“Regaining our #1 rank is certainly gratifying. But for us in the 172-years vintage Woodstock School, the real measure of success is whether we continue to live up to the trust that families place in us. Our highest scores under the parameters of teacher competence, teacher welfare and development, curriculum and pedagogy, individual attention to students and mental wellbeing are deeply gratifying. We continuously invest in our faculty’s welfare and development because we believe the quality of a school rests on the quality of relationships between teachers and students. Our teachers are not simply delivering a curriculum; they are mentors and role models. Moreover, our curriculum and pedagogies are designed to challenge students intellectually while also encouraging curiosity, creativity, reflection and independent thought. At the same time, we recognise that students learn best when they feel safe and supported. Therefore, providing individual attention to children and ensuring their mental and emotional wellbeing are fundamental to what we do. Academic achievement matters enormously, but our deeper responsibility is to help young people develop into thoughtful, capable and compassionate human beings. As we look to the future, we want to remain ambitious for our students while remaining grounded in our core values — humility, compassion and collaboration” — Blair Lee, Principal, Woodstock School, Mussoorie (500 students; 160 teachers)