Stonehill International School

The Founding Vision

Stonehill International School was established as the Embassy Group's first foray into education, born from a vision to create a world-class IB campus in the rapidly growing technology hub of Bangalore. A groundbreaking ceremony took place in September 2007, and the school opened its doors on September 8, 2008 — with just 18 students and a founding ethos of global, inquiry-based education.

The Embassy Group, primarily known for real estate development in Bangalore, channelled its resources into creating the Stonehill Education Foundation, a non-profit entity that continues to govern the school. The North Bangalore location — close to Kempegowda International Airport — was strategically chosen to serve the expatriate and internationally mobile community settling in the area.

IB Authorisations and Academic Milestones

Stonehill's IB journey was rapid:

• 2010: IB Diploma Programme (DP) authorisation
• 2011: IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) authorisation; CIS and NEASC accreditation achieved
• 2012: IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) authorisation
• 2023: Full IB re-authorisation across all programmes

The school later added the IB Career-related Programme (CP), becoming one of a small number of schools in India to offer all four IB pathways under one roof.

Campus Expansion Timeline

As enrolment grew from its initial 18 students toward 700, the physical campus expanded significantly across its 34-acre estate:

• 2014: Launch of the Boarding Programme (initially for Grades 6–12)
• 2018 (October): Opening of the Multipurpose Sports Hall
• 2019 (November): Opening of the STEM and Arts Centre — a landmark addition housing science labs, maker spaces, theatre, music studios, and visual arts facilities
• 2022 (September): Opening of the new Library and Media Centre

Today, Stonehill is accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS), New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), and the Australian Boarding Schools Association (ABSA), and is a member of EARCOS, ECIS, and TAISI.

A Coherent IB Philosophy from Nursery to Grade 12

Stonehill International School's educational philosophy is inseparable from the International Baccalaureate framework. As one of India's few schools authorised to offer all four IB programmes — the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), Diploma Programme (DP), and Career-related Programme (CP) — Stonehill provides a seamless, philosophy-driven education from age 3 through 18.

The school's mission is explicit: "to provide stimulating, engaging academics integrated with enhanced opportunities for technological innovation, sports and the arts." This mission is animated by a vision of students as "knowledgeable, caring, confident and responsible global citizens" — language drawn directly from the IB Learner Profile.

Inquiry-Based, Student-Centred Learning

Across all programme levels, teaching at Stonehill privileges inquiry over rote learning. In the PYP, students explore transdisciplinary themes through Units of Inquiry. In the MYP, interdisciplinary projects and personal projects encourage students to make real-world connections. In the DP, the core components — Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay, and CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) — ask students to think critically about knowledge itself and contribute to their communities.

This philosophy translates into measurable academic outcomes. The Class of 2024 achieved a mean IB Diploma score of 32.2/45, above the world average, with the highest score reaching 43. Three students scored 40 or above, and 17 scored 35 or above.

Holistic Development

Stonehill's philosophy holds that academics alone are insufficient. The school integrates arts, sports, and technology as pillars of development alongside academic rigour. The 2019 opening of the STEM and Arts Centre — housing science labs, maker spaces, theatre, music studios, and visual arts facilities — was a physical expression of this commitment.

The community-service strand, Stonehill in Action, embeds the IB's CAS ethos into daily school life, requiring students in Grades 6–12 to engage with genuine community needs.

Inclusive by Design

Another distinctive philosophical pillar is inclusivity. Stonehill's admissions policy states that all applicants are eligible if the school can meet their needs. EAL (English as an Additional Language) support is available from Grade 1 to Grade 10, removing language barriers to access. Learning support specialists work with students with varied learning profiles, reflecting the IB's commitment to educating the whole child.

IB Diploma Results: Above World Average

Stonehill's academic culture is outcome-oriented without sacrificing breadth. The Class of 2024 IB Diploma cohort — 59 candidates — achieved a mean score of 32.2 out of 45, surpassing the global IB average of approximately 30 points. The cohort's highlights included:

• Highest score: 43/45
• Students scoring 40+: 3
• Students scoring 35+: 17
• Bilingual Diploma recipients: 2
• Pass rate: 100%

These results reflect a culture of academic rigour supported by small classes (15–18 students), an 8:1 student-to-teacher ratio, and experienced faculty drawn from 15 nationalities.

