Overview

Good Shepherd International School (GSIS) is situated in the quiet hills of Ootacamund (Ooty) in Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu. GSIS, an international residential school, was founded by Dr. P.C. Thomas in 1977, and has become known as the best international residential school in India. The campus sits on an expansive 460 acres, affiliated with the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) and the International Baccalaureate (IB), Geneva.

GSIS built the foundations of academic excellence and enrichment, ranking under the Top 2 international residential schools in India by the EducationWorld India School Rankings 2020-2021. The purpose of the school is to combine a national character with a global breadth by promoting secular and democratic values while placing an emphasis on self-discipline, self-improvement, intellectualism and physical fitness.

Good Shepherd International School Campus

GSIS is a model of contemporary architecture housing over 800 students. GSIS provides intellectual stimulation as students are able to study, read, collaborate and gain knowledge on an inclusive campus. The academic block comprises 56 fully- equipped classrooms with storage and six technologically-advanced computer labs featuring unlimited access to professional software and internet service. GSIS offers media enabled audio-visual laboratories equipped with multimedia projectors and a videopedia from the BBC to enhance interactive learning experiences.

The library is a well-stocked venue with comprehensive knowledge resources. There are more than one hundred thousand books and seventy-five periodicals, Indian and international. The library has a computerized database. Therefore, when books or periodicals are needed there is no delay to search and access to necessary time needed reading material is readily available.

The sports facilities are equally helpful as a golf course, swimming pools, indoor sports complexes, rifle ranges, tennis courts, volleyball, basketball, squash courts, hockey, cricket, and football. An equestrian unit with stables for 30-40 horses, a training ring, and a gallop ring is also established on campus complete with animal stables. The medical centre has forty med beds, an isolation ward, intensive care unit, two ambulances done up astutely to support a good total power supply, and is attended by resident medical officers and nurses trained to test and offer good medical nursing care.

The accommodation is arranged in federal style with dormitories for sub-juniors, juniors, intermediates, seniors, and super-seniors, so that students develop growing with their peers in a grouping with a similar belief and then develop their beliefs together in their group. Each dormitory has hot water, DVD player, audio system, and television. The in-house students will enjoy food at the dining hall where it is offered South Indian and North Indian, Thai, Continental and Jain food with separate kitchens for vegetarian, Jain, and non-vegetarian.

Good Shepherd International School Academic

GSIS provides a strong academic context, with affiliations to CISCE, IB and CAIE. The ICSE and ISC programmes offer solid academic foundations for students, while the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) is for students in their last two years of secondary school study. The Cambridge IGCSE is internationally regarded as similar to the British GCSE and the IGCSE is a two-year course of study with international consistency.

Good Shepherd International School Admission Process

The academic year at GSIS starts in mid-July. Students aged eight years and older may be considered for admission to Class III and above. The school does not accept admissions to Classes X and XII to ensure a smooth transition for the student.

• Aptitude Test: The students who seek admission to the school need to sit for an aptitude test administered by the school. The aptitude test covers English, Mathematics and a second language, whereas those who are in Classes VIII and IX will need to pass an additional science test. The aptitude test is conducted by the school in March through to June each year.
• Personal Interview:  Admittance is offered to students only when they have successfully passed the aptitude test and they enter a personal interview with the class coordinators.
• Admission to Class XI: Parents must accompany the applicant to the personal interview and aptitude test in English for admission to Class XI. The admission decision as well as stream/subject choices will be determined based on the results of board exams (Classes VIII, IX, and X) and a character certificate from the previous school.
• The Academic Calendar: The academic year is from mid-July to mid-May consisting of two terms: mid-July to mid-December (the first term) and mid-January to mid-May (the second term). We will have a winter break (mid-December to late January) and a summer break (mid-May to mid-July).

Good Shepherd International School Documents Required

In order to complete admission, parents will be required to submit the following supporting documents:

• Conduct Certificate: A Certificate issued by the applicant’s current school that verifies their behavior and conduct.
• Letter of Recommendation: A letter issued by the current school recommending that the applicant be accepted by us.
• Academic Reports (Class XI only): Mark sheets or academic reports for classes VIII, IX and X.
• Character Certificate (Class XI only): A certificate issued from the previous school verifying the applicant’s Character. All documents must be provided upon acceptance, confirming the enrolment.

Good Shepherd International School Fee Structure

The annual fee structure at GSIS varies by grade and program (ICSE/ISC or IGCSE/IB). Below is a detailed breakdown:

The fee range for all programs is between INR 7 lakh (minimum) and INR 16.5 lakh (maximum) per annum, covering tuition, boarding, and other facilities.

Good Shepherd International School Extracurricular Activities

At GSIS, we believe that development occurs across all facets of an individual’s life, not just in the classroom. To aid in this belief we have a wide variety of extracurricular activities available to students. Sports offered at GSIS include horse riding, football, basketball, tennis, swimming, water polo, cricket, volleyball, hockey, table tennis, badminton, squash and golf. Because we feel it is so important to promote physical fitness all students must take part in at least one sport.

The performing arts at GSIS includes programs such as Western and Indian music, brass and pipe bands, choirs and instruction in both traditional and contemporary instruments. Outward-bound activities like camping, trekking and mountaineering are a staple at GSIS. All classes engage in a week of mountaineering every year. GSIS is a registered centre for the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme for Canadian schools. We also have a Sea Cadet Corps unit.

Additionally, 65 students annually travel to the NASA Space Center in Huntsville, Alabama to participate in a week of field study and leadership training; the first time any of our students have been exposed to such a global experience.

Good Shepherd International School Achievements and Values

Good Shepherd International School (GSIS) has built a reputation as an environment for well-rounded, nurturing development under the stewardship of Principal Sheila Alexander.  In its mission, the school identifies the desire to unlock the inherent potential in every child, getting each child ready for the dynamic and complex lives they will live in the future, providing opportunities through self-discipline, intellectual focus, and physical fitness.

GSIS identifies itself as secular and democratic, allowing for space for boys and girls alike. The GSIS’s continuing standing tall in worldwide rankings of top international schools in India, speaks to the school’s commitment to excellence.

Conclusion

Good Shepherd International School cannot be described simply as a school; after years, it has developed into an experience in meeting academic standards, world-class facilities and vast metrics for developing other interests. Its campus is vast, its global partners and governance are extensive, and its commitment to the development of the whole student makes GSIS a unique environment to help develop leaders, equipped to navigate life and the challenges of the world we live in.

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