International Community School Kumasi vs The Hilltop International British School

	I International Community School Kumasi Kumasi, Ghana	T The Hilltop International British School Kumasi, Ghana
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year GHS 5,000 - 15,000	Fees / year GHS 4,000 - 12,000
Age range	Age range 2 - 19 years	Age range 9 - 19 years
Type	Type Co-educational, Co-educational (boarding)	Type Co-educational, Co-educational (boarding)
Curriculum	Curriculum British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels	Curriculum Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels, British Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils 2,100	Pupils 1,100
Typical class size	Typical class size 25	Typical class size 25
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 2000	Opened 2010
Bus service	Bus service —	Bus service —
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Pakyi Campus, Kumasi, Ashanti Region, Ghana. The school is set on a green, landscaped campus with a serene environment. A separate Patasi Campus hosts the preschool programme. ICS also has an Accra campus at Ogbojo.	Location Cecilia Agyei-Amoako Street, Daban, Kumasi, Ashanti Region, Ghana. The campus is part of the wider Hilltop School complex.
Stages	Stages Nursery (age 2) through Sixth Form / A-Level (age 19), covering preschool, primary (Years 1-6), middle school (Years 7-9), and high school (Years 10-13).	Stages Primary (from age 9) through Upper Sixth Form (age 19), covering Cambridge IGCSE and A-Level programmes.
School type	School type Independent, co-educational day and boarding school.	School type Private, co-educational day and boarding school.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix A diverse, international student body with teachers from Ghana, Nigeria, the USA and other countries.	Pupil nationality mix Primarily Ghanaian students with some international enrolment from the West Africa sub-region.
Additional learning support	Additional learning support The school welcomes children with disabilities and learning difficulties, providing individualised support plans. Dedicated teachers support students who speak English as a second language.	Additional learning support Contact the school for details on learning support provision.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation United Kingdom (British curriculum with Cambridge International qualifications).	Country affiliation United Kingdom (Cambridge Assessment International Education).
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation Non-denominational. The school welcomes students of all faiths.	Religious affiliation Non-denominational.
School day structure	School day structure Preschool: 8:00 AM to 2:30 PM. Primary and Middle School: 8:20 AM to 3:00 PM. High School: 8:00 AM to 3:20 PM. Students receive two breaks during the day.	School day structure Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM. Weekends are closed for day students.
Bus service details	Bus service details Contact the school for details on transportation arrangements.	Bus service details Contact the school for information on transportation services.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Fees are payable in both US Dollars and Ghanaian Cedis. Payment can be made via Ecobank electronic collection, bank transfer, or cheque deposit. Contact the school for current fee schedules.	Fee details Fees are fixed at the beginning of each academic year and must be paid within the first week of term. A 10% surcharge applies to fees unpaid after 30 days. The school describes itself as offering one of the lowest fee structures among Grade A and Platinum League Schools. Contact the school for current amounts.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements Separate boarding houses for boys and girls at both high school and preparatory levels. Boarding facilities include common areas and a supportive residential environment on the green Pakyi campus.	Boarding arrangements Boarding facilities are available on campus. Contact the school for details on boarding arrangements, accommodation and pastoral care.
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement Yes. Uniforms are required for all students.	Uniform requirement Yes. Students are required to wear a school uniform.
Food options	Food options The school operates a canteen with pre-paid meal options for primary students and a la carte purchasing for secondary students. Packed lunches are also permitted.	Food options Contact the school for details on catering and meal arrangements.
House system	House system The school uses a house system to encourage teamwork, competition and community spirit.	House system Contact the school for details on house or pastoral systems.
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership ICS is an independent, privately owned school established in January 2000. It operates campuses in Kumasi and Accra.	Governance and ownership HIBS is part of the Hilltop School network, founded in 1997. The Executive Director and Board Chairman is Dr. Andrew Akwasi Oteng-Amoako. The school has over 120 staff members across the Hilltop group and serves over 1,100 students in total.
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details ICS follows the British education system. The primary school uses the Cambridge Primary Programme for core subjects and the British National Curriculum for art, ICT, French, RE and PE. The International Primary Curriculum (IPC) is used in preschool. In middle school, students follow the Cambridge Lower Secondary curriculum. High school students sit Cambridge IGCSE exams (8-10 subjects) in Year 11 and Cambridge A-Levels (3-4 subjects) in Years 12-13.	Curriculum details HIBS follows the British curriculum through Cambridge Assessment International Education. Students sit Cambridge IGCSE examinations and can progress to Cambridge A-Levels, which are internationally recognised for university entrance worldwide. The A-Level programme provides in-depth subject knowledge and academic skills.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio Maximum class sizes are 25 for preschool, 28 for primary and 30 for secondary. Primary classes also include a full-time teaching assistant.	Student teacher ratio Contact the school for details on class sizes and student-teacher ratios.
Exam results	Exam results Students sit Cambridge IGCSE examinations in May/June and Cambridge A-Level examinations in their final year. The school is recognised as a leading international school in the Ashanti Region.	Exam results Students sit Cambridge IGCSE and A-Level examinations. The school is a member of the Platinum League Schools and has received awards for education excellence.
Higher education progression	Higher education progression A-Level qualifications enable graduates to apply to universities worldwide, including institutions in the UK, US, Canada and across Africa.	Higher education progression Cambridge A-Level qualifications are accepted for university entry worldwide, including institutions in the UK, US, Canada and across Africa.
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented The school promotes academic excellence through the Cambridge curriculum framework and enrichment activities.	Gifted and talented The school promotes academic excellence through the Cambridge curriculum and competitive education approach.
