This is the mindset being put forth during this new chapter in the school's development. The school has reached full capacity at their Rygårds Allé campus and in light of that have decided to secure alternate learning space for their IB MYP5 (Grade 10) and Diploma Programme students (Grades 11-12).
Photographs: International School of Hellerup
Text: Emma Gyde, International School of Hellerup
ISH's history
The current Head of School, Nedzat Asanovski, has been with the school since its inception. In 2008 Nedzat was working as a teacher in a Danish school when he was approached with the proposition of opening a new international school for expat families. With a growing number of international families moving to Denmark, the demand for English education was growing. This idea appealed greatly to both his pedagogical and entrepreneurial character, and he accepted. After approval from the Danish Ministry of Education, the formerly named Østerbro International School opened their doors in the summer of 2009 with 60 students and 4 teachers.
A new chapter
Throughout the years, the school has undergone many changes and developments. In 2015 the school became a certified IB school offering PYP, MYP and DP which allowed them to become a full IB continuum school. In 2015 the school also changed location to Hellerup from Østerbro and subsequently underwent a name change from Østerbro International School to the International School of Hellerup. The move to the new campus in Hellerup on Rygårds Allé allowed the school to grow their student body from approximately 270 students to over 550 as of 2020. In 2019 the school turned 10 years old marking a milestone in the school's journey. Although the school has undergone many changes in its short lifespan, it has allowed the school to develop into a wonderful environment for students, families, teachers and staff. The school prides itself on being dynamic and strives to find ways to cater to its students as best possible.
"What makes ISH a unique school is the attention we show each student. Our individualised support helps students at ISH perform well above the world averages in IB Diploma passes and average points gained. Our new campus will allow us to offer the same care and the same approach to more students." - Nedzat Asanovski, Head of School
Going back to our roots
The school was founded initially in Østerbro on Præstøgade. The new High School campus is going to be located in the same building as the school was initially founded in. Some of the students that started in the school when it was located on Præstøgade will be returning to the old campus to attend High School. "I started at that school, and it's going to be fun to go back to where it all started," says Aiswarya Roy an MYP4 student. For the school, it is a full-circle moment which allows them to both go back to their roots and see how far they have come.
Endless possibilities
The new campus will exclusively host the MYP5 and Diploma Programme students, allowing them to have their own environment to develop both academically and socially. The general consensus amongst students and staff is very positive. Camille Wenner, a current DP1 student, says "It is going to be really nice for all of us to come together as IB students." According to Nedzat Asanovski, the Head of School, "We believe that the great culture that we have in DP is going to trickle down to MYP5's even more now."
There are expected to be around 40 MYP5 students, and 60 Diploma Programme students, totalling approximately 100 students for the first semester at the new campus. Most of the school leadership and administration will stay at the current campus on Rygårds Allé, but the current Secondary School Principal, Mustafa Gezen and the IB Diploma Coordinator, Evis Qeska, will both be permanently located in the new campus.
ISH at a glance
The International School of Hellerup is a Not-For-Profit IB Continuum World School with close to 600 students from more than 70 different nationalities. They offer the full continuum of the International Baccalaureate (IB) programmes: Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP) as well as Pre-K and Kindergarten classes. Due to the highly unique and diverse backgrounds of the students and staff, the school prides itself on ensuring a highly inclusive environment for all. "Our mission is to provide the highest quality education in a student-centred environment by empowering individuals to fulfil their human potential to become purposeful life-long learners and responsible global citizens."
ISH is located in the quiet residential area in Hellerup close to a forest and sports facilities. Being a medium-sized, affordable private school allows them to offer a wide range of academic and extracurricular activities to their students all while being accessible to many families.
Looking forward
The school will continue to grow and adapt to the demands of their students. The school-wide community is looking forward to the new chapter the expansion to the new campus will bring and are excited to see what the future holds. As of now, no major changes are being pursued, but the development of the school will continue. The management team is always open to making changes that will be of benefit to everyone; students, teachers, and families.