Latest news with #CampionSchool
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
All-boys elite Campion School opens its doors to girls from this academic year
MUMBAI All-boys elite Campion School opens its doors to girls from this academic year One of Mumbai's prominent institutions, Campion School in Cooperage, began a new chapter in its 82-year-old history on Monday when it opened its doors to girl students for the first time. The iconic all-boys school is now a co-educational institution, and its fresh batch of Nursery and Junior Kindergarten students this year include both boys and girls. The move marks a significant cultural shift for the ICSE-affiliated school, which also adopted the Cambridge International Education board, this year. 'This isn't just a policy change, it's a cultural evolution,' said the school's principal, Sarah Thomas. 'We believe that starting co-education from the early years fosters empathy, collaboration and mutual respect -- values that are essential today.' This year, the school admitted 30 students in Nursery and 48 in Junior KG. As the new students took a walk inside the school, they were joined by special guests Prashant Narnaware, secretary to the governor of Maharashtra, and deputy commissioner of police Ragasudha R. The school has been preparing for this shift over the past few years, with the management board evaluating how best to make Campion an inclusive institution, relevant to the changing times. 'Men and women work together; so it is important to give them an early start to intermingle through schools, so that they can adapt to each other. Many families have children of both genders, who can now come to school together,' said a member of the management. To support the change, the school has introduced a readiness plan. This includes infrastructure upgrades such as secure and separate washrooms, gender-neutral classroom layouts, including more female staff, and sensitization workshops for students, parents and teachers. Robust anti-bullying policies and ongoing emotional support are also part of the framework to ensure a smooth transition. 'Your daughters are not just welcome, they are celebrated,' said Reshma Sheldekar, the school's Cambridge Early Years Co-ordinator. 'We are committed to offering them a safe, inspiring and empowering environment where they can learn, lead and thrive.' Principal Thomas added: 'All our teachers have shown enthusiasm for the change. The need for co-education was necessary.' Thomas also said that parents were engaged through the decision-making process, participating in open forums and orientation sessions. Their input helped shape many of the school's plans, building trust and ensuring transparency. Expressing support for the move, Dhiraj Mehra, a member of Old Campionites' Association, an alumni group, said: 'We are proud to see Campion evolve while staying true to its values. The inclusion of girls enriches the Campion community.' Father John Rose, chairperson of the school's management called it a 'historic beginning that reaffirms Campion's commitment to progress, equality, and holistic learning. The girls of Campion are here to shine.'
Indian Express
a day ago
- General
- Indian Express
Mumbai: In a first, Campion School opens doors for girl students
For the first time since it was founded in 1943, Campion School in Mumbai, which has been well-known as a premier all-boys institution opened its doors to girl students on Monday. Starting with Nursery and Junior Kindergarten (KG), the popular South Bombay school began the transition from an all-boys to a co-educational institution from this academic year, which commenced on Monday. A total of 38 girls have taken admission to Campion school in these two classes, as the school plans to follow a 50-50 ratio of boys and girls for admissions. The day was marked by a joyful ceremonial welcome for young girls by school staff along with two reputed government officials as guests — Prashant Narnaware, secretary, Governor of Maharashtra and Ragasudha R, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mumbai. Fr. John Rose, chairperson of the school management, said, 'This is a historic beginning, one that reaffirms Campion's commitment to progress, equality, and holistic learning.' As per information shared by the school's management, to ensure a smooth and sensitive transition to a co-educational environment, Campion has undertaken a comprehensive readiness plan that includes infrastructure enhancements such as secure, separate washrooms and privacy-conscious facilities; recruitment of female educators, counselors, and support staff; gender-neutral classroom design and mixed-seating arrangements. The school has also modified its anthem and other prayers to replace words such as boys and sons with more inclusive words, to welcome girls. As Campion school welcomed its first batch of girls, the school which is historically led by male principals, particularly Jesuit priests will now be headed by Sarah Justin Thomas, a woman principal. 'It is very exciting to be in this space at this moment, which marks a historical milestone with girls entering an all-boys school for the first time. I am looking forward to working with the Campion community which is extremely adaptive and committed to this transition along with preparing our students for the real world,' she said. Campion has also begun adoption of the Cambridge Early Years Curriculum, which will start with these two classes.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Ratan Tata didn't like chemistry as a student: Here's what Campion, Cornell and Harvard taught him
