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The valleys of Nainital are fabulous, and so are the stories of the city. Like a sweet breeze, the fog and the fragrances of nature swirl around, it brings you new hope and a strange sense of happiness. Perhaps it was ‘in the air’, or maybe the beautiful Nainital had it in its roots. These things might have prompted Mr Condon in July of 1869 to conceive the ‘idea’ of Sherwood. He, along with the partnership of Rev Robert Milman, bought about this excellent institute as we know today; The Sherwood College, one of the best boarding schools in India.

Type: Private

Affiliation: ICSE, ISC

Motto: Mereat Quisque palmam, which means Let each one merit his prize.

No. of Students: 1600

Faculty: 90

Grade: 3-12

Website: http://www.sherwood.edu.in/

Sports Faculties: Football, cricket, tennis, basketball, swimming, field hockey, badminton, track and field

Established: 1869; 151 years ago

Principle: Mr Amandeep Sandhu

Sherwood College Nainital Uttrakhand
Sherwood College Nainital Uttrakhand

The Past

The number of students enrolled at the college when it opened was only a hundred because of lack of accommodation. To ensure that the ‘idea’ grows just as broad as the imagination, the Sherwood estate was purchased in the year 1880, which currently is the official address of the Raj Bhawan Complex. The present-day location of Sherwood College, which is the charming Ayarpatta Hills was acquired, and Lord Bishop of Lucknow laid the foundation stone in the year 1897 on June 5th. The institute soon began to grow in its reputation through excellent participation and achievements in the areas of sports, especially Cricket.

However, in the year 1903-04 Sherwood opened the grand dormitories within its premises. The ‘Pavillion’ also same in being along with a brand new gymnasium is one of the best things about the school. Sherwood witnessed the Independence movement in India, and after the year 1948, the number of students drastically dropped, with the British finally leaving the country. However, the institute revived and sustained itself, and by the year 1957, the school strength rose to 370 boys in total. This also called for the addition of various basic amenities and facilities within the current form of infrastructure.

Introduced in the year between 1914-18, is the four-house system that is Allen-A-Dale (red), Little John (yellow), Friar Tuck (blue), Robin Hood (green) for students division. Electricity was introduced to the institute in the year 1922.

The Present

The school is now tall, vast, grand and spreads over a 45-acre campus. This institute has been renovated as per changing times and trends, while still maintaining the ideas for which it was established. With various world-class amenities including smartboards, computer lab and robotics lab, two huge auditoriums, the heritage 400 seat Milman Hall and the 900 seat Baston Centre. These features testify to the fact that Sherwood has embraced the passing years with grace and gratitude. 

School’s Motto

The Sherwood College Nainital Uttrakhand motto is given by Mr R.C Rosslet that is ‘MEREAT QUISQUE PALMAM’. Meaning, ‘Let each one merit one’s prize’.

The Mode Of Education: The Curriculum

The 10+2 pattern of education was implemented in Sherwood between the years 1973-2003. It was the year 1975 when ICSE came to being, and the very first batch of Sherwood students appeared for the ICSE examinations for class 10th. Currently, the school has included in its curriculum the Computer Literacy Program for classes 6 to 12th. With the changing times and the introduction of the Primary as well as Secondary Cambridge Curriculum in the year 2018 has only enhanced the education spectrum. This has been a vital step towards the betterment of the education and method for learning.

The institute has always believed in assisting the Indian youth in developing their mode of thinking, and with CAIE on the campus, the children now have an exposure to the various realms of skill development and independent thinking aspects. 

Sherwood College Nainital Uttrakhand
Sherwood College Nainital Uttrakhand

The Infrastructure: A Symphony of Grandiosity and Practicality

The post-Edwardian styled architecture, along with the grand Gothic windows, gives the Sherwood buildings a ‘royal’ and timeless to feel to it. Along with the timely additions of modern architecture and buildings to the existing structure, the overall Sherwood campus is beautiful, blissful and serene. One cannot miss the architectural details that have gone into the making of Roman Arches, the Oak-paneled walls, the timber beams and the quadrangles of the building. While this might be the outer aesthetics, however, the facilities that lie within the campus is all the more breathtaking. To ensure that the students get to make the most out of the education system at Sherwood, the institute has been quick in implementing the use of various facilities and amenities timely.

The institute proudly encourages the involvement of the students in all sorts of indoor and outdoor games. For this, the facilities for Cricket, Football, Hockey, Swimming, Athletics, Basketball, Lawn tennis, Badminton, Table tennis, Volleyball, Chess, Diving, Snooker and shooting are available. The campus also has the Audiovisual room, Pemberton Studio, Conference room, and the excellent hostel accommodation for boys and girls separately. There are also three different dining spaces spread within the campus, for making the dining time easy for the faculty and the students. 

The Hostel Facility: A Place Like Home

The students residing here can feel at home; there are separate hostels for boys and girls. The girl’s hostel at Sherwood also has the teacher’s residence. The hostel pastoral care system offers extra care to the hostelers for helping them deal with the significant transitions during their growing up years. The school wants everyone to feel safe, so the authorities have taken strict actions for the safety of the students.

