Hindustan Times - C fore Top Schools Survey
2012
top schools HINDUSTAN TIMES-C FORE SURVEY 2012
A guide
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f a road takes too many turns, the best of us get lost. Welcome to Hindustan Times’e-book on Top School Survey 2012, the most credible reference guide on schools. This annual survey, our fourth, done in collaboration with the research agency C fore, is an extensively researched educational product brought out every year that is conducted for Delhi and the National Capital Region with the objective of helping parents negotiate the maze-like, and somewhat confounding, process of choosing, applying and attempting to get their wards admitted to schools in the area. The reports that accompany the Top Ten rankings are published in Hindustan Times. But what is exclusive to the e-book is the ranking of schools vis -vis each of the 14 parameters that we grade schools on. For the first time, we have provided an overall ranking for the region -- one that encompasses schools in all of the Delhi-NCR area: the six zones in Delhi and the adjoining cities of Gurgaon, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Noida. Our Top Schools Survey has also focussed on various issues that affect our schools in the region, be it the new Right to Education law, the plight of government schools or the increasing threat of cyber bullying in schools. That apart, our methodology, modified by our experience of four years, has been further sharpened to give you the best results. Of course, choosing a school for a child is ultimately the decision of parents and guardians and depends on a host of factors. Our aim in this endeavour is to provide you with well-researched qualitative as well as quantitative insights to make that task a bit easier. In case you’ve missed the ongoing survey in Hindustan Times, log on to access the information on the e-book. And, as always, we would encourage you to let us know what you think of it. Your suggestions will help make our annual exercise more meaningful.
e for young parents
top schools HINDUSTAN TIMES-C FORE SURVEY 2012
MORE SCHOOLS, MERRIER PARENTS Zehra kazmi ■ zehra.kazmi@hindustantimes.com
When Soma Gupta moved to Noida in 1991 with her family, you could count the number of good schools on your fingers. Her two daughters studied at Delhi Public School, one of the big names in Noida education. “There weren’t many big schools and people sent their kids to Delhi. Older schools came up as the township developed and prospered, hence they were in residential sectors,” said Gupta. Today, the scenario is starkly different. Noida seems to be in the midst of a second wave of schools, especially in the last decade. Fuelled by demand from the increasing army of working professionals, these new schools dot the expressway and institutional areas. Even established names such as DPS, Noida and Somerville are opening new branches on the expressway. “The availability and allotment of land around the institutional area is a big factor in schools coming up here. Gurgaon and Noida are developing, the occupancy in high rises is increasing and there is demand for new schools,” said Abha Adams, education advisor, Step by Step School. This mix of old and new schools is reflected in the top 10 contenders of the Hindustan Times-C fore 2012 Top Schools Survey. Tried-and-tested names, such as Amity International, Delhi Public School and Apeejay School, among others, rub shoulders with the newer kids in town, such as Lotus Valley School, Kothari International and the Shriram Millennium School. Step By Step School tops the charts with the highest scores not only in the extra-curricular activities and innovation categories, but in parameters related to competence of teachers and their training and development as well. Amity International maintains its edge in academics, topping the parameter and coming over-all
second. Though the Delhi Public School, Noida, does not top any particular parameter, its consistent performance earns it the third slot. Apeejay School scores in the sports parameter, while Lotus Valley gets top billings in the infrastructure category and Somerville School is the most value for money. Different schools are identified with different USPs, be it academics, progressive learning techniques or affiliations to reputed educational institutions. Call it the curse of the plenty, but in the crowded marketplace of education, each school has to stand out to catch parents’ attention. “Parents do a proper reconnaissance before admitting their child to a school. Some sit for hours, observing, while others look at Class 10th and 12th results or the activities offered,” said Sarita Madhok, principal, Mayoor School. One can detect a marked shift in the kind of schools younger parents are looking at. For many, admission into an established school is still the Holy Grail, but others are leaning more towards ‘progressive’ schools: those that offer smaller class sizes, individual attention, and newer ways of learning. Said Rita Kaul, principal, Millennium School: “When parents come for interviews, I let them ask the questions. I tell them that I can give your child knowledge, but I can’t guarantee any results. Parents already know that our school is different from others.” Results. Though still powerful, that one-word epicentre of school education is slowly being displaced. Parents are asking for, and schools are striving for, something more. The introduction of Comprehensive and Continuous Evaluation (CCE) is also aimed at assessing different types of learning. “Schools have begun to focus on the need to teach skills and not only on textbook curriculum. Parents have started asking — will my child be happy in a particular school? Will it give her holistic education?” said Adams.
