About

At ISH, our programs, policies and purpose are united in the shared values that put our students at the centre of everything we do. As builders of an internationally-minded community, we strive to inspire and motivate every student while ensuring high academic challenge, the innovative use of technology, and a committed focus on the social, moral and emotional well-being of every child in our care. We forge strong partnerships with parents to create a learning environment in which students respect and embrace an ever-growing, interconnected global society and to recognise the value of service to others.

Our students' academic performance

At ISH, we value and celebrate success of our community of learners without defining it solely around standardised test or a final course result. However, we also recognised that regular assessment, as well as IB Diploma,  IB Career-related Programme scores are important as they enable students to continue their learning journey beyond ISH. 

Student-centered Learning

Our goal at ISH is to create an inclusive community for innovative thinkers to teach and learn together. Beyond the mission and vision statements, this is reinforced by our curriculum as early as in our Early Years classes. We understand that students learn best when they are actively engaged. By the time our students reach secondary school they are true advocates for their own learning, making independent choices while being fully supported on their journey.  (Link to Learn)

Our international curricula

The International Primary Curriculum and the IB Middle Years and IB Diploma Programmes —serve our students well and enable them to become the kind of inquiring, ethical and risk-taking adults the world will need in the 21st century. Our diversity of perspectives, values, ideas and beliefs make ISH a special place to teach and learn.

Our global best practices in education - A fully accredited school with a global outlook

We are proud to offer an engaging curriculum and to be accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS) and New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). For these we undergo regular and thorough evaluation of all our programmes, facilities, policies and personnel, most recently in 2022, to ensure we apply the very best practices in education.

Our welcoming and engaged international community

ISH is a welcoming and inclusive community, where families who have traveled far from their countries of origin can make a new home away from home.  We strive to create a place where a meaningful partnership of mutual support exists between your home and the school. Parents can be actively involved in our community by volunteering at school, as well as join the Parent Teacher Association's events.

Our extensive co-curricula programme

We offer an extensive co-curricular program for all age groups with a broad spectrum of activities from sports to arts to community engagement. This includes the prestigious Duke of Edinburgh's Award and the Model United Nations programs, both regarded as significant life and educational experiences by their participants. The majority of our co-curricular activities run from 15:00 to 16:30 with the option of After School Care until 18:00. We also run sports, music and activities camps during our school holiday breaks. 

Our modern facilities

ISH offers modern facilities build in 2010 on a unique 41,000sqm campus located in Hamburg's green belt just across from the Botanical Garden. It is also perfectly situated to take advantage of all that Hamburg has to offer due to our proximity to the centre. Our community of students, families and teachers come together each day from across Hamburg and beyond by S-Bahn, ferry, bus, car and bike to share the commitment to challenging and successful learning. 

Our legacy - A school that leaves a mark

Long after students leave ISH, members of our worldwide Alumni Network often speak of how the school continues to hold a special place in their hearts, how it helped them discover a true love of learning, build confidence in their individuality and how they remain close with friends and teachers from their time at the school. 

The following statements represent the underlying philosophy for the continuing education programmes of our school. They establish the context guiding our actions.

Our Mission

As an international community of learners, we nurture inquiring minds, compassionate hearts and balanced lives.

Our Vision

ISH is a welcoming and inclusive community where innovative thinkers teach and learn together. We believe in the power of education to develop global citizens who lead lives of purpose and meaning.

Core Values

Everybody Safe

Everybody Kind

Everybody Respected

Everybody Responsible

Everybody Belonging

 

Our Strategic Directions

1. Students will develop skills to prepare them for their future by providing them with the experiential, project-based learning opportunities utilising community partnerships and incorporating technology effectively and safely. 
2. The School will implement a character education and wellness program that focuses on the values of integrity, empathy, responsibility, and respect while developing students' skills in resilience and tolerance. 

Our Philosophy

At ISH, our programs, our policies and our purpose are united in the shared values that put our students at the center of everything we do. As builders of an internationally-minded community, our

faculty and staff strive to inspire and motivate every student while ensuring high academic challenge, the innovative use of technology, and a committed focus on the social, moral and emotional well-being of every child in our care. We forge strong partnerships with parents to create

a learning environment in which students respect and embrace an ever-growing, interconnected global society and to recognize the value of service to others.

Students First

Recognizing our responsibility to prepare our students for global citizenship, as well as to teach them all of the very basic human values, we base our programs and policies on fulfilling every student’s needs.

Teachers as Community Builders

ISH faculty plays a key role in delivering a well-rounded education for our students–one that neither begins nor ends in the classroom alone, and includes social, moral, and emotional growth.

International Understanding

ISH bases its educational approach on creating a learning environment where students can grow to become “citizens of the world", actively engaged in promoting those principles defined by the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights.

Educational Inspiration

ISH strives to inspire and motivate every student. Faculty and administrators work together to provide inspired educational leadership to all students at ISH.

Academic Challenge

ISH offers students an academically challenging environment, based on realistic goals to assure that all students achieve their full academic potential. Students are expected to master an age appropriate set of skills necessary to become life-long learners.

Balanced Program

ISH makes every effort to offer a balanced program of study, sports, arts and a wide variety of after school activities for all in order to promote the all-round education of our students.

At the International School of Hamburg (ISH), we believe that all community members deserve to thrive in an environment that recognises, fosters and celebrates diversity.

Our core values of safety, kindness, responsibility and respect drive our commitment to develop socially responsible global citizens.

We uphold that all individuals have the right to a safe and welcoming environment inclusive to all, regardless of age, ethnicity, family structure, gender identity, language, learning difference, nationality, physical ability, race, religion, sexual orientation, and socio-economic status.

The ISH Board, leadership, and community collaborate to proactively address concerns and identify opportunities for us to grow together. As a community we are dedicated to creating learning opportunities and safe spaces for discussion and learning.

We recognise that this is complex and dynamic work, and throughout this process we have much to learn. Our experience teaches us that we can achieve more together than we can apart. We invite all members of our ISH community to join us as we continue to make ISH a more inclusive and equitable place for all.