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International House schools are a benchmark of quality with regard to language learning and teacher training

See also:
International House World Organisation (IHWO)
International House London

The Trust

International House opened its doors in 1953 when John and Brita Haycraft established a language school in Cordoba. In 1964 they set up a non-profit-making educational trust committed to raising the standards of English language teaching and training world-wide.

Today the trust, a registered charity, fulfils its mission through running its directly owned flagship London school and, in partnership with IH Affiliates, it jointly manages the International House World Organisation (IHWO). In 2009, 56 years after its foundation, the IHWO network consists of over 140 affiliated schools in 48 countries stretching from Western Europe to Asia and the Americas.

The link between IH schools is essentially an educational one, with each affiliate guaranteeing to maintain educational standards and conditions of employment of teachers in accordance with the IH Affiliation Agreement. IHWO, based in London, is a separate company providing a range of services to extend and support the worldwide network of IH schools. Services include teacher recruitment, teacher training, academic development and the interchange of ideas.

Download the latest Annual report and financial statements

Aims

Over the last 56 years International House has developed into one of the largest independent world organisations for the teaching of languages and the training of language teachers.

It continually strives to meet its founder's vision by means of the following:

• Developing and running teacher training courses for native and foreign teachers of English
• Providing the highest standards of teaching English and other world languages as well as organising cultural activities which complement this teaching
• Helping to set up and assist quality language schools both in Britain and abroad
• Organising educational conferences, seminars and lecture tours
• Encouraging research into new materials and into improved techniques for classroom learning
• Disseminating new educational ideas, approaches and techniques
• Assisting poorer students and those in developing countries to learn English
• Providing a professional career service for English language teachers both in Britain and abroad
• Cooperating with other organisations, whether private or public, for the achievement of the above aims