Before he became the face of one of India's most respected business empires, Ratan Naval Tata was just a quiet, reserved boy walking home from school — trying not to be noticed. His early education was shaped not just by textbooks and tuition, but by personal embarrassment, subtle rebellion, and a grandmother's silent strength. The steel in Tata's character wasn't forged in boardrooms — it began much earlier, in classrooms that taught him far more than arithmetic or science. These glimpses come alive in The Story of Tata: 1868 to 2021 by Peter Casey — a revealing biography that doesn't just track corporate milestones, but peels back layers of the man who carried the Tata legacy with dignity, restraint and heart. Ratan Tata in Campion School, Mumbai Tata's earliest memories of school weren't about exam stress or favourite teachers. They were about shame. At Campion School in Mumbai, where he studied until the 9th grade, Tata was dropped off in a 'huge antiquated Rolls-Royce' — a relic of his family's wealth. Most children would have flaunted the ride. Ratan chose to walk. 'We used to be so ashamed of that car that we used to walk back home,' he recalls in The Story of Tata . by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Đây có thể là thời điểm tốt nhất để giao dịch vàng trong 5 năm qua IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo 'Eventually we asked the chauffeur to drop us a block away from the school gate.' This was a boy being shaped by embarrassment — not from poverty, but privilege. Tata wasn't running from lack; he was distancing himself from show-off. Physics over chemistry: A curious mind at Campion Even as a schoolboy at Campion, Tata wasn't drawn to academic glory — but he was drawn to ideas. In The Story of Tata , he recalls a quiet fondness for physics, not chemistry. 'I liked physics a lot,' he said, 'but not chemistry.' For Tata, physics invited big questions — about energy, space, and time. Chemistry, by contrast, felt mechanical — a subject that 'just mixed things.' It was this early gravitation towards abstract reasoning over rote reaction that hinted at the mind he was developing — one that preferred systems over shortcuts, and imagination over mere information. Even before design or leadership entered his world, the young Tata was already choosing thought over formula. Ratan Tata's days in Cathedral & John Connon School: Drudgery as discipline After Campion, Tata was forced to shift schools — Campion didn't offer classes beyond a certain level. At Cathedral & John Connon, the grind only deepened. Tuitions were mandatory. Days felt mechanical. 'Life was quite a drudgery... Each one of them [schools] was terrible when you were there, questionable when you got out, and later became something that you really cherished,' Tata has been quoted saying in a media interview. It wasn't a romanticised childhood. No soaring school speeches, no leadership badges. Just long hours, forced classes, and the seeds of mental endurance being quietly sown. Bishop Cotton, Shimla and Riverdale, NYC: The escape and the freedom Tata's schooling journey next took him to Bishop Cotton School in Shimla — one of the country's oldest boarding schools. Away from Mumbai's social whisperings and family tensions, Tata found some breathing space. Later, he moved to Riverdale Country School in New York City, from where he graduated in 1955. The move was liberating — finally, anonymity. A chance to just be. Ratan Tata's stint at Cornell University : From engineering to architecture In 1955, Ratan Tata entered Cornell University, aiming for mechanical engineering. But a year in, he quietly switched to architecture — a decision that enraged his father, Naval Tata. 'My father didn't speak to me for years after that,' he once revealed. But Ratan stood his ground. He graduated in 1962 with a Bachelor's in Architecture — a degree that shaped his design sensibilities and later, Tata's aesthetic finesse in products like the Indica and the Nano. At Cornell, he joined the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity and immersed himself in structural creativity. This was where form met function. The businessman was still far away — but the builder was being born. Harvard Business School : The final polish Years after Cornell, and well into his professional journey, Ratan Tata returned to academia — this time not for a degree, but perspective. In 1975, he enrolled in the Advanced Management Program (AMP) at Harvard Business School, a nine-week executive program designed for high-level professionals. It wasn't about climbing the ladder; it was about sharpening the mind for decisions that shaped empires. In The Story of Tata , it's revealed that Tata paid for the program himself, even though he was already a senior figure in the Tata Group . That gesture — quiet, almost unnecessary — spoke volumes. He wasn't chasing titles. He was chasing better questions. TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here . Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
