Overview
Founded in 1865, Bishop Cotton Girls' School, Bangalore offers mainstream holistic education combining time-tested traditions with academic rigour and contemporary pedagogies. Started as a co-educational school by the Rev. S.T. Pettigrew then chaplain of the imposing St. Mark’s Cathedral, this archetype British public school was named after the then Bishop of Calcutta Rt. Rev. George Edward Lynch Cotton, who mooted the idea of building a chain of quality public schools across the country. In 1911, the girls’ section was separated from the co-ed school and a sprawling edifice as built on thickly eight-ace acres of land within walking distance of the boys’ school (Bishop Cotton Boys School).
Sited on a verdant, leafy eight acre campus in the heart of city, the school boasts distinguished alumnae including strong, can-do women such as Kiran Mazumdar, promoter-chairman of Biocon India; the formidable Jayalalithaa, chief minister of Tamil Nadu; national snooker and billiards champion Farah Khan among others.
The school is affiliated with the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) and offers education from kindergarten to class XII.
Campus
The school has two computer labs equipped with the latest computers with internet access. The student computer ratio is 2:1. The school claims to be the first girls’ school in the country to have a computer lab with slide and overhead projectors, sound and video systems, networked computers, integrating sound, animation, text, graphics and images. The school has a Lyceum Resource Centre to train teachers to use devices like pocket PCs, mobile phone interface, smart cards, e-books and handwriting and voice recognition software.
The library has a collection of 30,000 books, 10 computers with internet connectivity and can seat 300 students. The 800-seat auditorium has a large stage with a green room, LCD projector, piano, state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems. The school’s cafeteria serves a variety of food and can accommodate more than 250 students.
The sports infrastructure includes an indoor swimming pool and a 7-stage multi-gym. Students are trained in swimming, tennis, basketball, hockey, cricket, aerobics, karate and athletics.
Accomodation
The school has a hostel facility for 150 students. The hostel has a hygienic kitchen and large dining hall that serves both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food. A resident nurse is available 24 hours. Boarders are allowed supervised access to internet and satellite TV.
Academics
The school follows a child-centric teaching methodology and provides a platform for self-learning and development through supervision for slow learners. There is continuous assessment and interaction between parents and teachers.
Bishop Cotton Girls School has extracurricular activities such as sports, debates, creative writing, dramatics, declamation, verse speaking and choir. Art is an optional subject at the ICSE and ISC levels. Courses include drawing, painting, sculpture, textiles and fashion design.
Guides and Bulbuls, N.C.C., Students Association for Fire Education are the uniformed services offered to students. The school was the first to set up a Girl Guide unit in Karnataka. The NCC unit of the school is attached to the junior wing of First Karnataka Girls Battalion.
Admission
Fresh admissions are normally made only to Lower Kindergarten and Standard XI.
Admission in Lower Kindergarten
Local newspapers or on the school notice board carry announcements regarding issue of applications forms between the last week of January and the first week of February.
Students admitted to Lower Kindergarten should be four years old as on June 1, of the academic year in which admission is sought.
Admission in class XI
Application forms for admission to Class XI are issued after the Class X ICSE results are announced. The basic qualifications for admissions to Class XI is a Class X pass certificate from ICSE, CBSE or an equivalent exam approved by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations, New Delhi.
Admissions are conducted in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Board.
For children transferring from schools outside Karnataka, the transfer certificate must be countersigned by the educational authority from the other state. Students born outside India must submit the PIO or PR at the time of admission. Those belonging to the Anglo-Indian community must produce the relevant community certificate.
Achievements
The school has been awarded the International School award by the British Council.