The Swaminarayan School,
Neasden, London
Pupils
in a classroom
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The Swaminarayan
School
The
Swaminarayan School was founded in 1992 by His Holiness Pramukh Swami
Maharaj to provide the best elements of state and
independent education, cradled in the supportive atmosphere
of the Hindu ethos.
The Hindu ethos is not just a part of school life but pervades
it, giving the children an attitude to both learning and social
development, which helps them to become responsible citizens,
having respect for those around them; tolerant, moderate and
compassionate.
The School follows the National Curriculum. Pupils are encouraged
to take part in a range of extracurricular activities, including,
clubs, sports, drama & dance performances. The clubs range
from ballet and karate to cub scouts and the Duke of Edinburgh
Scheme. The School arranges regular day trips to museums, parks
and other places of educational value. Residential outings that
include outdoor activities such as skiing and camping are also
a feature of the school activities.
The School participates in a number of Hindu festivals, providing
the children an opportunity to experience Indian culture firsthand.
During term time, the most striking aspect of this school is
the purposeful atmosphere, both in
the classroom and throughout the school. Whilst pupils obviously
enjoy learning in this school, they are taught to respect their
teachers and elders. With the excellent behaviour of pupils and
the commitment from parents, the teachers are able to help pupils
achieve their full potential.
- The
school has always been near the top of the Brent league tables
for the last eight years with almost all pupils achieving
5 or more GCSE grades A to C.
- There
is curriculum continuity from nursery to infants, from infants
to juniors and from juniors to seniors because it is under
one roof and under one management.
- The
school competes at national level in the Performing Arts;
two entries from the school reached the finals of the National
Festival of Music for Youth 2000. Individual talent is nurtured
and lessons in both Indian and European musical instruments
are available.
- The
Swaminarayan School has had an excellent report from Her Majesty's
Inspectors.
- The Swaminarayan School is also a keen supporter of many local, national and international charities.
In
the next few years, the school aims to reach even greater heights.
Not only will The Swaminarayan School provide continuity in
Hindu values and culture that is sometimes difficult to maintain
in the rapidly changing and advancing world, but it also
aspires to produce outstanding students who will undoubtedly hold important
positions in the British workplace.
The
Swaminarayan School
- Founded
in 1992 by Pramukh Swami Maharaj.
- The
first independent Hindu school in the Western Hemisphere.
Not only is the National Curriculum taught but also religious
education based on Hinduism together with Indian culture.
- HRH
Prince of Wales stated, "I cannot tell you how marvelous
it is to visit a community in this country which is clearly
inspired by the values of Hinduism, the children of which
are also brought up and educated within the framework of such
values."
- The
Swaminarayan School is academically the top school in the
Borough of Brent.
- The Swaminarayan School achieved 4th place in the Independent School League Tables published in January 2008. For more information, please click here.
For The Swaminarayan School website, please click here.
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School
Assembly
Playgroup
Handicraft
Classes
Private
Study
Art Class
Playground
Students
in the classroom
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Swaminarayan
Sunday School
'Striving
Towards Better Child Development'
It is amazing
when a young child encourages his parents to quit addictions and
a young girl confidently orates on God's creation, convincing
people that each creation has its own light! Many such unbelievable
wonders are turning into realities at the Children's Forum of
the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha.
The Swaminarayan Sunday School of London brings an element of
the East to the children of today's modern age. Moral and spiritual
care are the two wings of the Swaminarayan Sunday School. Faith
in God is strengthened through exciting stories, dramas, slide
shows and lectures. Every child is nurtured so that he grows up
into 'a shining citizen of tomorrow'.
The Sunday School
is a joyful reminder of the ancient Vedic system, where the learned
rishis consolidated sound moral values such as Obedience like
Satyakam Jabali, Dedication like Shravan, Aim like Nachiketa,
Devotion like Prahlad and Faith like Eklavya. Today the Sunday
School is also producing such elites.
