Harrow International School Bengaluru, Devanahalli Bangalore (Bengaluru)

Positives / What Parents Like / What’s Good

1. Strong Infrastructure & Facilities
   Harrow Bengaluru has been repeatedly praised for its top-class, modern infrastructure. The campus is extensive (about 60 acres) and includes well-equipped academic blocks, labs (science, robotics, IT), a sizable library, arts studios, dance/drama/music rooms, etc.
   On the sports side: there’s an Olympic-size 50m swimming pool, a full-sized astroturf football pitch, 400m running track, multi-use sports hall, courts for various sports, fitness gyms, etc. (As per School's website)

2. Holistic & Extracurricular Emphasis
   The school seems to emphasize not just academics but the overall development of students. Parents often note availability of many extracurriculars: sports, arts, drama, music, robotics, debate, etc. This helps in building teamwork, leadership, confidence alongside academics.

3. Curriculum Options & Global / Heritage Brand
   Harrow brings international curricula (IGCSE, A-Levels, IB Diploma option) which is appealing for parents looking for globally recognised qualifications. The association with the Harrow UK tradition gives a sense of prestige, along with values of character development. (As per School's website and Moneycontrol)

4. Faculty & Personal Attention
   Parents frequently appreciate the quality of teachers: many international and experienced, and the sense that students are seen and supported. Reports of mentoring, emotional / wellbeing care, pastoral systems are positive features.

5. Safety, Safeguarding & Well-being
   The school has posted strong policies for safeguarding, child protection, etc. They have a dedicated safeguarding team, behaviour / inclusion / complaints / risk management policies on record. Parents seem to find comfort in the security, maintenance, cleanliness, and attentive staff. (As per School's website)

6. Leadership, Vision & Parent Involvement
   The administrative side appears to make efforts: parent-information sessions, parent committees, regular feedback, involvement in the school community through “Friends of Harrow”. There is also recognition: Harrow Bengaluru won “Gold” award in Emerging School of the Year (India Education Awards 2025). (As per School's website)

Areas of Concern / What Might be Improved / What’s Not Okay

While many of the reviews are glowing, there are some concerns and downsides that parents bringing up. Some are more general to international / premium schools, others more specific to Harrow Bengaluru as known so far.

1. High Cost / Fee Hikes / Affordability
   A big concern is the fees. The tuition for grades 6-10 runs into the range of ≈ Rs 17.25 lakh/year before discounts, and for grades 11-12 even more (≈ Rs 18 lakh), plus additional charges for boarding, transport, and other facilities. (As per Money Control)
   Given this, some parents worry about steep increases year-on-year, lack of transparency in how fee hikes are justified, and how sustainable it is for middle to upper middle families. This is also part of a city-wide trend of private schools increasing fees by 10-30% in recent years. (As per Money Control and Times of India)

2. Getting Fully Established / Growing Pains
   As a relatively new school (opened 2023), some parts of its offering are still in development. For instance, full boarding houses were being completed, campus tours started in mid-2023, etc. Some parents may feel that certain facilities / processes are still stabilizing.

3. Distance / Commute & Location
   Devanahalli is further out in the northern corridor of Bengaluru, near the airport. While this may be a plus in terms of space, green surroundings, etc., for many families it means longer travel for day students. Also, transport/boarding costs add further to the burden.

4. Teacher / Staff Turnover or Variation
   While many parents praise the faculty, there are occasional comments that not all teachers are equally experienced or that some classrooms lack consistency in teaching quality. Also, international faculty often command higher salaries, and there’s pressure to retain them. Competition, cost, etc., may lead to turnover or unevenness. The reviews include a few less positive voices (although far fewer) where parents feel teacher-student engagement is not always ideal.

5. Cultural / Local Curriculum Integration & Language Options
   International schools sometimes get criticism for not sufficiently integrating local languages, values, or the regional board/requirements. There is some mention (in broader parent forums) of parents wishing for more attention to local language (Kannada), Indian curriculum options, or more sensitivity to cultural expectations. I found one reference in a list of Schools in Devanahalli where parents suggest adding a Kannada board.

6. Pressure & Academic Rigor
   For some students, the international curriculum and the breadth of extracurricular engagement can lead to high workload and expectations. Some parents may feel that while the challenge is good, it may also be intense, particularly if the student is juggling many co-curricular demands. (Note: I did not find strong specific complaints of burnout at Harrow Bengaluru yet, but this tends to arise in similar schools.)

Parental Considerations

If I were considering this school for my child, here are things I would particularly evaluate / look for, plus questions or checkpoints I would make sure of during a visit or discussions.

Practical Advice / What to Look For

• Assess Total Cost, Not Just Tuition. Include boarding or weekly boarding, transport, uniforms, extracurricular fees, examination fees, etc. Make projections for 5-6 years ahead, because fee hikes are real.

• Visit the Campus in Person, Multiple Times. Especially check the classroom environment: noise, ventilation, size, teacher-student ratio; check boarding houses if applicable; inspect sports/arts facilities in working condition, not just showrooms.

• Talk to Existing Parents & Students. Try to get candid feedback on workload, teacher availability, how responsive the school is when issues arise, discipline, how smooth transitions are (e.g. moving from IGCSE to A Levels/IB).

• Clarify Academic Tracking & Support. Ask about remedial help, how they'd help your child if they are behind, how they stretch students who are ahead; how assessments and feedback happen.

• Check Cultural Fit & Values. See how much local culture/language is incorporated; what the expectations are in discipline, student behaviour, house system, religious or faith observances (if any), parental involvement, etc.

Specific Questions / Checkpoints During a School Visit or Inquiry

1. What has been the annual fee growth over the past 3-5 years, and how is it determined

2. What is the student-teacher ratio in my child’s proposed grade, and how stable are the teachers (turnover rates)?

3. How do you handle student well-being, pastoral care, counselling, and safeguarding? Can you give examples?

4. What is included in the fee, and what are extra costs I should expect (transport, uniforms, deposits, boarding charges, excursions etc.)?

5. How is the curriculum delivered in terms of co-curricular load? What are expectations for homework, projects, extracurricular participation? And what flexibility is there?