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top schools HINDUSTAN TIMES-C FORE SURVEY 2012
10
TOP SCHOOLS OF NOIDA
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The 2012 Hindustan Times-C fore Top Schools Survey gave scores to each school across 14 different parameters, from academic rigour to sports. Here is a list of schools ranked in the Top Ten in Noida
STEP BY STEP SCHOOL
Step by Step is known for its new approaches to learning, its professional development centre to upgrade skills of the faculty and its special needs educational facility. The school has aced the ‘extra-curricular activities’, ‘individual attention to students’, ‘life skills education’ and ‘innovative teaching’ parameters. www.sbs-school.org
0120-2472300
R 1,75,550 per annum
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AMITY INTERNATIONAL
Located on a sprawling 15-acre campus, the school has topped the ‘academic rigour’ category yet again. The school also has enviable sports facilities and offers tennis and riding academies and a shooting range. It has the second-highest scores for the ‘extra-curricular activities’ and ‘value for money’ parameters. www.amity.edu
0120-4399000
Not available
top schools HINDUSTAN TIMES-C FORE SURVEY 2012
3
DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL SECTOR 30
Established in 1982, DPS Noida is known for its excellent academic record, its vast infrastructure and its commitment to co-curricular activities. It has the second-highest scores in the ‘competence of teachers’ and ‘social accountability’ categories, and stands third on the ‘academic rigour’ and ‘sports’ parameters. www.dpsnoida.org
0120-4509100
Not available
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APEEJAY SCHOOL
Spread across 15 acres, the school has good infrastructure for sports, including cricket and football fields and basketball and badminton courts. Needless to say, Apeejay School has topped the ‘sports’ parameter. Equipped with a 1,200-seater auditorium, the school stands second in the ‘parental participation’ category. www.apeejay.edu
0120-2515141/43
R 94,150 per annum
top schools HINDUSTAN TIMES-C FORE SURVEY 2012
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LOTUS VALLEY INTERNATIONAL
Spread over 12.5 acres, this school boasts of state-of-the-art infrastructure, including media centres and cafeterias for students. Unsurprisingly, it has topped on ‘infrastructure and facilities’ and ‘safety and hygiene’ parameters. The school has grown to a strength of 2,450 students in a short span of time. www.lotusvalley.com
9910952227
R 1,51,200 per annum
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SOMERVILLE SCHOOL, SECTOR 22
Started in 1987, the school focuses on academic excellence and value education. While it has topped the ‘value system’ and ‘value for money’ parameters, it has the second highest score in the ‘academic rigour’ category. With activities such as a popular annual music show, the school ensures that learning is fun. www.somervillenoida.in
0120-2415050
R 48,000 per annum
top schools HINDUSTAN TIMES-C FORE SURVEY 2012
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VISHWA BHARTI SCHOOL
Set up in 1989, the school is spread over 6.64 acres which houses three auditoriums, a library stocked with 25,000 books and smart classrooms. With its emphasis on Indian values and community service, the school has the second-highest scores in the ‘value system’ and ‘parental participation’ categories. www.vbpsnoida.com
0120-2455142
R 46,050 per annum
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KOTHARI INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
Known for its impressive infrastructure, the school follows innovative teaching techniques such as providing a dedicated ‘Swadhaya period’ for self-learning and finishing assignments and the concept of a bag-less school. It is ranked second on the ‘individual attention to students’ and ‘safety and hygiene’ parameters. www.kotharischool.edu.in
0120 - 4082430
R 1,45,800 per annum
top schools HINDUSTAN TIMES-C FORE SURVEY 2012
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SHRIRAM MILLENNIUM SCHOOL
A joint enterprise between the promoters of the Shriram group of schools and Educomp, the school has started initiatives such as writer’s workshops, ‘show and tell’ and ‘circle time’ where students can discuss ideas. Fittingly, the school ranks second in the ‘innovative teaching’ and ‘parental participation’ categories. www.tsmschools.com
9999176666
R 1,72, 504 per annum
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10 BAL BHARTI SCHOOL
Activities under the astronomy, robotics and environment clubs make the school interesting. The Interact club is involved in various outreach activities, earning the school the top rank on the ‘social accountability’ parameter. It has also performed well in the ‘value for money’ and ‘innovative teaching’ categories. www.bbpsnoida.com
0120 - 2538533
R 37,500 per annum
top schools HINDUSTAN TIMES-C FORE SURVEY 2012
THEY TOO MAKE THE GRADE... CAMBRIDGE SCHOOL One of Noida’s oldest schools, it is known for its excellent record in academics, extra-curricular activities and sports. The school has separate junior and senior campuses. The senior campus has vast fields, well-stocked laboratories and libraries and a dedicated counselling centre to help students.
