Cover From left: Peggy Yeoh and Eva To Cheah are shaking up the city’s education system with the Dalton School Hong Kong (Photo: Zed Leets/Tatler Hong Kong)
From left: Peggy Yeoh and Eva To Cheah are shaking up the city’s education system with the Dalton School Hong Kong (Photo: Zed Leets/Tatler Hong Kong)
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Former lawyer and businesswoman Peggy Yeoh and former government official Eva To Cheah have turned their attention to providing the education of the future at Dalton School
Peggy Yeoh and Eva To Cheah are friends who came together to shake up the city’s education system. Next year, they will introduce secondary education, establishing Dalton School as a K-12 school. In September, the school will move into its new site on Stubbs Road, taking over the site of Rosaryhill School. Here, the founders talk about how they intend to bring the city’s education system into the 21st century.
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How did the two of you wind up in education?
Peggy Yeoh: Our journey into education started with a lunchtime chat between our husbands [Yeoh’s husband is Lee Seng Huang, group executive chairman of Sun Hung Kai, while Cheah’s husband is Cheah Cheng Hye, co-chairman and co-chief investment officer of Value Partners Group] over a decade ago. Frustrated with the educational landscape in Hong Kong, they jokingly suggested that Eva and I should start a school. Little did we know, this remark would spark a profound partnership and friendship between us.
As a mother of four, when I moved to Hong Kong 17 years ago from Australia, I was disheartened by the local education system’s heavy emphasis on rote learning. [There was less of a priority on] critical thinking, stifling our children’s creativity and imagination. Conversely, international schools lacked a strong foundation in Chinese language and values.
Above Peggy Yeoh and Eva To Cheah are establishing Dalton School as a K-12 school next year (Photo: Zed Leets/ Tatler Hong Kong)
Peggy Yeoh and Eva To Cheah are establishing Dalton School as a K-12 school next year (Photo: Zed Leets/ Tatler Hong Kong)
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Eva To Cheah: My three children are in international schools and Peggy’s kids attend elite local schools. We envisioned a school that would blend the best of both worlds: one that integrated strong Chinese values and language with a child-centred, 21st-century learning approach. We aimed to challenge the inertia and resistance to change within the education sector. As our board member, [former financial secretary] John Tsang, aptly put it, “Our current school system is outdated, rooted in the past centuries and taught by individuals with a 20th-century mindset to students of the 21st century.”
Yeoh: We took the plunge and founded Little Dalton Kindergarten in 2013, followed by the establishment of Dalton School Hong Kong in 2017. It was a bold step, but one we felt compelled to take in order to offer a more holistic and forward-thinking education to the children of Hong Kong.
Above To Cheah graduated from The University of Hong Kong (Photo: courtesy of To Cheah)
Above Yeoh in school uniform at home in Brisbane in 1992 (Photo: courtesy of Yeoh)
To Cheah graduated from The University of Hong Kong (Photo: courtesy of To Cheah)
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What were the biggest issues you faced with the schooling system?
Cheah: In traditional schooling, the focus is predominantly on reaching a final destination, often in the form of standardised exams like the Diploma of Secondary Education, GCSE or A-Level. Unfortunately, this approach tends to prioritise memorisation over the practical application of knowledge. With the rapid advancement of AI and technology, traditional education systems are struggling to keep pace with the evolving demands of the future.
At Dalton School, we’ve adopted a more journey-oriented approach. Rather than fixating solely on the endpoint, we emphasise the learning process itself: how knowledge is acquired, retained and applied. We embrace project-based learning and life-skill training. We minimise passive lecturing in favour of promoting active engagement. We advocate for “student voice and choice”, empowering students to have a say in their learning journey while providing guidance and structure. It’s not about allowing children to do as they please but rather about fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility for their education.
Above Yeoh, Tatler cover star Yat Siu and To Cheah at
the opening of the Dalton Learning Lab in Cyberport in 2017 (Photo: courtesy of Yeoh and To Cheah)
Yeoh, Tatler cover star Yat Siu and To Cheah at the opening of the Dalton Learning Lab in Cyberport in 2017 (Photo: courtesy of Yeoh and To Cheah)
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What impact have you created since the school’s inception?
