Burn Hall School
History
Mill Hill missionaries Fr. Thijssen and Fr. Jong started a boys' school in Srinagar in 1942. "The Willows" building which housed the first Burn Hall School is now the Teachers' Training College.
The Srinagar branch closed down temporarily following the tribal invasion that occurred during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948, and it was restarted on 17 April 1956 with its first principal, Father J. Boerkamp.
Location
Burn Hall School is located in Sonwar, Srinagar. It is neighboured by Ziarat Sharief of Syed Yaqoob Sahib, and Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium.
Administration
Burn Hall School is managed by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Jammu–Srinagar. It is directed by the Education Society of the Jammu-Srinagar Diocese. The school serves children from age 3 years through secondary school.
Social status
According to Greater Kashmir, in 2015 District Development Commissioner Farooq Ahmed Shah praised Burn Hall for "spreading quality education". Kashmir Observer said it is "a prestigious institution in the city, with one of the oldest schooling traditions". Yet Greater Kashmir also reported, in an article about matriculation exam results, "While the old famed brands like Tyndale Biscoe School, Presentation Convent Higher Secondary School and Burn Hall may still be first choice for schooling in this summer capital, other private schools including new ones seem to be emerging more meritorious, at least on the academic front."
In 2017, former Education Minister Altaf Bukhari congratulated the Principal, Father Sebastian Nagathunkal, for inaugurating a debate program at the school.
Affiliations
Registered as a charitable society, it is affiliated with Jammu and Kashmir State Board of School Education (JKBOSE) and recognized by the Education Department of the Government of Jammu and Kashmir. It follows the directions from the Directorate of School Education, Srinagar.
Public empowerment liability
The school's lease agreement on government land requires the school to hold places to admit students from the low economic sector of society.
Curriculum
Burn Hall School follows curriculum of the JKBOSE, and as an English medium school, it places special emphasis on usage of English language in student-teacher and student-student interaction. Extra-curricular cultural and literary activities, as well as environment and science activities, provide experiential learning opportunities.
Notable alumni
- Omar Abdullah - Politician
- Agha Shahid Ali - English poet
- Rohit Bal - Fashion designer
- Haseeb Drabu - Economist, politician
- Zain Khan Durrani - Bollywood actor
- Mirwaiz Umar Farooq - Politician
- MC Kash - Rap / Hip hop artist
- Autar Kaw - Academic
- Ahmer Khan - Independent journalist
- Amjad Khan - Cricketer
- Kunal Khemu - Bollywood actor
- Sajjad Gani Lone - Politician
- Amitabh Mattoo - Educationist, policy maker
- Junaid Azim Mattu - Politician
- Shafat Qazi - IT entrepreneur
- Tanvir Sadiq - Politician
- Sanjay Suri - Bollywood actor
Former principals
- 1956–1962: Fr. Boerkamp MHM
- 1963–1964: Fr. Kuipers MHM
- 1964–1967: Fr. J. Mc Mohan MHM
- 1968–1977: Fr. J. Jones MHM
- 1977–1983: Fr. J.C. Hugh OFM Cap.
- 1984–1989: Fr. Dominic OFM Cap.
- 1990–1992: Br. V. J. Mani SG
- 1992–1993: Br. Raju John SG
- 1993–1997: Br. Jacob SG
- 1997–2001: Br. George SG
- 2001–2007: Fr. Maria John
- 2007–2012: Fr. Raphael Jey Kumar
- 2012–2014: Fr. Ivan Pereira
- 2015–3 Nov 2021: Fr. Sebastian Nagathunkal
- 3 Nov 2021–present: Fr. Stalin Raja