Top Schools Mumbai

Hindustan Times - C fore Top Schools Survey

2012

North Mumbai

top schools HINDUSTAN TIMES-C FORE SURVEY 2012

A guide fo

hindustantimes NORTH 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 young parents

top schools HINDUSTAN TIMES-C FORE SURVEY 2012

10

TOP SCHOOLS OF NORTH MUMBAI

The 2012 Hindustan Times-C fore Top Schools Survey gave scores to each school across 18 different parameters, from academic rigour to sports.

Here is a list of schools ranked in the Top 10 in North Mumbai

BILLABONG HIGH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

HIGHEST RATINGS FOR: ■ Teachers ■ Teacher-student relationship ■ Selection process BOARD Class 5 – ICSE, Class 6 to Class 10 – ICSE, IGCSE Annual fee: R55,000-R70,000 Student strength: 1,117 Student teacher ratio: 8:1

“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.”

History: The school was started in 2006 with more than 400 students. It has grown systematically 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.

SP SHARMA principal

WEBSITE: www.billabongthane.com ADDRESS: Wagle Estate, Thane

hindustantimes NORTH MUMBAI CHILDREN’S ACADEMY

HIGHEST RATINGS FOR: ■ Teachers ■ Academic rigour ■ Selection process BOARD Class 10 – ICSE, SSC Annual fee: R29,500 Student strength: 1,734 Student teacher ratio: 12:1

“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

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 classroom. It has many clubs such as nature, science and literature.

WEBSITE: www.children-academy.org ADDRESS: BL Muraka Marg, Malad (East)

top schools HINDUSTAN TIMES-C FORE SURVEY 2012

HIGHEST RATINGS FOR:

GUNDECHA EDUCATION ACADEMY

■ Academic rigour ■ Teachers ■ Selection process

BOARD Class 10 – ICSE, Class 12 - ISC Annual fee: R62,760 Student strength: 1,734 Student- teacher ratio 22:1

“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.”

SEEMA BUCH,

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.

principal

WEBSITE: www.gundechaedu.org ADDRESS: Thakur Village, Kandivli (East)

hindustantimes NORTH MUMBAI HIRANANDANI FOUNDATION SCHOOL

HIGHEST RATINGS FOR: ■ Attitude towards learning ■ Cultural activities ■ Selection process BOARD Class 10- ICSE, Class 12 - ISC Annual fee: R 48,800 Student strength: 2,618 Teacher 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.”

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.

N E E LU L A M B A , principal

WEBSITE: www.hiranandanischools.edu.in ADDRESS: Hiranandani Estate, Thane

top schools HINDUSTAN TIMES-C FORE SURVEY 2012

NL DALMIA HIGH SCHOOL

HIGHEST RATINGS FOR: ■ Academic rigour ■ Teachers ■Selection process BOARD Class 10 - ICSE Annual fee: R31,800 Student strength: 2,043 Student-Teacher ratio: 24: 1

“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.”

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.

SEEMA SAINI, principal

WEBSITE: www.nldalmia.co.in ADDRESS: Mira Road, Thane district

hindustantimes NORTH MUMBAI RYAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

HIGHEST RATINGS FOR: ■ Academic rigour ■ Teachers ■ Selection process

“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. ”

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.

BOARD Class 10, Class 12 - CBSE Annual fee: R29,895 Student strength: 2,900 Student: Teacher ratio: 34: 1

Unique features: The school provides facilities such as ‘smart’ classrooms, media education, health awareness workshops and online communication platforms to help students hone their skills.

ANJALI BOWEN, principal

WEBSITE: To be functional in a month ADDRESS: 90 Feet Road, Asha Nagar, Kandivli

top schools HINDUSTAN TIMES-C FORE SURVEY 2012

SACRED HEART SCHOOL, KALYAN “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.”

CASENDRA MENDES, principal

History: The school was established by CC Anthony in 2001. It is a pioneering 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 swimming pool. The school also has three auditoriums, six laboratories and IT-enabled classrooms. There are two dance rooms and a department for documentary-making.

HIGHEST RATINGS FOR: ■ Academic rigour ■ Sports ■ Selection process BOARD:

Class 10 –SSC Annual fee: R30,400 Student strength: 2,470 Student: Teacher ratio: 20: 1

WEBSITE: www.sacredheartschool.in ADDRESS: Murbad Road, Kalyan, Thane district

hindustantimes NORTH MUMBAI

HIGHEST RATINGS FOR: Safety, health and hygiene ■ Infrastructure and facilities ■ Selection process ■

BOARD

SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL “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.”

Class 1 to Class 6 – Singapore curriculum, Class 7 to Class 10 – IGCSE, Class 12 – IB Annual fee: R6.5 lakh (residental) Student strength:460 Student: Teacher ratio: 7:1

History: 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.

K A I S A R D O PA I S H I , principal

WEBSITE: Website: www.sisindia.net ADDRESS: National Highway No. 8, Dahisar (east)

top schools HINDUSTAN TIMES-C FORE SURVEY 2012

HIGHEST RATINGS FOR: ■

Selection process

■ Academic rigour ■ Teachers

SMT SULOCHANADEVI SINGHANIA SCHOOL “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.”

BOARD Class 10 – ICSE, Class 12 - ISC Annual fee: R39,400 Student strength: 6,350 Student: Teacher ratio: 27: 1

History: 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.

R E VAT H I S R I N I VA S A N , principal

WEBSITE: www.singhaniaschool.org ADDRESS: JK Gram, Thane (West)

hindustantimes NORTH MUMBAI

THAKUR INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

HIGHEST RATINGS FOR: ■ Academic rigour ■ Teachers ■ Selection process BOARD Class 10 - ICSE, IGCSE Annual fee: Not available Student strength: Not available Student - Teacher ratio: Not available

“We cannot disclose information as we do not have permission from the management.”

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)

U S H A O S TA , principal

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).

WEBSITE: www.tismumbai.in ADDRESS: CTS No 1299, Shivaji Road, Kandivli (west)

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 I Educational philosophy I Attitude towards learning I Breadth of vision I Social engagement I Academic rigour I Innovative teaching I Quality of teachers I Teacher-student relationship I Sports I Cultural activities I Life skills education I Infrastructure and facilities I Safety, health and hygiene I Diversity I Selection process I Governance I Parent participation I 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.