The school
is run and funded on a totally voluntary basis wherein 25 male
teachers and 35 female teachers all offer their invaluable time
and services in ensuring that the children who attend this school
receive education of the highest possible quality.
Most parents
agree that their children receive more than just proficiency in
our mother tongue at the Sunday School, which is not just about
paper-based education – it supplements the national education
given out in various schools across the country. It is about all-round
development of the youngsters: spiritual, cultural, education,
moral and social.
Parents can
assess the progress of their children by meeting teachers and
discussing the child's progress report during Parents' Day. As
one parent aptly observes: "What my children have learnt
and developed here in one year would not be possible at any other
Sunday school. And that too with no fees! We would like to thank
the teachers and all the volunteers for their tremendous service."
Another parent
commented: "My children have learnt the true meaning of life
and in the several years of attending this school have made a
big change in our family life too."
This Swaminarayan
Sunday School was established in 1981 with only 73 children attending.
Now 450 children aged between 6 and 14 attend regularly with another
80 to 100 enrolled every year. (These figures make the school
one of the largest in the country) Another 500 children attend
their own local centers spread around the UK. In total, there
are 84 Bal-Balika Mandals (children forums) in the UK of which
57 have provision for teaching Gujarati.
There are 45 Gujarati
teachers offering voluntary service in the Swaminarayan Sunday
School itself who are regularly trained to teach at higher standards,
aiming for the best results possible.
Truly, the
efforts put in by the teachers are commendable and their skills
are continually kept refined through regular seminars for the
Gujarati teachers and Bal Karyakars.
- Out of all
the Gujarati speaking boys under the age of ten in the UK,
one of them from the Swaminarayan Sunday School was chosen
to speak in Gujarati for one of the shows in the Millennium
Dome – namely 'Voice of Home Planet'.
- GCSE Gujarati
results have been 90-100% pass grades A-C.
- A balak from
South London attained 3rd position out of 700 students in
the UK in the world renowned Sahitya Academy (Gujarati) Exam.
And this record is now expected to improve with the fully
functioning Guajarati syllabus catering for starters to GCSE
level.
Many
other Sunday Schools around London envy this school. The main
reason being the divine blessings of HDH Pramukh Swami Maharaj,
the dedication of the volunteers and the unique guidance from
the sadhus residing at the Neasden Mandir.
Activities
Cultural
Activities: Awards from the Brent Festival for Folk Dance (First
Prize – 1993),
Sampoorna Sangeet Mela (Second Prize – 1994)
Croydon Music Festival, (First prize – 2000)
A remark by Croydon Music Festival adjudicator: "Great clarity
of words, a round of sargams delivered and many voices singing
in unison truly show that the performance was impeccable. Wonderful,
consistent tempo! A great, lively performance! Well done."
Celebration
of Hindu festivals : Kite Festival, Ramnavmi, Diwali, etc.
(The Shoe Racks during the Hindu New Year celebrations are entirely
run by balaks and sanchalaks.
Over 50,000 pairs of footwear are handled and not a single pair
has gone amiss to date.)
Exams: Bal-Balika Mandal (2 every year), Gujarati (3 every year)
and Satsang (1 each year).
These exams enable the children to consolidate their knowledge
and understanding of things taught in the school.
Physical Activities
Pramukh Cup – National 5-a-side Football Tournament for boys (over
350 competitors)
Premvati Cup – National 7-a-side Netball Tournament for girls
(over 150 competitors)
Sports Days, Summer Camps, Sponsored Walks and Outings
Participation in singing and dancing competitions such as the
annual dances performed in the Gujarati Literacy Academy.
Pramukh Swami
Maharaj is keen to nurture these children because,
"The children of today are the youths of tomorrow".
Needless to say, despite the school being run and funded on a
totally voluntary basis, the enjoyment of the children, self-satisfaction
for the teachers, and the appreciation of parents and the divine
blessings of Swamishri all put together result in one promising
statement: "A voluntary school with a professional standard."
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