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,
Elmiye Kolukisa
Head of School
We have organised the information available for this school into 10 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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750
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Number of nationalities represented in the school
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Our vibrant community represents more than 70 nationalities, reflecting our truly global learning environment. This rich diversity creates authentic opportunities for cross-cultural understanding and international mindedness, key aspects of an IB education.
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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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Approximately 20% of our students hold Danish passports. Many of our Danish families have lived abroad for extended periods before returning to Denmark, bringing valuable international perspectives to our diverse community.
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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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Max. number of students per class
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25
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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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Our Early Years programme (ages 3-6) features a two-teacher system, with each Pre-K and Kindergarten class staffed by both a lead teacher and a pedagogue, ensuring developmentally appropriate support and supervision. From PYP 1 onwards, classes transition to a single-teacher model.
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Use of technology in the classroom
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Our technology integration spans all year levels, with shared classroom sets of iPads and Chromebooks available for Early Years through PYP 4 (Ages 3-10), while students from PYP 5 through DP 2 (Ages 10-19) participate in our bring your own device (BYOD) programme, ensuring appropriate digital tools support learning at every stage.
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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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Our integrated digital learning platforms include Google Workspace for Education, Google Classroom, Toddle, and ManageBac, enabling seamless transitions between in-person and virtual learning environments when required, with all staff and students trained in these technologies for both regular classroom enhancement and emergency remote learning scenarios.
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Do students practice religion at the school? What religion?
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As an international IB World School, we maintain a secular educational environment while respectfully acknowledging the diverse faiths within our multicultural community.
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How does the school accommodate non-religious students or students of a different religion?
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We provide a dedicated reflection room—a quiet space available to all community members for prayer, meditation, or personal reflection, supporting diverse spiritual and non-spiritual practices.
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External examinations or assessments available
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Students complete the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme examinations (DP1-2, ages 16-19), alongside ongoing IB assessments throughout the Primary Years Programme and Middle Years Programme.
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Results in these examinations
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Our students consistently achieve excellent IB Diploma results, with a 94-100% pass rate over the past six years, an average score of 32-37 points, and our highest achieving students regularly scoring above 40 points, with recent cohorts achieving maximum scores of up to 44 points out of the possible 45.
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Do teachers assign homework to their students?
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Yes, homework is assigned as an integral part of our learning program across all grade levels. In Pre-K and Kindergarten, this takes the form of daily shared reading, developmental activities, and tasks that support early language and mathematics skills.
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Approximate hours of homework given
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Homework time varies by grade level: Primary School - PYP 1-2: Maximum 20 minutes daily (including 10-15 minutes of reading); PYP 3: Maximum 30 minutes daily (including 15 minutes of reading); PYP 4-5: 30-45 minutes daily (including 20 minutes of reading). Middle School - MYP 1-2: 60-70 minutes daily; MYP 3: 80-90 minutes daily; MYP 4: 1.5-2 hours daily plus 1 hour weekly for Community Project. Diploma Programme: 2-3 hours daily (12-15 hours weekly).
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Percentage of students who pursue further education post-graduation
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The vast majority of our graduates pursue higher education, with students choosing either direct university entry or a gap year before continuing their studies. For example, in our Class of 2024, all 34 graduates had post-secondary plans, with 21 students matriculating directly to universities worldwide and 13 students opting for a gap year experience.
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Dedicated staff/programs for students with special learning needs
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Yes, we have a comprehensive Student Support Services department providing learning support, English as an Additional Language (EAL), counseling, occupational therapy, and speech and language therapy services.
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Learning support offered
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The Student Support Services writes Individual Education Plans for students with learning needs and implements specific learning programmes in both small groups and in-class settings. Our team works collaboratively with parents to form strong school-home links, provides emotional support, and connects with community services when needed. Support is tailored based on ongoing assessment and evaluation, with input from multi-disciplinary teams.
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The school supports gifted, able and talented students
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Our IB curriculum framework provides opportunities for all students to be appropriately challenged through differentiated instruction. Teachers design learning experiences that allow students to work at their own level of challenge while pursuing their interests and strengths. For older students, we offer additional opportunities to extend their learning through after-school activities.
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Student access to education psychologist
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Yes, our Student Support Services team includes access to psychological services, and we maintain a network of external specialist support in both English and Danish to whom we can refer students when needed.
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Entry evaluation for students
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Yes, our admissions process includes evaluations that vary by grade level. For Early Years through PYP 3, we review previous school reports and evaluations. From PYP 4 onwards, we conduct admissions tests in mathematics and English, along with reviewing academic records.
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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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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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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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School start time
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8:30 AM
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School finish time
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2:30 - 3:30 PM depending on the grade level.
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Supervised care before/after school
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Yes, we offer a Morning Club and an After School Care Programme for students in Pre-K - PYP4 (Nursery - Grade 4) and we offer a wide array of after-school clubs and activities.
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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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School provided lunches
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Yes
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Food alternatives for special dietary needs (ie. vegan, kosher, halal etc)
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Yes, we have a daily vegetarian option and our food is halal.
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Uniform required
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No
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Sports facilities at the school
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We use external faciltiies for PE
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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.
