H-FARM International School is the leading educational institution of H-FARM, Europe’s premier innovation hub. Located on a 50-hectare campus along the Venetian Lagoon, the school offers a dynamic and future-focused learning environment that nurtures creativity, collaboration, and global citizenship. The campus, open to students, professionals, entrepreneurs, and innovators, features cutting-edge facilities and hosts more than 300 events each year.
The school delivers the full continuum of International Baccalaureate programs – the Primary Years Program, Middle Years Program, and Diploma Program – with the Career-related Program launching in the upcoming academic year. Serving students aged 3 to 18, H-FARM International School integrates technology and personalized learning to prepare students for success in an ever-evolving world. The “H” in H-Farm stands for “human.” Guided by its mission “to empower students to transform innovation into human progress for a better society,” the school fosters a vibrant and diverse community of nearly 700 students from 52 nationalities.
Multilingualism is also a hallmark of H-School: nearly 90% of students speak at least one language in addition to English. The most commonly spoken languages include Italian, Chinese, Russian, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Bulgarian, and Ukrainian. The school’s international reach continues to expand, especially in the upper grades. In the coming year, over 30 new students will join the MYP4 and MYP5 cohorts from countries such as Hong Kong, Mexico, Serbia, the United States, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia Turkey, Brazil, and Colombia. By the time students enter the Diploma Program, international students make up more than 50% of each cohort, with over 100 students per grade level.
H-Farm School demonstrated its commitment to multilingualism by joining the MLRC School Network in 2024. The Head of School participated in the Research Symposium held in Rome in January 2025, marking the beginning of an exciting journey focused on strengthening translanguaging practices across the school through an action research project. H-Farm is dedicated to moving beyond a traditional English-only instructional policy towards embracing translanguaging strategies in partnership with the MLRC. The school views multilingualism not only as a means to enrich student’s linguistic repertoires, but also as a powerful tool to bring about deep thinkers and support English language development.
The school also recognizes language as a key to access, identity, and academic success – especially in a globally diverse community. By weaving multilingual practices into the fabric of teaching and learning, and by recognizing the power of translanguaging, individualized support, and co-teaching, the school has embarked on a journey to provide an inclusive environment where multilingual learners can thrive both academically and socially.
In the PYP, a team of English Language Specialists (ELS) supports each year level from Year 1 to Year 5. Through a collaborative model, ELS teachers co-plan and co-teach with homeroom teachers, personalizing instruction to meet individual class needs and demographics. Students new to English receive daily support through a variety of sessions – both stand-alone and in-class – offered in small group and one-to-one settings. These sessions focus on oral language development and listening/comprehension of English. As the school year progresses, the focus on the individual/small group sessions adapts to the group’s language development and progress.
In the MYP, H-FARM offers a tailored Booster English summer Program for new to English students. This course equips them with academic language and skills across eight IB subjects, easing their transition into school life. During the year, students participate in an EAL Intensive Program, focused on subject-specific language development in areas like Science, Mathematics, and Social Studies. Instruction integrates translanguaging strategies and includes targeted mini-lessons during lunchtime in our dedicated EAL Center.
Looking ahead, the H-Farm School plans to continue its collaboration by attending upcoming MLRC Research Symposia and developing innovative co-planning and co-teaching practices where EAL specialists work alongside subject teachers to create inclusive, language-rich classrooms that benefit all learners. The school also aspires to become a host site for future MLRC events, further contributing to the advancement of multilingual education and providing opportunities to collaborate with educators worldwide.
