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Ajay Singh
Principal
Hiring and keeping effective teachers, especially in heritage or non-metro campuses, continues to pose challenges. Keeping spread-out, heritage campuses adds to the financial and infrastructural burden. Competition from metro and international schools puts pressure to keep adapting, even when regulatory reforms at times conflict with unorthodox pedagogy. With these limitations, the industry balances offering holistic education with staying culturally rooted and internationally relevant.
What makes this challenge unique is The Scindia School, an amazing school that has always endeavored to mesh India’s rich heritage with contemporary education. “Learning at the school is all about cultivating curiosity and building character that endures long after the classroom”, says Ajay Singh, Principal, The Scindia School.
Its position atop the ancient Gwalior Fort offers a living classroom rich in history; on this 6th-century fort, the very walls once resonated with the names of Tatya Tope and the Rani of Jhansi during the First War of Independence. Amidst fort ramparts, ancient temples and centuries-old buildings, the school fosters a culture where learning is much more than textbooks alone, intertwining scholarship, leadership, and love of India’s ageless heritage.
In 2023, the Honorable Prime Minister visited as the Chief Guest, witnessing first-hand the impressive projects entirely executed by students. Recognized as the innovation ambassador to the school, this initiative underscores that it is a leader in innovation.
A Legacy of Learning & Leadership
Established in 1897 as The Sardar School by His Highness Maharaja Madhavrao Scindia I, was conceived at a critical juncture when colonial education was poised to overwhelm India’s ancient gurukuls, pathshalas, and madrasas. The Maharaja envisioned a school that would nurture future leaders capable of ushering in progressive governance, an institution that blended the best of modern education in science, mathematics, and English with India’s cultural heritage, ethical values, and spiritual depth.
In 1908, the school relocated to its current location on top of the ancient Gwalior Fort, a 1,500-year-old fortress that still enhances its academic setting. From classrooms, one can see sixthcentury stone-carved temples or the walls that previously saw the bravery of Rani of Jhansi and Tatya Tope. This environment provides students with a personal relationship with history and heritage, making their education more than just a paper certificate. The school opened its gates to boys of all backgrounds in 1933 and was renamed The Scindia School, recording its metamorphosis into an open, forward looking institution.
Covering an area of 160 acres in the fort complex, the school is now a completely residential boarding school for boys ranging from grades VI to XII, affiliated to the CBSE. Its educational philosophy harmonizes academic toughness with integral development, nurturing curiosity, creativity, and leadership.
In addition to rigorous classroom study, there is a full spectrum of co-curricular activities i.e.; debating, Model UN, music, drama, visual arts, and community service. Adventure and sport are integral parts of school life, with mounts for horse riding, a shooting range, a swimming pool, trekking and mountaineering facilities, and 14 fullsized games fields.
Experiential learning is a defining part of Scindia life. Mathematics is inspired by age-old water bodies, environmental studies are traced to the ecology of the fort, and woodwork, stone craft, and music are creatively channelled. Leadership is fostered not only through academics but also through house systems, competitions, and projects in the real world.
Students are anchored in Indian ethos with daily rituals like Asthachal, a reflective practice at dusk while they receive
international exposure through exchange programmes. Tracing its lineage to its founder’s dream to raise ‘future leaders with a global outlook and an Indian ethos’, The Scindia School remains the shining example of integral education. For over one hundred years, it has molded individuals who personify intelligence with compassion, resilience with accountability, and modernity with tradition.
Social and Community Service is a part of students’ learning. Two villages, SONSA and Nathuka Pura, have been adopted by the Scindia School. The School helped the Village to renovated school buildings, built toilets and water points, and introduced digital literacy and IT skills to students and elderly citizens.
Nathuka Pura, a village once dwelling place of snake charmers, has also been empowered through training in Block Printing, Clay Modelling, and other traditional crafts to earn sustainable livelihoods. Apart from this, students have also constructed classrooms and a library with their own hands at a school in Leh/Ladakh as part of an ongoing service programme, instilling empathy, social responsibility, and hands-on leadership values.
