This is oldest co-ed boarding school in the world, spread over 139 acres, was founded by…., admission is granted via..

Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today. India, our country, is home to several schools, some of which are too expensive. The country has a mix of government, private, and international schools, each offering different levels of education and facilities. Each school is affiliated with some educational board: CBSE, CISCE, or various state boards. But do you know which is the oldest co-educational boarding school in the world? Well, the school is situated in Sanawar.

Going by the official website of the school, the Lawrence School, Sanawar, established in 1847, situated at a height of 1750 metres and spread over an area of 139 acres, heavily forested with pine, deodar and other conifer trees, is the fruit of the vision of Sir Henry Lawrence, and his wife Honoria.

Founded by Sir Henry and Lady Honoria Lawrence, Sanawar is believed to be the first co-educational boarding school in the world. On April 15, 1847, a group of 14 boys and girls camped at the top of the foothills of the Himalayas. They lived under canvas for some weeks, anxiously waiting for the first buildings to be completed before the arrival of the monsoon. Thus did Sanawar come into existence. By 1853 the strength had grown to 195 pupils and it was then the School was presented with the King’s Colours.

This is oldest co-ed boarding school in the world, spread over 139 acres, was founded by…., admission is granted via..

It was one of the only six schools and colleges ever to be so honoured in the entire British Empire, the others being Eton, Shrewsbury, Cheltenham, the Duke of York’s Royal Military School and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.

Admission to the School is open to all boys and girls between the age of 9 to 16 irrespective of social status, religion or nationality. “Applications are usually accepted up to the first week of November for any particular year for the candidates seeking admission into Class V (about 20 girls and 45 boys), Class VI (about 05 girls and 10 boys) and Class VII (about 10 girls and 15 boys),” reads the statement on the website. Entrance Tests for these classes are conducted on the second Sunday of November. A limited number of applications are also considered against definite vacancies, for admission to Classes VIII, IX & XI. Applications are received in December and candidates are called for an Entrance Test/Personal Interaction usually on the second Sunday of February for classes VIII and IX, while in April for Class XI (immediately after the Class X Board Examination).

Sanawar is a co-educational boarding school, affiliated to CBSE and has students of varying backgrounds from different parts of the sub-continent. It provides an environment that encourages a questioning mind and gives students many avenues for expressing their creativity and building their skills.

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