Occupying pride of place in the Kamla Nagar township of the bustling city of Kanpur, is the verdant 11-acre campus of the Sir Padampat Singhania Education Centre (SPSEC). Promoted by the late Govind Hari Ji Singhania (1937-2014) to commemorate the extraordinary contributions of his industrialist-philanthropist father Sir Padampat Singhania (1905-1979) to Indian society, SPSEC admitted its first batch of 250 students mentored by 11 teachers in 1982. 

Over the years, this CBSE-affiliated K-12 co-ed day school has earned an excellent reputation in Kanpur and in India’s most populous Hindi heartland state of Uttar Pradesh for providing holistic 21st century school education to its 3,419 students mentored by 167 teachers. In the latest EducationWorld India School Rankings 2024-25, SPSEC is ranked Kanpur’s #1 co-ed day school and #2 in Uttar Pradesh.

“SPSEC is more than an institution—it is a movement. A living, breathing legacy where every child is nurtured to be intellectually fearless, morally strong, emotionally intelligent, and socially committed. We do not just prepare students for examinations; we prepare them for life. Whether it is integrating NEP 2020-aligned pedagogy, embracing technology-driven instruction, fostering interdisciplinary learning, or nurturing ethical leadership, SPSEC remains steadfast in its mission — to raise learners who not only succeed in life but also make life better for others,” says Bhawna Gupta, principal, SPSEC.

An English literature and education postgraduate of Kanpur University with an Education Leadership certificate from IIM Calcutta, Gupta signed up with SPSEC in 1996 as a secondary school teacher, steadily rising up the ranks to hold the principal’s office in 2017. 

In recognition of her outstanding contribution to the field of education, Bhawna Gupta has received several prestigious accolades. These include the British Council’s Global Teacher Accreditation Award 2013, the National Award for Excellence in School Leadership, the Educational Visionary Award, and several honours from reputed academic organisations for her trailblazing work in transforming K–12 education. She is regularly invited to national conferences, CBSE/ICSE summits, and NEP 2020 implementation panels to speak on school transformation, teacher development, and values-driven education.

Contemporary Infrastructure 

Among the first modern private schools promoted in Kanpur after independence, SPSEC’s world class infrastructure enables contemporary academic and sports education. 

With a built-up area of 6,500 sq. metres, the school’s wi-fi enabled campus hosts separate junior, primary, secondary and senior secondary buildings which house 65 air-conditioned Smart classrooms, four state-of-the-art science labs, an integrated lab, psychology lab, music lab, astronomy lab, heritage & sculpture lab, additive manufacturing (3D printing) lab, AR-VR lab, art & sculpture lab, meditation centre, vedic mathematics lab, multimedia rooms, teachers’ resource centre, and a 150-seats library stocked with 33,566 print volumes, subscription to 36 magazines/journals and 6 newspapers.

Inaugurated in May 2025, the Skill School, also known as the Robotics & 3D Lab, is part of SPSEC’s Shri Govind Hari Singhania Centre for Advanced Learning. The Skill School is not just a space — it’s a mindset shift; where creativity meets code, culture meets innovation, and curiosity meets purpose. With its world-class infrastructure, strategic academic partnerships, and commitment to hands-on learning, SPSEC’s Skill School is shaping learners who are technically equipped, culturally rooted, ethically aware, and globally ready.

Moreover, the school’s carefully landscaped Navgrah Vatika, Buddha Vatika and Lady Anusiya botanical gardens (dedicated to the memory of Govind Hari Singhania’s mother) and a bio-technology museum provide students excellent outdoor and experiential learning opportunities. 

Comprehensive Sports & Co-curricular Education 

True to its vision of holistic education, SPSEC offers a vibrant spectrum of sports and co-curricular programmes as an integral part in shaping the future-ready, self-assured learners. The school encourages students to build physical endurance, discipline, and team spirit. Inter-house tournaments and participation in district and national-level competitions further motivate students to strive for excellence in sports. 

Eight well-qualified coaches mentor students in several sports. Games facilities include two large sports grounds, 13 cricket pitches, an international standard synthetic tennis court and state-of-the-art sports academy with facilities for professionally-administered training in cricket, football, tennis, taekwondo, badminton, volleyball, basketball, archery, gymnastics and roller-skating. Indoor games facilities include table-tennis, carom and chess rooms. 

Driven by its belief in the power of expression, exploration, and experiential learning, SPSEC offers a diverse array of co-curricular platforms that develop communication skills, creativity, critical thinking, and environmental consciousness. Among them: Speaker’s Corner (public speaking forums aimed at fostering articulate communication, mutual respect, and collaborative thinking; Abhivyakti (a creative writing initiative where students compose and present poetry, enhancing literary skills and emotional expression); monthly blog competitions to nurture original thought and improve creative writing and digital articulation; Dramaturgy (a vibrant theatre programme that cultivates stage presence, confidence, and dramatic arts through well-curated performances); Nature’s Walk (experiential learning sessions in botanical settings, promoting ecological awareness and appreciation for biodiversity) and Singhanians’ Exprimer (a student-led digital newsletter that showcases original writing, poetry, art, and student perspectives.

