top schools noida

Hindustan Times - C fore Top Schools Survey

2012

top schoolsHINDUSTAN TIMES-C FORE SURVEY 2012

A guide

If a road takes too many turns, the best of us get lost. Welcome to Hindustan Times’e-book on Top School Survey 2012, the most credible reference guide on schools. This annual survey, our fourth, done in collaboration with the research agency C fore, is an extensively researched educational

product brought out every year that is conducted for Delhi and the National Capital Region with the objective of helping parents negotiate the maze-like, and somewhat confounding, process of choosing, applying and attempting to get their wards admitted to schools in the area.

The reports that accompany the Top Ten rankings are pub-lished in Hindustan Times. But what is exclusive to the e-book is the ranking of schools vis -vis each of the 14 parameters that we grade schools on. For the first time, we have provided an overall ranking for the region -- one that encompasses schools in all of the Delhi-NCR area: the six zones in Delhi and the adjoining cities of Gurgaon, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Noida.

Our Top Schools Survey has also focussed on various issues that affect our schools in the region, be it the new Right to Education law, the plight of government schools or the increasing threat of cyber bullying in schools.

That apart, our methodology, modified by our experience of four years, has been further sharpened to give you the best results. Of course, choosing a school for a child is ultimately the decision of parents and guardians and depends on a host of factors. Our aim in this endeavour is to provide you with well-researched qualitative as well as quantitative insights to make that task a bit easier.

In case you’ve missed the ongoing survey in Hindustan Times, log on to access the information on the e-book. And, as always, we would encourage you to let us know what you think of it. Your suggestions will help make our annual exercise more meaningful.

e for young parents

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Zehra kazmi■ [email protected]

When Soma Gupta moved to Noida in 1991 with her family, you could count the number of good schools on your fingers. Her two daughters studied at Delhi Public School, one of the big names in Noida education.

“There weren’t many big schools and people sent their kids to Delhi. Older schools came up as the township developed and prospered, hence they were in residential sectors,” said Gupta.

Today, the scenario is starkly different. Noida seems to be in the midst of a second wave of schools, especially in the last decade. Fuelled by demand from the increasing army of working professionals, these new schools dot the expressway and institutional areas. Even established names such as DPS, Noida and Somerville are opening new branches on the expressway.

“The availability and allotment of land around the institutional area is a big factor in schools coming up here. Gurgaon and Noida are developing, the occupancy in high rises is increasing and there is demand for new schools,” said Abha Adams, educa-tion advisor, Step by Step School.

This mix of old and new schools is reflected in the top 10 contenders of the Hindustan Times-C fore 2012 Top Schools Survey. Tried-and-tested names, such as Amity International, Delhi Public School and Apeejay School, among others, rub shoulders with the newer kids in town, such as Lotus Valley School, Kothari International and the Shriram Millennium School.

Step By Step School tops the charts with the high-est scores not only in the extra-curricular activities and innovation categories, but in parameters related to competence of teachers and their training and development as well.

Amity International maintains its edge in aca-demics, topping the parameter and coming over-all

second. Though the Delhi Public School, Noida, does not top any particular parameter, its consistent performance earns it the third slot. Apeejay School scores in the sports parameter, while Lotus Valley gets top billings in the infrastructure category and Somerville School is the most value for money.

Different schools are identified with different USPs, be it academics, progressive learning tech-niques or affiliations to reputed educational insti-tutions. Call it the curse of the plenty, but in the crowded marketplace of education, each school has to stand out to catch parents’ attention.

“Parents do a proper reconnaissance before admitting their child to a school. Some sit for hours, observing, while others look at Class 10th and 12th results or the activities offered,” said Sarita Madhok, principal, Mayoor School.

One can detect a marked shift in the kind of schools younger parents are looking at. For many, admission into an established school is still the Holy Grail, but others are leaning more towards ‘progressive’ schools: those that offer smaller class sizes, individual attention, and newer ways of learning.

Said Rita Kaul, principal, Millennium School: “When parents come for interviews, I let them ask the questions. I tell them that I can give your child knowledge, but I can’t guarantee any results. Parents already know that our school is different from others.”

