# Hiranandani Upscale School

Hiranandani Upscale School (HUS) is a private international school located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Established in 2011 by Surendra Hiranandani, the school is part of House of Hiranandani's Integrated Community on Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR).
HUS offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) continuum programme, which includes the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and Diploma Programme (DP). As part of the IB, the school offers courses in: Business Studies, Arts and Design, Biology, Chemistry, Economics, English Language, English Literature, Global Perspectives, Mathematics, Psychology and Physics. They also have a second language choice of Spanish, French, Hindi, and Tamil.

## Curriculum

The curriculum includes subjects such as Business Studies, Arts and Design, Biology, Chemistry, Economics, English Language, English Literature, Global Perspectives, Mathematics, Psychology, and Physics. Additionally, the school provides students with the opportunity to choose a second language from Spanish, French, Hindi, or Tamil.

## Extracurricular Activities

* For Primary Years Programme (PYP) students: Karate, Gymnastics, Meditation, Cricket, No Heat Cooking, Science Experiments, Craft Club, Power sports, Yoga, Design, and Model United Nations.
* For Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP) students: Karate, Power sports, Yoga, Design, Meditation, Gymnastics, and Model United Nations.
* Annual Art Festival: The school hosted The Biennale, an annual art festival from March 9 to March 23, 2024. The festival, themed around the elements of Fire, Water, Air, Space, and Wind, highlighted artistic expression through workshops, competitions, and presentations. The event not only celebrated creativity but also aimed to nurture students' holistic development by providing a platform to explore various art forms and engage in interdisciplinary activities. Students used mediums such as painting, clay modelling, and installations to raise awareness about environmental issues. The festival also featured performances, including dance and folk music, connecting art with nature and sustainability.

## Infrastructure

Hiranandani Upscale School (HUS) is situated on a 3-acre campus within the House of Hiranandani’s integrated township on Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) in Chennai.
The campus features 55 Smart Classrooms equipped with LCD projectors and digital resources that integrate multimedia elements, such as videos and interactive quizzes, to enhance learning.
Additionally, HUS has two Information and Communications Technology (ICT) labs, where students gain hands-on experience in coding, programming, and cybersecurity. HUS also provides multimedia rooms, audio-visual rooms, outdoor game areas, libraries, advanced laboratories, and a specialist arts department. E-learning resources, such as digital books and interactive quizzes, are also available to support learning.
HUS also has a Special Education Needs (SEN) department that offers personalised support to students with diverse learning requirements. Additionally, digital platforms are utilised to streamline administrative tasks and improve communication among parents, teachers, and students.

## Controversy

In 2016, hundreds of parents and several instructors staged a multi-day protest outside the school due to differences with the administration. This led to the school being closed for one week. There were claims that the school's British director had insulted many Indian freedom fighters and did not allow the children to sing the National anthem. In addition, there were claims that the school director harassed teachers and students. The school would also not allow children to bring their own lunches until they got a order from the Madras High Court but parents still claim that the school discriminates against students bringing their own food instead of using the onsite caterer, Sodexo.
Some teachers on the other hand defended the schools' leadership, citing cultural differences which may have led to misunderstandings or misinterpretations. The school reopened after assurances had been given pending an investigation.
In 2017, CBSE disaffiliated the school, and now only the IB section remains.