If someone asks the school authorities they would probably agree that Tagore Academy was built on one man?s vision, and the good wishes of plenty more. The school has an interesting history. When the authorities started with their expansion project, they asked the generous people of the city for help. The response was overwhelming, and they were granted loans at an interest rate as low as 10 per cent.

But then, people had great expectations from the institution that was the brainchild of Kamaksha Banerjee, a senior member of the governing body, and under whom the school scaled great heights.

Tagore Academy started functioning under the governing body of the Tagore Society, an association that works for the promotion of Indian culture through education.

A co-educational, English-medium school affiliated to the ICSE council, Tagore Academy started functioning in 1995 with 100 students. Today, the school has spread its wings and has grown to be one of the reputed institutions in the city.

Poetic pursuit

The school has strictly followed the vision of one of the greatest poets of India, Rabindranath Tagore. Formed with an objective to help the younger generation, mainly students, to understand Tagore?s philosophy, the school opted to propagate his ideology in English simply because the authorities wanted the youth from every community to be a part of this vision.

Culture cares

Lessons are not always obtained from texts alone, sometimes one?s culture and history offer more lessons in life. And a truly well-rounded character is one who is equally adept at arts and academics.

Keeping true to the vision of Gurudev, who believed in encouraging well-rounded individuals, the school organises classes on myriad subjects, including poems and melodies of the master, classical singing, percussions, contemporary guitar or dancing for students between Classes V and VII.

The society also organises an annual ?Rabindra Charcha Kishor Shibir? on the premises where 5,000-odd students from around 10 schools get together for a two-day workshop conducted by experts, who come down from different parts of the country. The workshop does provide information on the playwright, poet, and writer, but more importantly, it gives students a taste of an alternative and creative thinking.

Classroom rules

Each senior class boasts of six sections with an average strength of 40. At the Plus Two level, students are given the choice of three streams.

For kindergarten students, there is one rule ? they have to come to school without books and bags. Teachers teach the little ones through play-way method and authorities ensure that there are a lot of daily activities to encourage them to come forward and participate in learning the basics.

Building blocks

The school has a building, which houses three different blocks. Segregated into a south, north and middle blocks, the higher classes are held in the south block and the ground floor is dedicated to kindergarteners.

Along with three science laboratories for physics, chemistry and biology, there is also a computer laboratory and a geography laboratory.

Also in place is a well-equipped auditorium, which doubles up as the venue for all the intra-school and inter-school competitions.

Sport-happy

On offer are a plethora of games right from volleyball to football and kabaddi. For all those with an affinity for the uniform, there is also the band and the drill section.

What the school lacks is perhaps a large playground, which the authorities are seriously working on. They have put in an application for a plot of land to the government where they can train students in the respective sports.

But then, there is a games room. The presence of this room helps the students play indoor games in adverse weathers.

Admission angst

Forms are usually given out in the month of October, which is followed by a written test for the Plus Two students. For admission to the kindergarten classes, there is a basic written test, which evaluates only the child?s aptitude.

Children come with their parents for the test and they are interviewed on the same day.

Plus Two students seeking admission to the science stream have to answer a paper on English and mathematics, while those seeking admission to commerce sit for an entrance test in English and economics, and the humanities stream aspirants have to answer an English test.

Admission to the senior classes are not usually accepted unless it involves transfer cases.

fact sheet

Name: Tagore Academy

What is it: A co-educational English-medium school affiliated to ICSE

Principal: C.K. Banerjee

Vice-Principal: Madhuchanda Majumdar

Number of Teachers: 100

Student strength: 2,950

Fee Structure

(on a monthly basis including activity fee, computer fee and laboratory fee)

Kindergarten: Rs 370

Classes I to III: Rs 400

Classes IV to VI: Rs 420

Classes VII to VIII: Rs 460

Classes IX to X: Rs. 520

Plus two (science): Rs 620

Plus two (arts & commerce): Rs 570