christian ethos. The campus is well equipped to support learning and can access facilities at the nearby Bridges Street Centre, including a swimming pool. The school aims to Ignite Bright Futures of Abundance and Fulfilment.

Sports Facilities

Physical Education is taught twice weekly. The school provides opportunities to engage in a broad range of sports, including swimming, basketball and football, through on-site and local community facilities. The Bridges Street Centre swimming pool is accessible opposite the school. The programme emphasizes physical well-being and values such as fairness and respect.

Academic Facilities

YCA delivers learning through the International Primary Curriculum (IPC), a comprehensive, thematic curriculum for ages 5–11 with goals for international mindedness and personal learning. The English programme is based on the UK National Curriculum, with a focus on reading, writing, speaking and listening, and Maths follows the White Rose approach. Chinese is taught in Mandarin with Traditional Characters, with three language pathways: Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced. Christian Studies uses Journey 2:52 to teach values within a shared vision for growth in Christlikeness, and Wellbeing draws on the Jigsaw (UK PSHE) and Australian Geelong Grammar curricula. An Innovation Space combines a fully operational science lab with a maker space/design technology area.

Extra Curricular Facilities

YMCA Christian Academy offers a full range of After School Activities (ASA) and Extra-Curricular Activities (ECA). ASA includes Aesop's Fable Crafts & Reading Club, Intro to Spanish, Lego Club, Calligraphy Club, Chess Club, Cooking Club and more. ECA includes Choir, Competitive Sports, Chinese Hip-Hop Dance Club, Chinese Recitation Team & Reading Club, Film Club, Music Ensemble and more. All ASA and ECA classes run from 2:30pm to 3:30pm, with pick-up at 3:30pm.

Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual

The school offers ASA and ECA to extend learning beyond class hours. ASA includes Aesop's Fable Crafts & Reading Club, Intro to Spanish, Lego Club, Calligraphy Club, Chess Club, French Club and Cooking Club. ECA includes Choir, Competitive Sports, Chinese Hip-Hop Dance Club, Chinese Recitation Team & Reading Club, Film Club and Music Ensemble.

Arts & Creative

Arts and creative activities are delivered through ASA and ECA. ECA includes Choir, Film Club and Music Ensemble. ASA includes Aesop's Fable Crafts & Reading Club, Calligraphy Club, and the Lego Club.

Cultural & Language

Intro to Spanish is offered as ASA. French Club is offered as ASA. Chinese Recitation Team & Reading Club is offered as ECA.

Social & Hobbies

Social and hobby clubs include Lego Club, Calligraphy Club and Cooking Club (ASA) and Chinese Hip-Hop Dance Club and Film Club (ECA).

Lifestyle & Wellbeing

Physical Education is taught twice weekly. The wellbeing program uses the Jigsaw UK PSHE curriculum and the Geelong Grammar Positive Education Enhanced Curriculum. The Social and Emotional Toolkit is used at the start of each year to support students' emotional development.

Languages

Language Provision

YCA is an English medium school. We follow the UK National Curriculum delivering a structured and effective curriculum on English literacy. We provide daily Chinese classes to children of all year levels. Mandarin is taught in Mandarin with Traditional Characters, guided by ACTFL proficiency guidelines and integrated with IPC themes. There are three language pathways (Foundation, Intermediate, Advanced) to match language proficiency, with Foundation Pathway providing English support for non-native Mandarin learners.

Bilingual Teaching

We are an English medium school with daily Chinese classes.

Immersion Programs

We offer EAL services to children with English language barrier.

Reputation

Awards

We received the Oh Pama Parent's Choice Award in 2024 and Sunday Kiss' Parent's Favourite Brand Award - Holistic International School in 2025.

Accreditations

We are accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS), which means that we demonstrates high quality international education and is an effective and agile learning organisation.

Admissions

doris recommends that you start by speaking to admissions. This connects you directly to the school's admissions team who can respond with answers, more information, and next steps.

Our admissions process is very simple.
1. Apply online at https://yca.edu.hk/
2. You will be contacted via email to complete your application.
3. Your child will be invited to a trial day and assessment.
4. Once the results are out, placement offer will be given to successful candidates.
5. New students can start at the start of every school month.

Scholarships

Unfortunately, we do not offer any scholarships at the moment.

Waitlist

Currently, we only have waitlist for students' who need learning support.

School Events

Upcoming Events

Discover what makes our school special! Bring the whole family to Open Day—your child will dive into...

Saturday, 10 October 2026 at 10:00 GMT+8 YMCA Christian Academy campus, 70 Bridges Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong

Step into a typical school day and see what makes the YCA experience so special. Join us for an excl...

Wednesday, 14 October 2026 at 12:45 GMT+8 YMCA Christian Academy campus, 70 Bridges Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong

FAQs

Where is YMCA Christian Academy located and how easy is it to get to from Mid-Levels or Sai Ying Pun?

YCA is at 70 Bridges Street, Sheung Wan on Hong Kong Island. It is easily accessible from Mid-Levels and Sai Ying Pun, with the school opposite the CYMCA Bridges Street Centre.

What age range and year groups does YCA accept, and is it co-educational?

