The Valley School

Culture

Interactions between teacher and student are informal and based on Jiddu Krishnamurti’s philosophy that “Learning cannot happen when there is fear”. Freedom with responsibility is emphasized from an early age, and rewards and punishments are kept to a minimum. Students are encouraged to direct their own learning.

Education and curriculum

The lower school is run based on Jiddu Krishnamurti's philosophies, where teachers and students are given freedom and flexibility. At the lower schools, the students are encouraged to think and derive at answers through guidance and correction. Along with a standard curriculum of science and humanities, extra-curricular activities are encouraged. Tests and examinations are kept to a minimum where there are no official "annual exam" till Grade 9. When a student reaches Grade 9 it will be the first time the students writes an exam conducted by the school.

Higher classes follow a standard ICSE curriculum, where they appear for a nationwide public board examination at the end of class 10. Class 12 students appear for the ISC examinations conducted by the same board. The School has had a 100% Pass percentage in both 10th and 12th since the batch of 1999.

Campus

The school was set on a 120-acre (0.49 km²) campus with a lake and two artificial ponds, dams, three ancient Banyan trees (over 100 years old), and lightly wooded rolling hills. However, 17-acre (0.069 km²) of land was taken by the forest department of the government with clear notice and now the school campus is 103-acre (0.42 km²). Academic buildings are concentrated around the main school in the eastern section of the campus; the student dormitories, residential quarters, guesthouses and the old “Art Village” was located on the western side. The old Art Village was destroyed and taken by the Forest Department in the year 2008. The New "Art Village" is located and built around the school Amphitheater.

The school had three entrances initially, the first gate being the main entrance to the school building, the second gate gave access to the football field while the third gate gave access to the Study Centre and the residential houses, as well as the Art Village. A stylized Neem Tree - which rests the highest point on the land, is the logo of the school. The school is divided into three divisions- Junior School- classes 1-4, Middle school- classes 5-7, and senior school- classes 8-12.

Transportation and Housing

Most students commute to school by bus. The buses are both privately owned and public BMTC contract buses. The school buses operate on routes in the city, picking up and dropping students off. Car pooling is encouraged. Boarding is optional and is available for classes 11 and higher. Student hostels are located on campus.

Events

Flora and fauna

The school is a spot for second Sunday outings of the Birdwatchers' Field Club of Bangalore. About 215 species of birds have been recorded on campus. Other creatures seen are fifteen species of mammals including deer, wild boar and elephants, a resident panthers, and twenty species of snakes, of which five are venomous. The students are taught how to deal with the animals and make frequent nature walks.

Sister schools

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