Yeoh: We’re thrilled by the impact our child-led learning approach has had on our students. When they take ownership of their education, we see remarkable results—they excel and their self-motivation shines through without compromising on academic rigour. Our school’s commitment to dual-language competence and Chinese cultural values has been a cornerstone of our success. Over the past eight years, our students have achieved impressive language proficiency, aligning with the curriculum standards of Tsinghua University Primary School, our Chinese curriculum partner, and exceeding international school norms for English proficiency.
Celebrating the recent ten-year milestone of our Little Dalton Kindergarten is just the beginning for us. Despite our relatively short history, we’re excited to announce our expansion to include secondary education next year, establishing Dalton as a comprehensive K-12 “through train” school. Come September, we will be moving into our permanent site on Stubbs Road, with approximately 700 students.
Your decision to take over the Rosaryhill School site is very exciting. Why there and why now?
Cheah: Transitioning to the Rosaryhill site marks a pivotal moment for Dalton School, fulfilling our decade-long pursuit
of a permanent campus. With our student population steadily expanding and plans for secondary school extension, securing a spacious location became imperative. The Rosaryhill site, boasting over 200,000 sq ft of space and situated in a prime location on Hong Kong Island, perfectly meets our needs.
As a not-for-profit institution, Dalton School has always aimed to make child-centred education more accessible to the people of Hong Kong. By assuming stewardship of Rosaryhill Kindergarten and Primary School in the upcoming academic year, we’re poised to offer both local and international curricula at these levels. This “two-stream model” reflects our commitment to diversity, catering to varied parental preferences and student needs. We see this merger as a unique opportunity to redefine education in Hong Kong, opening doors to a broader audience and reimagining educational possibilities for all.
What role does technology play in your school’s curriculum and educational approach?
Cheah: It’s essential to recognise that the children in our classrooms today will be the adults of tomorrow, navigating a vastly different landscape. So, what skills and values do we need to impart to ensure they can thrive in this new world? How do we prepare them to find fulfilling careers, build meaningful relationships and grapple with the ethical dilemmas of a highly digital society?
Thankfully, we’re supported by a forward-thinking board that helps us stay ahead of the curve. With members like [Tatler’s Asia’s Most Influential honouree] Yat Siu, chairman of Animoca brands; John Tsang, [who is] now a start-up advocate and education thought leader; and Helen Wright, a renowned education consultant and author, we’re well-equipped to make informed decisions about integrating technology into our curriculum. We understand the importance of embracing AI while ensuring our students retain essential foundational skills.
What are your aspirations for the school?
Yeoh: We’re excited about the future of our school and what it holds for our students. Our vision is to create a learning environment that’s not just about textbooks and tests but also about real-world experiences. We want our students to dive into internships, volunteer work and collaborative projects, all while having the flexibility to tailor their learning to their own pace and interests.
Cheah: We’re also looking to share our innovative teaching methods with educators locally, in the mainland and overseas, through the Dalton Institute [an organisation under the Dalton Foundation that promotes the professional development of teachers]. We are also excited to share news of our partnership with Think Learning Studio for our secondary school programme. This collaboration will elevate our approach to project- based learning, offering innovative 21st-century educational experiences to our students, and putting us at the forefront of academic innovation. Yeoh: Our goal is to redefine education in Hong Kong. As our school motto says, “I am not led; I lead.” Here’s to the next chapter of our journey.
Credits
Photography: Zed Leets/Tatler Hong Kong
As Content Director at Tatler Hong Kong, Tara shapes the brand's editorial vision across social, digital and print, and reports on Asia's most influential figures — from CEOs and leaders across business, style and the arts. In her dual role as Head of VIP, she also drives the planning and execution of Tatler's flagship IPs, curating star-studded events and building the relationships and communities that define the brand. Born and raised in the Middle East, she honed her craft in Dubai, crafting communication strategies for luxury brands across the Gulf. Follow her on Instagram @tarasobti.