YCA is a co-educational private primary school for children aged 5–11, offering Year 1 to Year 6. Applications are accepted throughout the year and new students can start at the beginning of any month.

What are the tuition fees and how are they billed?

Tuition for Year 1–Year 6 is HKD 144,470 per year. Fees are billed in ten instalments of HKD 14,447, and there is an Annual Capital Development Contribution of HKD 6,515 per year.

How do I apply and how long before my child can start after an offer?

Apply online and you will be contacted to complete the application, after which your child is invited to a trial day and assessment. Placement offers are given after assessment results, and new students may start at the beginning of any school month.

Is there a waitlist or scholarship programme I should know about?

There is currently a waitlist only for students who require learning support. YCA does not offer scholarships at the moment.

What curriculum does YCA follow and how is English and maths taught?

YCA delivers the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) for ages 5–11, alongside the UK National Curriculum for English and White Rose Maths for mathematics. The IPC provides thematic learning goals across subjects while English and Maths follow structured UK curricular approaches.

What are typical class sizes and the student–teacher ratio?

The school's student–teacher ratio is approximately 1:10 to 1:12, supporting small class groupings and more individualised attention. Additional specialist teachers and learning assistants support classroom instruction as needed.

How does YCA support gifted or higher-achieving students?

YCA's wellbeing and learning approaches include support for the social and emotional needs of gifted students, and teachers adapt learning within the classroom. The Learning Diversity Team works with class teachers to tailor learning where appropriate.

What sports facilities are available and do students swim at school?

Physical Education is taught twice weekly and students have opportunities in sports such as swimming, basketball and football. The school uses facilities at the adjacent Bridges Street Centre, which includes access to a swimming pool.

What academic facilities does YCA have for science, technology and design learning?

YCA has an Innovation Space that combines a fully operational science lab with a maker space and design technology area. Classrooms are set up to deliver the IPC curriculum and specialised programmes in music and languages.

What after-school activities (ASA/ECA) are offered and when do they run?

After-school sessions run from 2:30pm to 3:30pm and include ASA options such as Lego Club, Calligraphy, Intro to Spanish, French Club and Cooking Club, as well as ECA options like Choir, Competitive Sports, Film Club and Music Ensemble. Parents can choose activities according to their child's interests.

Are there opportunities in the arts and languages outside regular lessons?

Yes — music follows the Orff approach and there are arts-focused clubs such as Choir, Music Ensemble and Film Club. Language clubs include Intro to Spanish and French Club, and daily Mandarin lessons support language development.

What is the ‘YCA Agents' programme and does it offer leadership opportunities?

The YCA Agents focus encourages students to take charge of their learning, contribute to the community and reflect on progress, fostering responsibility and leadership skills. This approach is embedded across units of inquiry and school activities.

How does YCA support students with additional learning needs or SEN?

YCA has a dedicated Learning Diversity Team of teachers and assistants who support diverse learning needs within the mainstream classroom. Individual Learning Plans are developed in consultation with families and regular meetings are held to discuss progress.

What EAL support is available for children who are not native English speakers?

YCA is EAL-friendly and provides dedicated support to help non-native English speakers develop academic English skills and strategies to access the curriculum. EAL provision is integrated with classroom teaching and additional support is available as needed.

How does the school support students' mental wellbeing and social-emotional learning?

The wellbeing programme uses the Jigsaw (UK PSHE) curriculum and the Positive Education Enhanced Curriculum from Geelong Grammar, teaching skills from positive psychology. A Social and Emotional Toolkit is used at the start of each year to build students' self-awareness and social competencies.

What is the school uniform policy and where do I buy uniforms?

Uniforms are an important part of YCA's identity and can be purchased from Uniform Station either online or at their shop. House t-shirts are available for purchase from the school office.

Does YCA have a house system and how does it work?

Yes, YCA operates a house system to build community and foster healthy competition and collaboration among students. House t-shirts are available from the school office for house events and activities.

Is YCA a faith-based school and who governs the school?

YCA is rooted in a Christian ethos and emphasises Christian values across its programmes. The school is sponsored and overseen by the Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong, which became the sole governing body following restructuring in 2022.

Is YCA accredited or recognised by any international bodies and has it received awards?

YCA is accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS). The school received the Oh Pama Parent's Choice Award in 2024 and Sunday Kiss' Parent's Favourite Brand Award - Holistic International School in 2025.

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What makes this school unique

Location

Stages

Type

Pupil Nationality Mix

Additional learning support

Country affiliation

Religious affiliation

School day structure

Bus service

Boarding Arrangements

Uniform Requirement

House System

Governance and Ownership

Curriculum

Student Teacher Ratio

Academic calendar

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

Special Educational Needs (SEN)

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

Mental Wellbeing

History

Community

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)

Facilities Overview

Sports Facilities

Academic Facilities

Extra Curricular Facilities

Academic & Intellectual

Arts & Creative

Cultural & Language

Social & Hobbies

Lifestyle & Wellbeing

Language Provision

Bilingual Teaching

Immersion Programs

Awards

Accreditations

Admissions

Scholarships

Waitlist

Upcoming Events

FAQs