‘When my daughters are inside Apeejay gates, they are safe’

For Anshu Aggarwal, Apeejay School, Noida wasn’t just a choice for one daughter, it became the natural decision for both. With her elder daughter now in Class 7 and Aasma Aggarwal, her younger one in Class 1, she reflects on what first drew her family to the school, the growth she’s watched over the years, and the small moments that have reassured her along the way.

What factors did you consider while choosing a school?

My journey with Apeejay actually began when I was looking for a school for my elder daughter, who’s now in Class 7. Apeejay has long been an established name. My priority was finding a well-established school close to where I lived. Apeejay School, Noida’s ambience struck me at first. Walking in, it gives you a “your own school” kind of feeling. There’s a central hall with classrooms arranged around it, almost like a square, and that layout really appealed to me.

The admission process also stood out. I remember my elder daughter went through three rounds of interviews before we even met the Principal. It was clear the school was doing its due diligence, not just admitting anyone who could pay. That impressed me enough that when it came time to enrol my younger daughter. 

Have your expectations been met since joining?

Honestly, yes, I’m satisfied. Watching my elder daughter’s progress has been reassuring. The opportunities given to the children are immense, and the teachers are genuinely approachable. I’ve never once hesitated to call a teacher with a concern. Even during PTMs, they’re refreshingly honest. They don’t sugarcoat things or pretend everything is fine when results aren’t visible. 

If I raise a concern, they follow up properly, and even when they don’t have an immediate answer, they reassure me they’ll get back to me. That kind of consistency has made me genuinely happy with both my daughters’ journeys.

What improvements have you seen in both your daughters over the years?

The most significant change for my elder daughter has been in her speaking skills. When she first joined, she wasn’t very outspoken. She used to shy away from speaking up. But over the past three years, she’s continuously been part of the prefectorial board, which speaks for itself. 

Her teacher really pushed her, encouraging her to keep talking, creating opportunities for her to work on her communication skills. That’s been one of the most visible areas of growth in her.

While my younger daughter is a very enthusiastic child who loves running around. If a teacher is able to make her sit still, that’s a real achievement. But I’ve never had a teacher come back to me with complaints about incomplete work or behaviour, which, knowing her personality, is genuinely an achievement in itself. Academically, she’s been given good opportunities, the feedback has always been positive, and she’s doing well in sports too. 

What’s your view on activities like assemblies, picnics, and excursions?

The assemblies and holistic learning activities are genuinely good. Every fortnight, there’s an assembly where the entire class participates in some activity, whether it’s getting kids on stage to speak or dance. I think that’s a wonderful initiative that really helps build confidence.

I remember, when I raised a concern with the teacher during an excursion, she didn’t hide behind excuses. She explained honestly. I appreciated that honesty. Kids this age are naturally enthusiastic about picnics regardless of past experiences, so managing expectations well matters, but overall, I’ve never felt the school was anything but upfront with us.

How would you rate safety and security, including with non-teaching staff?

I’ve never had any real concerns. I’ve been associated with Apeejay for a long time. Whether I’m picking up my daughter after a picnic, Annual Day, or any event, the didis are always present and clearly know what they’re doing. If I ever need to find someone, they make every effort to help.

There was actually an incident once where my elder daughter fell down the stairs while coming back from an activity. Both the teachers and didis went out of their way to reassure me and they took care of it immediately. That experience, more than anything, reassured me that once my children are inside the Apeejay gates, they’re well looked after.