Forty-five years of
nurturing minds & hearts.
Since 1979, one idea has held steady: that children grow best where there is affection instead of fear. This is the story of how that idea built a school.
The founding years
Modern School is founded
Established at Mahanagar, Lucknow by Shri Rakesh Kapoor, inspired by the philosopher J. Krishnamurti. The motto ‘Know Thyself’ sets the school’s course from day one.
A permanent home in Aliganj
The school moves to its permanent campus in Sector E, Aliganj — the campus it calls home today.
A pool, and the first Cognito
One of the first schools in Lucknow with a swimming pool built to international filtration standards — and the year the first annual Cognito, the school’s celebration of inquiry, is held.
The first ISC batch
Modern School’s first Class XII (ISC) cohort completes its journey through the school.
Lucknow’s first school computer lab
The school opens the first computer lab in any Lucknow school, putting technology in students’ hands early.
The first ISO-certified school in India
Modern School becomes the first school in India to be certified to ISO 9002, and later ISO 9001.
The Golden Peacock National Training Award
National recognition for the school’s commitment to training and quality.
Building a reputation
To the NASA finals
A student team places 8th in the Asian finals of the Space Settlement Design Competition, qualifying for the international round; the team is congratulated by President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
Prof. Yashpal at Cognito
The eminent scientist and Chancellor of JNU visits Cognito and releases the school’s ‘Six Stories’ publication.
Honouring a patron
Shri R.K. Trivedi — former Governor of Gujarat and Chief Election Commissioner — joins the school’s annual celebrations as patron.
A national first in governance
Modern School becomes the first school in India accredited to the Quality Council of India’s standard for quality school governance.
Smaller classes, digital rooms
Class sizes are reduced to 25 and classrooms go digital — the same year the school becomes the first in Lucknow to begin implementing the IB Primary Years Programme.
Shri F.C. Kohli visits Cognito
The man widely regarded as the doyen of the Indian software industry, and former chairman of TCS, visits the school for Cognito.
Bharat Ratna Prof. C.N.R. Rao visits
The head of the Scientific Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India visits Modern School.
The first Mathematics Cognito
Cognito grows a dedicated Mathematics fair, celebrating the joy of inquiry in numbers.
The IB era
Lucknow’s first and only IB World School
Modern School is authorised as the first and only IB World School in Lucknow implementing the Primary Years Programme.
Expressions, the annual art show
A new platform to promote excellence in the visual arts — and to take art seriously as a path in life.
The first Distinguished Alumni Award
Conferred upon Pankaj Agarwal (Class of 1992) — IIT gold medalist and Chancellor of Ram Swaroop Memorial University.
Among the Economic Times Best School Brands
Modern School is honoured among the country’s best school brands, in the presence of Dr. H. Senapaty, Director, NCERT.
First in UP for innovation and creativity
The school’s team is adjudged 1st among 100+ schools of Lucknow and UP in a state-wide competition by the Times of India, presenting to the UP Chief Minister.
A book for parents
The school publishes ‘How Parents Can Help Their Children Love Mathematics.’
The first IB PYP evaluation
The IB Organization sends an external team to inspect the programme in detail over a two-day audit — a review that recurs every four years.
Convening on the future of education
Veteran educationists from across India gather in Lucknow, with CII and CII-YI, to discuss the future of education and preparing children for the 21st century.
A study on stress
The school re-publishes its research comparing stress among Lucknow school children with that of children at Modern School.
The years that followed
The IB programme widens
Modern School becomes the first school in Lucknow to begin implementing the IB Middle Years and Diploma Programmes as a candidate school.
Deming’s philosophy, in a school
The school adopts the management philosophies of W. Edward Deming — whose ideas helped rebuild post-war Japan — in its pursuit of quality.
With our patron, on his 95th
Founder Shri Rakesh Kapoor with the school’s patron, Padma Shri Dr. Nitya Anand, on his 95th birthday — with gratitude for his blessings.
The second IB PYP evaluation
A second external IB evaluation reaffirms the depth of the programme’s implementation.
45 years, under the banyan
Modern School celebrates 45 years with the revival of Under the Banyan — the tree at the heart of its campus and its culture.
