What you see - In the now congested lanes of Hyderguda at Himayatnagar is St. Paul's High School, part of the trio of All Saints' and Little Flower. 'Truth is Light' etched in green on the top of the main building welcomes students as they stroll in through the main gate and onto the grounds.

Former All-England Badminton Champion, Pulella Gopichand and Dr. K Srinath Reddy who heads the Department of Cardiology at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences are known to have graduated from this school.

Like Little Flower, St. Paul's was started after All Saints' completed its centenary celebrations. In 1954, Brother John of God decided to start a new school as a part of All Saints' at King Koti. About 300 students and faculty were then shifted from All Saints' to St. Paul's. In 1955, the school was shifted to its current premises at Hyderguda and in 1958 under Brother Stanislaus the school was made an autonomous institution.

What you get - The co-educational school follows the syllabus prescribed by the state (SSC). The process of education is based on traditional values blended well with modernity. Students till class 9 even have a compulsory Moral Science class as a part of the syllabus. Here they are given important lessons on life, morals and honesty.

Then there is a fine for throwing garbage outside the dustbin and as an incentive any student who reports another's disobedience of the rule, is given a part of the money earned through the fine. There is also a strict "English only" policy enforced during school hours to encourage students to develop their communication skills.

The examination system followed is the same as All Saints' and Little Flower where 50% of the marks are for year round performance and 50% for the Annual Examinations. There are special classes for students who need more attention.

The school has four mid-size buses to transport students and the charge is around Rs. 250 a month. The school also has many clubs to encourage extra-curricular and co-curricular activities. It has a state-of-the-art badminton court, a conference room equipped with two projectors for presentations and 12 table tennis tables. The St. Paul's Table Tennis Academy is run by Nagendar Reddy and Ibrahim, both former national level table tennis players. The school also boasts of two full size basketball courts and two volleyball courts. There is also a HAM Radio training centre at the Alphonsa Hall there. The school has a large canteen, which provides for lunch, stationery, text books and uniforms.

The average number of students in each class is 60 and there is enough space in the large classes to accommodate students. The school has around 80 teachers and about 3,300 students. The school has an active alumni association and network to help students stay connected.

Our verdict - Admission is tough here as there is a common admission form for All Saints', Little Flower and St. Paul's. Besides, you cannot give your order of preference while filling the admission form. However, St. Paul's has good facilities for training in badminton, table tennis, volleyball and basketball. In fact, it is widely known for conducting the Annual State Ranking Tournament for Table Tennis.

Drive to - St. Paul's High School

Hyderguda, Hyderabad - 500029.

Call at - 040-23222092

Anytime between - 8.45 AM - 4 PM.