JB Petit High School for Girls, Mumbai

Ranked India’s #1 all-girls day school in the EW India School Rankings 2016, JBPHSG has acquired a formidable reputation for empowering girl children  DIPTA JOSHI

One of the oldest all-girls education institutions in the country, the JB Petit High School for Girls, Mumbai (JBPHSG, estb.1860) has acquired a formidable reputation for offering high quality academic and extra-curricular education to girl children in a contemporary and empowering learning environment. In the latest EducationWorld India School Rankings 2016, JBPHSG is ranked India’s #1 all-girls day school. Moreover, this K-X school is also ranked among the country’s Top 10 CISCE-affiliated schools in terms of students’ average score in the class X ICSE board exam 2016 (92.7 percent). Currently, JB Petit has an enrolment of 917 students mentored by 65 teachers.

“Our mission is empowerment of girl children through education and opportunity. Therefore, we provide an environment of creativity, freedom and joyous learning in which our students articulate their views fearlessly and develop the courage of their convictions,” says Benaifer P. Kutar, an alumna of Mumbai University, who signed up as a primary teacher in 1995 and was appointed principal of JBPHSG in 2010.

Sited in south Mumbai’s downtown Fort area, the school’s original three-storeyed edifice with its Gothic gargoyles, gracefully sculpted arches, pillars, staircases and an eagle atop the pediment, is a Grade II A heritage structure certified by the Maharashtra government. In 1938 and again in 1960, new academic wings were added and currently, the school’s built-up area of 2,687 sq metres offers modern classrooms, laboratories and art/crafts rooms, a multipurpose sports square and gymnasium.

Moreover, in response to growing demand for higher secondary classes, the school’s management is set to introduce the IB diploma programme of the Geneva-based International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO). Therefore, a major campus redevelopment project has been initiated.

This ‘JB Building Excellence’ redevelopment project was officially launched last March with renowned heritage and conservation architect Abha Narain Lambah appointed project consultant. The master plan and several heritage-related no-objection certificates and permissions for the project have been received by the school with Zia Mody — one of the country’s top lawyers and a trustee of the school — heading the project advisory committee. A major fund-raising campaign has also been launched to raise the estimated Rs.25 crore project cost.

“Project Building Excellence is expected to be completed by 2018-19 and the new block will be named the Shirin Darasha Memorial Block, in memory of the school’s legendary principal, the late Shirin F. Darasha (1938-2012) who was at the helm from 1973-2007. Under her guidance and tutelage, JB Petit transformed into a centre for academic and co-curricular education excellence and the country’s premier all-girls day school,” says Kutar, in a generous tribute to her predecessor.

Inevitably, this vintage girls school has an interesting history. It was promoted in 1860 by a Miss Prescott, and was originally known as Miss Prescott’s Fort Christian School. Subsequently in 1878, it was renamed the Frere Fletcher School until 1915, when Jehangir Bomanji Petit, a well-known businessman, acquired the school. Since then, the Petit family has been actively involved in its administration. The school’s high-profile board of trustees includes Sir Dinshaw Petit, Homa Petit, Dr. Sam Sethna, Meher Dadabhoy and Yezdi Malegam — the oldest and most active among the trustees.

According to Kutar, the school’s core educational philosophy is to develop independent thinking skills, self-expression, social consciousness and global perspectives within girl children in a conducive learning environment. “The programmes for developing these skills and values are woven into the curriculum and the fabric of school life. Our teachers, some of whom have been with us for over 25-30 years, have full freedom to employ innovative pedagogies to ensure students’ all-round development,” she says.

Unsurprisingly, the JB Petit management accords great importance to co-curricular and sports education. Several sports such as badminton, basketball, football, gymnastics, and throwball are offered in school with provision made for many out-of-school activities such as skating, rock climbing, and aqua sailing. Drama, debate, music and art and crafts are also integral to the curriculum. Moreover, the school’s students excel in Model United Nations (MUN) debates.

With the ambitious JB Building Excellence campus development programme launched to upgrade infrastructure and facilities, Kutar is confident of the school receiving alumni and community support. “Under the master plan, the primary school complex will be demolished and replaced with a new five storey, state-of-the-art academic block, even as we preserve the heritage facade. This bold new venture has the support of the local community and we are hopeful of raising funds with the help of our alumni and corporate well-wishers. The future is exciting as we look forward to inaugurating our new campus and introducing the IB diploma programme within three years,” says Kutar.