Indian High School Still Outstanding for Parents

Probably the biggest bit of news in the Knowledge and Human Development Authority’s 2018 inspection reports for Indian curriculum schools has been that the Indian High School, which has been consistently been rated ‘Outstanding’ for the last 6 years, dipped to ‘Very Good’ this year.

A reading of the school's latest report suggests that the dip in the ratings is due to teacher assessments and lack of curriculum modification.

According to the inspection report the teaching and the use of assessment are generally better in the secondary phase than in the middle phase. Some teachers have the same expectation for all students regardless of ability and do not assess students’ progress during lessons and over time. The curriculum is not always appropriately modified, particularly in the middle phase, to meet the needs of students with additional needs.

Other areas which have shown a weakening over the last year, falling to a still very creditable ‘Very Good’ are the attention given to the protection of students, and the quality of care, guidance and support. Both were rated outstanding  in the previous inspection. Support for students with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is effective in the Learning Centre but not consistently effective in other classes.

However, while the ratings are an important factor for the school and parents, it’s often not the key consideration for keeping a child in school, or enrolling him or her in the first place..

The Indian High School may have dipped in its KHDA rating but parents we spoke to are looking beyond the ratings, certainly the overall headline rating.

Chirantan Joshi, father of a Grade 9 student at IHS told WhichSchoolAdvisor.com:

“Our life did not change when the school was on its journey from Good to Very Good to Outstanding and even if the journey has reversed, it doesn’t matter. We were neither excited when it became Outstanding nor we are sad when it's Very Good. What matters to us is that our son is learning.”

A mother of a Grade 1 student at IHS agreed. “Once you have put your child in a school, you don’t check the ratings regularly if you are happy with the quality of learning you are getting.”

While she’s happy with the academic level, she hopes for continued improvement in recreational activities or “having at least one lesson/period that’s art, music, and sports based a day”.

Rashmi Moondra, whose daughter is in KG1 believes that KHDA report gives a great guideline to parents while looking at schools and the subjects taught.

“I don’t think parents should be worried about rating going down as the school has a proven track record of more than 25 years to prove itself. It has experienced teachers who look out for its students.”

She further added that the fee also plays an important role in school quality.

“The best part about the school is that there are no hidden costs, and books and uniform are very economical. It's excellent value for money..."

One theme we noticed when speaking to parents is that teaching at the school is perceived to be "a bit traditional". This however is not considered something necessarily negative. Projects given are also deemed “simple and age appropriate”.

“ This school is exactly what I was looking for. This is our second year and the teachers went out of their way to make sure that my son could adjust to the curriculum. The school has stood by us to encourage our son and help him cope with the change."

So said the mother of Mitrang Gupta, a Grade 10 student who came from a GCSE school to HIS and is now in his second year at the school.

Priyanka Gupta told us she is very satisfied with the school and the slip in the KHDA ratings doesn’t matter.

“The teachers at HIS are highly trained and experienced, we are happy with the teachers’ devotion. When you are putting your child in a CBSE school, you want that traditional teaching method and this school is the perfect example of that,” she added.

Priyanka further said that the school is giving much more than the fee they pay.

“IHS gives us three times of what we pay. It goes out of its way to keep academic standards up. In Grade 10, my son hasn’t need extra tuition or classes, and that speaks volumes for his teachers. They take extra lessons even on Fridays for students who need help. What more can we ask for!"