Hindustan Times - C fore Top Schools Survey 2012 North Mumbai
Mar 29, 2016
Hindustan Times - C fore Top Schools Survey
2012North Mumbai
top schoolsHINDUSTAN TIMES-C FORE SURVEY 2012
A guide fo
NORTH MUMBAIhindustantimes
We 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 under-
standing 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 innova-tive and wider approaches to learning and teach-ing. 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.
for young parents
top schoolsHINDUSTAN TIMES-C FORE SURVEY 2012
SCHOOLS OF NORTH MUMBAI
TOP10The 2012 Hindustan Times-C fore Top Schools Survey gave scores to each school across 18 different parame-ters, from academic rigour to sports. Here is a list of schools ranked in the Top 10 in North Mumbai
History: The school was started in 2006 with more than 400 students. It has grown sys-tematically and set a strong foundation. The first batch of ICSE students cleared Class 10 in 2011 with 100% results.
Unique features: All students are required to participate in the annual concert and sports day. The school believes in activity-based education and encourages students to reinforce the concepts they have learnt through classroom activities. The school gives a hands-on experience to students.
BILLABONG HIGH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
WEBSITE: www.billabongthane.com ADDRESS: Wagle Estate, Thane
“The school’s ideology is to generate confidence in students, focus on challenges of globalisation and fragmentation, realise the potential of human resources and make students lifelong learners.” S P S H A R M A principal
HIGHEST RATINGS FOR:
■ Teachers ■ Teacher-student rela-
tionship■ Selection process
BOARD Class 5 – ICSE, Class 6 to
Class 10 – ICSE, IGCSEAnnual fee: R55,000-R70,000
Student strength:1,117
Student teacher ratio: 8:1
NORTH MUMBAIhindustantimes
History: Vasudev Bhat, a former civic education inspector, established the school in Malad in 1970. The school got its building in 1986 and has since added three branches.
Unique features: Technology is this school’s forte. It has TVs, computers and projectors in each class-room. It has many clubs such as nature, science and literature.
CHILDREN’S ACADEMY
“The success of any institution depends on the quality of its staff members and their commitment to the institution. We are indebted to our team for making Children’s Academy a reputable school.”
R O H A N B H AT ,principal
HIGHEST RATINGS FOR:
■ Teachers ■ Academic rigour
■ Selection process
BOARD Class 10 – ICSE, SSCAnnual fee: R29,500 Student strength:
1,734Student teacher
ratio: 12:1
WEBSITE: www.children-academy.org ADDRESS: BL Muraka Marg, Malad (East)
top schoolsHINDUSTAN TIMES-C FORE SURVEY 2012
History: The school was established by Paras and Mamta Gundecha in 2004. The school aims to provide quality education at an affordable price.
Unique features:It was the first ICSE school in the state to get an accreditation from the Quality Council of India. The school has daily surprise tests for students. In December students take the ASSET test, which helps in gauging their overall performance.
GUNDECHA EDUCATION ACADEMY
WEBSITE: www.gundechaedu.org ADDRESS: Thakur Village, Kandivli (East)
“Our focus is on learning rather than exams Through various agencies, we teach different life skills in order to reduce the gap between education and reality.” S E E M A B U C H , principal
HIGHEST RATINGS FOR:
■ Academic rigour■ Teachers
■ Selection process
BOARD Class 10 – ICSE, Class 12 - ISC
Annual fee: R62,760 Student strength:
1,734Student- teacher ratio
22:1
hindustantimes
HIRANANDANI FOUNDATION SCHOOL
History: Hiranandani, a group of property developers, have set up various schools for residents of its townships. This school was established in 1999.
Unique features: The school provides excellent infrastructure to tap students’ potential in academics, sports, art, music and drama. Classrooms are equipped with ‘smart boards’ to assist teachers.
WEBSITE: www.hiranandanischools.edu.in ADDRESS: Hiranandani Estate, Thane
HIGHEST RATINGS FOR:
■ Attitude towards learning
■ Cultural activities ■ Selection process
BOARD Class 10- ICSE, Class 12 - ISC
Annual fee: R 48,800 Student strength:
2,618Teacher ratio:
22:1
“The child of today needs to be happy, that’s what I believe in. We try to create an environment where children develop rounded personalities, with very good infrastructure and great opportunities.”
N E E LU L A M B A ,principal
NORTH MUMBAI
top schoolsHINDUSTAN TIMES-C FORE SURVEY 2012
NL DALMIA HIGH SCHOOL
History: The school was started in 1991 by philanthropist Niranjan Lalji Dalmia. He chose Mira Road because the suburb did not have good English medium schools. In 2008-09, the school shifted from the state board to ICSE.
Unique features: The school conducts regular workshops and hobby classes. It gives accident and medical insurance to all students, staff and faculty.
WEBSITE: www.nldalmia.co.in ADDRESS: Mira Road, Thane district
“Our focus is on child-centered learning, where we emphasise values and life skills along with a strong academic programme. This endeavour is supported by our teacher-student ratio, faculty development program and world class infrastructure.”
S E E M A S A I N I ,principal
HIGHEST RATINGS FOR:
■ Academic rigour ■ Teachers
■Selection process
BOARD Class 10 - ICSE
Annual fee: R31,800 Student strength:
2,043Student-Teacher ratio:
24: 1
hindustantimes
RYAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
History: Ryan International Group of Schools started its first CBSE school in the northern region of Mumbai in 2006. In its first year, the school offered admission up to Class 7 and has added classes every year.