University Destinations: Global and Elite

Stonehill's university placement record is exceptional for an Indian international school. The Class of 2026 (68 graduates) achieved:

• 100% university placement
• 59% to QS Top-100 universities
• Destinations spanning 19 countries
• US$1.8 million in university scholarships awarded to the cohort

The Class of 2024 received over US$2.7 million in university scholarships. Destination universities have included Stanford, MIT, Cambridge, Dartmouth, LSE, UCL, Imperial College London, UBC, the University of Sydney, and many more across the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Asia, and Europe.

College Counselling as a Differentiator

From Grade 9, students are supported by Stonehill's dedicated College Counselling office, which guides students through university research, application strategy, test preparation, and essay writing. This early and sustained support is credited by the school as a key factor in the breadth and quality of university destinations achieved.

Subject Breadth in the DP

The DP at Stonehill offers a full suite of subjects across all six IB groups, including higher-level options in Mathematics (Analysis and Approaches), sciences, humanities, and the arts. The Career-related Programme (CP) adds vocational pathways for students with specific professional interests.

Setting and Scale

Stonehill International School occupies a 34-acre (approximately 137,600 m²) purpose-built campus in Jala Hobli, Bangalore North — just 20 minutes from Kempegowda International Airport. The location places the school in a green, semi-rural corridor that contrasts with the density of central Bangalore, giving the campus an open, residential feel uncommon among urban international schools.

The campus was designed from the outset to support the full breadth of IB education, with academic, creative, sporting, and residential facilities all integrated within a single estate.

Academic Facilities

• STEM Block (opened November 2019): science laboratories, mathematics rooms, computer labs, and maker/innovation spaces
• Library and Media Centre (opened September 2022): a modern research and reading hub
• Arts Centre (opened November 2019): dedicated theatre, music studios, dance studios, and visual arts workshops
• Standard classrooms sized for 15–18 students across PYP, MYP, and DP levels

Sports Facilities

• 25-metre heated swimming pool — used for training and inter-school competitions
• Multipurpose indoor sports hall (opened October 2018) — basketball, volleyball, assemblies
• AstroTurf football field — full-size synthetic pitch
• Outdoor tennis courts
• Outdoor volleyball courts
• Indoor and outdoor basketball courts
• Athletics/track and field areas
• Access to Embassy International Riding School for equestrian activities

Boarding and Residential Life

Three modern boarding houses accommodate students from Grade 6 upward, offering twin and quad air-conditioned rooms, common lounges, and 24-hour supervision by resident house-parents. Approximately 20% of upper-school students are boarders, creating a genuinely residential community. Full-time and weekly boarding options are available.

The campus's 10-bed medical infirmary with a resident nurse on duty 24/7 provides reassurance to boarding families, many of whom live far from Bangalore or abroad.

Dining

A large cafeteria/dining hall serves nutritious vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals daily, catering to the diverse dietary needs of a student body from 35 countries.

A Non-Selective, Inclusive Approach

Unlike many international schools that use entrance examinations or selective criteria, Stonehill International School operates an explicitly inclusive admissions policy: all applicants whose educational needs can be met by the school are eligible for admission. This philosophy extends to students with learning differences, those with no English at all, and those joining mid-year if places are available.

This is a deliberately differentiated positioning in the Bangalore international school market, where several competitors apply selective processes.

The Admissions Process

The admissions process at Stonehill is straightforward and relationship-oriented:

1. Inquiry and campus tour: Families are invited to visit and meet the team
2. Application submission: Documentation including previous school records
3. Parent and student interview: Conducted in English, but non-English-speaking families are accommodated
4. Enrolment confirmation: Subject to place availability and the school's ability to meet the child's needs

No written entrance examination is administered. The school assesses whether it can provide appropriate support, rather than ranking applicants academically.

EAL Support: Removing Language Barriers

A cornerstone of Stonehill's inclusive approach is its English as an Additional Language (EAL) programme, available from Grade 1 through Grade 10. The school states that "it is absolutely okay for a child to have no knowledge of the language" upon entry to the Primary school. EAL specialists work alongside class teachers to support language acquisition in context.

Learning Support

Beyond language, Stonehill offers dedicated learning support for students with varied learning profiles — including dyslexia, attention difficulties, and other specific learning needs. The school's commitment is to modify its provision to meet the student, not the reverse.

Scholarships

For academically or athletically outstanding applicants, Stonehill offers:

• Academic Scholarships: For Grades 9–11 entrants, awarded through competitive assessment; covers partial tuition; renewable quarterly based on performance
• Sports Scholarships: For Grades 8–10 entrants with elite athletic achievement; covers tuition fees plus 50% of boarding fees; requires sports trial
• Honorary Scholarships: For employees' children and existing students (symbolic, no fee concession)

The school does not advertise need-based financial aid beyond these merit programmes.