Brief History
The International School Hannover Region is an independent school, which is accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS) and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and is a member of the Association of German International Schools (AGIS). It is authorized to teach all three IB (International Baccalaureate) programs, the PYP, the MYP and the IB Diploma. The school is officially recognized as an “Ergänzungsschule” by the state of Lower Saxony.
Foundation
Up to the early 1990s the British army school in Hannover met the need for instruction and education in the English language following the British school system. When it became known that this school would be closed following the 1992/93 school year, some companies (mainly Prakla-Seismos, BEB), together with the Industrie- und Handelskammer Hannover-Hildesheim (Chamber of Commerce), began a campaign to start an International School in the Hannover Region.
The Lower Saxonian Ministry of Education, which had been involved in this initiative since 1991, joined with the City of Hannover to find an unconventional solution. An English Language Annex was added to the Hinrich-Wilhelm-Kopf-Schule, a state primary school, on a trial basis.
Forty-five students were enrolled in grades 1-6, taught by 5 teachers. Lessons were given in the building formerly used by the British army school. The language of instruction was English and the teachers were native speakers.
Those involved in the effort to start an International School had not ceased to plan. The Lower Saxonian authorities granted subsidies, and the City of Hanover lent a school campus to the newly formed Internationale Schule Hannover Region GmbH (a non-profit limited liability corporation). With only a few weeks remaining in the 1995/96 school year, the inauguration of the International School Hannover Region was fixed for August 1st, 1996.
Growth of the School
- 1996
ISHR started with 67 students from 20 nations who were enrolled in seven grades taught by nine teachers. - 1997
ISHR hired its first overseas director, who was instrumental in the integration of the IB Primary Years and Middle Years Programmes into the ISHR curriculum. The school also became a member of the ECIS(European Council of International Schools) and the AGIS(Association of German International Schools). - 1999
ISHR became authorized to deliver the IB Diploma Programme.
- 2000
ISHR moved to the premises of the former Ratsgymnasium in the center of the city. The school buildings were completely renovated and with this move, ISHR acquired purpose-built facilities with a large auditorium, a physical education hall, and space to expand. - 2001
The first senior class graduated from ISHR. - 2002
ISHR received authorization to deliver the IB Middle Years Programme. - 2003
The local International Kindergarten, which was already housed on the same campus, officially became part of ISHR. - 2006
ISHR received authorization to offer the IB Primary Years Programme. Additionally a 3.5m € building expansion project was started with funding from the government. - 2007
ISHR’s campus now included a much larger dining room with a professional kitchen, a new attractive library, 10 new classrooms, an additional music room, a third science laboratory and a second IT room. A gymnastic room and a visitors’ gallery were added to the PE Wing and the main sports hall was renovated. - 2010
ISHR was accredited by NEASC (New England Association of Schools and Colleges) and CIS (Council of International Schools). - 2013
ISHR opened a new secondary centre, consisting of 11 classrooms, 2 music and 5 music practice rooms, 2 art rooms, study rooms and a laptop area, as well as a second PE Hall, and a fourth Science Laboratory. - 2019
ISHR was re-accredited by CIS, NEASC and the IBO. The ISHR Robotics team wins the bronze medal at the FIRST Global Challenge. - 2020
ISHR holds the first “Drive in Graduation” due to COVID-19 restrictions. - 2022
ISHR has successfully attained carbon neutrality. - 2022
ISHR was awarded the title of “Digital Place Lower Saxony” (“Digitaler Ort Niedersachsen“) by the Ministry of Economics, Labor, Transport and Digitalization.
ISHR Today
As of the 2024/2025 school year, ISHR has over 600 students from more than 65 different nations enrolled from our Early Years Programme through Grade 12, all following the IB programmes. We are proud of our IB Diploma results and have alumni students studying at renowned universities on five different continents.
