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{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2017}}
{{More citations needed|date=July 2013}}
{{Infobox school
| name = Hebron School
| logo = Hebron School New Logo.png
| logo_size = 180px
| motto = Deo Supremo
| motto_translation = For God above all
| image = 
| established = {{start date and age|1899}}
| address = Hebron School, Lushington Hall
| city = [[Ootacamund]]
| state = [[Tamil Nadu]] 643001
| country = India
| campus_type = Rural
| campus_size = {{convert|22|acre|ha}}
| type = Private international school Christian school
| grades = Preschool–13
| principal = Mr Timothy Wright (acting principal)
| head_of_school =
| students = 370 approx. 8 pre-school 77 elementary school 62 junior high school 225 senior high school
| colours = Blue and gold
| publication = ''Zenith'' ''Hebron Highlights''
| alumni = Old Hebronites
| website = {{URL|http://hebronooty.org}}
}}

'''Hebron School''' is a co-educational day and boarding independent international Christian school in [[Ootacamund]], the [[hill station]] also known as [[Ooty]], in the state of [[Tamil Nadu]], southern [[India]]. The school is a boarding school operated by a Protestant Christian trust with the aim of providing education to the children of Christian workers and other families, predominantly those living in India, but also from other parts of Asia.

The school is non-denominational, and accepts students of all faiths and of none.

''Non-Indian readers should note that grades/forms/year groups are called "standards", abbreviated "Std."; the standards on this page do correspond directly to the year numbers used in England and Wales, e.g. Std.12 is Year 12 (formerly Lower Sixth) in Hebron School.''

==History==
The school traces its origin to 1899 when a group of Protestant missionaries, who had come to the hills on vacation and were staying at [[Brooklands Christian Guest Home]] in nearby [[Coonoor]], decided it would be of benefit to their children to live year round in the temperate and clean surroundings of the [[The Nilgiris District|Nilgiri]] hills. Due to the high altitude – Ooty being at {{Convert|2300|m|ft|abbr=on}} above sea level – these hills enjoy year-round cool temperatures and abundant rainfall, and their climate has often been compared to Europe. Initially the school operated as a type of boarding house where children would stay, and either be home-educated in house or sent to one of the local schools. It was named Hebron School in 1902.

In February 1961, [[Lushington Boys School]] was started at [[Lushington Hall]], Ooty – these premises had formerly been a hostel for boys from [[Breeks Memorial School]]. Hebron School, Lushington Hall's sister school for girls, was situated at the [[Silverdale, Coonoor|Silverdale]] campus in Coonoor, approximately 20 km away. As time progressed it was decided that co-education would be more beneficial to the children, and in 1974 the two schools were amalgamated, with the senior school at Lushington Hall, Ooty (the senior girls were housed separately at [[Selbourne, Ooty|Selborne]]) and the junior school at Coonoor. In 1977(?) the junior school moved to Ooty so that the whole school could be together. The Silverdale campus (often referred to as Hebron Coonoor or ''Titch Heb'') was sold to [[Christian Mission Service]] and is now a children's home and industrial training institute.

==Campus==
The present, amalgamated school is known as ''Hebron School'' and is situated in {{convert|20|acre|ha}} of woodland around the former stately home of Lushington Hall. The [[Government Botanical Gardens, Ooty|Ooty Government Botanical Gardens]] and the school share a common entrance. It is sometimes known as "Hebron International School", as it was at least for some time recognised by the [[European Council of International Schools]] (ECIS) and because there are students from over 25 nationalities studying at the school.

The school is very small by Indian standards and consists of around 375 students.

The student body represents 26 countries and many cultural and religious backgrounds. 39% of present students are Indian and 61% are other nationalities. 90% of the students are boarders.

Many, but not all of students are Protestants. The school is not restricted to the children of Christian workers in India alone, but is open to those of Christian workers worldwide, with a special emphasis on Asia and Africa, as well as children of "business parents" based in India.

==Academics==
Students follow the International British school system and study for IGCSEs, AS and A levels. These examinations are generally assessed by the boards [[Cambridge Assessment International Education|CAIE]] and [[Edexcel]] (international exams).<ref name=Handbook>{{cite book|author=Hebron School|title=Student Handbook|year=2012–2013|publisher=Hebron School|location=Ootacamund, The Nilgiris}}</ref>

==Residential care==
There are 15 dormitories (or "dorms"), arranged vertically, i.e. by age and sex. All dorms are single-sex. All boys' dorms are on the Lushington campus along with the youngest girls' dorms (Stds 5/6, around 9/10 years of age). The girls' dorms (Std. 7 upwards) are on the Selborne campus (about 1 km from Lushington), and girls travel to school by bus or on foot (older girls).
<ref name=Dorms>{{cite web|author=Hebron School|title=Residential Care|url=http://www.hebronooty.org/hebron/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&layout=item&id=65&Itemid=14|work=Residential Care|publisher=Hebron School|accessdate=10 December 2012}}</ref>

==Activities==

===Music===
Every year students are eligible to be entered for the [[Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music|ABRSM]] grade exams. Examiners from the United Kingdom conduct the exams at the school. In November 2006 12 students received distinctions and 25 received merits, in 2007 90 students were entered for exams and in 2008 73 students again received 12 distinctions and 25 merits. Several students also received the Majolly Rolling Trophy in Singing for the most outstanding musicians in south India and the Admiral Dawson Rolling Trophy for Stds 6–8 for the most promising musicians in South India.<ref name=Handbook />

===Sport===
Athletics (track and field), swimming, cross-country running, football (soccer), field and indoor hockey, cricket, volleyball, basketball, badminton, table tennis, tennis, squash, softball and touch rugby are all sports offered at the school.<ref name=Handbook />

