Auckland House School
Auckland House School Crest
Location
Elysium Hill (Longwood), Shimla, Himachal Pradesh

India
Coordinates31°06′36″N 77°10′45″E / 31.1101099°N 77.1791204°E / 31.1101099; 77.1791204
Information
TypeConvent School
MottoLatin: Altiora Peto ("I seek the higher things")
Established1868 (1868)
FoundersLord Auckland
School district Shimla
PrincipalMrs. Sunita John
Houses
  • Matthew
  • French
  • Lefroy
  • Durrant
Colour(s)   Brown & Yellow (Girls)
   Brown & White (Boys)
AffiliationICSE
Websitewww.aucklandhouseschool.org
www.aucklandhouseschoolboys.com

Auckland House School is a co-educational school[1][2] in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India. It was founded by George Eden (Lord Auckland), Governor-General of India, in 1836. The school originally served 32 students. Lord Auckland sold the school in 1868; the local school board moved the institution to Lakkar Bazaar in 1869. Auckland was rated among India's top schools in a survey by Mainline Media[3] and The Pioneer awarded the school an A+++ rating based on a perception survey conducted amidst the public and academicians.[4] It is affiliated to ICSE. Today, the School is managed by The Church of North India (CNI).[5]

History

Auckland House School has an interesting history that dates back to 1836 when Lord Auckland, the Governor-General at the time, purchased the house. Later, when the Viceroys moved elsewhere, the school authorities bought the house in 1868. In 1864, Rev. J.B. D'Aquilar initiated the idea of establishing a school for girls to provide them with quality education based on Christian principles. The Church-related ladies group in Dalhousie gave shape to this idea, and the school was initially planned to be set up in Dharamshala. However, at the behest of the wife of George Edward Lynch Cotton, it was founded in Shimla in 1866 at Holly Lodge on Jakhu Hill and was known as 'The Punjab Girls School.' The school started with 32 students, and Mrs. Mackinnon was the Headmistress at the time. In 1904, Miss Strong from Cheltenham Ladies College became the Headmistress, and the school gained popularity, earning the name "The Cheltenham College of India."[6] In 1905, the school building suffered extensive damage during the Kangra earthquake, resulting in the Governors' decision to demolish it and build a new one on the same site. The construction of the new building began in December 1920 and was completed by January 1921. From 1908 to 1952, St Hilda's Society, Lahore, substantiated the school with principals and staff, during which time Indian girls started to be admitted. Students from various countries, including Thailand, Ethiopia, Turkey, Australia, and New Zealand, were enrolled at the newly built Auckland House, which resumed classes after the earthquake. In 1962, the School acquired the "Belvedere" estate, which is now the boys' campus, marking another milestone in its expansion.[7] Auckland House School provides education to the children of parents who work in various countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. It also accommodates children whose parents work in the Armed Forces or Central Government, offering them a consistent education through the 'boarding house' option. Over the years, the school has grown from a small institution with 32 students to one of the finest in India, boasting a strength of over 1400 students.[8]

House System

House System
House Name Named after Motto Colour Swatch
Matthew[9] Henry James Matthew Neque Deditionem
("No Surrender")		 Cardinal Red  
Lefroy[10] George Alfred Lefroy Ludere Ludum
("Play the Game")		 Byzantine Purple  
French[11] Thomas Valpy French Sed Perseverantia
("We Press On")		 Cadmium Green  
Durrant[12] Henry Bickersteth Durrant Hononem ante Honorem
("Honour before Honours")		 Yale Blue  

Each house at Auckland House School, named after a significant catholic figure, has its own color, motto, and crest. Students are assigned to a house when they join the school and participate in various inter-house competitions and events throughout the academic year. These competitions include sports, debates, music, drama, and other extracurricular activities. The students also take part in community service projects and other social initiatives under their respective house banners.

The house system is an integral part of the school's ethos and culture. The school also has a housemaster or housemistress for each house, who acts as a mentor and guide for the students.

References

  1. ↑ "Auckland House School". aucklandhouseschool.org. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  2. ↑ "About". www.aucklandhouseschoolboys.com. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  3. ↑ Makhaik, Ravinder (16 January 2013). "Auckland House School, Shimla in India's Top Rated Schools list". Hill Post. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
  4. ↑ Service, Tribune News. "In quest of a higher goal". Tribuneindia News Service. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  5. ↑ "Auckland House School". aucklandhouseschool.org. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  6. ↑ "Of Auckland House, its ghosts and women trailblazers". Hindustan Times. 15 October 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  7. ↑ Service, Tribune News. "In quest of a higher goal". Tribuneindia News Service. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  8. ↑ "Shimla's historic institutes stamp their mark". The Times of India. 26 March 2013. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  9. ↑ "MATTHEW HOUSE". www.aucklandhouseschool.org. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  10. ↑ "LEFROY HOUSE". www.aucklandhouseschool.org. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  11. ↑ "FRENCH HOUSE". www.aucklandhouseschool.org. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  12. ↑ "DURRANT HOUSE". www.aucklandhouseschool.org. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
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