A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL
The Bardsley English Medium Senior Secondary school was started in the year 1964, with classes from K. G.1 to class IV. These classes were held on the verandah. Gradually under the able and dedicated leadership of Mrs. Rachael Cooke the founder of this institution, the beautiful building, consisting of a big hall, the staff room, 8 classrooms and a laboratory came up and the classes were upgraded up to class VIII. This building was dedicated to Mrs. Rachael Cooke and a tablet with the inscription ‘Great are thy Blessings, O’ Lord’ was unveiled by her on the 23rd January, 1976. The school, which now consisted of classes from K. G. 1 to class VIII was the much wanted first English Medium School of the town for which people of Katni always remember Mrs. R. Cooke with deep regard.
After the sad demise of Mrs. R. Cooke due to a brief illness on the 11th January 1986, Miss. C. P. Salve took over as an in-charge and looked after the school from February 1986 to December 1987, alongside with her responsibility as the Principal of the Bardsley Girl’s Higher Secondary School. On the 1st January 1988 Rev. S. Nelson took over the charge as Principal from Miss C. P. Salve. Under the able leadership and untiring efforts of Former Principal Rev.S. Nelson the school has increased its stature by leaps and bounds.
In the year 1989 the school was upgraded as high school. Again in the year 1991-92 it was upgraded as Higher Secondary School having Science and Commerce streams. The School is now managed by the BECNIJD (Board of Education Church of North India Jabalpur Diocese) with the Bishop as the chairman. Previously BECNIJD was known as NDBE (Nagpur Diocesan Board of Education).
The school is now a full-fledged Senior Secondary School, affiliated to the CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) New Delhi from 01/04/1998. This could only be possible due to the keen interest and encouragement of the management headed by our former chairmen, The Rt. Rev. F. C. Jonathan, The Rt. Rev. S. Cak and our Present Bishop and Chairman, The Most Rev. Dr. P.C. Singh, our hardworking and dynamic Manager of the school Mrs. Norah Singh and continuous efforts of our Principal Rev. S. Nelson.
Four new Blocks, Block-‘A’, Block-‘B’, Block-‘C’ and Block-‘D’ have been added till date. Our Hon’ble Moderator, CNI Synod, Bishop of Jabalpur Diocese and Chairman, The Most Rev. Dr. P. C. Singh inaugurated the ‘D’-Block. We have recently added 6 new rooms in the ‘A’ and ‘B’ Blocks and a new staircase has been added between ‘B’ and ‘C’ Blocks. We have projects for 6 more classrooms and one Auditorium. The school has a good library, book bank, well ventilated classrooms, playgrounds, gardens, and advanced laboratories for all faculties.
Our students have brought rich laurels to the school with their good performance in their studies, debates, games and other activities. Due to the efforts of our Hon’ble Moderator CNI, Synod and Bishop of Jabalpur Diocese The Most Rev. Dr. P. C. Singh, we also have the Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) in our school premises where the School Fee is accepted encouraging the slogan "Cashless India" by our Honourable Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi . Today we can reiterate with conviction our inscription, ‘Great are thy Blessings O’ Lord’.
The school is a Minority run Institution which takes NO GRANT FROM THE GOVERNMENT and depends entirely on the money obtained as fee from the pupils. Now the school is being headed by the Officiating Principal Mr. Atul Anupam Abraham.
Our motto “Love and Serve” handed down to us by our founder, inspires us to love and serve our fellow beings. May the almighty God guide us and bless us in this great endeavour of service to humanity no looking back, but ever striving to bring out the best in our students to make them worthy citizens of the nation. Amen.