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning The school follows the Round Square approach to holistic development, fostering creativity, confidence, engagement and responsibility in all students.	Social & emotional learning The school takes a holistic approach to education, aiming to develop well-rounded students.
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) ICS welcomes children with disabilities and learning difficulties, creating individualised support plans for each student.	Special educational needs (SEN) Contact the school for information on SEN provision.
English as an additional language	English as an additional language Dedicated EAL teachers support students who speak English as a second language, with personalised learning plans.	English as an additional language Contact the school for details on EAL support.
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing A nurturing campus environment with pastoral care for all students, with additional support for boarding students.	Mental wellbeing Pastoral support is provided for all students, with dedicated care for boarders.
Safeguarding	Safeguarding The school maintains safeguarding policies and provides a secure campus environment with supervised boarding facilities.	Safeguarding The school maintains safeguarding policies and provides a supervised boarding environment.
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview The Pakyi campus features an Olympic-size swimming pool, tennis courts, a sports arena with spectator stands, an auditorium, administration block, dining facilities, and separate boarding houses. The campus is set in a green, landscaped environment.	Facilities overview The school operates on a multi-building campus in Daban, Kumasi, with classroom blocks, boarding facilities and outdoor spaces. The campus is shared with the broader Hilltop School network.
Sports facilities	Sports facilities Olympic-size swimming pool, tennis courts, sports arena with spectator seating, and general recreation areas.	Sports facilities Sports facilities are available on campus. Contact the school for specific details.
Academic facilities	Academic facilities Dedicated classroom buildings for each division, administration block, ICT facilities, and an auditorium for assemblies and events.	Academic facilities The school has dedicated classrooms and science facilities to support the Cambridge IGCSE and A-Level programmes.
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities A range of clubs and activities aligned with Round Square ideals, including community service projects, field trips, student-led programmes, swimming, tennis and cultural events.	Extra curricular facilities The school offers a range of co-curricular activities to support holistic development. Contact the school for the current programme.
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History International Community School was established in January 2000 in Kumasi and has grown into one of the leading international schools in Ghana. The school now operates campuses in both Kumasi (Pakyi and Patasi) and Accra (Ogbojo).	History The Hilltop International British School (HIBS), formerly known as The Hilltop International Science College, is an offshoot of the Hilltop School, which was established on 29 September 1997 with just 10 pupils. HIBS was accredited by Cambridge Assessment International Education in September 2010. The wider Hilltop group now employs over 120 staff and serves more than 1,100 students.
Community	Community A diverse international community with teachers from Ghana, Nigeria, the USA and other countries. The school fosters global awareness through its Round Square membership.	Community HIBS is part of the broader Hilltop School community in Kumasi, with a strong local reputation for academic excellence.
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association The school encourages active parent involvement and maintains open communication with families.	Parent teacher association Contact the school for information on parent engagement and PTA activities.
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual Cambridge exam preparation, academic enrichment activities, and student-led learning projects.	Academic & intellectual Cambridge exam preparation and academic enrichment opportunities aligned with the British curriculum.
Arts & creative	Arts & creative Art, music and performance opportunities, including events held in the school auditorium.	Arts & creative Creative arts activities available as part of the holistic education programme.
Cultural & language	Cultural & language French language instruction and cultural awareness activities reflecting the diverse student community. Round Square international exchanges and partnerships.	Cultural & language French language instruction and exposure to both Ghanaian and British cultural traditions.
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies Swimming, tennis, various student clubs, and recreational activities on the green campus.	Social & hobbies Various clubs and recreational activities for students.
Community & service	Community & service Strong emphasis on community service as part of the Round Square philosophy. Students participate in local outreach and service projects.	Community & service Community engagement activities forming part of the school's holistic development approach.
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional Leadership development through the Round Square framework, student council, and student-led initiatives.	Leadership & professional Leadership development through student responsibilities and the school's competitive education ethos.
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing Swimming, sports programmes, and a supportive residential environment for boarding students.	Lifestyle & wellbeing Sports and physical activities as part of a balanced school life.
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision English is the main language of instruction. French is taught as a modern foreign language.	Language provision English is the primary language of instruction. French is available as an additional language.
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching English is the sole language of instruction. French is taught as an additional language from primary school.	Bilingual teaching English is the language of instruction for all subjects.
Immersion programs	Immersion programs No formal immersion programmes. The school provides a naturally multicultural environment.	Immersion programs No formal immersion programmes are currently advertised.
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards Recognised as one of the first-choice international schools in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.	Awards Award winner in education excellence. Member of the Platinum League Schools.
Accreditations	Accreditations Cambridge International, Council of International Schools (CIS), International Primary Curriculum (IPC), Round Square member school.	Accreditations Cambridge Assessment International Education (accredited since September 2010). Member of PSGN (Private Schools Group Network) of the British Council. Platinum League Schools member.
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions All applicants (except preschool) must complete a placement test and interview with the Head of School. Required documents include a completed application form, passport photo, birth certificate or passport copy, previous school reports, a testimonial, and (for high school) a transcript. Boarding applicants need a medical report. Preschool applicants need immunisation records.	Admissions The school admits students aged 9 to 19. Prospective families can contact the admissions office by phone or email. Visit the campus to learn more about the programmes and facilities.
Scholarships	Scholarships Contact the school directly for information on any available scholarships or financial assistance.	Scholarships Contact the school for details on any scholarship or financial aid opportunities.
Waitlist	Waitlist If places are not immediately available, children are placed on a waiting list for one academic year. Families are notified by letter or email when a place becomes available.	Waitlist Contact the school for information on availability and waiting lists.
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