Children playing in the HEWS campus courtyard — a football game on the running track, others digging in the sandpit and climbing the timber play frame, with the school building alongside

What Is HEWS?

Horizon Experiential World School, HEWS, is an international school in Hyderabad offering the Finnish curriculum in KG and Primary, followed by an IB pathway in the higher grades From the Academic Year 2028-29. Built around joy, wellbeing, inquiry, and real-world understanding, HEWS combines strong academic foundations with creativity, values and emotional balance.

At HEWS, education is about nurturing the whole child while keeping learning natural, balanced, and purposeful. Our low-pressure approach in KG and Primary helps children enjoy their childhood, build a healthy relationship with learning, and return home with curiosity, confidence, and emotional ease – supporting a happier rhythm for the whole family.

A student stands with a backpack on, ready for school

Two cheerful students are balancing books on their heads, smiling and laughing

Why HEWS Exists

HEWS began with a simple question:

What kind of education prepares children for life, not just exams?

Across the world, adults in their 20s, 30s, and 40s actively seek learning in areas such as emotional intelligence, mental wellbeing, financial literacy, physical health, and purpose-driven living – aspects that were largely absent from their schooling.

At the same time, a significant number of students reach high school uncertain about their strengths, interests, or life direction. HEWS exists to address this gap early.

Rather than producing students defined by scores and credentials, our purpose is to nurture capable, adaptable, and self-aware children who are confident in who they are, curious about the world, and prepared to navigate uncertainty with clarity and resilience.

A Message From Our Leadership

Meet Our Leadership

Three voices, one shared belief: every child deserves to feel safe, valued, and inspired to grow.

Manju Ramachandran

Founding Head of School

Manju Ramachandran brings over 24 years of experience in education, including 16 years in international teaching and school leadership, to her role as Head of School. With a Master’s degree in Language and Literature and currently pursuing a PhD in K–12 Leadership, she combines academic depth with a progressive and child-centred approach to education.

Her philosophy is rooted in a simple yet powerful belief: when children feel genuinely seen, heard, and happy, learning unfolds naturally. This conviction shapes every aspect of her leadership — from building nurturing learning environments to fostering meaningful relationships between students, educators, and families.

A passionate advocate of Positive Pedagogy, Manju believes that education must go beyond academics to nurture confidence, curiosity, emotional well-being, and a lifelong love for learning. She champions a strengths-based approach where every child is encouraged to discover their unique potential in an environment that is safe, joyful, and inspiring.

Under her leadership, the school is guided by the core values of Curiosity, Resilience, Integrity, Collaboration, and Innovation — creating a culture where children thrive, educators feel empowered, and learning is both meaningful and future-focused.

Riikka Bukari

Primary Principal

A warm welcome to our school community, part of the world’s finest education system.

At HEWS, we believe in positive pedagogy, the joy of learning, and the importance of seeing every child as a unique individual. Each school day, we look forward to welcoming our students with warmth, respect, and genuine care.

As Primary Principal, I am committed to building strong and lasting partnerships with parents and guardians, following the Finnish model where trust, collaboration, and open communication between home and school are central. Together, we can support each child’s holistic development, help them discover their strengths, experience the joy of learning, and grow in confidence for the future.

I have come from Finland to Hyderabad with a deep commitment to working together with you to make every child’s Finnish curriculum school journey meaningful, inspiring, and filled with positive memories.

A warm welcome to our school community, part of the world’s finest education system.

Johan Storgård

CEO, Finland International Education (FINE)

Dr Johan Storgård is the CEO and Co-founder of Finland International Education (FINE), which brings Finnish early-years education expertise to school communities around the world. He holds a doctorate from Åbo Akademi University, with research focused on creative processes, leadership and value creation.

Johan brings extensive experience of leading creative organisations internationally, including fifteen years as the head of Finland’s Swedish national theatre. At FINE, his work centres on adapting Finnish educational principles thoughtfully to local contexts, with particular emphasis on trust, children’s wellbeing, learning through play and meaningful learning experiences.

As HEWS’s Finnish education partner, he supports the school’s pedagogical direction, teacher development and learning-environment planning.