Empowering Communities through Social & Community Service
The Scindia School has adopted two villages, Sonsa and Nathuka Pura, supporting them by refurbishing school buildings, creating toilets and water facilities, and providing digital literacy and IT training to both students and senior residents.
Nathuka Pura, traditionally a village of snake charmers, has benefited from training in block printing and clay modeling, enabling residents to earn a livelihood through traditional arts. Additionally, as part of its ongoing service program, the school students have personally built classrooms and a library at a school in Leh, Ladakh.
Cultivating Excellence with Faculty Innovation & Student Success
At the core of The Scindia School tradition of excellence lies its faculty, whose prowess, mentorship, and dedication to ongoing development guarantee both academic excellence and well-rounded growth. Teachers here are not merely viewed as teachers, but as mentors and facilitators who inculcate curiosity, foster creativity, and develop character.
Faculty engages in structured training programs, peer-to-peer learning, and cross-pollination with international best experts, empowering them to merge tradition with contemporary pedagogy and develop inquiry-based learning that cuts across disciplines. Technology and infrastructure further reinforce this ecosystem.
Though the school is situated within the ancient Gwalior Fort, its classrooms are completely upgraded. Wi-Fi-enabled classrooms, smart boards, ERP based student tracking, and facilities for robotics, coding, AI, and data science labs promote innovation. The students are encouraged to implement knowledge in experiential projects like drone-making, air quality evaluation, and green energy studies. This Balancing Act of heritage and modernity helps students remain connected to Indian ethos while being equipped for a global world.
The fruits of this strategy are testimony. Academic achievement is consistently high, with recent batches getting 90.75 percent in Class XII and 88 percent in Class X national board exams, for the year 2024-25. Students also perform well in national and international sports, innovation, and green environment contests. Green initiatives, specially rewilding, have turned grasslands into carbon sinks, and research in traffic management and green entrepreneurship has attracted the interest of government bodies.
The school’s outstanding alumni also mirror its influence, with personalities like director Anurag Kashyap, diplomat Vikram Misri, radio broadcaster Ameen Sayani, and national security analyst Shiv Shankar Menon being among the Old Boys. The Madhav Award recognizes graduates who have made notable contributions to society, reinforcing the lifelong connection between the school and its alumni.
Practices such as Asthachal a meditative practice during sunset remain steeped in values and mindfulness, ensuring that intellectual aspiration is balanced with character development. With this holistic strategy, The Scindia School raises explorers, thinkers, and leaders equipped to face the challenges of a changing world. “We do not simply teach, we nurture explorers, thinkers, and leaders who embody the Scindia ethos wherever they may be”, he says.
Future Vision
The Scindia School remains to grow, adapting to new programs and global partnerships that shape students for the future while retaining its ageless ethos. Future plans include AI-enabled classrooms, increased global exchange programs, and research-driven curriculum for middle schoolers to foster analytical and problem-solving abilities from a young age. Peer-to-peer learning patterns and experiential projects further improve collaboration, creativity, and independent thinking.
The robust alumni network also plays a defining role in this path. Through SOBiR (Scindia Old Boys in Residence); formal mentorship programs, Old Boys mentor, share experiences, and inspire the younger generation and forge an unbroken bridge between tradition and innovation. This ethos of support ensures that students not only learn from their educators but also from the lived experiences of those who have preceded them. Grounded in tradition but focused on the future, it prepares its students to succeed in the world while remaining profoundly rooted in Indian traditions.
Social and Community Service is a part of students’ learning. Two villages, SONSA and Nathuka Pura, have been adopted by the Scindia School. The School helped the Village to renovated school buildings, built toilets and water points, and introduced digital literacy and IT skills to students and elderly citizens.
