Dear prospective parents and students,
Thank you for your interest in the International School of Hellerup. Your visit is part of a very important decision-making process about your child’s education in Copenhagen. Finding the right school is one of the major challenges for families coming to the city. So many factors come into play in determining the most suitable fit between family and school. At ISH you will find some of the best teachers, administrators, and staff members, all focused on helping children learn, grow and succeed.
Our mission is to support our pupils in realizing their potential across a broad curriculum through good learning habits and the improvement of self-discipline, courtesy and consideration for others. It is our aim that upon leaving the school, our students are confident, well-rounded individuals who are well prepared for the next stage of their education and for their role in a challenging, demanding and rapidly changing world.
You will see that ISH is a warm, welcoming center of educational excellence, with exciting opportunities at every grade level. I invite you to examine the information on this page and on our school website, to get a sense of who we are, what we stand for and what we can offer your family.
Sincerely,
Nedzat Asanovski
Head of School
We have organised the information available for this school into 6 sections and 41 questions. Click or tap on the name of each section to read more.
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Number of students
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600
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Number of nationalities represented in the school
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Over 70
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Most common nationality
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Danish
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Ratio of local students to international students
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Around 25% of our students have a Danish passport. Many of our Danish families have lived abroad for many years before returning to Denmark.
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Max. number of students per class
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24
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Average number of students per class
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20
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Does the school employ teaching assistants?
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Yes, we always have one teacher and a teaching assistant in our Pre-K classes (for students aged 3-4). For the remaining classes, there is usually one teacher per class.
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Native English speaking teachers
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Yes, typically
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Language support for students not fluent in English
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Yes, we have an extensive English as an Additional Language (EAL) programme
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Additional language classes offered by the school
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Danish, French and Spanish. We offer a mother tongue programme after school.
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Use of technology in the classroom
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Access to iPads or Chromebooks in each classroom from Kindergarten - PYP 4 (K-4). ISH has a bring your own device policy for students in PYP 4 - DP 2 (Grades 4 to 12).
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Is the school ready to use virtual classrooms when needed? (e.g. teaching lessons online if the school is closed, e.g. during COVID-19 closures)
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Yes, we use GSuite, Google Classroom, Seesaw and ManageBac to deliver remote learning during times of crisis.
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Do teachers assign homework to their students?
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Yes
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Approximate hours of homework given
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That varies depending on the grade level. In primary school, students in PYP 1- PYP3 (grades 1-3) are not expected to spend more than 20-30 minutes on average per day (including reading). Students in PYP4-PYP5 (grades 4-5) are expected to spend around 30-45 minutes on homework each day. In middle school, the homework amounts to 1-2 hours per day depending on the grade level. In high school, students in MYP 5 (grade 10) have around 1 hour of homework every day and are expected to spend 1-2 hours per week on their Personal Project. Students in the IB Diploma Programme (grades 11&12) are expected to complete 2-3 hours of homework per day.
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Uniform required
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No
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Waiting list
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If an applicant is accepted but no space is available in the appropriate class, the applicant will be placed in a waiting pool. When a place becomes available, it will be offered to an appropriate student in the waiting pool.
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Entry evaluation for students
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Yes, for students applying for PYP 4 (grade 4) and up.
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Brief description of entry evaluation required
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We use English and Math placement tests.
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Deadline for registration (new academic year)
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Acceptances are done on a rolling basis (families can apply to our school at any time). We start reviewing applications for the upcoming school year in January. Prospective families are encouraged to begin the application process as soon as possible to mitigate any eventual space issues.
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Students can join after academic year begins
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Yes
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Percentage of students who pursue further education post-graduation
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95%
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External examinations or assessments available
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International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme Exams (Grades 11 & 12).
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Results in these examinations
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Our students perform well above the world averages in IB Diploma passes, average points gained and % of students obtaining 40+ points. Please see our website for details.
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Do students practice religion at the school? What religion?
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As we are multicultural, we are also multi-faith and do not favour one religion.
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How does the school accommodate non-religious students or students of a different religion?
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We have a 'reflection room' that we offer to students and teachers of all religious backgrounds who would like to pray silently. It is a quiet and calm space.
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School bus service available
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No. The public transportation in Copenhagen is clean and safe. Both our campuses are easily accessible by bike, bus and train.
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Dedicated staff/programs for students with special learning needs
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Our school has a Student Support Services department which provides additional assistance to students with mild learning, emotional and behavioural needs. This department includes trained learning support teachers and a school psychologist. The Student Support Services works collaboratively with our teachers to ensure that all classrooms are inclusive.
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Learning support offered
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The Student Support Services writes individual Eeducation plans for students with learning needs, works collaboratively with parents to form strong school-home links, plans and implements learning programmes for specific students, provides emotional support, and seeks required support from community services.
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The school supports gifted, able and talented students
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All classroom teachers are responsible for differentiating the teaching and learning so that it challenges each student. For older students, we have after-school groups where students can extend their learning.
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Student access to education psychologist
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Yes
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Qualities and characteristics best defining the school
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International School of Hellerup is an English-speaking not-for profit International Baccalaureate (IB) Continuum School for students aged 3 -19. We welcome over 600 students representing more than 70 nationalities and we offer the three main International Baccalaureate programmes: Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP) and the benefits of a learning continuum that is philosophically aligned and consistent in its approach to teaching and learning from early years through high school. Being a medium-sized school allows us to offer a wide range of academic and extracurricular opportunities to our students while remaining a community where everyone knows each other. Our small classes enable our teachers to know each student and their skills, strengths and learning styles well. Students are provided with many opportunities to enjoy a rich school life beyond the classroom. Our warm and caring international community and active Parent Teacher Association (PTA) ensure that families from all background feel welcome.
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Teaching approach of the school
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Our students receive an excellent, well-rounded education from passionate teachers in a caring and supportive learning environment. Drawing upon the curriculum offered through the three IB programmes, ISH prepares students to become inquiring, knowledgeable and caring life-long learners. Our teaching approach is student-centred and teachers use inquiry-based and transdisciplinary learning to encourage critical thinking and intellectual curiosity.
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Early Years and Primary School
The primary school at ISH nurtures and develops young students as active and caring, lifelong learners who demonstrate respect for themselves and others. We offer a safe, caring and supportive environment where we can help students to learn and grow and we foster the personal connections that are particularly important for a thriving community. The primary school is open to students aged 3 to 12 and is divided into three sections: Early Years (Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten) Lower Primary (PYP 1-2), and Upper Primary (PYP 3-5).
Through the IB Primary Years Program (PYP) we provide opportunities for students to develop understandings of essential concepts, skills, knowledge and attitudes. We focus on the development of the whole child as an inquirer, both within and beyond the classroom.
Middle School and High School
The middle school caters for student aged 11 to 15. Our students enjoy a breadth of subjects, learn in a safe environment and develop a range of skills and understandings that will help them meet the demands of high school.
Our academic programmes in high school serve as outstanding preparation for university and higher education. Our students learn in a caring and supportive environment with a focus on developing students intellectually, emotionally, physically and socially.
Students in grades 11 & 12 take the IB Diploma Programme, a comprehensive two-year course of study that leads to the award of an IB Diploma. It is an academically challenging and balanced programme of education that is respected by leading universities around the world.
Beyond the Classroom
Our students are provided with many opportunities to enjoy a rich school life beyond the classroom. We offer a wide array of clubs and activities, ranging from sports to music, drama and dance, robotics, student government and much more. Our enriching service-learning programme allows students to make a difference locally and internationally.