The school also encourages its students to engage in several environmental conservation projects including visits to waste management & sewage treatment plants, rainwater harvesting, composting, paper and plastic recycling initiatives, Birds’ Water and Food Stations, Measuring Temperature for Green Cover Study. Community service initiatives such as Adoption of Government School: Supporting underprivileged students with resources, quality teaching, and infrastructural improvements, Road Safety Awareness Campaigns: Creating awareness in the community about sustainability, green and clean city, Ghat Cleaning Drives: Volunteering efforts by students to maintain the sanctity and cleanliness of riverfront areas and restoration of archaeological sites. Collaborating with authorities to conserve heritage landmarks, building civic sense and historical awareness, are also encouraged.

Robust Teacher Development Framework

At Sir Padampat Singhania Education Centre (SPSEC), professional growth of educators is regarded as pivotal to sustaining academic excellence and pedagogical innovation. The institution offers a robust framework for the continuous professional development of its teachers through structured programmes, collaborative platforms, and welfare initiatives that empower educators at every stage of their career. Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), mentorship programmes, support for higher education and certifications, workshops and training modules.

“The future of education lies in empowering young minds to navigate the unknown with courage, curiosity, and compassion. At SPSEC, we are committed to building a dynamic learning ecosystem where we move forward with a determined vision, our focus will remain on nurturing innovators, thinkers, and responsible global citizens who lead with purpose and integrity,” says Bhawna Gupta. 

Distinguished Alumni 

– SPSEC takes pride in its accomplished alumni who have carved distinguished careers in diverse fields worldwide. Among them:

– Ashutosh Agnihotri (Batch 1991) – IAS Officer and Additional Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.

– Vaibhav Jindal (Batch 2015) – Assistant Commissioner CGST.

– Sonakshi Singh (Batch 2021) – Assistant Superintendent of Police, Haryana.

– Charul Gupta (Batch 2002) – Senior Manager, Product Management, Transport for London.

– Dr. Shobhit Gupta (Batch 2013) – Research Engineer, General Motors R&D, Detroit, USA.

– Dr. Ankit Sakhuja (Batch 2001) – MBBS from AIIMS, New Delhi and Internal Medicine Specialist, USA.

– Parnika Agarwal (Batch 2008), completed her PGD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA.

– Ankit Mittal – MBA, Edhec Business School, France. 

– Neelesh Dwivedi (General Manager, State Bank of India).

– Dr. Richa Tandon (Batch 1997) – chief medical officer, Central Health Services.

– Chitranshi Arora (Batch 2010) – civil judge & metropolitan magistrate, Delhi.

– Pankhuri Shukla (Batch 2015) – judicial magistrate cum civil judge, Haryana.

– Abhijeet Singh (Batch 2009) – judicial magistrate and civil judge, Madhya Pradesh.

– Serving the nation in armed forces are Gurinder Singh Gujral (Batch 1998), Nikhil (Batch 1999), Kush Tripathi (Batch 1999), Ravi Dutta (Batch 2000), Suneet (Batch 2001), Madhav Dubey (Batch 2002) and Anuj Dixit (Batch 2015).

– Proud rank holders in CLAT – Shivansh Chaudhary AIR 3, Akshat Agarwal AIR 5.

– Parth Tripathi, a proud alumnus of SPSEC, earned distinction by securing top position in the city in the CA Final Examination (May 2024).

SPSEC Awards & Accolades 

• SPSEC students have been welcomed into premier national institutions such as the Gujarat National Law University (GNLU) and National Academy of Legal Studies and Research University of Law (Hyderabad).
• In the Class X CBSE Board Examinations 2025, Aadhar Khare secured an aggregate of 99.2 percent and Keshav Dwivedi achieved 98.6 percent, winning the first and second city ranks respectively. Of the 238 students who wrote the exam, an impressive 93 students secured above 90 percent with 34 perfect scores in various subjects.
• In the CBSE Class XII Board Exam (AISSCE) 2025, Ananya Bajpai (Science Stream) scored 98.8 percent, emerging as the school topper. Of the 210 students, 58 secured above 90 percent, and 34 students attained a perfect score in individual subjects.
• Several SPSEC students showcased exemplary performance in NEET-UG 2024. Nayani Jaiswal – AIR 1329 (IMS BHU); Shreya Chaudhary – AIR 7674 (Lady Hardinge Medical College); Other qualifiers: Vaibhavi Singh, Pallavi Jain, and Mubshra Khan
• In the Lady Anusuiya Singhania Memorial All India English Debate Competition (National Level), SPSEC students were awarded trophies, certificates, and a cash prize of Rs. 12,000, reflecting their eloquence and critical thinking.
• In Model United Nations (District & State Levels), the SPSEC delegation was adjudged as the Best Delegation, showcasing diplomacy, analytical rigour, and global awareness.
• In Inter-School Hindi & English Debate competitions (City Level), SPSEC orators secured #1 position in both categories, affirming the school’s linguistic excellence in both national and international languages.
• Manak Inspire Award (National Level): Innovative student projects were recognised with a Rs. 10,000 cash prize, highlighting the spirit of scientific inquiry and entrepreneurship.
• SOF Olympiads (International Level): Students clinched the Gold Medal of Excellence in English, General Knowledge, Mathematics, and Science Olympiads, demonstrating academic brilliance on a global platform.
• TOSC – Techkriti by IIT Kanpur (National Level): SPSEC students ranked among the Top 10 countrywide, testifying to their strong foundation in STEM and innovation.
• Table Tennis Tournaments (CBSE District, State & National Levels): Secured championship titles across all levels.
• Taekwondo – Black Belt Test (Organised by Taekwondo Federation of India, International Level): Achieved 1st and 3rd DAN Black Belts.

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