The curriculum, extra-curricular programmes and pastoral care structures are all increasingly being orientated towards Leadership for a better world by means of The Integrated Framework.

Student Learning Experience
Curriculum Base
The curriculum of the Schools is the National Curriculum of England leading up to IGCSEs and A-levels. The National Curriculum, consistent with the HIMS Integrated Framework, is being adapted by the schools within three curriculum domains:

Foundation Studies – the building blocks of learning, including English, Mathematics and Science and a student’s first langauge.

Leadership Studies – subjects that lend themselves towards:

		Understanding the world of people and nature and associated global issues e.g.
		Global Perspectives and 21st Century Science.
		The ability to function in an international environment e.g. Modern Foreign Languages (MFLs), Economics.
		An understanding of human nature and societies e.g. Psychology, Sociology.
		Leadership Studies – a study of great leaders and the qualities that make/made them great.

Leadership-in-Action – subjects that support the physical and emotional development of students such as Physical Education, Music, Drama, Art, PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education).

The host country’s language and associated cultural studies are compulsory for local students and non-local students. Often a significant proportion of students are learning in their second language and support programmes are provided supported by specialist EAL staff. English is however the language of tuition in all subjects other than Modern Foreign Langauges.

Timetable and Subject choices
A degree of conformity is expected between the Harrow International Schools in terms of subjects offered the relative priority given to each. This is for the purpose of facilitating common approaches and for supporting ease of transfer for students and teachers between the schools. This is be particularly important when in Year 8 students go on exchange to other Harrow International Schools for up to a Term.
Students select subjects from the three domains, Foundation Studies, Leadership Studies and Leadership-in-Action Studies.

Year Group structures

Primary
Early Years - crèche-K2
Infants - Years 1-2
Juniors - Years 3-5

Secondary
Prep - Years 5-7, 6-7 or 6-8
Senior - Years 9-11 (IGCSEs)
Sixth Form - Years 12-13 (A-levels)

Extra-curricular programme
Called variously the extra-curricular or co-curricular programme but increasingly at HISs, the Leadership-in-Action programme, students are required to engage in activities and pursuits outside the classroom that place them on the edge of their comfort zone and which nurture service, charity, teamwork, creativity, leadership, and determination. Examples include the Duke of Edinburgh Award, the Model United Nations and, community service, as well as the normal range of sports, performing arts, hobbies and clubs.
An exchange of students is to occur between HISs in one particular year group, probably Year 8. The goal is for each student in Year 8 to have the experience of attending another HIS and engaging with its host culture for a period of time, possibly for up to one term.

Pastoral care
The House system is the primary locus for pastoral care, with Heads of Houses, assisted by House Tutors, coordinating and monitoring pastoral and academic progress. If the school has predominantly day students, boarders are integrated into the boarding Houses for pastoral care and House events whereas if the school's students are predominantly boarders, the day students are integrated into the boarding Houses.
The names of Houses represent a combination of famous Old Harrovians and local Old Harrovians and, if desired, other personalities where appropriate. The names of Houses are approved by HIMS and each School' s Governing Board before being adopted.

Boarding
Boarding Houses are vertically integrated across year groups but separated for boys and girls. The boys’ houses  have a resident House Master and House Tutor and the girls’ houses a House Mistress and House Tutor. The normal maximum number of residential students per boarding House is 50.

Staff
Recruitment
The Head Master is responsible for appointing the teachers.
Teachers :
are fully trained and qualified, UK or equivalent
are mainly from the UK, Commonwealth or UK-curriculum international schools
usually have at least three years’ experience, preferably with:

		independent and boarding school experience
		strong extra-curricular interests, expertise and commitment

display attitudes, attributes and values that are consistent with the Harrow vision and philosophy and exhibit skills appropriate for a personal tutor.
receive Police clearance from country of origin or the country in which they have most recently most resided if they have been resident outside their country of origin for more than 5 years.

Staff Retention
HIMS sets staff retention as a priority. While some staff turnover is desirable so that there is a flow in new ideas and energy, any turnover of staff that exceeds 15% per annum is not seen as desirable.

Non-teaching staff
Non-teaching staff are generally sourced locally unless specialist expertise from abroad is required. They need the qualifications, experience and skills appropriate to the post, preferably including experience working in an international school environment or at least working with expatriates.

Salaries and Benefits
Salaries are paid in the same currency as school fees are charged (to avoid exchange risks for the school). Since most teachers are recruited from the UK, salaries are similar to those in the UK. Benefits are commensurate with the packages provided for expatriate teachers in other international schools in the area.

Facilities
The typical infrastructure requirements for a Harrow International School catering for up to 1,200 students are as follows:
Site area: 25-50 acres
Building Gross Floor Area: approximately 40,000-50,000 square metres

The facilities usually comprise the following:

• Administration office
• Early Years Centre
• Primary school
• Preparatory school
• Secondary school
• Science laboratories
• Art studios
• Library
• Sports Hall/Gymnasium/Swimming Pool
• Dining Hall
• Boarding Houses (separate blocks for Girls and Boys)
• Sports fields including tennis courts
• Staff accommodation

Operations
The Schools run their own financial, HR, procurement, facilities management and marketing departments but each is overseen by the central HIMS office. All other administrative departments are managed from within the Schools.