SPRAWLED OVER 25 VERDANT ACRES IN the heart of Lutyens Delhi, the CBSE-affiliated Modern School, Barakhamba Road (MSBR, estb.1920) has enhanced its reputation as the national capital’s pioneer day-cum-boarding school over the past 95 years. In the Education World India School Rankings 2014, this high-profile school venerated by the Delhi establishment, is ranked #4 all-India and #2 in Delhi in the category of day-cum-boarding schools.
Promoted in 1920 with an enrolment of six children, the co-educational MSBR currently has 2,560 class VI-XII students including 850 girl students and 100 boarders instructed by 125 teachers, on its muster rolls. The school’s feeder primary (K-class V) on Humayun Road was inaugurated in 1961 and boasts 1,700 students mentored by 65 teachers. Moreover in 1975, in response to demands of the rapidly expanding population of the national capital and growing reputation of MSBR, a full-fledged K-12 affiliated school was established in Vasant Vihar which currently has an enrolment of 2,200 students and 100 teachers. Another branch (K-X) in Kundli, Sonepat admitted its first batch of students last academic year.
The school’s campus has sprouted numerous buildings. Currently its expansive campus distinguished by its red brick main block and sub-divided into neatly laid out hockey and football grounds, offers contemporary academic, co-curricular and sports infrastructure. They include 47 IT-enabled Smart classrooms, science, math and language laboratories, computer resource centres, two libraries hosting 20,000 print volumes and journal subscriptions, an audio-visual room and CD library.
Sports facilities include an Olympic-size swimming pool; six tennis and basketball courts; a gymnasium with table tennis room; squash courts; a 400 metre athletics track and large hockey, football and cricket grounds. Moreover, to realize the best potential of its students, the school offers a full complement of co-curricular activities including dance, music (vocal and instrumental), art, Batik, sculpture, ceramics, woodwork, photography, and paper technology. Last November a science park was inaugurated. Unsurprisingly, MSBR was ranked #1 all-India on the parameters of co-curricular and sports education in the EW India School Rankings 2014.