Hindustan Times - C fore Top Schools Survey
2012
South Mumbai
top schools HINDUSTAN TIMES-C FORE SURVEY 2012
A guidefo
hindustantimes SOUTH MUMBAI
W
e are very pleased to present to readers the fourth HT Top Schools Survey. As we did last year, we have refined the methodology to reflect our own deepening understanding of the issues and by incorporating sensible suggestions from readers. See ‘Methodology’ for further details. We hope that the survey will help parents with one of the most significant decisions they will take on behalf of their children: selecting a school. Along with the rankings, we have profiles of the top schools in each zone followed by a series of articles that capture key education trends in the city. We think that the entire series will help not only newcomers to Mumbai but also parents who have lived here all their lives. This is because city schools are rapidly transforming. First, over the past year, Indian policy makers have ushered in radical changes in curricula across boards to make it more student-centric and less marks oriented. Second, international boards are rapidly making inroads in to city schools, raising the cost of education but also ushering in innovative and wider approaches to learning and teaching. Finally, many of today’s generation of highly conscious parents want to be closely involved with their children’s lives at school: they want a lot of information about what goes on at school not only before sending their children there but also afterwards. They would like a school that suits these aspirations. This series takes into account these key shifts in schooling and parenting.
or youngparents
top schools HINDUSTAN TIMES-C FORE SURVEY 2012
10
TOP SCHOOLS OF SOUTH MUMBAI
The 2012 Hindust an Times-C fore Top Schools Survey gave scores t o each school across 14 different paramet ers, from academic rigour t o sport s. Here is a list of schools ranked in t he Top 10 in Sout h Mumbai
BOMBAY INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
“Our students learn through inquiry and experience, which challenges their minds. They are exposed to a diverse range of learning activities. We also inculcate a spirit of compassion and cooperation that ensures holistic development of the child.”
n
HIGHEST RATINGS FOR: n Teachers n Diversit y Parent participation
BOARD Class 10 – IGCSE, ICSE Class 12 – IB Annual fee: Not available Student strength: 400 Student - teacher ratio: 5:1
History: In 1962, a group of parents came together and founded the school based on the idea of education as an unstructured process.
Unique features: Students have access to a variety of indoor and outdoor sports facilities. Students can be part of various clubs including dance, current affairs, books, film appreciation and photography.
M O N A S E E R VA I principal
WEBSITE: www.bisschool.com ADDRESS: Gilbert Building, Babulnath
hindustantimes SOUTH MUMBAI HIGHEST RATINGS FOR:
CAMPION SCHOOL
Academic rigour n Sport s n Selection process n
BOARD:
Class 10 – ICSE Annual fee: R63,000 St udent st rength: 768 St udent -t eacher ratio 19:1
“We appreciate the importance of co-curricular activities along with intellectual growth. Each student must have the opportunity to reach his full potential and become a successful part of society.”
History: Campion School was founded in 1943, by the Jesuits. Unique features: The school has 140 computers connected to an internal network of projectors in every classroom. Most teachers have laptops. The school launched the Jesuit Certificate Programme for Classes 7 to 10 last year, an optional programme for credits through extra-curriculars.
PA U L M AC H A D O , principal
WEBSITE: www.campionschool.in ADDRESS: Cooperage Road, Fort
top schools HINDUSTAN TIMES-C FORE SURVEY 2012
HIGHEST RATINGS FOR:
GD SOMANI MEMORIAL SCHOOL
“We recognise the need for communication between school and home. Only when teachers, students, parents and others work together, can a child grow into an adult who displays sensitivity, integrity, good citizenship and respect for human diversity.”
n Teachers Selection process n Parent part icipat ion n
BOARD:
Class 10 – ICSE Annual fee: R70,000 St udent st rength: 1,615 St udent -t eacher ratio 10:1
History: The school was established in 1975 by industrialists BD Somani and GD Somani with 250 students. Unique features: The school has IT teaching systems and 3-D projectors in every classroom. Teachers use animation modules. A combination of play way method, projects and assignments is used.
