HT-- C-fore Top Schools Survey: Right balance on podium

Schools from Chandigarh have yet again dominated the charts on the HT-- C-fore Top Schools Survey for the tricity. While St John’s High School continues to be at the top, increasing its score from 797 to 804 out of 1,000 this time, it has also strengthened its reputation for overall growth.

Of the 14 parameters, it is on top on the parameters of teacher care and development, scoring 43 points out of 50. It has also topped the parameter of competence of teachers, with 85 points out of 100. Other parameters on which it emerged best are sports, value system integration and social accountability.

Carmel Convent School bagged the second spot with a total of 789 points, and continues to top the parameter of life skills education, under which students are taught good behaviour, morals and social responsibility. It got 40 points out of 50 here.

The school has, though, slipped to the third spot from the second place earned last year on the parameter of parental participation.

Third spot in the survey has again gone to Sacred Heart Public School, which received 787 points, just two behind Carmel Convent. It has done well on teacher care and development, competence of teachers and extra-curricular activities, with the second spot on these parameters.

Manmohan Sareen, a St John’s alumnus who is now a senior advocate , says, “Whatever I have achieved is due to the confidence and learning I got from my teachers. I was in the 1963 batch but I remain deeply attached to my school.”

Kavita Das, principal of St John’s, says, “Ours is a missionary school and thus we are working with full commitment towards our students, teachers and society. We are not bothered about business.” Nitika Singh, counsellor for the senior wing at St John’s, stresses on the need for good atmosphere: “For proper, multi-dimensional development of the students, we ensure that the atmosphere provided to them is fabulous. We know the parents and the children quite well, and thus we don’t let them fall at any step.”

Carmel Convent principal Maria Swati also says the schools “does not want to compete with any one”. She adds, “We give lot of importance to teachers' development programmes.”

Strawberry Fields has gone up a notch to fourth this time, with 774 points. It has won the top spot on various parameters, including extra- curricular activities, individual attention to students, innovative teaching, parental participation, and safety and hygiene. Principal Sangeeta Sekhon says the focus is on perfection: “Besides basic education, we offer various development programmes. The students share a warm relationship with the teachers; that is really important.”

Bhavan Vidyalaya, Chandigarh, is fifth with 768 points, up from last year’s sixth. The school is known for brilliant results, and has managed to maintain its first spot on the parameter of academic rigour.

While there are no big surprises in the top 10 of the city, government schools are new entrants to the survey. Making a rather impressive debut, GMSSS-16 is 11th in the city and GMSSS-35 is 15th in Chandigarh. Both schools have for long been giving competition to private schools, and it was only a matter of time that their quality reflected in the rankings.

1 St John’s High School, Chandigarh
Score: 804/1,000

When Chandigarh was built, the school came up under Capital Project; Christian Brothers took over in 1959. All-boys school with active alumni

Affiliated to: CBSE
Entry-level seats: 160
Entry-level fee: Rs 38,000
Website: stjohnschandigarh.com
Phone: 0172-2792571

2. Carmel Convent School, Chandigarh

Score: 789/1,000

Aims at 5 Cs: competence, conscience, compassion, conviction, commitment. All-girls school run by Congregation of Sisters of the Apostolic Carmel

Affiliated to: CBSE
Entry-level seats: 120
Entry-level fee: `15,000
Website: carmelconvent.org
Phone: 0172-2740891

3. Sacred Heart Sr Sec School, Chandigarh

The school was started in 1968. An all-girls institution run by Christian missionaries, has been a consistent performer; also offers Hindi medium.
Affiliated to: CBSE
Entry-level seats: 160
Entry-level fee: Rs 15,000
Website: sacredheartchd.com
Phone: 0172-2792297

4. Strawberry Fields High School, Chd

Score: 774/1,000

Established in 2004, under the aegis of the Durga Das Foundation, which has interests in education, culture and community development

Affiliated to: CISCE
Entry-level seats: 160
Entry-level fee: `1.15 lakh
Website: strawberryfieldshighschool.com
Phone: 0172-2795903

5. Bhavan Vidyalaya, Chandigarh

Score: 768/1,000

Founded in July 1983, it is part of a chain that has over 100 centres in India, and is dedicated to national character with international outlook

Affiliated to: CBSE
Entry-level seats: 100
Entry-level fee: `30,000
Website: bhavanchd.com
Phone: 0172-5041620, 2656955

6. Yadavindra Public School, SAS Nagar

Score: 765/1,000

Established in 1979, was first in tricity to have boarding facility. The school has grown in sports and innovative teaching with 40 smart classrooms
Affiliated to: CISCE
Entry-level seats: 60
Entry-level fee: Rs 66,000-Rs 1.25 lakh
Website: ypschd.com
Phone: 0172-2232850

7. Vivek High School, Chandigarh

Score: 759/1,000

Established on April 4, 1984, it is run under the Bhagwant Singh Charitable Trust, which has been in existence since 1974. It is a co-ed institution

Affiliated to: CBSE
Entry-level seats: 90
Entry-level fee: `38,000
Website: vivekhighschool.in
Phone: 0172-2698988

7. Delhi Public School, Chandigarh*

Score: 759/1,000

Established in 2003, follows pattern of other DPSes, over 150 in India, the largest number in a chain compared to any other in India and abroad
Affiliated to: CBSE
Entry-level seats: 150
Entry-level fee: `22,000
Website: dpschd.com
Phone: 0172-2690911

9. Bhavan Vidyalaya, Panchkula

Score: 757/1,000

Established in 1994, the school has been producing toppers consistently. 50% seats are reserved for girls; and it has smart classrooms
Affiliated to: CBSE
Entry-level seats: 140
Entry-level fee: `32,000
Website: bhavanpanchkula.in
Phone: 0172-2592509

10. The Gurukul, Panchkula

Score: 756/1,000

Established in 2001, it is known for being technology-driven. It has a robotics lab, gives international exposure, and has Wi-Fi campus
Affiliated to: CBSE
Entry-level seats: 50
Entry-level fee: `60,000
Website: thegurukul.in
Phone: 98766-12300

10. St Kabir Public School, Chandigarh

Score: 756/1000

A co-education school that was established in 1974, it is run by the Kabir Educational Society, Chandigarh
Affiliated to: CBSE
Entry-level seats: 90
Entry-level fee: `25,000
Website: stkabir.co.in
Phone: 0172-2791459