Hinjewadi's Bliss International School offers IB from nursery to Grade 12: a guide for parents

For parents in western Pune looking for an international education, Bliss International School in Hinjewadi is one option. The school began in 2018 under the Budhrani Knowledge Foundation. It is located at Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park, Phase 1, Plot 38, Hinjewadi, Pune 411057, and is a co-educational day school. The IB's own directory also lists it as an authorised IB World School teaching the PYP, MYP and DP.

A child can therefore start in the early years and continue through the PYP, then the MYP and finally the IB Diploma Programme in the same school. The PYP runs from Grade 1 to 5, the MYP from Grade 6 to 10, and the Diploma Programme in Grades 11 and 12. There is no need to choose a new curriculum at Grade 6 or Grade 11.

The early years section runs from nursery to Prep 2. According to the school, this stage is based on inquiry and play. It emphasises language, mathematics, understanding of the environment, art, and the child's personal, social, behavioural and emotional development. Everyday habits such as eating independently, toilet hygiene and grooming are also included. Parents should ask how much of the day actually goes to play and exploration and how much to formal study.

The PYP covers English, Hindi, German or French, mathematics, units of inquiry, performing arts, music, visual arts, digital literacy, STEAM, product design, physical and health education, life skills and public speaking. Marathi is offered as a club language. The school says the PYP has no fixed textbooks in the traditional sense. Teachers, children and teacher-librarians gather material according to each unit. In PYP 5, children present the PYP Exhibition. Parents receive progress reports, and there are three parent-facilitator-student conferences a year along with one student-led conference.

The MYP teaches language and literature, language acquisition, individuals and societies, science, mathematics, arts, physical and health education, and design. The languages are French, German and Hindi. It ends with the Personal Project, in which students investigate, plan, make something, and reflect on and present their work. Under Service as Action, the school works with organisations such as Inlaks and Budhrani Hospital and the Snehavan orphanage.

The Diploma Programme is a two-year pre-university course with six subject groups, plus Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay and Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS). Subjects include English, French, German, Hindi, economics, history, business management, digital society, psychology, physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics in two papers and visual arts. According to the school, students may take one more subject from Groups 1 to 5 in place of Group 6. Anjali Saxena is the DP coordinator and career counsellor. The school also helps with the Common Application, UCAS, recommendation letters and predicted grade certificates.

Facilities listed include swimming, football, basketball, skating, an ICT lab, physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics and Lego labs, and an auditorium. Shefali Madali is the wellbeing and inclusion coordinator. The school also has an Access and Inclusion Policy. Exchange ties are mentioned with Hernandez School in Spain and Xi'an Liangjiatan International School in China. The school uses the Toddle app to communicate with parents.

Admission depends on age and programme. From nursery to Prep 2 there is no formal entrance test, only a parent interview and observation of the child. For Grades 1 to 5 there is a test in mathematics and English, and for Grades 6 to 10 in English, mathematics and science, followed by a conversation with the coordinator. For Grade 11, or DP1, a pass in Grade 10 from any board is required. The school's admission page states an average of 40% or equivalent. This is followed by an English and mathematics test and an interview. A bridge course is available for new students. An annual scholarship is offered to MYP and DP students, but the amount, eligibility and number of awards must be asked of the school.

Caution is needed on fees. The school's website does not carry a reliable grade-wise fee list. Figures on third-party listings are estimates, not official. Parents should therefore ask the school directly about registration, tuition, IB and exam charges, transport and other costs, and add them up to get the full annual cost. Details such as the number of students, class size, the number of counsellors and special educators, DP results and university admissions should also be confirmed with the school directly.