Woodstock School Mussoorie: A Complete Guide

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Established in 1854 as an all-girls Missionary school, Woodstock School Mussoorie grew over the years to be one of India’s best boarding schools. Situated in Landour, Mussoorie, the school aims at eliciting greatness within young minds. Here’s a complete guide to one of India’s most elite and prestigious schools.

The school is an Independent, International Residential school with Christian affiliations. Known to be one of the oldest boarding schools in Asia, Woodstock School acts as a private nonprofit institution with Indian Christian Minority Status. Woodstock provides kindergarten to Grade 12 instruction, with a residency programme beginning in Grade 5. It happens to be fully accredited by the Middle States Association and the first school in Asia to receive accreditation in 1960. In 2019 Woodstock School was officially certified as an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, with a full authorization for the IB Middle Years Programme. It is a coeducational school currently under the supervision of Principal Dr Craig Cook.

Being an international school, it has students from all over the world. The countries include Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Canada, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan etc. South Korea, Mexico, Myanmar, Nepal, Vietnam, New Zealand, Russia, Singapore, Somaliland, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tibet, UK, USA, Yemen among others.

Where is Woodstock School located?

This residential school is located Landour, a small hill station contiguous with Mussoorie, Uttarakhand, India. The campus, extending over the lush green foothills of the Himalayan range, provides a viable atmosphere for the students to study and horn their creative skills. Away from the chatter of city life, it is every student’s nirvana.

What is the Woodstock School’s Mission?

“Palma non sine pulvere” –  the motto of the school stands for “No reward without Effort” and hence the school aims at effort oriented all-round development of young minds. The school aims to help students bring out their true potential and develop good morals as a fellow human being.

What is the history of Woodstock School?

Foundation

Woodstock School was founded in 1854 and has been on its current position since the year 1856. It was first managed as a girls’ school with staff provided by an English mission. Still, due to an increasing demand from missionaries for a school in North India with an American curriculum to nurture students for International colleges and universities, by 1928, a full American coeducational programme had been introduced at Woodstock. In 1959, Woodstock school became the third high school outside North America and the first in Asian continent to receive US accreditation by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.

During the 1960s, pan-cultural courses in social studies, literature, art, and religion were introduced, and Indian classical music and dance lessons were added in the curriculum. Indian universities became more accepting of the diploma degree from this school, and in 1990 the Association of Indian Universities started recognizing the Woodstock Diploma as being equal to the Indian school-leaving examination, thus allowing graduates from the school to enter Indian universities with greater ease. A year-abroad study program was introduced to keep a North American essence in the school as the missionary population of the school declined. A part of SAGE (Studies Abroad for Global Education) since the year 1992, Woodstock school is closely allied with the Friends of Woodstock School and its predecessor organizations in North America.

Reformation

In the 1960s and 1970s Woodstock school began to rethink its composition, purpose, motto and philosophy as an institution. The school hereafter shifted its conception from that of a missionary school to a school comprising of an international student population, teaching and non-teaching staff, and curriculum, with a strong Indian cultural factor. This transformation to a truly global educational institution was led by Robert Alter. With the increasing internationalization of the student body, English as a Second Language (ESL) program was established in the year 1978.

In the recent years, Woodstock has placed an importance on its academic programming with active renovations to classrooms and laboratories, the introduction of contemporary classes, an increase in the number of US Advanced Placement examinations offered to and taken by senior students, and the requirement for all students to take the Cambridge University IGCSE examinations in Grade 10.

Which board is Woodstock School affiliated to?

Woodstock School is basically an Independent, Residential, International school, having affiliated to international boards like IB and IGCSE rather than ICSE or CBSC boards much prevalent in India.

It is is also affiliated to and recognized by the following organizations.

• Round Square (RS)
• Council of International Schools (CIS)
• Global Alliance for Innovative Learning (GAIL)
• Association of International Schools in India (TAISI)
• Boarding Schools Association (BSA)
• National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)
• Academy for International School Heads (AISH)
• Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference (HMC)
• National Honor Society (NHS)

How is the campus life in Woodstock School?

Located between 2000 to 2500 metres on a south-facing slope, the school enjoys mind-blowing and spectacular views over the Doon Valley, the Tehri Hills and the ancient Siwalik range of the Himalayas. From its highest point, it offers views of the snowy peaks bordering Tibet, just over a hundred kilometres to the northeast. Spread across an area of 250 acres it provides students with one of the best environment offered by any school in India. With both indoor and outdoor sports courts, study rooms and library, outstanding hostel facilities and helpful staffs. The schools aim to provide your child with the best resources for his developing years. Woodstock School Mussoorie is located 1 kilometre outside the main town of Mussoorie, and the entire 250-acre campus lies within a protected forest in a quiet and serene atmosphere.

The school building for senior students has classrooms for 9-12, well-equipped science laboratories, a well-stocked library, an auditorium which offers high-quality lighting, sound and stage equipment. The centre for media and art houses several classrooms, computer labs, a hall and a spacious art studio for the students to freely utilize. The new Win Mumby Gym is highly impressive. It has an international-standard basketball court, badminton and squash courts, a rock-climbing wall, fitness centre and other facilities. These facilities are for the overall development of each and every student. The gym is also the venue for school community events, including graduation. The music centre has studios, practising cells, ensemble rooms, and an Indian music library and music studio which enables students to horn their talents in music.

What are the facilities provided by Woodstock School Mussoorie?

