Location – 2190 Xiangbin Rd, Bin Jiang Qu, Hang Zhou Shi, Zhejiang, China, 310052
Website – https://www.his-china.org/
Contact – +86 571 8669 0045
Every child has the potential to make a meaningful contribution to the world when they are given the opportunity to explore, question, and grow. At Hangzhou International School (HIS), this belief has shaped the school’s approach to education since its founding. As China’s longest-established IB World School, HIS provides an internationally recognised education that combines academic excellence with inquiry, innovation, and a strong sense of community.
Serving students from Early Years through Grade 12, the school offers the full continuum of the International Baccalaureate (IB) programmes, creating a seamless educational journey that encourages curiosity, independence, and lifelong learning. Students are challenged not only to achieve academic success but also to develop the confidence, compassion, and global perspective needed to thrive in an ever-changing world.
Learning Through Inquiry and Innovation
At Hangzhou International School, learning is designed to move beyond the simple acquisition of knowledge. The school’s inquiry-based approach encourages students to ask meaningful questions, investigate authentic problems, and apply their understanding in real-world contexts.
Rather than focusing solely on memorisation, students are encouraged to think critically, collaborate effectively, communicate confidently, and reflect on their own learning. Across every grade level, teachers create opportunities for students to engage in research, experimentation, discussion, and interdisciplinary learning experiences that develop both academic understanding and essential life skills.
The IB framework encourages students to become active participants in their education, taking ownership of their learning while developing resilience, creativity, and intellectual curiosity. This approach ensures that learning remains relevant, engaging, and connected to the world beyond the classroom.
Building a Diverse and Inclusive Community
One of the defining strengths of Hangzhou International School is its truly international community. Students, families, and educators from diverse nationalities, languages, and cultural backgrounds come together to create an environment where different perspectives are valued and celebrated.
The school believes that diversity enriches learning by encouraging students to appreciate different cultures while developing a strong sense of their own identity. Through classroom discussions, collaborative projects, cultural celebrations, and everyday interactions, students learn to approach the world with respect, empathy, and open-mindedness.
Inclusion extends beyond cultural diversity. The school is committed to ensuring that every student feels welcomed, supported, and able to participate fully in school life, creating a community where every individual is encouraged to contribute and succeed.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
Hangzhou International School recognises that meaningful education extends far beyond academic lessons. Students are encouraged to connect their learning with the wider community through service, leadership, experiential learning, and real-world opportunities.
The school provides a wide range of experiences that enable students to apply classroom learning while developing responsibility, collaboration, and initiative. Through service-learning projects, outdoor education, leadership opportunities, and community partnerships, students gain valuable experiences that help them understand the impact they can have on the world around them.
These experiences complement academic learning by encouraging students to become thoughtful, compassionate, and active global citizens who are prepared to make positive contributions throughout their lives.
Supporting Every Learner
Hangzhou International School believes that every student is unique, with individual strengths, interests, and learning needs. Recognising these differences allows teachers to provide personalised learning experiences that help every child reach their full potential.
Teachers use ongoing assessment, observation, and collaboration to understand how each student learns best. Lessons are adapted through differentiated instruction, flexible grouping, and individual support, ensuring that students receive both the challenge and guidance they need to succeed.
Students requiring additional support benefit from specialist services, while those ready for greater academic challenge are encouraged to extend their learning through inquiry, research, leadership opportunities, and independent projects. This balanced approach enables every learner to develop confidence while progressing at an appropriate pace.
For students whose first language is not English, language support is integrated into the wider learning programme, allowing them to participate fully in both academic and community life. The school’s commitment is to understand each learner as a whole person rather than focusing solely on academic performance.
Building Strong Partnerships with Families
Hangzhou International School recognises that a successful education is built on a strong partnership between school and home. Parents are viewed as active partners in their children’s learning journey, and open communication plays a vital role in supporting student success.
Families receive regular updates through newsletters, emails, parent conferences, digital communication platforms, and school events, ensuring they remain informed about academic progress, student well-being, and school life.
The school also provides opportunities for parents to become actively involved through community events, workshops, volunteer opportunities, and parent engagement initiatives, strengthening the sense of belonging across the entire school community.
Open communication between teachers, school leaders, students, and parents creates an environment built on trust, collaboration, and shared responsibility. This partnership ensures that students receive consistent support both at school and at home.