BR IA N S EYMO UR, principal
WEBSITE:
Website: www.gdsomani.org ADDRESS: 625, Cuffe Parade
hindustantimes SOUTH MUMBAI HIGHEST RATINGS FOR: n
JB PETIT HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS
“There is an incredible buzz at JB Petit. We emphasise creativity, instill a sense of confidence and do not want to churn out academic robots. Ours is a happy school.” B I N A I F E R K U TA R ,
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Selection process Academic rigour n Teachers
BOARD:
Class 10 – ICSE Annual fee: R60,000 St udent st rength: 873 St udent -t eacher ratio 22:1
History: Established in 1860 by an English woman, JB Petit School was originally known as Miss Prescott’s Fort Christian School. In 1946, the school was renamed after the man who gave it a new lease of life. Unique features: The school won the International School Award from the British Council for fostering international dimensions in its curriculum. Students participate in a conflict resolution camp, ‘Seeds of Peace’ held in the
principal
WEBSITE: www.jbpetithighschool.com ADDRESS: 5, Maharshi Dadhichi Marg, Fort
top schools HINDUSTAN TIMES-C FORE SURVEY 2012
NAVY CHILDREN SCHOOL
“What gives me the greatest joy is to see children graduate from the portals of NCS with their heads held high and their basic human values intact.” G I R I JA S I N G H , principal
HIGHEST RATINGS FOR: n Value for money n Teachers n Select ion process BOARD Class 10, Class 12 - CbSE Annual fee: R15,000 St udent st rengt h: 4,845 St udent -teacher rat io: 29: 1
History: The school was commissioned on November 14, 1989. It is run by the Navy Education Society and administered under the Western Naval Command. Unique features: The school provides facilities for sports such as basketball, football, cricket, handball and table tennis. It also has facilities for carpentry, pottery and a science park and ‘tara mandal’. The school organises seven annual days to ensure every student is seen on stage.
WEBSITE: ncsnavy.com/ncsmumbai/ncsm.htm ADDRESS: Block VII Navy Nagar, Colaba Junior School (Class 1 & 2): 4th Pasta Lane, Colaba
hindustantimes SOUTH MUMBAI QUEEN MARY SCHOOL
HIGHEST RATINGS FOR: n Teachers n Select ion process n Value for money
“We believe in the holistic development of each student. Just as the heart speaks, the intellect discerns and the body executes, we work in synergy to light up lives for a better tomorrow.” G R AC E M AT H I A S , principal
History: The school, started in 1875 by Harriet Butt, was called the Bombay Indian Female Normal School. The school premises shifted from Byculla to Mazgaon and finally to Girgaum. Its name was changed to Queen Mary School in 1912.
BOARD Class 10 - ICSE Annual fee: R42,950-R47,750 St udent st rengt h: 1,083 St udent - t eacher ratio: 17: 1
Unique features: The school secured the second place at EUMIND (Europe Meets India), an international programme. An ex-student represented India in the 2011 Commonwealth Games in synchronised swimming.
WEBSITE: www.queenmaryschoolmumbai.in ADDRESS: VP Road, Grant Road (East)
top schools HINDUSTAN TIMES-C FORE SURVEY 2012
ST MARY’S SCHOOL (ICSE) “The primary objective of school education must be all-round development of a child along the basic dimensions of a human being — academic, spiritual, social, emotional and physical, so as to draw out the full potential of each child before they leave school.”
History: St Mary’s began as a missionary school in 1864. Initially, the school only preached Catholicism, but soon began focusing on allround education. Unique features: The school has one of the largest campuses in Mumbai with a sports ground, auditorium and two gymnasiums. The school encourages social service and has an exchange programme with a tribal school. HIGHEST RATINGS FOR:
FAT H E R K E N N E T H M I S Q U I T TA , principal
n Teachers Academic rigour n Selection process n
BOARD:
Class 10 – ICSE Annual fee: R43,000 St udent st rength: 1,460 St udent -t eacher ratio 28:1
WEBSITE: www.stmarysicse.com ADDRESS: St Mary’s School (ICSE), Mazagaon
hindustantimes SOUTH MUMBAI
HIGHEST RATINGS FOR:
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Education philosophy n Teachers n Selection process
BOARD:
Class 10 – SSC Annual fee: R30,800 St udent st rength: 917 St udent -t eacher ratio 20:1
ST XAVIER’S BOYS ACADEMY “At SXBA, we strive to be an institute where learning is enjoyable, resulting in all-round excellence and commitment to social justice.” PRE EMA N ORON HA,
History: In the mid-1950s, Father Sologran, a Jesuit priest, convinced the local police to relocate a proposed police station at Marine Lines. In 1957, a school and college were established there. Unique features: Education is modelled on the Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm, which is rooted in self-reflection as the basis of schooling. The school has a four-day exchange programme with a tribal school in Nashik for Class 9 students.
principal
WEBSITE: www.sxba.org ADDRESS: 15, New Marine Lines
top schools HINDUSTAN TIMES-C FORE SURVEY 2012
HIGHEST RATINGS FOR: n n
Academic rigour n Teachers Select ion process
BOARD:
THE CATHEDRAL & JOHN CONNON SCHOOL “We keep students at the focal point of all activities. We recognise the need to ‘walk the talk’ in order to make a lasting impression on young minds.”
