Every Hyderabadi knows about The Hyderabad Public School. It is a landmark; almost a heritage site – one of the many wonders of Hyderabad.
Established in 1923 by Sir Osman Ali Khan, The Hyderabad Public School (HPS) was a school only for the children of the elite. In 1951, it became a public school after the abolishment of the Zamindari system in 1950. It is spread across 152 acres (now less because of new laws) in Begumpet with stunning architecture. Mr. Skandi Bali has been the principal of HPS since August 2017.
A British architect, Vincent Esch, was given the responsibility to design the opulent campus. He used Western architecture combined with Osmanian style to give Hyderabad a wonder that draws applause to this day. The domes, serrated parapets, turrets, arcades, etc. are an example of a cultural matrix. Thus, it is not surprising at all that HPS Begumpet won the prestigious INTACH Heritage Award not once but twice! Everything about the school, including recent renovations is compliant with the original structure. One example is the dining hall that can accommodate 1600 students.
Today, the school reigns as one of the best day-cum-boarding schools in the country. Its list of distinguished alumni is proof that it deserves the title. Here’s all you need to know about this magnificent school:
Fee structure
Being one of the oldest and most popular schools in Hyderabad, you might be under the impression that studying at Hyderabad Public School is expensive. However, the fee is 1,00,500 INR per annum, which is quite decent in today’s times. The fee includes all the major facilities such as food, thus taking the burden off you quite comprehensively. This is why we think the fees shouldn’t be a concern at all while analyzing this school for your little ones.
The school also recognizes need-based cases and offers scholarships to qualified students. Every year, it prints an entry-level notification in newspapers and then sends the same to the Tribal Welfare Department and the Social Welfare Department. The notification then travels to all the local districts after which the government collects all application forms. The school then receives the selected provisional list and calls upon the shortlisted candidates for medical tests. After this and other formalities, selected students will be awarded the scholarship.
Location
HPS is located in Begumpet, which is easily reachable from most parts of the city. It is one of the most impressive campuses that you will come across.
With huge playgrounds and different blocks for each requirement, the school is huge and fully-equipped to ensure that children grow up in a safe, quality environment.
Curriculum
HPS is learner friendly and child-centric, offering ICSE and ISC syllabi integrated with various co-curricular activities that promote all-round development of children.
Environmental education and optional subjects such as Home Science, Economic Applications, Computer Applications, Commercial Applications, Art, and Physical Education are offered at the school as a part of their curriculum.
Infrastructure and Facilities
Hyderabad Public School provides all the facilities a child could require for a great education and physical development. Utilizing the latest technologies and always upgrading their offerings, HPS is always on-par with the latest developments in the education field.
Classrooms
A unique blend of “chalk and talk” and modern technologies, the classrooms at HPS are modeled to make teaching and learning effective and digital.
Laboratories
The school has multiple laboratories in every block for computer science, biology, physics, and chemistry. The labs are digitized and modernized, consisting of rare equipment that is hard to find elsewhere. In other words, the school has left no stone unturned to make the best facilities easily accessible to its students.
Library – The Turner Library
The library at HPS is like a treasure house. It consists of over 22,000 volumes, some of which are out of print now. It also has encyclopedias, dictionaries, and thesaurus. It is a member of the British Council as well.
The school library was named the Turner Library after one of its principals, Mr. K. F. W. Turner who played a valuable role in making the library what it is today.
Transport
The school does not provide transport facilities. Children are expected to use own transport.
Dining Hall
Lunch and snacks are included in the fee structure. Children are giving morning & evening snacks, and healthy lunch in their great dining hall. Like everything else in the school, the dining hall is an absolute marvel.
Playgrounds
The playgrounds in HPS are laid-out for hockey, cricket, football, and other outdoor games. There is a 400-meter 8-lane athletics track as well.
Dedicated, experienced coaches can be seen training kids in physical education each day.
Boarding
The boarding facility is available for children from classes 3 to 10. The hostel has medical facilities, recreation room, dining hall, and an array of entertainment media to keep the kids comfortable and happy.
Parents may visit their children only on Sunday between 4 and 6 PM.
Extra-curricular activities
Holistic development is the primary aim at HPS, following which, the school offers an assortment of extra-curricular activities to its students.
From rock climbing to martial arts, dance, music, art, dramatics, creative writing, clay modeling, yoga, and calligraphy, children have a number of options to expand their horizons.
Academics
Besides the regular classes, children at HPS go on field trips, participate in a number of events such as elocution and recitation, and engage in projects to grasp their learnings practically.
The mode of education is blended, making use of traditional and modern means of learning. Children here have the freedom to explore, use technology, and engage in enquiry-based learning along with the chalk-and-talk methodology that’s still pretty common.
To ensure that children get global exposure, HPS offers student exchange programs every year. These programs sensitize students to various cultures, lifestyles, and philosophies. Their itinerary usually includes cross-cultural workshops, interpersonal workshops, historical tours, and multiple conferences.
Distinguished Alumni
HPS has produced gems that are now established and popular in their respective fields. A few notable alumni are:
- Satya Nadella (CEO, Microsoft)
- Harsha Bhogle (Indian cricket commentator and journalist)
- Akkineni Nagarjuna (Film actor, producer, and businessman)
- Diana Hayden
- Ashok Gajapathi Raju (Former Union Minister of Civil Aviation)
- Kiran Kumar Reddy (Former CM of United Andhra Pradesh)
- Prem Watsa (Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Fairfax Financial Holdings, Toronto)
- T. K. Kurien (Former Executive Vice Chairman of Wipro and Chief Investment Officer at Premji Invest)
- Preetish Nijhawan (Co-founder of Akamai Technologies)
- Talat Aziz (Ghazal Singer)
- Ajayapal Singh Banga (President and CEO of MasterCard)
