‘The warmth of the mentors gave us confidence in this school’

This parent’s list of accomplishments feels almost endless. She heads the Public Service Broadcasting Trust, founded by stalwarts like Shyam Benegal and Mrinal Sen. She has been part of the media industry since 1999 and has led the India chapter of the International Association of Women in Radio and Television. Over the years, she has directed and produced award-winning documentaries for television and OTT platforms, earning the National Film Award for her work on mental health and the Charles Wallace Fellowship for a film on Buddhism. In 2011, she founded The Red Door, which brings a rights-based, recovery-orientated Global South lens to mental health.

Meet Aparna Sanyal, mother of Tara Sanyal Goswami of MYP-1 at Apeejay’s IB School, Apeejay School International, Panchsheel Park. In an interview, she discusses the changes in her daughter since joining this school.

How and why did you choose this school?

We were looking for a school that would nurture curiosity and multiple intelligences rather than just rote learning. Both Tara’s father and I went to schools that put a lot of emphasis on extracurricular activities. At the same time, we also wanted a serious and meaningful engagement with ideas and texts. We were quite impressed with the mentors we met; their warmth and depth of understanding stayed with us. Their patience in answering our questions, allowing our daughter a trial day and going out of their way to make her feel welcomed, gave us the confidence we needed to make the shift to this school.

Your daughter joined the IB system recently. What changes did you notice in her?

What we like about the IB system is its emphasis on inquiry, independent thinking, and a more holistic understanding of education. We have noticed a more engaged relationship with academic work, along with a fostering of independence. Our daughter is also involved with different activities that are a part of the IB system, like sports, music, dance and public speaking. I was impressed with how deeply immersed she was in the process of creating an exhibition towards the end of the school year.

Do you see any parallels between the IB approach and your work in storytelling?

Good storytelling is fundamentally about curiosity, empathy, and observation as well as the ability to connect different ideas and perspectives. In many ways, the IB approach encourages the same qualities. It asks children to think critically, reflect deeply, and understand contexts rather than memorise information in isolation. As a filmmaker, I often see how meaningful learning happens when people are encouraged to explore questions rather than simply consume answers, and I think the IB framework creates space for that kind of exploration.

How did she adjust socially and emotionally after joining mid-year?

Joining a new school mid-year can naturally feel overwhelming for any child, but the mentors, especially her form mentor, went out of their way to help her settle in. Welcoming a new child can also stretch the original class, and it takes time for those dynamics to settle down. However, we found the school and the mentors to be very open and responsive, which made the adjustment smoother. She has made many friends across grades and feels a genuine excitement to be part of the community.

Has any school project or theme sparked deeper conversations at home?

Her exhibition on ‘Coastal Erosion’ in particular sparked multiple conversations at home. She also spoke with her father’s colleagues, many of whom are international experts on the environment. The unit on ‘equality’ was also interesting, especially since our children live in such bubbles of privilege. I think we wanted our daughter to have an informed awareness about the world, and we are glad to find that curiosity is kindled because of the school.

Did the transition to IB change how she approaches homework or independent work?

What I really appreciate about the IB approach is its structured emphasis on learning how to learn. Tara has always been a fairly independent learner, and the IB system strengthens her confidence to learn by herself. I remember feeling quite overwhelmed as a first-time parent at this school about the annual exhibition, but watching her being steered by her mentor reminded me of Vygotsky’s theories of ‘scaffolding’ in education. She was encouraged to take small steps in a systematic manner, guided by a pre-determined rubric.

What has been the most surprising part of her IB learning journey so far?

Tara’s father’s work involves an understanding and application of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and a real moment of surprise occurred when she began to mention SDGs in her conversations not just with her father but also with his colleagues. It was both endearing and astonishing to see the conversation unfold between them, and I was genuinely taken aback!