St. Patrick's Higher Secondary School
Encyclopedia
St. Patrick's Higher Secondary School or SPS is one of the oldest schools in eastern India
. It is a kindergarten through 12th grade school of secondary education
, located in Asansol
, in the western part of West Bengal
, about 200 km from Kolkata
(Calcutta).
, a Catholic
society from Ireland
that has undertaken missionary and educational work worldwide. This group, also informally known as the Christian Brothers, was founded by Edmund Rice
. St. Patrick's School, Asansol is one of the 19 Christian Brothers Schools in India. For a brief span during the Second World War, the administration of the School was under the Jesuit Mission of Patna and the school was shifted to Kurji .
curriculum which includes the national ICSE
exam at the end of Class 10, and the ISC
Science exam at the end of Class 12. The school enjoys considerable recognition for academic excellence, having produced many state and national rankers.
St. Patrick's was originally a fully residential school. It started admitting day scholars later, and finally closed the hostel completely in 1984. The school has enrolled girls in Classes 11 and 12 since 2009. The Jubilee Hospital Building on the grounds was built in 1918. It is no longer a functioning hospital, having closed at the same time that hostel was closed. It is currently used as a residence for the Principal and some staff members.
The school is one of the largest landowners in Asansol
, with buildings, fields,a huge pond and acres of virgin wooded areas bordering prime real estate like the residential colony known as Hill View or other schools like Loreto Convent (Asansol), Saint Maria Goretti, Saint Joseph's School(Asansol) and St.Vincent's H&T School.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. It is a kindergarten through 12th grade school of secondary education
Secondary education
Secondary education is the stage of education following primary education. Secondary education includes the final stage of compulsory education and in many countries it is entirely compulsory. The next stage of education is usually college or university...
, located in Asansol
Asansol
Asansol is a coal mining and industrial metropolis and one of the busiest commercial centres in India. It is the second largest city and urban agglomeration in West Bengal after Kolkata and the 19th largest urban agglomeration in India. Asansol is located in the western part of the Burdwan...
, in the western part of West Bengal
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
, about 200 km from Kolkata
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
(Calcutta).
Founding
St. Patrick's was founded in 1891, by the Congregation of Christian BrothersCongregation of Christian Brothers
The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a worldwide religious community within the Catholic Church, founded by Blessed Edmund Rice. The Christian Brothers, as they are commonly known, chiefly work for the evangelisation and education of youth, but are involved in many ministries, especially with...
, a Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
society from Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
that has undertaken missionary and educational work worldwide. This group, also informally known as the Christian Brothers, was founded by Edmund Rice
Edmund Rice
Edmund Rice was an American politician. Rice served in the U.S. Congress in Minnesota's 4th District from March 4, 1887 to March 3, 1889.-Early life:...
. St. Patrick's School, Asansol is one of the 19 Christian Brothers Schools in India. For a brief span during the Second World War, the administration of the School was under the Jesuit Mission of Patna and the school was shifted to Kurji .
Description
With three sections for each class/grade from KG-10 and two section for 11-12, there are about 1,800 students enrolled in the school. The school follows the 10+2 Council for the Indian School Certificate ExaminationsCouncil for the Indian School Certificate Examinations
The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations is a private, non-governmental board of school education in India. It conducts two examinations in India: the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education and the Indian School Certificate...
curriculum which includes the national ICSE
Indian Certificate of Secondary Education
The Indian Certificate of Secondary Education or ICSE examination is an examination conducted by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations, a private, non-governmental board of school education in India, for class 10, i.e., grade 10...
exam at the end of Class 10, and the ISC
Indian School Certificate
The Indian School Certificate is an examination conducted by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations for Grade 11, i.e., year 11, until 1976....
Science exam at the end of Class 12. The school enjoys considerable recognition for academic excellence, having produced many state and national rankers.
St. Patrick's was originally a fully residential school. It started admitting day scholars later, and finally closed the hostel completely in 1984. The school has enrolled girls in Classes 11 and 12 since 2009. The Jubilee Hospital Building on the grounds was built in 1918. It is no longer a functioning hospital, having closed at the same time that hostel was closed. It is currently used as a residence for the Principal and some staff members.
The school is one of the largest landowners in Asansol
Asansol
Asansol is a coal mining and industrial metropolis and one of the busiest commercial centres in India. It is the second largest city and urban agglomeration in West Bengal after Kolkata and the 19th largest urban agglomeration in India. Asansol is located in the western part of the Burdwan...
, with buildings, fields,a huge pond and acres of virgin wooded areas bordering prime real estate like the residential colony known as Hill View or other schools like Loreto Convent (Asansol), Saint Maria Goretti, Saint Joseph's School(Asansol) and St.Vincent's H&T School.
Alumni Organisations
- SPAI, or St. Patrick's Alumni International, is the largest association of SPS alumni and was founded in 2001. Ex-students are automatically life members. Registering to receive benefits is free; donations are purely optional. Registrations number over 1,300 from India and overseas. The website is spsalumni.org.
- SPOBA, or St. Patrick's Old Boys Association, is the older SPS alumni founded in the late 1980s. It is based in Asansol and during the centenary celebrations had a Calcutta chapter of. One can join for a membership fee. Those who passed out of SPS are eligible. The website is spoba.org.