| Pathways Schools | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Gurgaon and Noida India |
|
| Information | |
| Motto | Learn, Work, Play, Think, LIVE |
| Established | 2003 |
| Chairman | Pramod K Jain |
| Website | http://www.pathways.in |
Pathways Schools are a group of three International schools located in Gurgaon and Noida in the Delhi NCR, India for students from Pre Nursery to Grade 12. The medium of instruction is English and the curriculum includes the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Diploma Programme (DP) of the International Baccalaureate Organisation of Geneva and the International General Certificate of Secondary Education of the University of Cambridge, England. The schools in Gurgaon and NOIDA are day schools, whereas the school at Aravali is a day cum residential school offering day, week and term boarding options.[1]
While preserving the best in traditional Indian and International education and culture, Pathways has opted for a student-centred system with ample opportunities for project work and discovery learning, guided by a well-qualified international teaching faculty with generous access to quality in service training both in India and abroad. In order to ensure that every student’s talents are developed to the full, the school applies the Multiple Intelligences approach, developed by Dr. Howard Gardner from Harvard University.[2] Over the years, Pathways has etched a name for itself, not merely as an abode of learning, but as an apostle of wisdom.[3]
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The idea to create a world class school was first conceived by the board of Sarla Holdings Private Limited (SHPL) in the year 1999 when the Chairman, Mr Pramod Kumar Jain and the directors of SHPL decided to venture into the education space in the country. A lot of research was carried out in order to strive towards creating an innovative and progressive educational pedagogy. After studying and contemplating various education systems both in India and abroad, and numerous months of learning and unlearning, the IB and IGCSE programs were found to be the most suitable fit with their vision.[4] National and international experts developed the concept and plans for the school. They decided to name the school "Pathways" to represent Dr. Howard Gardner's multiple pathways to learning.[2]
Construction for Pathways World School began in April 2002. The board envisioned to build a world class learning environment with state-of-the-art campus facilities that would complement the learning pedagogy of the school. The first phase of construction was completed within a year and Pathways World School held its first day of classes on 28 April 2003.[5] In the year 2009, SHPL decided to expand their school vertical and began work on two new Pathways Schools in Gurgaon and Noida respectively. The two new Pathways Schools commenced classes on 18 & 20 October 2010 respectively.[6]
Pathways provides an education that enables its students to fulfill their potential - be it social, intellectual, academic, sporting or cultural. In this way they come to an appreciation of their worth as individuals and gain the self-esteem and self-confidence to which the school aspires as the hallmark of its graduates.[7]
To make Pathways a learning community of motivated students and staff engaged in active learning through the best use of modern technology. To develop young individuals who think, question and are curious through enquiry based learning and project work.
To create responsible global citizens utilising an international curriculum and principles of student-centred learning.
To impart world class education that shall foster academic excellence, physical fitness, psychological and spiritual health, social consciousness and concern for environment in each Pathways student through our own systems and practices.[8]
The academic systems at Pathways follow a fourfold track: the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (Pre Nursery to Grade 5), the Pathways Middle School Programme (Grade 6 to 8), the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (Grades 9 & 10) and the International Baccalaureate Diploma (Grades 11 & 12). All the systems are international, relevant to the challenges of the 21st Century and accepted for entrance to first-class universities throughout the world. Teaching at Pathways is student-centred, project-based, and incorporates the multiple intelligences concept. While the general curriculum is followed by every student, he or she is also encouraged to develop talents and interests in personal areas of academic interest, and in sport, theatre music and dance, for which facilities are outstanding.[9]
Technology is extensively used as a learning tool at Pathways. Every Secondary School student is required to carry a laptop computer that is linked by campus-wide radio-networking. The controlled-temperature environment is ideal for relaxed and purposeful study. There are first class Science facilities, a spacious Library-Media-Centre and well-equipped studios for Art and Craft-Design-Technology.[9] Pathways follows a long day format which facilitates students to indulge in a wide variety of creative and sporting activities in addition to academics.
The SEN Department at Pathways acts as a full fledged support system, catering to the needs of students who are slow learners or suffer from learning disabilities, ADD/ ADHD and Aspergers Syndrome. Pathways believes in the concept of inclusiveness by providing guidance to students who have difficulties in learning or are underachievers in their core subjects. The SEN Department employs appropriately qualified Special Educators who set up the systems and procedures for supporting all SEN students.[10]
The Career Counselling Department at Pathways seeks to assist students, particularly juniors and seniors, in their college search and application process. The department not only exposes them to a wide range of opportunities – both here and abroad – but also helps them choose the right universities in tandem with their skills and requirements. The process of applying to a college can be an exciting and rewarding experience, provided one has a clear idea of what is expected at each stage. The Counsellors provide time, support, attention, skill and structure that enable the students to become more aware of their resources while also guiding them in the application filling process. The aim is to help students and their families to evaluate potential options for higher education institutions worldwide and make informed choices. Reputed universities from India and abroad regularly visit the campus to directly interact with the students opening up a world of opportunities and insights to every single child.[11]
Pathways has been recognized as an authorized centre for Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) conducted by College Board USA and also is a certified TOEFL centre.[12]
The PULSE (Pathways of Universal Life Support Education) program consists of the following modules:
The Pathways Life Support Training Center is approved by the American Safety & Health Institute (ASHI). It is the only ASHI training center in India teaching the program to the 2005 guidelines.[13]
Pathways World School was the first school to be launched under the Pathways umbrella in the year 2003. It was the first residential school in North India to follow the IB curriculum. The campus is situated in 32 acres of land on an elevated, wooded site along the majestic foothills of the Aravali Hills. This not only ensures a tranquil environment away from the rush and din of city life, but also offers a magnificent scenic panorama across the hills. Despite its unique location, the school is only 35 kilometers from the Delhi International Airport and falls within the NCR.[14]
The school offers both day and boarding options for students while providing flexibility in the boarding options with choices among week, fortnight and term boarding. The current student strength of the school is approximately 850 with representation from over 25 nations. Dr. Sarvesh Naidu is the school director of Pathways World School Aravali.[15] Six batches of students have already graduated from the school and have successfully attained admissions and scholarships in some of the most reputable universities in India and abroad including Ivy League colleges.[16] The school has been consistently ranked among the top 10 international schools in the country while being ranked the top international school in Delhi and NCR in 2010.[17] The school was also the recipient of the ‘Designshare Award’ from New York, USA in 2003 for its aesthetic and purposeful infrastructure design and the ‘Best IT User Award” in the education category in the country’ from NASSCOM in 2004. In the year 2007, the school was rated among the five best architectural works Delhi and NCR.