Prioritising Student Well-Being
Student well-being is central to life at Hangzhou International School. The school believes that students learn most effectively when they feel safe, respected, valued, and connected to their community.
Pastoral care is embedded throughout the school experience, with teachers, counsellors, and support staff working together to nurture students’ social, emotional, and academic development. Students are encouraged to build resilience, develop healthy relationships, and seek support whenever they need it.
Well-being is promoted through dedicated programmes that focus on social-emotional learning, resilience, emotional awareness, responsible decision-making, and healthy lifestyles. These experiences help students develop the confidence and self-awareness needed to navigate both academic and personal challenges.
The school also recognises the importance of balance. Through sports, outdoor activities, creative programmes, service opportunities, and meaningful relationships, students develop not only academically but also physically, emotionally, and socially. This holistic approach reflects the school’s commitment to developing well-rounded young people who are prepared for life beyond the classroom.
Creativity, Leadership, and Technology
Creativity and innovation are woven throughout the learning experience at Hangzhou International School, where students are encouraged to explore ideas, take intellectual risks, and develop solutions to authentic challenges. Through inquiry-based projects, collaborative learning experiences, and interdisciplinary units, students learn to analyse information, think critically, and communicate their ideas with confidence.
Leadership opportunities are equally important. Students are encouraged to take on meaningful roles through student leadership initiatives, service-learning projects, clubs, athletics, and the school’s extensive co-curricular programme, enabling them to develop responsibility, collaboration, and initiative while making positive contributions to the school community.
Technology is integrated thoughtfully across the curriculum to enhance learning rather than simply replace traditional teaching methods. Students use digital tools for research, collaboration, creativity, communication, data analysis, and project development, while teachers carefully select technology that adds genuine educational value to each learning experience.
At the same time, students are guided to become responsible digital citizens by developing an understanding of online safety, ethical technology use, digital wellbeing, and critical evaluation of information. The goal is not simply to place technology in students’ hands, but to equip them with the knowledge, judgement, and skills to use it purposefully and responsibly throughout their lives.
Academic Excellence with Purpose
Academic excellence at Hangzhou International School is built upon the internationally recognised International Baccalaureate (IB) framework, which encourages students to develop deep conceptual understanding while applying their knowledge in meaningful contexts. Assessment is used not only to measure achievement but also to inform teaching, support individual progress, and encourage continuous reflection.
Teachers work collaboratively to maintain high academic standards while recognising that every learner follows a unique educational journey. Students are challenged to achieve their personal best through rigorous academics, inquiry, reflection, and authentic learning experiences rather than through memorisation alone.
The school’s commitment to excellence is reflected not only in academic outcomes but also in the opportunities available to students after graduation. Recent graduates have received university offers from leading institutions across Japan, Europe, North America, and Asia, reflecting both the strength of the IB programme and the global outlook developed throughout their education. This success is measured not simply by university destinations, but by the confidence, character, and lifelong learning skills students develop during their time at HIS.
A Vision for the Future
Looking ahead, Hangzhou International School remains committed to building upon its strong foundations while continuing to evolve in response to the changing needs of students and society. The school will continue strengthening inquiry-based learning, student agency, innovation, and community engagement while ensuring that well-being, inclusion, and academic excellence remain central to every aspect of school life.
The school is also committed to expanding sustainability initiatives, developing new community partnerships, strengthening student leadership opportunities, and continuing to invest in wellbeing and inclusion. With more than 100 co-curricular activities available to students, HIS believes learning should extend far beyond the classroom and support the development of the whole child.
As the school moves forward, its mission remains unchanged: to develop compassionate, engaged, and empowered learners who are prepared not only for university success, but for a lifetime of meaningful contribution, leadership, and lifelong learning.
Conclusion
For decades, Hangzhou International School has remained committed to providing an education that balances academic excellence, inquiry, innovation, inclusion, and genuine care for every learner. By empowering students to think critically, act compassionately, and embrace lifelong learning, the school continues to prepare young people to succeed in an increasingly interconnected world.
That commitment to developing knowledgeable, caring, and internationally minded individuals continues to define Hangzhou International School—an inspiring community where students are encouraged to learn with curiosity, lead with integrity, and make a meaningful difference in the world.