Class 10 – ICSE, Class 12 – ISC Annual fee: R90,000 Student strength: 2,000 St udent -t eacher ratio: 16:1
History: The Angelo Scottish Education Society founded in 1860, later became the Cathedral and John Connon School. It became a co-educational in 1965. Unique features: Cathedral was the first school in the country to hold a Model United Nations, which is in its 16th year and entirely organised by students. The school’s 80-member strong choir is one of the oldest in the city. Students are selected on the basis of highly competitive trials.
M E E R A I S A AC S , principal
WEBSITE: www.cathedral-school.com ADDRESS: 6, Purshottamdas Marg, Fort
hindustantimes SOUTH MUMBAI
VILLA THERESA SCHOOL
HIGHEST RATINGS FOR:
Teachers Diversit y n Value for money n n
BOARD:
Class 10 – ICSE Annual fee: R35,000–R45,000 St udent st rength: 1,287 St udent -t eacher ratio 29:1
“Our students always respond well to new ideas or initiatives taken by the school. Although we focus on learning through technology, we realise the importance of imparting knowledge through value.”
History: The school was founded in 2007 and provides a complete and contemporary educational experience to students. It endeavors to nurture young minds through a sound educational program. (Source: school website) Unique features: Students enjoy co-curricular activities such as badminton, pipe band, cricket, dance, chess and swimming. The school strives to create a community of globally-minded citizens in an atmosphere of mutual respect, understanding and trust. (Source: school website).
S I ST E R R A N I A N T H O N Y , principal
WEBSITE: www.vtsmumbai.org ADDRESS: Cumbala Hill
METHODOLOGY A. Process HT and research firm Cfore conducted the survey in three phases over four months. In the first phase, we sent out an exhaustive questionnaire to 307 private schools in the Mumbai region, asking them to send us detailed data about themselves, such as their studentteacher ratios, total area of all their playgrounds, etc. Of these, 109 schools replied. (We hope that many more will join in next year.) Based on these replies, we assigned each school an objective score. In the second phase, a perceptual survey was conducted among a carefully selected sample of teachers and parents. In all, 2512 respondents were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. The respondents were asked to evaluate the schools that they were aware of on a 10 point scale against 18 parameters. We used the same parameters as last year. We had arrived at the parameters based on suggestions from a panel of educationists. Simultaneously, objective data was also collected. In the third phase, Cfore research-ers visited each school shortlisted for ranking based on the objective and perceptual data collected. The data was also audited by talking to parents and students. To arrive at the ranking score, the figures of perceptual and objective data were combined. In case the objective data was not available, the perceptual data scores were extrapolated to rank top 10 schools of each of the five zones of the Mumbai region: north, south, east, west and Navi Mumbai. B. The parameters along which we rated the schools n Educational philosophy n Attitude towards learning n Breadth of vision n Social engagement n Academic rigour n Innovative teaching n Quality of teachers n Teacher-student relationship n Sports n Cultural activities n Life skills education n Infrastructure and facilities n Safety, health and hygiene n Diversity n Selection process n Governance n Parent participation n Value for money
NOTES 1. Despite employing such a comprehensive process, we at HT believe that such rankings cannot be completely objective because people will have different opinions of what they believe constitutes a good education. Some parents might be looking for a school that allows them to be closely involved while others may want the opposite. Some parents might want schools that focus on sports while others may want one where academics dominates. 2. We believe that beyond a particular threshold, it is difficult to objectively rank schools. Indeed, as we have said, our survey includes some subjective, perceptual inputs. Therefore, we will only list in alphabetical order schools that emerged as the top ten in each of the other zones. We have, however, provided rankings for the top ten schools overall in the city because many readers have asked us for it. 3. In any case, we advise parents to look carefully at how schools have scored against the various parameters instead of going just by the overall rank. These scores will indicate to parents which school might better suit their specific aspirations. Indeed, a school that is ranked lower might actually be better suited to a parent and his or her child than the topranked one.