About St. Thomas' Church School,Howrah in 3,church road howrah, Howrah

St. Thomas' Church School, founded between 1860 and 1865, by Rev. Dr. William Spencer, Chaplain of St. Thomas' Church, for education of Anglo-Indian children of Howrah, is one of the largest and most famous schools in Howrah. The School now admits children of all sections of society irrespective of caste, creed or religion.

The affairs of the school are controlled by a strong and influential Board of Governors, as determined by the Constitution of St. Thomas' Church School.

The Bishop of Calcutta is the Chairman of the Board of Governors.

Buildings

The School campus covers an area of almost 6 Big18 Kathas. There are playgrounds and the buildings are spacious and airy. The School Buildings contain large classrooms, a library, staff rooms and laboratories for Physics, Chemistry and Biology. It has a computer room too. In the premises there is 2 buildings. One for juniors n the another for seniors. The junior building comprises classes lower nursery to class five. In the senior building there are classes from six to twelve.
School terms and holidays

The school year consists of two terms. The first term extends from mid-April to mid September and the second term from October to March. In these terms are three Vacations-Summer, Puja and Christmas. A list of School holidays and co-curricular activities is issued every year in the School Calendar.
Subjects taught

The subjects taught in the school are English Language, English Literature, Bengali, Hindi, History, Geography, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Art, Principles of Accounts, Structure of Commerce, Office Practice, Economics, Computer Science and Socially Useful Productive Work & Community Service.

After the eighth standard, there is a division in study stream. The choices being, Commerce and Science and after tenth standard there is again division in science and the choices are Biology or Computer, there is a division in commerce too and the choices are Business maths or Business studies
Public examination

The School prepares students for the Indian School Certificate Examination and Indian Certificate of Secondary Education, in Science and Commerce subjects. This is a recognized examination conducted by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination, New Delhi.
Religious instruction

Catechism lessons are given by the clergy of the Church of North India, for students belonging to this denomination. Moral Instruction is taught to all students up to Class V. All students are required to attend Assembly.
School uniform

The School endeavours to inculcate habits of cleanliness and neatness. Parents are requested, in the interests of their children and school, to see that their children are always smartly turned out - not only while attending school but also at any public place or whilst attending functions. It is compulsory for boys and girls to wear the following approved school uniforms :-

Regular uniform :

(a) Boys : Grey -Terrycotton or cotton trousers (for classes VI upwards) Grey Terrycotton or cotton short pants (up to Class V), White with Grey stripped Cotton Terrycotton Shirts (Half-sleeves), Black debry pattern shoes with laces (Bata Scouts or Wayfinders) white socks, School tie & grey and white striped belts (III onwards).

Grey Blazers,(Mid-November to February only).

(b) Girls : Grey 'A' line skirt and White and Grey Stripped Cotton or Terrycotton Shirts, Black Shoes, White socks & School tie & grey and white stripped belts (III onwards). Grey Blazers,(Mid-November to February only).

P.T. Uniform : Classes III-IX Students are divided into 4 Houses. Leason, Spencer, Read and Higgs (Red, Blue, Green and Gold) and have their uniforms according to their respective Houses. Classes III_IX, who have P.T. classes, will be required to come to school in the P.T. uniforms. This is mandatory. Classes X-XII, must wear their House colours, for Sports, Athletics & other school function. Girls :- Houses vests, White Shorts/Skirts, white socks and keds. Boys :- Houses vests, white shorts, white socks and keds.
Famous alumni

Manoj Tewari - Indian National Cricketer

Sanjeev Churiwala, CFO, Ambuja Cements Limited
Trivia

Cliff Richard started school in September 1946, at St Thomas' Church School in Church Road, Howrah. One of his family servants, Habib, used to bring his lunch every day to the school, which was laid out among stands of banana trees. Harry's best friend was a boy named Lal who spoke no English, and thus all of their conversations were in Hindi which he was being taught at school after some preliminary lessons from his father.
References

The STCS school diary
Thomascope: The STCS annual magazine