Nathuka Pura, a village once dwelling place of snake charmers, has also been empowered through training in Block Printing, Clay Modelling, and other traditional crafts to earn sustainable livelihoods. Apart from this, students have also constructed classrooms and a library with their own hands at a school in Leh/Ladakh as part of an ongoing service programme, instilling empathy, social responsibility, and hands-on leadership values.
At The Scindia School, we do not just educate minds; we shape character, nurture curiosity and inspire leadership that stands the test of time
Empowering Communities through Social & Community Service
The Scindia School has adopted two villages, Sonsa and Nathuka Pura, supporting them by refurbishing school buildings, creating toilets and water facilities, and providing digital literacy and IT training to both students and senior residents.
Nathuka Pura, traditionally a village of snake charmers, has benefited from training in block printing and clay modeling, enabling residents to earn a livelihood through traditional arts. Additionally, as part of its ongoing service program, the school students have personally built classrooms and a library at a school in Leh, Ladakh.
Cultivating Excellence with Faculty Innovation & Student Success
At the core of The Scindia School tradition of excellence lies its faculty, whose prowess, mentorship, and dedication to ongoing development guarantee both academic excellence and well-rounded growth. Teachers here are not merely viewed as teachers, but as mentors and facilitators who inculcate curiosity, foster creativity, and develop character.
Faculty engages in structured training programs, peer-to-peer learning, and cross-pollination with international best experts, empowering them to merge tradition with contemporary pedagogy and develop inquiry-based learning that cuts across disciplines. Technology and infrastructure further reinforce this ecosystem.
Though the school is situated within the ancient Gwalior Fort, its classrooms are completely upgraded. Wi-Fi-enabled classrooms, smart boards, ERP based student tracking, and facilities for robotics, coding, AI, and data science labs promote innovation. The students are encouraged to implement knowledge in experiential projects like drone-making, air quality evaluation, and green energy studies. This Balancing Act of heritage and modernity helps students remain connected to Indian ethos while being equipped for a global world.
The fruits of this strategy are testimony. Academic achievement is consistently high, with recent batches getting 90.75 percent in Class XII and 88 percent in Class X national board exams, for the year 2024-25. Students also perform well in national and international sports, innovation, and green environment contests. Green initiatives, specially rewilding, have turned grasslands into carbon sinks, and research in traffic management and green entrepreneurship has attracted the interest of government bodies.
The school’s outstanding alumni also mirror its influence, with personalities like director Anurag Kashyap, diplomat Vikram Misri, radio broadcaster Ameen Sayani, and national security analyst Shiv Shankar Menon being among the Old Boys. The Madhav Award recognizes graduates who have made notable contributions to society, reinforcing the lifelong connection between the school and its alumni.
Practices such as Asthachal a meditative practice during sunset remain steeped in values and mindfulness, ensuring that intellectual aspiration is balanced with character development. With this holistic strategy, The Scindia School raises explorers, thinkers, and leaders equipped to face the challenges of a changing world. “We do not simply teach, we nurture explorers, thinkers, and leaders who embody the Scindia ethos wherever they may be”, he says.
Future Vision
The Scindia School remains to grow, adapting to new programs and global partnerships that shape students for the future while retaining its ageless ethos. Future plans include AI-enabled classrooms, increased global exchange programs, and research-driven curriculum for middle schoolers to foster analytical and problem-solving abilities from a young age. Peer-to-peer learning patterns and experiential projects further improve collaboration, creativity, and independent thinking.
The robust alumni network also plays a defining role in this path. Through SOBiR (Scindia Old Boys in Residence); formal mentorship programs, Old Boys mentor, share experiences, and inspire the younger generation and forge an unbroken bridge between tradition and innovation. This ethos of support ensures that students not only learn from their educators but also from the lived experiences of those who have preceded them. Grounded in tradition but focused on the future, it prepares its students to succeed in the world while remaining profoundly rooted in Indian traditions.