===Drama===
The school's annual Drama Festival consists of students from Stds 7, 9, 11, 13 participating in the art of theatre. Often, inter-school competitions within the [[Nilgiris]] are held.<ref name=Handbook />

===Christian activities===
These are voluntary activities that include regular Bible Studies, retreats and youth fellowships that help students discover the faith.<ref name=Handbook />

==Student Council==
Students are encouraged to take up leadership roles that will not only serve as a means to benefit themselves but also to act as the role models of the students. There are two major student-run events during the academic year. There are also a significant amount of fund-raising activities during the year.
<ref name=Handbook />

==International Guest System==

* Hebron School runs an International Guest (IG) system. The program takes on young people across the globe, primarily recently graduated students, and provides them with free lodging in exchange for their service. Usually IGs are responsible for helping in a particular dormitory and are given other subject related duties. IGs almost always commit to a single semester (6 months) in the school. {{Citation needed|date=December 2012}}
* Senior persons occasionally join the system, but are more often referred to as 'Senior Volunteers' than IGs. {{Citation needed|date=December 2012}}

==Administration==
*Mr. Timothy Wright has been appointed Principal. Senior Management and School Council serve as the main decision-making bodies.<ref name=Handbook />
* Ms. Julia Coombs is the Head of Junior School, Mr. Benjamin Sampler is the Head of Middle School, Mr. Benedict Medhurst is the Head of Senior School, Mr. Graham Twigger is the Head of A levels. Mrs. Ruth Jacob is Vice Principal for Student Welfare and Mrs. Dagmar Baron is Vice Principal for Academics.

==Notable alumni==
{{see also|Category:Hebron School alumni}}
* [[Alastair Cutting]] (born 1960) – Alastair Cutting is a British Church of England priest.
*[[Karan Bilimoria|Karan Faridoon Bilimoria, Baron Bilimoria of Chelsea]], CBE, DL (born 1961) — founder member and Chairman of [[Cobra Beer]]<ref name=Bilimoria>{{cite web|last=Bilimoria|first=Karan|title=Biography – Lord Bilimoria of Chelsea|url=http://www.lordbilimoria.co.uk/biography/|accessdate=14 March 2021}}</ref>
* [[Kalki Koechlin]] (born 1983) – [[French people in India|French-Indian]] Hindi film actress<ref name=Kalki>{{cite web|last=Singh |first=Veenu |title=Personal Agenda: Kalki Koechlin, Actress |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/Brunch/Brunch-Stories/Personal-Agenda-Kalki-Koechlin-Actress/Article1-966970.aspx |work=Brunch Stories |publisher=Hindustan Times |accessdate=17 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121213093157/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Brunch/Brunch-Stories/Personal-Agenda-Kalki-Koechlin-Actress/Article1-966970.aspx |archivedate=13 December 2012 }}</ref>
* [[Serena Kern-Libera]] (born 1988) — Swiss-Indian singer and songwriter<ref name=Serena_Kern>{{cite web|title=Home Page|url=http://www.serenakern.com/|work=Serena Kern Official Website}}</ref>
* [[Pranav Mohanlal]] (born 1990) – Indian Malayalam film actor<ref>{{cite news |last1=mohanlal |first1=Pranav |title=Pranav Mohanlal News |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Pranav-Mohanlal/news |accessdate=18 August 2019}}</ref>
* [[Gautham Karthik]] (born 1990) – Indian Tamil film actor<ref>{{cite news |last1=Karthik |first1=Gautham |title=Gautham Karthik News |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Gautham-Karthik/news |accessdate=7 July 2019 |publisher=Times of India}}</ref>
* [[Apoorva Elizabeth Mittra]] (born 1991) — Indian model<ref> name=Apoorva Elizabeth Mittra>{{cite web|title=Hebron Highlights 2006–2007|url=https://issuu.com/lushington_hebron_magazines/docs/hebron_highlights_2006_2007|work=Hebron Highlights 2006–2007}}</ref>
* [[Udanta Singh]] (born 1996) – Kumam Udanta Singh (उदान्ता सिंह) is an Indian professional footballer who plays primarily as a forward for both Bengaluru and the Indian national team. Moreover has studied in Hebron School for 3 years.

==Leavers' Service Speakers==
* 2007 – [[Richard Stagg|Sir Richard Stagg]] [[Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George|KCMG]], British diplomat, the then [[List of High Commissioners of the United Kingdom to India|British High Commissioner to India]]<ref>{{cite book|title=Hebron Highlights 2006–2007|year=2007|publisher=Hebron School|location=Ootacamund, The Nilgiris}}</ref>

==See also==

* [[St. Joseph's Higher Secondary School, Ooty]]
* [[St. Joseph's Boys School]], [[Coonoor]]
* [[Breeks Memorial School]], [[Ooty]]
* [[The Laidlaw Memorial School and Junior College, Ketti]], [[Ooty]]
* [[Lawrence School, Lovedale]], [[Ooty]]
* [[Woodside School, Ooty]]
* [[Stanes School|Stanes Hr.Sec. School]], [[Coonoor]]
* [[Good Shepherd International School, Ooty]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category}}
* {{Official website|http://www.hebronooty.org}}
* [http://hebronooty.org/alumnipage/ Alumni section]
* [https://issuu.com/lushington_hebron_magazines/docs/hebron_highlights_2006_2007 Hebron Highlights 2006–2007]

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[[Category:International schools in India]]
[[Category:Schools in Colonial India]]
[[Category:Cambridge schools in India]]
[[Category:Christian schools in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Boarding schools in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Primary schools in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:High schools and secondary schools in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Schools in Nilgiris district]]
[[Category:Education in Ooty]]
[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1899]]
[[Category:1899 establishments in British India]]

Hebron School - Revision history

CleanupBot II at 00:14, 14 August 2023