The common room within the hostel floors is an ideal place for the students to unwind and catch up with life. Here they can watch TV, play indoor games or relax. The study halls on every floor make the students study life more comfortable as they catch up with their, research, projects and much more.

Security Features

Parents are naturally very concerned about security, so the officials at the Sherwood has been dedicated to ensuring the topmost security services within the campus and especially at the hostel’s premises. This includes some of the latest hi-tech CCTV cameras at strategic points, 24/7 surveillance with well-trained security personals at various locations with round the clock duty. Furthermore, the dormitories have been designed in a manner that the optimum utilization of space can occur. The students residing here have their personal space, despite living together with their roommates. There are study tables, cupboards and individual beds for each student in the room along with perfect privacy factors taken in to account.

Other Activities

The computer facilities ensure the students get complete access for their school work, projects, learning and study. There is no dull moment at Sherwood; the faculty have structured a well-thought schedule for the students. For the overall development of the students that is spiritually, academically and physically, the Sherwood College has several clubs and societies. They are action-packed that offers enjoyment, exposure and the right amount of ‘bonding-time’ within themselves. The activities develop sportsmanship, team spirit and also to offer a wider-out look to the world.

There are various trips and treks, which are a significant part of the curriculum here, where the residential students, join an expenditure for a learning-based outing. The Dining facilities at this residential college are excellent; the menu is one of a kind. This is why Rocky and Mayur from the famous ‘food review’ television show ‘Highway on my plate’ had visited the Sherwood dining hall in the year 2012. The menu at Sherwood is well-balanced, nutritious and delicious. Equal emphasis on both the vegetarian and the non-vegetarian palate, the kitchen housed within the walls of the ancient building prepares meals for 800 people under pristine, hygienic conditions. 

The Extra-Curricular Activities: Experience and enjoyment

As mentioned previously, Sherwood has a history in encouraging the students here to participate in the various activities and projects. The Art Block at the institute is an excellent place at Sherwood where the students interested in their pursuit for music can develop their talent here. The facilities are available for both Western and Indian classical music under the supervision of a well-trained Music teacher. Also, various other art-related activities and skill development in the field of crafts, pottery, oil canvas painting, to name a few.

The Photography Club is one of a kind where one can enhance their photography skills. Also worth mentioning are the ‘Hindi Literary Society’ and the ‘English Literary Society’, and ‘the Dramatics societies’; where the likes of Amitabh Bachchan, Kabir Bedi and Dilip Tahil have emerged. 

Sports At Sherwood: Beyond Achievements 

Sports has been a vital part of the Sherwood history. The institute has excellent facilities and amenities for the various games and physical activities. There is an Olympic-sized swimming pool, to the basketball, football, volleyball courts that are always brimming with fun and activity. While the facilities at Sherwood are world-class, so is the encouragement, the training sessions and the sports schedules followed here.

The authorities have made it mandatory for all students to take part in sports and activities. This allows mass participation as well as exposure, encouragement and self-realization for the games. This is the reason why Sherwood College has been a front runner in bringing home the ‘cup’ in various sports and activities.

Sherwood College Nainital Uttrakhand
Sherwood College Nainital Uttrakhand

Sports Achievements

The Physical Training sessions and the sports drills are worth a watch at the institute as they keep the audience spellbound the make the parents proud of their children who are a part of the spectre. The school band, where one can witness during the sports drill of the participating schoolhouses, the feats that are achieved by the young clan that is the ‘Sherwood-spirit’. Sherwood is an excellent example of an institute that has embraced the changing time all the while maintaining its rich history intact.

The institute continues to make the nation proud with its various achievements and accomplishments. The fact about these “prestige schools” is that they put a lot of effort into the ‘character building’ and it reflects in the overall academic achievements and several other wins that come home. With the intent to serve the young British lads of the pre-independence era of India, Sherwood was an essential part of the ‘Raj’. As the country has fast-paced into the future, the institute still holds the aristocracy, the ethics and the motto it so holds dear to itself.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What board is the Sherwood College, Nainital Uttrakhand affiliation? 

Answer: The Sherwood College, Nainital has an affiliation to the ICSE board, ISC and the Cambridge curriculum as well. 

2. Who are the notable alumni at the Sherwood College?

Answer: Amitabh Bachchan- film personality. Anil Chopra – Indian Navy. Field Marshal-SHFJ Manekshaw and Padma Bhushan recipient Rahul Johri- CEO of BCCI 

3. What sets the Sherwood College apart from the rest of the institutes in India? 

Answer: Sherwood is an institute that believes in equal exposure in all fields of education and development. The academics continue to be an essential part of the institute; the exposure in the areas of arts, sports and creative thinking is also necessary. 

About the author

Education Writer at Edunify

I have a passion for word play and considers language as a tool for much deeper human expressions. I aspire to help the youth 'write a new start ' through this wonderful platform. Currently I am working on learning to enrich my 'Urdu'.


Arshi Tahir

I have a passion for word play and considers language as a tool for much deeper human expressions. I aspire to help the youth 'write a new start ' through this wonderful platform. Currently I am working on learning to enrich my 'Urdu'.

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