Choosing a Good School for Your Child in Bangalore

chillibreeze writer — Anjana Menon

The search for a good school started almost immediately after our return from the US in 2005. When I heard of admission procedures in the schools in Bangalore, I knew it was going to be a nerve-wracking process. I had to figure what was best for my child and family and what we valued. The process was iterative and as I visited schools and talked to parents I better understood what I wanted in a school. I finally came up with a comprehensive list. Hope it helps other parents to make better decisions for their wards.

Having been raised in a city like Mumbai, distance was not an issue at all. What was most important for me was the values and the emphasis of the school. These are the questions I had in my mind. The school’s academic achievements, did the school foster competition, holistic learning, balance of academics and activities, and was it child-centered or curriculum centered? Was the school structured or unstructured?

The quality of the teachers in a school is very important. While talking to other parents or school principals I probed what kind of teachers they had, their qualifications and experience level, teacher training and teacher turnover. Also, I firmly believe that a great principal can really make a great school. The student-teacher ratio was also an important consideration for me. The lower the student-teacher ratio, the higher the chances that your child will get personal attention from his/her teachers. In lower grades especially, a low ratio is essential.

I had a clear understanding of whether the school encouraged external competitive tests (Olympiads, Asset testing, Spelling Bee etc.). This can indicate what the kind of learning (conceptual, applied, lateral, rote learning) the school is leaning towards. Made a note of different events the school had like Show and Tell, school play, sports day, other events, whether every student gets to participate or only a few? I have leaned towards schools that encouraged extra curricular activities in my selection process. Schools infrastructure was an important point too. And finally it was the gut feel I developed for a school that helped me most importantly.

I knew I needed a school, which was serious about what they did. Coming from a middle-class background, I valued education and it was all that I could give my kids. The schools listed below more or less satisfy all the criteria I felt necessary to befit my top 10 list of schools in Bangalore.

NPS
National Public School is synonymous with academic excellence and the development of personality. It imparts immeasurable values to the students who are in its rolls. Their teachers are their assets. They are a serious school that quickly adapts itself to changing educational scenarios. The school fosters in students, life skills, skills of leadership and entrepreneurship to take on new challenges. They have five branches in the city.

St. Joseph’s Boys High School, Museum Road, Bangalore
Though a boy’s school, I felt it deserved a mention in the top 10 list. The school celebrated its 150th year in 2008. The school strives to prepare men who will give themselves in service to others, to strive for excellence and not just competitiveness. The large open playgrounds belonging to the School give space for cricket, football, hockey and other games and forms of exercise.

Sishu Griha Montessori and High School, Tippasandra.
Excellent school with lovely loving teachers - a no pressure zone for kids. The school will definitely bring out the best in your child.

Bethany High, Koramangala
Excellent results in the I.C.S.E. exams, with students participating and winning laurels in co-curricular inter School activities. Bethany has grown over time into a very well managed educational institution.

Vidya Niketan School, Hebbal, Bangalore
This is a co-ed school which has time and again excelled in academics and sports at state and national levels. The infrastructure of the school has been built to help your child learn well and develop into a well-rounded person.

Vidyashilp Academy, Hebbal
The school is referred to as the most progressive school in the country. The ideology and educational process that Vidyashilp run has been recommended by the Board to other schools in the nation, almost 10 years after Vidyashilp Academy was founded.

The Valley school, Kanakapura Road
The school aims at providing holistic education beyond the textbook. Here children are let free to understand and learn things practically and to learn by discovering things by themselves. The alternative approach to teaching is based on the philosopher J. Krishnamurthy’s teachings.

The International School Bangalore (TISB), Whitefield, Bangalore
A sister concern of National Public Schools, Bangalore, TISB is one of the premier institutes in the city. It is known not only for its academic excellence, but also for the all-round development of students.

Sophia High School, Palace Road, Bangalore
The school is considered to be one of the most prestigious institutions in South India. Besides academics, due attention is paid to extracurricular activities. Sophia’s has a superlative college placement record. The middle and high schools are girls-only while the primary school is co-educational.

Headstart, Koramangala
Educational methods and materials are deeply rooted in the spirit and philosophy of Dr. Maria Montessori. Headstart has a program that works towards integrating children with special challenges/needs into our community as well. The curriculum followed at all levels is flexible and the school quickly is growing into one that absorbs new trends into their existing system.

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Chillibreeze's disclaimer: This is a contributed article and was published on Chillibreeze in May, 2011. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views of Chillibreeze as a company. Chillibreeze has a strict anti-plagiarism policy. Please contact us to report any copyright issues related to this article. The relevance of the facts and figures cited (if any) could change after a period of time.

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—About our writer:

Anjana Menon is a graduate in Computer Science with eight years work experience in R&D and technology development. She has worked on several projects for companies like W.W.Grainger and Syntel. Her love for education has made her pursue montessori training and she has been conducting science clubs in her community for kids. She has varied interests like writing along with travel, music and fine arts. Currently a home-maker, she is based out of Bangalore.

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