Hewitt Family Story

As US expats who have now settled in the UK long-term, Andrea and JT Hewitt say ISA has provided a grounding balance for their children to grow up Scottish but with a strong global mindset, a curiosity for other parts of the world and an enduring appreciation for their roots…

“When we first discovered ISA our children were in pre-school, kindergarten and elementary and we were looking for a school that would see and treat all our children as individuals while teaching them to be part of a caring community.  It was also really important to us to have a school that would build a true partnership with us as parents.

“In those early years the small class sizes, nurturing environment, bright and cheerful learning spaces and the thoughtful, hands-on learning and extracurricular activities were what it was all about.

“But it was also immediately obvious from our first visit that the ISA teaching team is genuinely interested in communicating and collaborating with parents.  The open and honest conversation we had with the elementary principal on our first visit set ISA apart in our minds  – this was exactly the kind of partnership we were looking for.

“Combined with the facilities, which provided the most inviting learning environment we had ever encountered, we simply thought – this is an amazing opportunity – our kids need to experience this!

“Settling in was easy – supporting new students and families is one of the school’s great strengths.  Almost everyone in the school knows how it feels to be new, so there is true empathy, understanding and a warm welcome for all.  Our children never felt like ‘the new kids’ and we immediately felt like we belonged in the community.  They have grown up at ISA and high school will soon be upon us! 

“Over the years we have come to love ISA’s unique position as both a Scottish and international independent school.  We very much value the ethos behind ISA’s curriculum and approach to learning.  The IB programme is providing our children with a well-rounded, highly relevant, globally-recognised international education, that echoes our own family’s life experience and aspirations, and we feel will best prepare them for university and beyond.

“Our advice for anyone considering ISA is to visit the school – you’ll see that the faculty and staff are an open book – there is no performance.  Experience the main atrium at breaktime, or take a peek in a classroom and see the teachers in action.  You’ll discover ISA is more than a school – it’s a community where children thrive and belong.”