An innovation introduced at the EducationWorld India School Rankings Awards 2016 was the presentation of the inaugural EducationWorld Grand Jury Awards 2016 instituted to felicitate low-profile and/or emerging schools which have introduced best 21st-century practices in primary-secondary education. To shortlist and select low-profile and/or newly-promoted progressive schools countrywide, we invited nominations from educationists, individuals and schools themselves supported by evidence of best practices in ten categories such as Green Schools, STEM Education Excellence, New Technologies Usage, Campus Architecture and Design and Communications Excellence, among others.

Duly evidence-supported nominations were received for 500 schools countrywide. To assess the evidence and rank nominated schools in each category, a Grand Jury comprising eminent educationists including Rohit Mohindra (Raj Mohindra Consultants, Mumbai), Jawahar Surisetti (Delhi-based education consultant and advisor), Divya Arora (American Field Services, Delhi), Dr. Niren Suchanti (Pressman Advertising Ltd, Mumbai), Dr. Shayama Chona (Tamana, School of Hope, Delhi) and the Hyderabad-based Jaideep Gupta (Univariety Pvt. Ltd) was constituted. The Grand Jury duly assessed the nominations and supportive evidence and ranked the Top 10 schools in each category. Of them 3 were conferred awards at the EW India School Rankings Awards 2016 function on September 23-24. The complete EW Grand Jury Rankings 2016 will be published in our Anniversary issue (November). Meanwhile for the Top 10 rankings visit www.educationworld.in.

Green Schools

Schools were judged for constructing and maintaining environment-friendly campuses and practising environmentally responsible and resource-efficient processes and providing sustainability education.

1 Pathways School, Gurgaon
2 Miles Bronson Residential School, Guwahati
3 Sanjay Ghodawat International School, Kolhapur

STEM Education Excellence

These awards are for schools delivering innovative science, technology, engineering and mathematics education through experiential pedagogies.

1 TVS Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Madurai
2 Ganges Valley School, Hyderabad  
3 Kaanger Valley Academy, Raipur

Community Outreach

Schools were assessed for encouraging student-led community service projects, either in school-sponsored, regional or international community projects.

1 Fazlani L’Academie Globale, Mumbai
2 DCM Presidency School, Ludhiana
3 Sri Sri Academy, Kolkata

Communications Excellence

Schools that have developed and implemented well-planned communication programmes to connect with various publics including parents, media and local communities were awarded.

1 Oakridge International School, Bachupally campus, Hyderabad
2 Salwan Public School, Rajinder Nagar, Delhi
3 NL Dalmia School, Mumbai

New Technologies Usage

The Top 3 schools which integrate cutting-edge technology in their curriculums and teaching-learning:

1 Podar International School (IB & CIE), Mumbai
2 Gyanshree School, Noida
3 SVKM’s JV Parekh International School, Vile Parle, Mumbai
3 JBCN International School, Parel, Mumbai

Emerging High-potential Schools

These are low-profile or newly promoted schools that have demonstrated high-potential to quickly adopt and integrate 21st-century education best practices.

1 Doon International School, Riverside Campus, Dehradun
2 Delhi Public School, Gautam Budh Nagar, Noida
3 Bodhi International School, Jodhpur

Innovative Teaching

Several schools have demonstrated extraordinary capability to break away from rote learning, and introduce cognitive development and experiential education. The Top 3:

1 Amity International School, Mayur Vihar, Delhi
2 The Espee Global School, Roorkee
3 Mahatma Gandhi International, Ahmedabad

Extraordinary Leadership

These awards acknowledge extraordinary education leaders from among low-profile and newly emergent schools. The Top 5:

1 Udayachal High School, Mumbai
2 Atul Vidyalaya, Valsad
3 Children’s Academy, Ashok Nagar, Kandivali (East), Mumbai
3 Bombay Cambridge School, Andheri (East), Mumbai
4 L.K. Singhania Education Centre, Gotan, Rajasthan
5 RBK International Academy, Chembur, Mumbai

Career Counselling Leaders

Several progressive schools provide professional career counseling services to aid students to evaluate suitable university programmes based on their interests, aptitudes and intelligences.

1 Scottish High International School, Gurgaon
2 Jamnabai Narsee School, Mumbai
3 Symbiosis International School, Pune
3 Chennai Public School

Campus Architecture and Design

Schools with attractive and conducive campuses which enable children to learn joyfully and give of their best were awarded in this category.

1 Ascend International School, Mumbai
2 Lancers International School, Gurgaon
3 Fountainhead School, Surat
3 Nahar International School, Mumbai