Apart from modern laboratories, well-stocked library and playgrounds supporting all kinds of sports activities, the school help students reach holistic development through college and career counselling. College counselling at Woodstock concerns with career development, selection of apt course, and planning for university throughout the Senior School experience. Students attain weekly homeroom meetings and receive personal attention in advisor groups and in individual appointments with the college counsellors. The school counsellors arrange workshops, college fairs, and visits from universities, preparing students intensively in Grades 11 and 12. The students are ready for the college application process and their future career through the Junior and Senior Seminar courses. The topics that are covered in this seminar include research, comparison and ‘fit’, financial aid provided by various universities, and information about higher education admissions around the world. The school has a Grade Point Average (GPA) system of scoring like all other international schools.

 From Coffee nights to Spring concerts to competitions like Woodstock Got Talent, the school provides various opportunities to the students to showcase their talents. From badminton to tennis to basketball, Woodstock help brings out your child’s inner potential and nurture them to help your child succeed.

What does the curriculum consist of?

The school offers extensive education to students from Grade 5 to 12 in the variously defined curriculum including English, Visual and performing arts, Physical education and health, Mathematics, Science and Computer. It also provides  Diploma Pathways, including the IB Diploma Programme (DP) in Grades 11 and 12. Woodstock School happens to be official Cambridge International Examination Centre. They provide the Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) exams in several subjects. The IGCSE exams are widely known as providing a clear assessment of students’ merit at the grade 10 level.

Woodstock school provides 20 AP courses to the students who are US college-level courses available to students in grades 11 and 12. These externally regulated courses offer students the chance to prepare an advanced level of critical thinking. They also want their children to be ready for external AP examinations which occurs in May each year.

Both IGCSE and AP are widely recognized.
The school also prepares students for university-level education in India with the Woodstock Indian Mark sheet. Accepted by the Association of Indian Universities as equal value to the 10+2 stage in the Indian education system.

What are the admission process of Woodstock school Mussoorie and financial aids provided?

There are a total of 541 students in Woodstock school of which 494 are boarders, and 97 are day scholars. The session starts in early August. Woodstock welcomes applications from highly motivated and meritorious students looking for revolutionary education. Strong academic background is valued along with a willingness and motivation to participate in a broad and challenging educational programme. This includes outdoor education, highly enriching experiences and engagement with the local rural people around. It is one of India’s most prestigious school and hence fees structure is quite on the expensive side. However, it provides about 1.5 million US dollars of financial aids to deserving candidates every year. 

Fee Structure

The yearly fees include:

Grade 6	16,70,000 INR
Grade 7	16,70,000 INR
Grade 8	16,70,000 INR
Grade 9	17,28,000 INR
Grade 10	17,28,000 INR
Grade 11	18,53,000 INR
Grade 12	18,53,000 INR

 In addition to the fees listed above, the following fees are also applicable during the admission process:

The Establishment Fee is 4,00,000 INR (non-refundable)

The Security Deposit is 3,50,000 INR (refundable)

Who are the notable alumni of Woodstock school?

Woodstock School Mussoorie holds many distinguished alumni all around the world. Some of the well-known alumni members are as follows-

Chris Anderson, founder of Future Publishing and owner, CEO and Curator of TED (1974), also a publisher

Martha (Marty) Chen, academician, scholar and social worker (1960)

Tom Alter, actor (1968)

Stephen Alter, a famous author (1974)

George H. Carley, who was the renowned Former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia(1956)

Robert Griffiths, a leading physicist (1952)

Jonathan Mark Kenoyer, highly renowned anthropologist (1970)

Dilshad Najmuddin,  Inspector-General police of Pakistan and ambassador to the Holy See (1945)

Pernia Qureshi, fashion entrepreneur and designer (2002)

Dorothy Riddle, psychologist (1960)

Nayantara Sahgal, writer (1943)

Henry Scholberg, author (1939)

Robert E. Scott, law professor (1962)

Jeet Singh, software entrepreneur (1981)

Carl E. Taylor, an international health expert (1932)

What are the co-curricular subjects provided in Woodstock School?

Students of Woodstock School Mussoorie learn and grow in their musical talents through their classroom music courses, performances and private lessons. Student’s involvement in choir, band, orchestra, Indian music and individual lessons is subject to audition that takes place to give every talent equal acknowledgement.

It allows the music faculty the opportunity to determine which instrument and ensemble would best suit a student’s talents and schedule. Music courses, which would enable the students to build interest and knowledge of music. Compulsory to Grade 8 and other optional courses are also available for Grades 7 through 12 students.

Private instruction is highly competitive among the students and is subject to availability. Lessons on personal development are offered first to returning students, then to new students with prior learning and then to beginning students.

Disciplines offered: Western Classical Guitar, Stringed Instruments like Sitar, Singing, Piano, Band, Indian Classical and Classroom Music.

The athletic section includes table tennis, badminton, rock climbing, swimming, basketball gymnastics, athletics, cricket, marathon, field hockey, personal fitness, football (soccer), volleyball and squash

Woodstock students are given many opportunities to interact and compete with students from neighbouring schools in and around Mussoorie, across India and internationally too through Inter-school sports, dramatics and other events which are held periodically in the school such as MUN( Model United Nations)

Conclusion

We can, at this moment, conclude that Woodstock School provides a holistic environment and culture for the all-round development of every unique child. Separate from the mainstream education system in our country, this international school aims at nurturing a child’s true potential rather than binding him into shackles of stereotyped education. Equipped with supportive staffs and international network of alumni, it provides your child with a well-rounded surrounding to grow up in and helps him become a better human being for the future world.