GENESIS GLOBAL SCHOOL Spread over a 30-acre campus, the school provides boarding facilities for students. Parents can also opt for the extended day boarding programme until 6 pm. The school has collaborations with Clifton College, UK, and L’Ermitage International School of France and regularly organises exchange tours.
MILLENNIUM SCHOOL Based on the Millennium Learning System evolved by Educomp, the school lays focus on different ways of learning. Classrooms fitted with smartboards encourage audiovisual learning. Known for its commitment to special needs students, it is all set to open a senior wing soon.
They may not have made it to the Top Ten, but they hold as much promise as their crowned counterparts. Here is a list of other good options:
KHAITAN PUBLIC SCHOOL The school promotes parental participation through regular parent-teacher meetings and a web portal that lists school activities. A centralised database keeps a record of every aspect of school life. The school has two computerised libraries and has tied-up with the Peninsular Sports academy for tennis and cricket training.
MAYOOR SCHOOL Set up in 2003 in collaboration with the General Council of Mayo College, Ajmer, the school has a horse-riding range, an amphitheatre and a swimming plaza. It has provided a learning and resource centre for its students, and has tiedup with FIITJEE to provide coaching to students.
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3 4 7 4 6 1 2 10 8 9
1 2 7 9 3 4 8 10 4 6
2 5 10 7 1 8 5 2 4 9
7 5 2 6 9 4 3 8 9 1
1 5 10 2 7 9 2 5 2 8
Value for Money
1 8 4 6 8 5 8 3 2 4
Infrastructure and Facilities
1 5 8 9 3 6 7 2 4 10
Parental participation
2 6 3 1 3 10 8 5 9 6
Social Accountability
1 2 3 7 4 10 7 6 4 9
Safety and Hygiene
Innovative Teaching
5 1 3 4 10 2 7 9 8 5
Life Skills Education
Individual Attention to Students
1 3 2 10 7 5 9 6 4 7
Value System/ Integration
Sports
1 3 2 4 10 4 6 7 9 8
ECA
Step by Step School Amity International Delhi Public School Apeejay School Lotus Valley School Somerville School Vishwa Bharti Shool Kothari International School Shriram Millenium School Bal Bharti
Academic Rigour
1 2 3 4 4 6 7 8 9 10
Teacher Care and Development
NAME OF SCHOOL
Competence of Teachers
RANK
PARAMETER-WISE RANKING OF NOIDA SCHOOLS
2 4 3 6 1 8 9 4 6 10
7 2 3 4 7 1 5 9 10 5
Nursery fee figures, provided to HT by the schools, are approximate. They include annual fee and development charges (transport fee is variable). For the total fee amount, please contact the schools. * These schools did not participate in the survey. Their scores are based on the perceptual survey conducted among parents and teachers as mentioned in the methodology. DISCLAIMER :The survey data is a copyright of HT Media Limited, any use of this survey data would lead to infringement of their copyright and may result in legal action against the Infringer.
METHODOLOGY The survey was conducted in three phases.In the first phase, schools in Noida,Gurgaon, Faridabad and Ghaziabad were invited to provide information on academic and non- academic facilities, performance of students, profile of teachers etc. Sifting through this, research agency C fore shortlisted schools for the second round, in which a perceptual survey was carried out with a sample of about 500 parents and teachers in each city. They were asked to assess schools that they were aware of on a scale of 10 against various parameters. The parameters of the survey this year were finalised after taking feedback from educationists, teachers and parents. Results of the perceptual survey were combined with objective data from the first round to rank schools. In the third round, C fore researchers visited the schools to conduct an audit and finalise rankings. Perceptual data scores were extrapolated for schools whose objective data was not available