Schools in Mumbai?

queenbee

Hi - My family will be moving to Mumbai this year. My husband and I are Americans and have four daughters (ages 5-9). It looks like my husband will be working in Goregaon (West).

My question is regarding schools - where do we even begin??? And how hard is it to get into a British or American school (in terms of a wait list, etc). We would like to focus our housing hunt in the area where the children would attend school, but don't know what schools we should be looking at. I have heard of ASB and Ecole Mondiale, but no others... Needless to say, this makes us very nervous - not knowing where to begin!! Any websites, tips, advice on schools??

Thank you!!

Hemmie

ASB would be an option, but you should indeed get them on the waiting list ASAP. However, it's not impossible. Ecole Mondiale is also an option, this is mainly an Indian IB school, but with 30% of the children being foreigners.
For you a very good option would be the Oberoi International school, in Goregaon. It is brand new, not all facilities are ready yet, but I think it will be very similar to Ecole Mondiale, and for you in a much better location.
There are no other real international schools within reasonable distance. We checked out all of them, dismissed Ecole Mondiale because of location (we are in Powai). Oberoi school was our back-up, but since we managed to get a place at ASB our son will be going there next year. Mainly because the curriculum is more similar to the one we have back home, apart from that, Oberoi would probably have been just as good.

Raghu.Kumar

Hi Queenbee,

Welcome to Mumbai. It seems you have a taken a difficult decision as you need to manage a whole lot of things from Schooling to Housing to Relocation. I agree the prime most thing on yur mind should be the schooling part as you have four school going children. As rightly said by Hemmie, Oberoi school is one of the option and you also apply at the American School in Bandra
and be on the waitlist. there are other Intl Schools like the German School, The Singapore Intl School and the Dhirubahi Ambani Intl School. Pl check the below link and you can get more info on the individual schools. I have also given another link called Shambles.net which is a link to International schools across the world, but you may choose India and then narrow it down to Mumbai.
http://www.google.co.in/search?hl=en...tryIN&aq=f&oq=

http://www.shambles.net/

Below is the city train map of Mumbai for you to have an idea of the topography. Staying in Powai would be an ideal option. I have posted details/ youtube videos of Hiranandani gardens in my response to Mumbai mum who is also moving to Mumbai shortly and you may find it useful too.
http://www.mapsofindia.com/maps/mumbai/mumbai_rail.htm

Please shoot your queries as and when you think of anything and we are here to assist.

Best Regards, Raghu Kumar

__________________
S.Raghu Kumar
sahana_kumar@yahoo.com

queenbee

Thank you so much for all of the advice! We are busy looking into everything!

kristebell

Hi, just wondering if anyone has any recommendations of good Indian schools in Mumbai as opposed to the International Schools. I have a 7 year old daughter and am coming to Mumbai to do research for about 9 months or so, and will be working all over the city. We will probably be renting somewhere around Bandra, but the International Schools are well and truly out of my price range. Any tips would be great as whenever I have asked for advice I have only ever heard about the International Schools. Thanks!

queenbee

Hemmie - we are looking at Powai for housing as well (Hiranandani). How long is it to get form Powai to ASB? It seemed far, but I'm not familiar with Mumbai - only via maps! And since you looked at Oberoi, I'm wondering if you know about how much of the student body is expat? I have been in contact with ASB and will start the application process so we may end up there yet (though we have to find 4 spaces!). So much to think about... Thank you!! We will be out in Mumbai early next month so we'll look at the schools in person - it's just good to go having an idea of what to look at/for.

Raghu.Kumar

Hi Queenbee,

The travel time between Powai and Bandra Kurla Comples where the American School is situated should take around 45 minutes to 1 hour during peak hour traffic.

Below is a map for quick reference. You can locate the origin point as Powai lake in front of Hiranandani Gardens.

http://www.mapsofindia.com/maps/mumbai/mumbai_road.htm

Its good that you are starting the application process as it would give you a lead over others.

When are you actually relocating to Mumbai ?

Raghu

Hemmie

Queenbee, sorry for the late reply, have been on holiday.
I haven't done the commute myself yet, but friends tell me it takes 20-25 minutes in the morning to get there, because school starst early, at 8. Back however (at 12 or 3pm, depending on the age) it can take up to an hour, 45 minutes on most days.
We were told Oberoi has 30% expat students, but that includes NRI's I think, so these will still be very 'Indian'. Also, the schooljust started, so when we went there it was still mostly empty, so hard to say how it will be next year. However, especially in the pre-primary and primary school your children wouldn't be the only foreigners.

If you need anything else, just PM me, I will be in town most of the monsoon.

Elles Hooft

Hi Queenbee

Did you decide on the school already? We are still waiting for the job to come through. Decided in the meantime that we will not move now but if so only in December. Good luck with everything, Elles