Brandon Learning Centre

The Brandon Learning Centre is the first school in Hong Kong to offer public speaking classes based around English Speaking Board assessments. The English Speaking Board was founded in 1954 and the qualifications are regulated by the UK Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation[1]

Brandon Learning Centre
Motto"Speaking of Success"
TypeThe first and the only English Speaking Board school in HK
Established2006
Studentsstudents of all ages (from 4 - adult)
Location
Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

22°16′37.7″N 114°10′54.5″E
AffiliationsEnglish Speaking Board
Websitewww.brandoncentre.com

The school was founded in 2006, by Jessica Ogilvy-Stuart, PhD, and Andrew Cathcart, M.A., M.Ed,[2] with the aim of developing confidence in spoken English and preparing students for overseas studies. The initial opening was supported by InvestHK and the school is regulated by the Education Bureau.[3] A second centre opened in Jordan, Kowloon in 2011 and Brandon operates a joint venture programme in China.[4]

The curriculum expanded to include preparation for entry to British, Australian, Canadian and U.S. schools and in 2007 the school began offering both Common Entrance examinations run by the Independent Schools Examination Board including the ISEB pre-test, and Winchester College Entrance examinations.[5] Of the 300+ students enrolled at any one time, between 25 - 35% leave Hong Kong to attend overseas schools including Eton College, Winchester College, Radley College, Cheltenham Ladies' College, Wycombe Abbey, Westminster School, Tonbridge School, Oundle School, Downe House School, Summerfields, Pilgrims and Cothill.[6]

Students compete in a number of external speech competitions including the Hong Kong Schools Speech Festival. The school also holds biannual shows at the Hong Kong Club which benefit Helping Hand, a charity caring for the elderly and Operation Santa Claus which supports a number of Hong Kong charities[7][8]

Teachers are recruited from the United Kingdom. Students are from varied of backgrounds and range in age from 4 - 13. The school also provides lessons in speech and drama to local schools including Queen's College, Hong Kong, La Salle College, Diocesan Boys' Primary Division Independent Schools Foundation Academy and the Victoria and Shanghai Academy Victoria Educational Organisation.

References
  1. "Qualifications | English Speaking Board (International) Ltd". Archived from the original on 19 March 2017. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  2. "Brandon Learning Centre - Speaking of Success: Founders and Advisor". Archived from the original on 1 December 2008. Retrieved 28 October 2008.
  3. EDB website(Registration number 569216)
  4. "Brandon Learning Centre opens second branch in Kowloon". www.info.gov.hk. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  5. "Common Pre-Tests". www.iseb.co.uk. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  6. "Honours Board – BRANDON CENTRE". www.brandoncentre.com. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  7. "Operation Santa Claus | Jointly organized by SCMP and RTHK | SCMP.com". osc.scmp.com. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  8. "Helping Hand". www.helpinghand.org.hk. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
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