India, Ahmedabad
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The school offers a socio-emotional learning (SEL) programme called Life classes that focuses on nurturing socio-emotional well-being. The SEL approach is supported by counselling and mental health services to help students address emotional and behavioural issues. Teachers receive extensive training to recognize and respond to students' emotional needs and to create a positive, supportive classroom environment. Discipline is non-punitive and non-retributive, emphasizing the natural consequences of mistakes and promoting a culture of kindness and open communication. The wellbeing framework is designed to strengthen students' social-emotional skills through teacher collaboration, student support, and a positive school culture.
The school acknowledges that a student may have Special Educational Needs at any stage of schooling and provisions should be made to meet those needs. Admission of SEN students depends on whether the disability does not affect the ability to meet program demands, with flexibility to admit in such cases. Where necessary, the school and/or parents seek trained teachers or special educators to provide required support, and the school will explore options to secure appropriate resources. SEN provisions are intended to be additional to or different from standard provisions to enable inclusion within the program. The plans align with guidelines that support SEN students across the relevant IB pathway.
English is the medium of instruction and the primary language used across the curriculum. Most students are second language learners of English, and the school recognizes the importance of developing English as a lingua franca while maintaining mother tongues. The school does not run a universal ESL/EAL program, but there is an Additional English Language Support (AELS) programme for students who need extra help. AELS combines classroom support with a pull-out intensive English component for a defined period, with criteria and processes for shortlisting students. The AELS programme is currently at the Primary Years Programme level, with potential expansion based on need. The school also promotes a mother tongue programme and multilingual resources to support language development.
Wellbeing is integrated into the school's approach to education through SEL and dedicated counselling. The Life classes contribute to students' emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and interpersonal skills. Counselling and mental health support services address emotional and behavioural concerns, with teachers receiving training to support mental wellbeing in the classroom. A dedicated wellbeing team provides structured support and collaborates with families and staff to promote resilience and healthy relationships. The school emphasises a proactive, preventive approach to mental wellbeing as part of its broader educational philosophy.
Child safety is the top priority at Fountainhead School. The school runs a Child Protection Policy with measures including a parent pass system for pickups, CCTV coverage around the campus and buses, a sick-bay team, and wellbeing counsellors to support socio-emotional needs. Every bus has seatbelts and attendants to ensure student safety, and staff receive POCSO training. Regular safety drills and internal audits are conducted to maintain a secure and nurturing environment for pupils.
Fountainhead School is a long-established IB World School in Surat, India, educating students aged 3 to 18. The school delivers the full IB continuum: PYP, MYP, and DP, while also offering Cambridge IGCSE, American Curriculum, and Pearson BTEC qualifications, with a bespoke pathway option. Students can pursue the Fountainhead High School Diploma alongside the IB DP or combine BTEC vocational subjects within the FHSD or DP pathways. The Maverick Learning Centre (MLC) provides mixed-age, experiential learning to complement traditional programmes. The campus serves more than 2,350 students and hosts a wide range of facilities designed to support academics, arts, sports, and collaboration. Facilities include multiple outdoor play spaces, dedicated arts spaces (X-box, Y-box, HippoDrome), performance auditoriums, lawns and meeting spaces, as well as courts for basketball, football, badminton, and a splash pool. The school is affiliated with IB and the Middle States Association, emphasizing character alongside competence. Inquiry, collaboration, and service are integral.