These Are The 10 Best Oldest Schools In India

From the beautiful campuses to the immaculate reputation, there are plenty of reasons why you might want to study at one of the oldest schools in India. From ancient times, India has been a centre of education. It has given the world some of the oldest and prestigious institutions. They all have managed to combine their rich history and values with a commitment to high-quality education. Some of them are even more than 200 years old. Here is a list of the oldest schools in India:

St. George’s School, Chennai – 1715

It is the oldest school in the country. The school was founded in 1715 as the Military Male Orphan Asylum. It is committed to providing education to students with different backgrounds and cultures. The classroom block and the chapel are the part of the heritage structures of the city. Affiliated to the Anglo-Indian Board of Education, the school takes over 1500 children from NC to +2.

Bishop Heber Higher Secondary School, Trichy – 1762

It is a school of excellence worldwide. The school was developed by Lord Walsh. The school started as a center for soldier’s children by French. This was later changed into a missionary, to a hospital and then to a hospital.

St.Johns Vestry Anglo Indian School, Trichy – 1763

It was established by the British as an orphanage for British soldiers’ children. Later on, it was converted into a school. It gets the name vestry as the classes were held at the St’ John’s church’s vestry room. It also has boarding facilities. There is a separate building for Montessori facilities.

St. Thomas’ School, Kolkata – 1789

Located in Kidderpore, Kolkata, the school has the largest campus in Kolkata. It is also the home of St. Thomas’s College of Engineering & Technology. The motto of the school is- Nisi Dominus Frustra (Except the Lord, effort in vain). The students are called Thomasites and Thomasinas.

Hooghly Collegiate School – 1812

It is one of the oldest schools in West Bengal. The current building of the school was completed in 1956-57. The oldest building was owned by Hazi Mohammad Mohsin. There is a rumour that there is a secret passage running below the old building. The purpose of this is still unknown.

Christ Church School – 1815

Located in Mumbai, the school is under the Bombay Education Society. Barnes School in Deolaji is the twin school of Christ Church. It is affiliated to ICSE. It has a large campus. There is an average of 25 students in kindergarten and about 45 students in 10th. In 2008, a junior college was introduced with courses in science, commerce, and arts.

Hindu School, Kolkata – 1817

Located in Kolkata, it is a government-administered school. It was established on 20th January 1817. The school was founded by Raja Rammohan Roy, Baidyanath Mukhopadhyay, David Hare, Radhakanta Deb, Sir Edward Hyde East, and Rasamay Dutt. The school, affiliated to WBCHSE and WBBSE, has many notable alumni like Satyendra Nath Bose, Maghnad Saha, Satyendranath Tagore, Rajendralal Mitra, etc.

Hare School – 1818

It is an all-boys school. Affiliated to the West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education and West Bengal Board of Secondary Education, the school was founded by David Hare, a Scottish watchmaker. The original name of the school was Arpuli Pathshala. Later on, it was changed to Colootala Branch School. It was only in 1867 when the name Hare School was decided.

St. Paul’s School, Darjeeling – 1823

It is an all-boys boarding school. The school was founded by Archdeacon Corrie. Later, it was moved to its current location in 1864. At that time, it was the world’s highest school (7,600 ft. above sea level). It is also known as Eton of the East because it is the only Eton fives court existing outside England. The school is affiliated to ICSE till 10th and ISC for 11th and 12th.

Lycée français de Pondichéry – 1826

It is the oldest school of the Agency for French Education Abroad (AEFE) network. It is the first international school in India. The school has been committed to the history of the town. The syllabus is approved by the French Ministry of Education. The subjects are taught in English and Tamil. The school also prepares students for certifications in French (DALF and DELF) and English (IELTS).

Are you an alumni of any of these schools? Please leave a comment below.