The Punjab Public School was started in 1960 with a view to provide quality public school education to the deserving children of the ex-servicemen, serving personnel of the defence forces and civilians. The guiding force in the opening of this school was Sardar Partap Singh Kairon, who was the Chief Minister of Punjab. The school was formally inaugurated by Dr Rajendra Prasad, President of India, in April 1961. The school, in its initial stages, was financed by the Post-War Services Reconstruction Fund.
The moving force for using the Post-War Services Reconstruction Fund for setting up an endowment fund to start a school was Col Naunihal Singh Mann, who prevailed upon Sardar Partap Singh Kairon, sometime in August 1959, to pursue the idea. Sardarp Partap Singh Kairon formed a Sub-Committee consisting of the Education Secretary to the Punjab Government, the Secretary to the Governor of Punjab, the GOC-in-C in Western Command Lt Gen Kalwant Singh, and Col Naunihal Singh Mann to examine the proposal. The committee visited Dehradun to see the Rashtriya Indian Military College, and several other public schools, and finalized its report within a month.
On receiving the report, the Chief Minister asked the committee to select a Headmaster for the school. He also suggested that the committee should go around and see the buildings, belonging to the princely states, which were suitable for setting up the school. Accordingly, the committee selected the old and new Secretariat and the Guest House of the erstwhile Nabha State, along with a large area of land which would be most suitable for setting up a public school.
On receiving the recommendation of the committee, Sardar Partap Singh Kairon directed that these buildings be handed over for the purpose of the school. The Punjab Government made the buildings and land available to the school, free of cost, and also gave substantial financial help. Mr JK Kate was appointed as the first headmaster on December 30, 1959. It was initially named as ‘Sainik School’ since its purpose was to be a feeder to the National Defence Academy, Kharakwasla. It was formally inaugurated on 11 April 1961 by the President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad.
Mr Ajay Singh is the current headmaster of the school. The school has grown exponentially under his leadership. The school has won several accolades of late. These include Educational Excellence Award,the School with Best Infrastructure of the Year Award from the Punjab region (National School Awards 2020) and PPS being ranked No. 10 in the 14th Annual Education World India School Rankings survey concluded in December 2020. Besides, Mr Singh was conferred the 1st CV Raman Award for Principal. The school is affiliated to the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), New Delhi and Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE).