Unique features: The school provides facilities such as ‘smart’ class-rooms, media education, health awareness workshops and online communication platforms to help students hone their skills.
WEBSITE: To be functional in a month ADDRESS: 90 Feet Road, Asha Nagar, Kandivli
“Values with sound knowledge and the wisdom to use it constructively form the key element in education. Students are introduced to social responsibility and encouraged to contribute on voluntary basis from a very early age. ”A N J A L I B O W E N , principal
HIGHEST RATINGS FOR:
■ Academic rigour ■ Teachers
■ Selection process
BOARD Class 10, Class 12 - CBSE
Annual fee: R29,895 Student strength:
2,900Student: Teacher ratio:
34: 1
NORTH MUMBAI
top schoolsHINDUSTAN TIMES-C FORE SURVEY 2012
SACRED HEART SCHOOL, KALYANHistory: The school was established by CC Anthony in 2001. It is a pio-neering eco-school. The school aims to mould ‘Green Warriors’ of the coming generations, men and women who are driven with passion to bloom wherever planted.
Unique features: The 11-acre campus includes a cricket and a football ground, basketball and badminton courts, a gymnasium and a swim-ming pool. The school also has three auditoriums, six laboratories and IT-enabled classrooms. There are two dance rooms and a department for documentary-making.
WEBSITE: www.sacredheartschool.in ADDRESS: Murbad Road, Kalyan, Thane district
“We are all passionate about what we do and try
to make a difference in each student’s life till they
are in our hands.” C A S E N D R A M E N D E S ,
principal
HIGHEST RATINGS FOR:
■ Academic rigour■ Sports
■ Selection process
BOARD: Class 10 –SSC
Annual fee: R30,400Student strength:
2,470Student: Teacher ratio:
20: 1
hindustantimes
SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLHistory: The school was established in 2005 with a vision to be a global school.
Unique features: The school is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities such as a multi-resource library, dance studios, a multi-sports complex including an athletic track and a 6,000 sq ft. auditorium.
WEBSITE: Website: www.sisindia.net ADDRESS: National Highway No. 8, Dahisar (east)
“At SIS, we groom students to develop a positive and holistic personality and share the ethos of being principled and caring. Educational interactions are built around the principles of engaging minds, touching hearts and a sense of enterprise.”
K A I S A R D O PA I S H I ,principal
HIGHEST RATINGS FOR:
■ Safety, health and hygiene■ Infrastructure and facilities
■ Selection process
BOARD Class 1 to Class 6 – Singapore curricu-lum, Class 7 to Class 10 – IGCSE, Class
12 – IB Annual fee: R6.5 lakh (residental)
Student strength:460Student: Teacher
ratio: 7:1
NORTH MUMBAI
top schoolsHINDUSTAN TIMES-C FORE SURVEY 2012
SMT SULOCHANADEVI SINGHANIA SCHOOLHistory: Gopal Singhania established the school in 1968 in memory of his wife, Sulochanadevi. The school began in 1969.
Unique features: Till Class 4, the school follows a thematic teaching pattern and students don’t have to carry any notebooks. From Class 4 to Class 7, they carry one textbook. The Indian Institute of Management – Ahmedabad has made a case study on their teaching methods.
WEBSITE: www.singhaniaschool.org ADDRESS: JK Gram, Thane (West)
“We prepare students for life and not exams. A balance of scholastic, non-scholastic skills and value-based education is key to developing life-skills that makes Sulonians what they are.”
R E VAT H I S R I N I VA S A N ,principal
HIGHEST RATINGS FOR:
■ Selection process ■ Academic rigour ■ Teachers
BOARD Class 10 – ICSE, Class 12 - ISC
Annual fee: R39,400 Student strength:
6,350Student: Teacher ratio:
27: 1
THAKUR INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
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 web-site)
Unique features: Students enjoy co-curricular activities such as badminton, pipe band, cricket, dance, chess and swimming. The school strives to cre-ate a community of globally-minded citizens in an atmosphere of mutual respect, understanding and trust. (Source: school website).
hindustantimes
WEBSITE: www.tismumbai.in ADDRESS: CTS No 1299, Shivaji Road, Kandivli (west)
“We cannot disclose information as we do not have permission from the management.”
U S H A O S TA ,principal
HIGHEST RATINGS FOR:
■ Academic rigour■ Teachers
■ Selection process
BOARD Class 10 - ICSE, IGCSE
Annual fee: Not availableStudent strength: Not available
Student - Teacher ratio: Not available
NORTH MUMBAI
A. ProcessHT 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 student-
teacher 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 ques-
tionnaire. 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 stu-
dents. To arrive at the ranking score, the figures of
perceptual and objective data were combined. In
case the objective data was not available, the per-
ceptual 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� Educational philosophy � Attitude towards learn-
ing � Breadth of vision � Social engagement � Academic rigour � Innovative teaching � Quality of teachers � Teacher-student relation-
ship � Sports � Cultural activities � Life skills
education � Infrastructure and facilities � Safety,
health and hygiene � Diversity � Selection
process � Governance � Parent participation � Value for money
METHODOLOGYNOTES
1. Despite employing such a com-
prehensive process, we at HT
believe that such rankings cannot
be completely objective because
people will have different opin-
ions of what they believe consti-
tutes 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 par-
ticular threshold, it is difficult to
objectively rank schools. Indeed,
as we have said, our survey
includes some subjective, per-
ceptual 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 spe-
cific aspirations. Indeed, a school
that is ranked lower might actually
be better suited to a parent and
his or her child than the top-
ranked one.