Why we stay small

We are small, by choice — about 400 learners. That is not a statistic. It is a design decision. We have nearly 60 educators for these learners, so attention is not an exception; it is the default. It lets adults know children well, respond early, and build capability with patience.

Many schools focus on control. It looks efficient, but it quietly teaches children to comply before they learn to think. At HLC, we design for the opposite. We want children to ask better questions, learn how to learn, and treat people with care. That only happens when a child feels included, and when adults have the time to build growth rather than chase quick obedience.

A child does not need the same kind of school at age five and at age sixteen.

Children change fast, and so should what school asks of them. We use a simple developmental arc to design the years from Kindergarten to Grade 12. It helps us decide what matters now, and what can wait.

See the four stages of growth

Three ways to understand HLC quickly

If you only have a few minutes, start here. This is what we protect, what you will see in classrooms, and how to choose with clarity.

If you visit, you will notice these things.

These are not slogans. These are routines and design choices that shape how children feel and how they learn.

Adults speak to children with respect, even during conflict.
Children work in groups often, and collaboration is taught, not assumed
Feedback protects confidence in the early years, and becomes more demanding as children grow
Learning includes making, building, reading, debating, performing, playing sport, and reflecting.
Inclusion is part of the classroom design, not a separate room.

Strong academics, without turning school into a race.

We follow the Cambridge pathway for academic structure and progression. But the bigger work is what sits underneath it.

We teach children to plan, revise, write, think, and ask for help without shame. That is what carries them through exams, and beyond them.

Testimonials

What graduates remember, years later

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At HLC, it was not academic knowledge alone that I received. I received an education. I wasn’t taught Physics and History alone. I learnt tolerance, acceptance, teamwork and self-confidence. Though I’ve been to different schools both before and after, HLC will always be my school. Just like every other student, I was, am and always will be a proud Headstarter!

Yash Rajeshwar, in 2009

CEO, AuxoHub

“

I have studied in HLC since LKG and the school has played a vital role in building me from ground zero. Even after 14 years of the same place, I still can’t get enough of it – I’m in school so often even after graduating; it’s just because I can’t come to terms with the fact that my time here is up. At least as a student it is.My time in HLC has been extremely memorable and I would do it all over again if I got a chance to, without changing a thing! Signing off with a deep sense of gratitude.

Abhay Menon, in 2019

@ New York University

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The thing with my school is that it pours rains of opportunity down at us constantly in the hope that at one point, the student sheds the fear of getting soaked wet and begins to raise her hands to catch the rain. That’s when people like me learn to embrace life and grow. By the end of the school life in HLC, you’d discover who you are and that is the greatest gift anyone can receive.

Laya Shankar, in 2019

@ Symbiosis University

Learning also happens when children take responsibility for the world around them.

Over the years, HLC learners and facilitators have built initiatives in inclusion, sports integrity, public problem solving, and social entrepreneurship. This is one way children practice leadership before they are adults.

Know More

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Across the classes, the children were eager to learn and their enthusiasm and interest made them a pleasure to teach. I found the management of the school to be supportive, encouraging a creative approach to teaching and with an open-mind to initiatives and ideas to enhance learning. I will always be thankful for the opportunity I was given to join the HLC family.

Kate Nash

An Enabler of Children

Admissions, designed for fit

We don’t do walk-in visits. We begin with an online application, and invite families for a dialogue and an on-campus interaction when there is potential alignment.

Apply online: Share your child’s details and what you’re looking for.
Invitation to a dialogue: If there is potential alignment and seat possibility, we invite you for a conversation.
Campus interaction (half-day): Your child spends time on campus through age-appropriate activities, including an assessment to understand learning needs and readiness.
Decision and offer: If the fit is right for your child and your family, and seats are available, we make an offer.