Cities / Bangalore / Stonehill International School
Stonehill International School
A 34-acre full-IB campus north of the city in Tarahunise, founded 2008 and run as part of Embassy Education. Day and boarding from Grade 6, around 600 pupils, CIS and NEASC accredited.
In brief
One of Bangalore's most established full-IB schools, set on a 34-acre campus north of the city in Tarahunise and run as part of Embassy Education. Day and boarding from Grade 6.
Stonehill opened in 2008 and offers the full IB continuum, PYP through DP, plus the Career-related Programme. CIS and NEASC accredited. Diploma results sit above the global average, and the university counselling track record into UK, US and European universities is one of the better ones in the city. Arts facilities, in particular the dedicated visual arts, drama and music spaces, are a genuine differentiator.
Location is the biggest practical filter. Tarahunise is well outside central Bangalore, which is the appeal for families who want a calmer, greener setting and access to boarding, and a real obstacle for day families on the south or east of the city. Around a fifth of secondary students board, in twin and quad rooms with house parents on site. Fees run from roughly INR 5.8 lakh at the lower grades to INR 12.7 lakh at the top, with boarding adding meaningfully on top.
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| P1-P3 (KG - IB PYP) | 3 | ₹581,090 |
| P4-P6 (Grades 1-3 - IB PYP) | 6 | ₹1,089,545 |
| P7-P8 (Grades 4-5 - IB PYP) | 9 | ₹1,113,757 |
| M1-M5 (Grades 6-10 - IB MYP) | 11 | ₹1,210,605 |
| D1-D2 (Grades 11-12 - IB Diploma) | 16 | ₹1,267,100 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Application Fee | ₹11,000 | |
| Development Fee (first child) | ₹183,425 | |
| Refundable Security Deposit | ₹293,480 |
Reviews
Part of the Embassy Group, sister campus to TISB, on a green Tarahunise site north of the airport. One of the few schools in Bangalore offering the full IB continuum from PYP through to the Diploma and the Career-related Programme. The mix at the top end is a familiar one: expat CEO families on short postings, ultra-wealthy Indian business families, and a steadier core of return-NRI households. Diploma scores sit above the global average and the university list reaches the UK, US, Canada, Australia and across Europe. Fees land between TISB at the lower end and Harrow at the upper end of Bangalore's IB tier. The remote north-Bangalore location and the road into the campus are the most common practical drag.
Positives
- Full IB continuum. PYP, MYP, Diploma and the IB Career-related Programme all on one campus. The CP in particular is rare in Bangalore and gives families an option other than the straight DP track.
- University outcomes. Diploma averages run above the global mean. Offers cluster in the UK, with steady representation in the US, Canada, Australia and continental Europe rather than a single dominant destination.
- Campus and facilities. Large, green, purpose-built site with boarding houses and sports infrastructure that few city schools can match. The Founder's Day run and the open grounds are part of how the campus presents itself.
- Pastoral feel. Current students describe a campus where the louder partying crowd is visible but not coercive. Sitting it out doesn't carry a social cost.
Considerations
- Student mix. Heavy concentration of expat executive families and very high-net-worth Indian households. Parents shopping for an IB school without that particular tone tend to find it harder to avoid here than at some city alternatives.
- Location and commute. Tarahunise sits well north of the city and the access road bottlenecks badly on event days. Day families either move into Yelahanka or Embassy Boulevard or commit to the boarding option.
- Teacher continuity. Faculty is a blend of expat hires on shorter postings and longer-serving local staff. Turnover at the expat end comes up in Bangalore IB discussions more broadly and is worth checking by department at the point of admission.
Leadership
Joe Lumsden
Originally from the North-East of England, Joe has been in international education for the last 20 years, including 13 years of leadership experience in international IB schools. He has a Bachelor's degree and two Master's degrees, one in English Literature and one in Education Leadership and Management. During his career in education, Joe has worked as a programme coordinator for both the IB MYP and the IB DP, a workshop leader for the MYP, an examiner for both the MYP and DP, and an Accreditation team member and chair for both the Council of International Schools (CIS) and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).
Accreditations
- Council of International Schools 01
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges 02
Academic results
- Result IB DP 2024 avg 32.2 points
- Result IB DP 2023 avg 33.5 points