The Sri Sankara Schools have been an example of The Sanmar Group's quiet but significant work in education for over three decades. The two schools have produced outstanding students both in academic excellence and co-curricular and extra curricular activities year after year. The Sankara Schools can take pride in moulding young and talented students into responsible citizens of India. The accent at the Schools is invariably on holistic learning, moral and spiritual value, discipline and character.
Out of the 573 students appearing in Tamil Nadu's Class XII Biochemistry exams, all three toppers hail from Sri Sankara Vidyashramam Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Tiruvanmiyur. The course was introduced nine years ago and the school incorporated it into their curriculum eight years ago.
G Vishali 197/200
Vishal Srinivas 196/200
R Varsha 195/200
Sri Sankara Schools -- Sri Sankara Senior Secondary School, Adyar, and Sri Sankara Vidyashramam, Tiruvanmiyur -- symbolise the ideals of education expressed in our scriptures and literature. Building discipline and character, encouraging the appreciation of our cultural heritage, cultivation of genuine devotion to God, and respect to the guru, parents and elders are quintessential to the school. Sanskrit, the repository of Indian culture, is given a special status in these schools.
The Schools at Adyar and Tiruvanmiyur launched by His Holiness the Sankaracharya of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham in 1970 and 1989, were established by the Indian Education Trust. Former President of India Late R Venkataraman was a patron of the schools from 1977. Late PR Pattabiraman, the first General Secretary, was responsible for finalising the purchase of the land and building, erstwhile Vasantha Press in Adyar from The Theosophical Society. He was instrumental in guiding the affairs of the school during its formative years.
Seated (l to r): VS Dhandapani, Janaki Venkataraman, Tamil Nadu Governor PC Alexander and President of India R Venkataraman, while KS Narayanan , Chairman Emeritus, Chemplast Sanmar, addresses the gathering, during the inauguration of Sri Sankara School's new block (1988).
KS Narayanan, the late Chairman Emeritus of The Sanmar Group, became the Chairman of the Board of Indian Education Trust in 1981. The late VS Dhandapani was its Managing Trustee for nearly 23 years. N Sankar, Chairman, The Sanmar Group, is the present Chairman and N Kumar, Vice Chairman, The Sanmar Group, the Managing Trustee of the Trust which continues to manage the schools.
From humble beginnings, the schools have come a long way since inception growing both in stature and status.
Sri Sankara Senior Secondary School, Adyar
Located amidst sylvan and serene surroundings, the Sri Sankara Senior Secondary School is a co-educational institution with a strength of 2075 students and is affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi. The school has classes from kindergarten to Std. XII.
With its interactive classrooms and mathematics laboratory with technological support from NIIT, the school won the International School Award from the British Council in 2006 and again in 2010. The school achieved the ISO 9001:2008 accreditation in January 2008.
The school conducts several programmes in collaboration with Rotary International, the British Council, the Indian School Debating Society, INTACH and The Energy and Resources Institute. Apart from these, the NCC girls' wing, the Young Indian Net, the Model United Nations programmes and the Mock-parliament are special features of the school which contribute to the overall personality development of the students.
Consistently producing excellent results, the school is one of the first schools in the city to offer Biotechnology as a subject at the plus two level.
On 28 May 2013, students of Sri Sankara Senior Secondary School, Adyar, participated in a 50 minute concert in the Bala Bhakthi Thiruvizha, which was held in Narada Gana Sabha. The school was one among the top three selected to perform on Vijay TV in May this year. The school hosts Thyagaraja Aradhana every year in the months of January / February. |
Sri Sankara Vidyashramam Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Tiruvanmiyur
The school which started on a low key profile with 13 teachers and 315 students, now has a student strength of 2205 with 85 teachers. With 85 well ventilated classrooms, the school has come a long way from its humble beginnings in 1989. The School has classes from LKG to Std XII. The School follows the Matriculation pattern of Tamil Nadu.
The School has excellent infrastructural facilities including Science laboratories, the English Language Lab, and a well equipped computer centre an integral part of the school curriculum, as life- oriented education.
The School has a number of clubs for the students at the Primary, Middle, High School and Higher Secondary levels. A plethora of activities like guest lectures, quiz competitions, field trips etc., are organised exposing the students to a wide variety of experiences. Cambridge Young Learners Test conducted by the British Council and partnership with schools in the UK, like The John Warner School are some notable activities.
Principal of Sri Sankara Secondary School Subala Ananthanarayanan (right) and Vice Principal S Meenakshi with Duncan Brett and Thomas Stead who teach French and Spanish in Hardenhuish School in the UK during their visit to the School.
Principal of Sri Sankara Vidyashramam, Kalpalatha Mohan (3rd from left) and Vice Principal Sai Geetha with the John Warner School team in Hertfordshire, UK.
The School has received several awards and accolades for its Interact Club and Parampara Heritage Club. Inter-house cultural and talent shows are organised to provide a platform for talented students, be it singing, dancing or playing musical instruments.