Ying Wa Girls' School () is an HKCCCC secondary day school for girls in Mid-Levels, Hong Kong. The campus is located at 76 Robinson Road, Mid-levels. Total enrollment currently stands at slightly under 1,000. It is one of the 22 Grant Schools in Hong Kong. Ying Wa Girls' School is a selective secondary school and its graduates are known for their distinguished performances at public examinations. The current Principal of the School is Mr. Francis Kwan. He succeeded Mrs. Ruth Lee as the Principal in 2015.
The present campus comprises two sites: The Robinson Road Campus (Site A) stretching from Robinson Road all the way down to near Bonham Road, and the newly-acquired Breezy Path Campus (Site B).
History
Ying Wa Girls' School was founded in February 1900 by Helen Davies of the former London Missionary Society. This Society was founded in 1795. The School started as a boarding school for girls and expanded to include a secondary school section in 1915 and a two-year kindergarten in 1916. The School was referred to in English as ‘Training Home’. It was not until 1920 that the name of Ying Wa Girls’ school was officially adopted. The School started as a privately run school with a boarding section for primary pupils. However, it ceased taking on boarders in 1940. In 1968, the primary school section closed and the School became a purely secondary school. In 1966, London Missionary Society was restructured to become the Council for World Mission and Ying Wa Girls' School became one of the affiliated schools of the Hong Kong Council of the Church of Christ in China.
Ying Wa Girls' School was one of the first girls' schools in Hong Kong that proposed the establishment of the student union. Students were elected to represent their peers and worked to promote self-expression.
As a missionary of the London Missionary Society, Miss Vera Silcocks (1902-1977) came by boat from England to Hong Kong in 1927 to teach in the School. She spoke fluent Cantonese. In 1939, she became the Headmistress of the School. In December 1941, Hong Kong fell upon the Japanese invasion in the Battle of Hong Kong. This Battle was a part of World War II. During the subsequent Japanese occupation of Hong Kong, Miss Silcocks was held by the Japanese in the Stanley Internment Camp.
After the War, in 1945, the School reopened. In 1947, Miss Silcocks returned to the School as Headmistress. In 1948, the School Council was established. In 1949, the Student Association was established. In 1967, Miss Silcocks retired and returned to England.
Redevelopment of campus
Since its establishment in 1900 by the London Missionary Society, Ying Wa Girls' School has been serving at its present site, providing education with a Christian character to young girls (and boys for a brief period) of Hong Kong of all classes. In December 2009, Ying Wa announced its redevelopment project. Supported by the Education Bureau, a new campus will replace the existing one on the same Robinson Road-Bonham Road site which has housed the school for over a century. On completion, available ground area will be expanded by about 50%, thus making it possible to overcome the recurring and constant lack of space since the founding. New spacious facilities and advanced installations will help Ying Wa take on the increasing demands of a fast-changing and diversified secondary curriculum.
In November 2011, Ying Wa Girls' School received HK $10 million from the Li Ka Shing Foundation. It was used to establish the Li Chong Yuet Ming Student Development Fund to provide opportunities for students to become global citizens through international exchanges and strengthen their commitment to the local community through social service, in line with the school motto "To serve and not to be served." The fund was named after Madam Amy Li Chong Yuet-ming, wife of Li Ka Shing, who attended the school.
After a long journey, Ying Wa has eventually embarked on a new page of its history in mid-March 2019 with the “Big Move” from the decanting site of Sham Shui Po back to Robinson Road.
Relationship with Ying Wa College
Ying Wa College is a school for boys founded also by the London Missionary Society. The Principal of Ying Wa College, Mr. Allan Cheng, is a member of the Incorporated Management Committee of Ying Wa Girls' School, while Mr. Francis Kwan is also a member of the Committee of Ying Wa College.
School Motto
Time is precious, treasure every minute.
Uniform
The school's uniform is a blue cheongsam, with silver school and house badges right under the hook of the collar.