‘We knew from the beginning he should be admitted at Apeejay School, Rama Mandi’

At Apeejay School, Rama Mandi, some parents don’t need to weigh multiple options — the school’s reputation speaks for itself. Meet Navpreet Kaur, mother of Navteg Singh, a Class 1 student at Apeejay School, Rama Mandi.

In this candid conversation, Navpreet shares why she never considered another school and how her son adjusted after playschool. 

Your son is in Class 1. What factors did you consider when getting him admitted to Apeejay? 

Honestly, I had decided from the very beginning that he should be admitted here. I had seen how other children from Apeejay were doing. The school has strong academic results overall. So I had already made up my mind that this was the school for him. Location was actually the only challenge — the school isn’t very close to our house, so that part was a bit difficult logistically, but it didn’t change our decision.

The school focuses on holistic education. How satisfied are you with that aspect?

Yes, we’re quite satisfied. Our son had gone to a playschool before joining here, and there’s naturally a big difference between the timing and structure of a playschool and a bigger school. But he adjusted really well and didn’t face any difficulty at all. All his teachers are very good and cooperative. So the transition was smooth, and that gives us a lot of confidence that he’s in good hands.

Some schools rely heavily on rote learning — repetitive drilling rather than real understanding. Do you feel this is the approach followed by Apeejay?

No, no, not at all — that’s not how it works here. The overall teaching approach is good. For example, the syllabus is structured properly, with exams planned in September and March. The teachers first build the basics with the children. Gradually move on to testing them. So far, all his tests have gone well, and everything has been fine.

Things like safety, security, and toilet training matter a lot. How satisfied are you with these aspects?

Yes, we’re quite satisfied. His class teacher knows everything about him, and since there are monthly parent meetings, we stay well informed too. The teachers genuinely take care of the children, and we haven’t faced any issues at all.

Are you satisfied with how the teachers communicate with you as parents?

Yes, absolutely — all his teachers are very good. We were initially a little worried about how he would adjust, coming from a playschool into a proper school with older children. But his teachers were wonderful — they understood that he was transitioning from playschool and guided him accordingly on how he needed to study and adapt. 

Because of that support, we haven’t faced any problems. Even the school timing works well for us — school starts at 8 o’clock, so the mornings aren’t rushed or stressful for him.

Would you recommend Apeejay to others in the future, for admission into Class 1 or otherwise?

Yes, absolutely, for sure. We actually plan to admit our daughter here too — she’s still quite young, only 3 years old, so she has a bit of a morning routine issue right now, which is why we haven’t admitted her yet. But next year, we plan to get her admitted here as well. 

The school also encourages team-based activities and gives children opportunities to speak on stage, along with academics. Do you feel your child manages this well on his own, or does it become extra pressure for parents?

No, not at all — we don’t see it as a burden. In fact, we feel it’s the opposite. Sometimes a child can get a little bored with just academics, so having a good balance really helps. The school offers a lot of opportunities in sports too — he can play both indoor and outdoor games, and there are various competitions as well.

We really appreciate that balance — he has both academics and activities available to him, and we haven’t had to enrol him separately in outside classes for music or sports, because the school itself provides that exposure. Since he’s still young, there isn’t much burden on him, and overall, we’re fully satisfied with how things are going.