The Heritage Private School and Institute is an impressive sight in the hills along the main Limassol to Troodos road. The School's stunning location, with mountain and sea views, is further enhanced by its showpiece 1,500 seat outdoor amphitheatre, which hosts school and community dramatic and musical productions and art exhibitions.
With 800 culturally diverse students aged 2 to 18 on roll, the School is truly international in its intake and philosophy, holding the prestigious British Council International School Award for outstanding development of the international dimension in the curriculum. Other recent awards include co-founder and co-director Zoe Kouris being named 2011 Cyprus Business Woman of the Year, and the School's selection to be the only business from the education sector to represent Cyprus in the prestigious 2011 European Business Awards sponsored by HSBC.
The School is academically selective and is approved by the Ministry of Education and Culture in Cyprus, and by the UK's Department for Education. All teaching is in English, and the School uses the UK National Curriculum and standard assessments, including Cambridge Checkpoints in Year 9, ECDL qualifications, the French DELF examinations and the Greek competency examinations. The School is a University of Cambridge International Fellowship Centre, and a centre for the University of Cambridge International Examinations and Edexcel International Examinations. Many students achieve exceptional IGCSE and AS/A Level results. Following the June 2011 examinations, for example, students of The Heritage Private School won 14 Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards and 3 Edexcel High Achievers Awards. Students also graduate from the School with a formal Leaving Certificate (Apolytirion). All of the Year 13 leavers inevitably progress to a university education in the UK or elsewhere.
In addition to its academic focus, the ethos of the School creates a caring community, friendly yet disciplined, and with the aim of developing the full potential of every individual. Students are encouraged to accept responsibility for their own learning from an early age, and to develop social responsibility, mutual trust and respect. Everyone has a talent, and so many extracurricular activities including academic, cultural, sporting, musical, creative and performance arts are offered, to help all students to increase self-esteem, maturity, and to find their own niche. Healthy competition is valued, but effort, team spirit and good sportsmanship are considered paramount. An annual Summer School also offers a valuable and rewarding experience during the vacation. The Heritage Private Institute offers a range of academic subjects, with a record of excellent results, and many other afternoon courses for children and adults.
The innovatively-designed curves of the main school buildings contain well-lit classrooms with interactive whiteboards, heating and air conditioning, to provide learning in comfort all year round. Facilities include specialist drama studios, sound-insulated music rooms, well-equipped science and computer laboratories and a Learning Resource Centre containing a library, study desks and computers. Sports facilities include tennis courts, five-a-side football pitches and cricket practice lanes.
Staff and students take part in many EU educational and community projects to extend experience and learning, such as Comenius, Mediterranean Model United Nations and the European Youth Parliament. Students also regularly participate in educational trips within Cyprus and abroad, environmental projects, school hikes, the International Award for Young People, Public Speaking, Art and Literary competitions, and voluntary service.