The Pharma Giant Harcourts a Conglomerate with a 25 year old history has now ventured into education. Mr.Ahamed Rheyas Chairman of Harcourts Group of companies who started his career as an English Teacher at Zahira College has a great passion for education.

He took over Crescent and now plans to expand the school and re-launch it as Harcourts International School (HIS). The school is situated in an ideal and spacious property at Jenson Gardens, Anderson Road, Dehiwala. Mr. Rheyas said that he chose Dehiwala, because it is an area which is suitable for an International School for middle income families and is determined to build it to a student population numbering 1000 by 2012.

Harcourts International School is managed by the Harcourts Foundation. H.I.S. is an international school which provides children with quality education from the Nursery Level through to the Advanced Level.
The Main Function of an Educational institution is to bring out the inborn and inherent talents in every students. In order to identify and develop these talents it is necessary to make the educational system child centered. This is amply demonstrated at the Nursery section of the school, where every child is given the guidance, support and encouragement to develop its Mental, Conceptual and Social aspects. The teachers maintain a close relationship with the parents in the development of the child. What is derived through this process of education and experience should generate academic excellence and discipline. Todays parental aspiration towards their children are extremely high.

The Nursery level consists of the play group which has children between the 2 ½ - 3 ½ age group, the lower Kindergarten, the upper Kindergarten and the Pre grade level. The Nursery level is described as the foundation stage. It is a distinct stage, where the foundation is laid for the children's future. The environment at this level throbs with activity throughout the year. A simulating atmosphere is created, where the child's natural curiosity is aroused and he explores and discovers and enjoys himself in the process. At the Nursery level we are constantly reminded of the 4 D's - Discipline -Decorum-Dedication and Determination. We watch the children transform into confident, courageous, and communicative individuals.

Currently the school has a student population of around 300, comprising of all cultures and ethnicities. The school has an impressive infrastructure spanning over a 100 perches. Recent developments include two swimming pools- the baby pool for the kids of the Nursery level and the other for the children of the upper levels and it is also open to ladies in the evenings and weekends and new sprawling buildings to accommodate the growing student population. The library, computer and science labs ensure that the students gain an in-depth understanding of their subjects. The playgrounds provide recreational facilities for the children during their break and for Physical Education.

At HIS, we are committed to nurturing students and inspiring them to succeed both in academic and extra-curricular areas. The limited number of students in each class ensures that they get the individual attention, motivation and inspiration that they need, to achieve their goals. The staff consists of dedicated and qualified teachers for each subject area, they also regularly attend workshops conducted by Edexcel and various other education authorities to keep their syllabus up-to-date. These teachers bring out the best in every student by building a good rapport with their students.

The language of instruction in the school is English and the school follows the Edexcel Curriculum right up to the IGCSE Ordinary levels and the GCE Advanced level, as well as the National curriculum.

• Excellent results at the recently concluded examinations
• Affordable fees for a quality education
• Limited number of students in a class ensuring personalized attention
• Spacious facilities including a newly built swimming pool
• Co-curricular and extra-curricular activities that produce a well balanced student

The school has produced excellent results at these examinations throughout the years, including a number of students securing 6As and 5As at the Ordinary Level examinations held in May 2010.
Harcourts International School aims at producing a well developed individual, by introducing various extra-curricular activities in the school curriculum. The students with the help of the staff have produced colourful and entertaining plays 'Simba' and 'Aladdin's wishes' and 'Barney' by the students of the Nursery level all of which were immensely successful.

A unique event in the school calendar is its annual inter-house multimedia competition which shows that the students are talented and 'techno savvy'. Arts and crafts are also encouraged by holding exhibitions at the end of the academic year. Co-curricular activities of various societies within the school also teach the children to appreciate each subject area. The girls of HIS are encouraged to compete at various inter-school competitions in which they usually carry away prizes. At the CIMA Spell Master island wide competition one of our students was placed as the first runner up.

Sports also play a major role in the development of children. Along with the annual Sports Meet students are also coached for badminton and netball. Swimming is a new addition to our curriculum taught by an experienced lady instructor.

The management is determined to make this school one of the leading schools in the country providing opportunities for children of middle-income families. The school will re launch itself with a new image and a new fee structure together with its current success factors will ensure that the quality and standard of education will be at an elevated level. The school will also provide scholarships for students with exceptional academic excellence.