About The School
Education remains one of the most powerful forces shaping generations and societies. Standing in Mumbai’s historic Fort precinct, The Cathedral and John Connon School represents 165 years of educational excellence in India. Rooted in tradition yet responsive to contemporary realities, the institution prepares students not only for academic achievement, but for purposeful and principled lives.
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Founded in 1860 by the Anglo-Scottish Education Society, the school began as a modest grammar school for boys and girls established by Bishop Harding and the Cathedral Chaplain. In 1881, a landmark building was constructed on the Esplanade and named after Mr. John Connon, philanthropist and Chief Registrar of Bombay. Today, the school comprises five divisions: the Pre-Primary, Infant, Junior, Middle, and Senior Schools.
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For over a century and a half, Cathedral has upheld exacting academic standards. Students pursue the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) or the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) through Grade 10, followed by the Indian School Certificate (ISC) or the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) in Grades 11 and 12. Achievement is earned through sustained discipline, intellectual rigour, and commitment to excellence. The Learning Resource Centre ensures that students with learning differences receive dedicated academic support.
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The school community is organised into four Houses, fostering loyalty, camaraderie, and a spirit captured in the guiding ethos: “School first, House next, Self last.” Cultural and athletic pursuits form an integral part of school life. Inter-House and Inter-School competitions in debates, dramatics, elocution, and music stand alongside team sports such as soccer, rugby, cricket, and basketball, as well as individual disciplines including tennis, squash, badminton, athletics, gymnastics, and swimming.
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Beyond the formal curriculum, Cathedral promotes intellectual curiosity, service, and global engagement. Students participate in initiatives such as The Cathedral Model United Nations, The International Award for Young People, The Nature Club, Symposium, the Interact Club, and the School Choir, an enduring tradition of musical excellence. Through these programmes, students develop independence, resilience, and a spirit of responsible citizenship.
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The school’s alumni community includes leaders across industry, science, public service, law, medicine, the arts, and social impact. For 165 years, Cathedral has demonstrated that the integration of academic discipline and co-curricular enrichment shapes confident, compassionate, and globally aware individuals.
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Like all enduring institutions, Cathedral continues to evolve. While grounded in its heritage, it reflects the diversity and dynamism of modern India, melding the best of its past with the demands of the present and the possibilities of the future.