Pathways School Gurgaon is one of the two new schools launched in 2010 under the Pathways umbrella. Pathways at Gurgaon is centrally located with ease of access from Delhi, Faridabad and Gurgaon and is a day school. It is situated at Baliawas on Gurgaon-Faridabad road, just about 11 km from Andheria morh in Delhi, 17 km from Badhkal chowk in Faridabad and 7 km from DLF golf course, Gurgaon.[18] The school began its first academic year on 18 October 2010.
Mrs. Paramjit Narang is the school director of Pathways School Gurgaon.[19] The school follows the same academic curriculum as Pathways World School Aravali. The school is located on a 10 acre site and is equipped with an environment friendly modern architecture and infrastructure.
Pathways School Noida is one of the two new schools launched in 2010 under the Pathways umbrella. Pathways at Noida is centrally located with ease of access from Delhi, Noida and Ghaziabad and is a day school. It is situated at Sector 100 in Noida, just 8km from the DND Flyway.[20] The school began its first academic year on 20 October 2010.
Dr. Shalini Advani is the school director of Pathways School Noida.[21] The school follows the same academic curriculum as Pathways World School Aravali. The school is located on a 10 acre site and is equipped with an environmet friendly modern architecture and infrastructure.
All three Pathways Schools are known to be among the finest architectural and infrastructural education institutions. The school campuses are not merely aesthetic in nature but also provide a unique learning environment with a modernized and purposeful infrastructure which complements the progressive learning pedagogy of the schools.
Academic facilities include state-of-the-art classrooms and laboratories which are equipped with interactive whiteboards and projection screens to integrate Information Communication Technology (ICT) with classroom learning. There are specialized studios for dance, music & theatre and a design technology workshop. The schools also include a library and media centre, amphitheatre and atriums with skylight in each building to promote quality out of class interactions and seminars.[22]
The schools also consist of a quality sporting infrastructure which includes the following:
| Outdoor | Indoor |
|---|---|
| Olympic size Soccer field | Half olympic size all weather Swimming pool |
| Cricket pitch and practice nets | Glass Squash courts |
| Synthetic Tennis and Basketball courts | Table Tennis |
| Athletics | Pool/Billiards |
| Golf Putting area | Gymnasium |
| Horse riding | Chess and Carrom |
| Basketball, Tennis and Soccer | Yoga, Aerobics and Gymnastics |
Pathways Schools are built in consonance with nature and attention has been given to collectively optimize consumption of resources. Simple but effective techniques like using cavity walls which act as natural thermal conditioners, placing windows on inner edge of extra-thick walls, rain water harvesting, equipping buildings with natural skylight, and other such energy conservation measures have helped the schools lower their energy consumption and promote sustainable development.[24] Over half of the campus is dedicated to open spaces, playfields and plantations with tress of varied species and dense growth of bushes and vines in each school.[10]
An integral part of the curriculum at Pathways is the Community Service Program – which ensures that students are not alienated from the real world around them and they realize the importance of grasping the nuances of the common man before setting out to take on the world.
Instituted as early as the primary years, all students engage in community service activities at least once a week, in one form or the other. While the primary students are entrusted with issues such as water conservation, hygiene and care of the environment, the middle and secondary level students are allotted much more imperative tasks like teaching ancillary staff, working with community schools, imparting adult education, and establishing and running Balwaadis. Having obtained the mandate from the government, Pathways has adopted a number of government schools in nearby villages.[10]
The objective behind the community service program is to enable the students to experience the challenges offered by humble backgrounds, and develop them into sensitive and empathetic human beings.
| Mr Pramod K Jain | Chairman |
| Mrs Deepika Jindal | Managing Director, Artd’inox, Jindal Stainless, Parent |
| Mr Dinesh Kothari | Financial Consultant; Pro-Vice Chairman: Delhi Public School, Dubai, Sharjah & Jodhpur |
| Mr Jagdeep S Chhokar | Professor, Former Dean, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad |
| Dr Kiran Datar | Former Advisor and Dean Colleges, Delhi University |
| Mr Kapil Dev | Former Captain, Indian Cricket Team |
| Mrs Ketaki Sood | Trustee Modern School, New Delhi |
| Mrs Lata Vaidyanathan | Principal Modern School, New Delhi |
| Mrs Shovana Narayan | Eminent danseuse, senior bureaucrat |
| Dr Sarvesh Naidu | School Director, Pathways World School Aravali |
| Mrs Paramjit Narang | School Director, Pathways School Gurgaon |
| Dr Shalini Advani | School Director, Pathways School Noida |