Welham Girls' School, Dehradun, Boarding Schools

Founded in 1957, Welham Girls’ School has carved a niche for itself as an institution that encompasses not only academic excellence but fosters ethical, social and spiritual development in young women. Ranked as the Top Residential School for Girls in India for last several years by several organisations, Welham Girls’ School is conscious of a heightened sense of responsibility as an educational institution to raise the bar for quality and standard.The school has always been cognizant of the current trends in education and understands that we have to develop global citizens to face the challenges of the world of tomorrow which we cannot fully anticipate. At Welham we believe we have to constantly strive to produce responsible students who value means than the ends. This has been in harmony with the school motto of "artha shanti phala vidya" for the last 63 years!

Last year especially, the bar of academic excellence was raised when two students scored 99.25% in Class XII results! In the Class X results, the highest score was 97.8%. Welham takes pride in bringing the best out of every student and the class average of 91.8% in ISC and 93.5% in ICSE this year, corroboratesit.Welham Girls’ School offers more than 30 subject combinations in grades XI and XII and conducts regular national and overseas exchange programmes, educational tours, intense community service and trekking trips. Apart from excellent academics, the school offers a wide range of co-curricular and extra-curricular activities that develop qualities of initiative and responsibility, self-discipline, camaraderie, fair-play and public service.Welham Girls’ School runs several enrichment programmes such as the International Award for Young People (IAYP), The Global Awareness Programme (GAP), World Scholar’s Cup and tGELF: the Global Education and Leadership Foundation Programme.Welham believes in nurturing the sense of belonging to the global community in every student. With a strong focus on internationalism, the school has expanded its exchange programmes with schools across the globe.

The school is also member of the World Leading Schools’ Association (WLSA) as well as Round Square which furthers the effort to connect with young minds across the world.Welham Girls’ School endeavours to turn its students into responsible, global citizens of world-class excellence and provides an environment conducive for lifelong learning! The opportunities offered by the school work towards bringing out the 21st century skills such as Creativity, Communication, Collaboration and Critical Thinking all along carefully nurturing the finest values of honesty, empathy and righteousness.

History

Everything begins with a dream.In 1957, an ageing English lady, Miss H. S. Oliphant, fired by the desire to create an equal educational platform for young Indian women in independent India, acquired a Nawab’s estate in Dehradun to give shape to her dream. There were no funds, no staff, no school buildings and no students save a vision and an indomitable spirit. She entrusted the task of setting up and running a boarding school for girls to Miss Grace Mary Linnell, an experienced and respected educationist who headed a girls’ school and college in Hyderabad.

Under Miss Linnell’s guidance, ‘Welham’, named after a Welsh village, bloomed and expanded and soon grew synonymous with high scholastic standards and a progressive attitude, yet rooted in Indian tradition and culture.The Welham community has grown from a mere ten students at its inception in 1957 to its current strength of 540 students. The alumnae of the school have carved a niche for themselves globally and within India, yet the spirit to ‘give and not count the cost’ remains unchanged.Welham lives by its motto - “artha shanti phala vidya” (the aim of education is to bring peace) – and students who attend Welham are united by a deep commitment of one to another and of each to the whole. Integrity and civility, as well as being empathetic and humane, remain steadfast ideals at Welham. The School fosters inclusion and inspires students to understand their strengths and capabilities.

Service

The School Motto, so carefully chosen by Miss Linnell, embodies the essence of the Welham Spirit: Aartha Shanti Phala Vidya – The Aim of Education is to bring peace. The school aims at developing in them a sense of discipline and a spirit of service and fair play while inculcating the best of Indian culture and tradition in its students.

A Secular Space

The School brings together girls from varied and socially-diverse backgrounds and instils in them a strong appreciation of diversity, thereby becoming appreciative of one another as well as the environment around them. Welham celebrates all religions, races, castes and encourages the girls to remain secular in their views and actions.

Choosing the Right Path

The school has imbued its students with a love for independent thinking and right action. Ms Linell’s quote of “choosing the harder right over the easier wrong” is the byword the school runs on. This is why, over the decades, Welhamites have walked down paths that many others feared to tread, with the confidence to take initiative and to carry others along.