Results. Though still powerful, that one-word epi-centre of school education is slowly being displaced. Parents are asking for, and schools are striving for, something more. The introduction of Comprehensive and Continuous Evaluation (CCE) is also aimed at assessing different types of learning.

“Schools have begun to focus on the need to teach skills and not only on textbook curriculum. Parents have started asking — will my child be happy in a particular school? Will it give her holistic educa-tion?” said Adams.

MORE SCHOOLS, MERRIER PARENTS

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SCHOOLS OF NOIDA

TOP10The 2012 Hindustan Times-C fore Top Schools Survey gave scores to each school across 14 different parameters, from academic rigour to sports. Here is a list of schools ranked in the Top Ten in Noida

Step by Step is known for its new approaches to learning, its professional development centre to upgrade skills of the faculty and its special needs educational facility. The school has aced the ‘extra-curricular activities’, ‘individual attention to students’, ‘life skills education’ and ‘innovative teaching’ parameters.

STEP BY STEP SCHOOL1

www.sbs-school.org 0120-2472300 R 1,75,550 per annum

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Located on a sprawling 15-acre campus, the school has topped the ‘academic rigour’ category yet again. The school also has enviable sports facilities and offers tennis and riding academies and a shooting range. It has the second-highest scores for the ‘extra-curricular activities’ and ‘value for money’ parameters.

AMITY INTERNATIONAL2

www.amity.edu 0120-4399000 Not available


Established in 1982, DPS Noida is known for its excellent academic record, its vast infrastructure and its commitment to co-curricular activities. It has the second-highest scores in the ‘competence of teachers’ and ‘social accountability’ categories, and stands third on the ‘academic rigour’ and ‘sports’ parameters.

DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL SECTOR 303

www.dpsnoida.org 0120-4509100 Not available

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APEEJAY SCHOOL4

Spread across 15 acres, the school has good infrastructure for sports, including cricket and football fields and basketball and badminton courts. Needless to say, Apeejay School has topped the ‘sports’ parameter. Equipped with a 1,200-seater auditorium, the school stands second in the ‘parental participation’ category.

www.apeejay.edu 0120-2515141/43 R 94,150 per annum


LOTUS VALLEY INTERNATIONAL 5

Spread over 12.5 acres, this school boasts of state-of-the-art infra-structure, including media centres and cafeterias for students. Unsurprisingly, it has topped on ‘infrastructure and facilities’ and ‘safety and hygiene’ parameters. The school has grown to a strength of 2,450 students in a short span of time.

www.lotusvalley.com 9910952227 R 1,51,200 per annum

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SOMERVILLE SCHOOL, SECTOR 226Started in 1987, the school focuses on academic excellence and value education. While it has topped the ‘value system’ and ‘value for money’ parameters, it has the second highest score in the ‘academic rigour’ category. With activities such as a popular annual music show, the school ensures that learning is fun.

www.somervillenoida.in 0120-2415050 R 48,000 per annum


VISHWA BHARTI SCHOOL7Set up in 1989, the school is spread over 6.64 acres which houses three auditoriums, a library stocked with 25,000 books and smart classrooms. With its emphasis on Indian values and community service, the school has the second-highest scores in the ‘value system’ and ‘parental participation’ categories.

www.vbpsnoida.com 0120-2455142 R 46,050 per annum

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KOTHARI INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL8Known for its impressive infrastructure, the school follows innova-tive teaching techniques such as providing a dedicated ‘Swadhaya period’ for self-learning and finishing assignments and the con-cept of a bag-less school. It is ranked second on the ‘individual attention to students’ and ‘safety and hygiene’ parameters.

www.kotharischool.edu.in 0120 - 4082430 R 1,45,800 per annum


SHRIRAM MILLENNIUM SCHOOL9

A joint enterprise between the promoters of the Shriram group of schools and Educomp, the school has started initiatives such as writer’s workshops, ‘show and tell’ and ‘circle time’ where students can discuss ideas. Fittingly, the school ranks second in the ‘innova-tive teaching’ and ‘parental participation’ categories.

