Cochin International School (COCHINS) launched

Trivandrum International School (TRINS) is inaugurating the new campus of Cochin International School (COCHINS) on Saturday, 18th March 2023.

The school is set in a 12.5-acre campus in Pukattupady, which is central to Kolencherry, Aluva, Infopark, Edapally and Perumbavoor. Cochin International School has been developed to offer international curricula exclusively, following the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) from Grades KG-5, Cambridge International from Grades 6-10 (IGCSE) and the IB Diploma Programme (DP) in Grades 11 and 12. Cochin International School is adjacent to The Charter School, which was brought under the umbrella of the TRINS Group of Institutions in 2020. The Charter school will continue to operate the ongoing CBSE curriculum exclusively but will have access to all the listed common facilities.

Besides academic facilities, the sports facilities include four swimming pools, a sports field for football and athletics as well as basketball, badminton and tennis courts. There is also an 800-seat Multi-purpose Hall and a 350-seat Performance Hall. The School covers 2 lakhs square feet and also includes an upcoming Arts Block, indoor sports facilities and a 300-bed boarding house.

"We are excited for the opportunity to introduce international school education in Cochin with a 20-yr legacy of holistic and inclusive education behind us," said Mr George M Thomas, Founder-Chairman, TRINS Group. "All mentorship and training for COCHINS will be from the parent school in Trivandrum. The school is currently headed by Mr. Richard Hillebrand from the UK, who was the Founder Principal of TRINS and who is Director of Academics for the group. He brings over 35 years of experience to bear on the future development of Cochin International School's international curriculum."

"Our mission is, 'To empower young learners to become the next generation of global leaders with a lifelong passion for learning and caring'. A balance of academic rigour, commitment to social service and exposure to a varied range of extra-curricular and outbound activities within an extensive campus, all under the care of qualified and consistently trained teachers, together provide a great environment for learning. The national rankings and stellar university placements of TRINS alumni prove the success of our approach," said Ms.Sapnu George, Executive Director, TRINS Group. "We are certain to be able to replicate this in Cochin with Mr. Karol Toth as Principal. He is an IB and Cambridge educator and academic leader with over 20 years of experience in India."

"At TRINS, Kerala's first international school, opportunities that facilitate experiential learning and critical thinking equip students with the skills to face a rapidly evolving world," said Mr.Richard Hillebrand, Director of Academics, TRINS Group. "Our children are encouraged to trust their instincts, push their boundaries and find their own unique parameters of success, which we see reflected positively in their confidence and overall development. The established experience of the courses offered by Cambridge Assessment has helped students achieve outstanding results, including being national toppers. It also provided a foundation for introducing the IB Primary Years and Diploma Programmes at TRINS. Membership of Round Square gives links to a global network of around 150 other similarly progressive schools, whilst TRINS has also initiated a range of overseas exchanges and visits to broaden the horizons of students."

A day-cum-residential school, TRINS has close to 700 students and 150 members of staff, 30% of whom are from outside the state. Alumni have been accepted to renowned universities, including St.Xavier's, Mumbai, Lady Shri Ram's College, Delhi, NIT and prestigious medical colleges in India; Columbia University, Stanford University, Carnegie Mellon, Berkeley and New York University in the USA; King's College London, Warwick Business School, the University of the Arts London in the UK; Delft University, the Netherlands.

"Highly experienced, committed and versatile members of the faculty are the school's most critical resource. COCHINS ensures the professional development of faculty members through prestigious on-site and in-house training opportunities with local, regional, and international programmes. Ample personal attention to every single child is ensured with a very low teacher-student ratio of 1:15," said Mr.Karol Toth, Principal, Cochin International School.

"It is worth mentioning that the International Baccalaureate (IB), headquartered in Geneva, has only 139 schools in India authorised to deliver the Diploma Programme in the Senior Secondary level and only 97 schools for the Primary level PYP," said Mr. Sanjay Prabhakaran, Head of IB Primary Years Programme, TRINS Group.

After successfully implementing the IB Primary Years Programme, the Cambridge Lower Secondary Grade 6 to 8 commences from June 2023.
Admissions are now open from Pre-KG to Grade 8 at Cochin International School. www.cochins.org

TRINS Group of Institutions also constitutes the TRINS Early Learning Centres, with the flagship campus in Technopark Trivandrum, and the Asian School of Business in Trivandrum affiliated to CUSAT.

The members in attendance included:
Mr. George M Thomas, Founder-Chairman, TRINS Group
Ms. Sapnu George, Executive Director, TRINS Group
Mr. Richard Hillebrand, Director of Academics, TRINS Group
Mr. Karol Toth, Principal, Cochin International School
Mr.Sanjay Prabhakaran, Head IB-PYP, TRINS Group