www.tsmschools.com 9999176666 R 1,72, 504 per annum

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BAL BHARTI SCHOOL10

Activities under the astronomy, robotics and environment clubs make the school interesting. The Interact club is involved in vari-ous outreach activities, earning the school the top rank on the ‘social accountability’ parameter. It has also performed well in the ‘value for money’ and ‘innovative teaching’ categories.

www.bbpsnoida.com 0120 - 2538533 R 37,500 per annum


CAMBRIDGE SCHOOLOne of Noida’s oldest schools, it is known for its excellent record in academics, extra-curricular activities and sports. The school has separate junior and senior campuses. The senior campus has vast fields, well-stocked laboratories and libraries and a dedicated counselling centre to help students.

KHAITAN PUBLIC SCHOOLThe school promotes parental participation through regu-lar parent-teacher meetings and a web portal that lists school activities. A centralised database keeps a record of every aspect of school life. The school has two computer-ised libraries and has tied-up with the Peninsular Sports academy for tennis and cricket training.

GENESIS GLOBAL SCHOOLSpread over a 30-acre campus, the school provides board-ing facilities for students. Parents can also opt for the extended day boarding programme until 6 pm. The school has collaborations with Clifton College, UK, and L’Ermitage International School of France and regularly organises exchange tours.

MAYOOR SCHOOLSet up in 2003 in collaboration with the General Council of Mayo College, Ajmer, the school has a horse-riding range, an amphitheatre and a swimming plaza. It has provided a learning and resource centre for its students, and has tied-up with FIITJEE to provide coaching to students.

MILLENNIUM SCHOOLBased on the Millennium Learning System evolved by Educomp, the school lays focus on different ways of learn-ing. Classrooms fitted with smartboards encourage audio-visual learning. Known for its commitment to special needs students, it is all set to open a senior wing soon.

TOO MAKE THE GRADE...

THEYThey may not have made it to the Top Ten, but they hold as much promise as their crowned counter-parts. Here is a list of other good options:

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Nursery fee figures, provided to HT by the schools, are approximate. They include annual fee and development charges (transport fee is variable). For the total fee amount, please contact the schools.* These schools did not participate in the survey. Their scores are based on the perceptual survey conducted among parents and teachers as mentioned in the methodology.DISCLAIMER :The survey data is a copyright of HT Media Limited, any use of this survey data would lead to infringement of their copyright and may result in legal action against the Infringer.

PARAMETER-WISE RANKING OF NOIDA SCHOOLS

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1 Step by Step School 1 1 5 1 2 1 1 3 1 2 7 1 2 7

2 Amity International 3 3 1 2 6 5 8 4 2 5 5 5 4 2

3 Delhi Public School 2 2 3 3 3 8 4 7 7 10 2 10 3 3

4 Apeejay School 4 10 4 7 1 9 6 4 9 7 6 2 6 4

4 Lotus Valley School 10 7 10 4 3 3 8 6 3 1 9 7 1 7

6 Somerville School 4 5 2 10 10 6 5 1 4 8 4 9 8 1

7 Vishwa Bharti Shool 6 9 7 7 8 7 8 2 8 5 3 2 9 5

8 Kothari International School 7 6 9 6 5 2 3 10 10 2 8 5 4 9

9 Shriram Millenium School 9 4 8 4 9 4 2 8 4 4 9 2 6 10

10 Bal Bharti 8 7 5 9 6 10 4 9 6 9 1 8 10 5

The survey was conducted in three phases.In the first phase, schools in

Noida,Gurgaon, Faridabad and Ghaziabad were invited to provide information

on academic and non- academic facilities, performance of students, profile of

teachers etc. Sifting through this, research agency C fore shortlisted schools

for the second round, in which a perceptual survey was carried out with a

sample of about 500 parents and teachers in each city. They were asked to

assess schools that they were aware of on a scale of 10 against various

parameters. The parameters of the survey this year were finalised after taking

feedback from educationists, teachers and parents. Results of the perceptual

survey were combined with objective data from the first round to rank schools.

In the third round, C fore researchers visited the schools to conduct an audit

and finalise rankings. Perceptual data scores were extrapolated for schools

whose objective data was not available

METHODOLOGY

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