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Welham Girls' School

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Welham Girls' School
Map
12 Circular Road
Dehradun-248001
India
Information
School typeIndependent
MottoSanskrit: Aartt Shanti Pala Vidya (The aim of education is to bring peace)
Religious affiliation
Secular
Founded1957
FounderH.S. Oliphant
Current Principal
Vibha Kapoor
Founder Principal
Grace Mary Linnel
GenderGirls
Age12 to 18
Enrollment540
Campus12 acres
Houses5
ColoursBlue and White    
MascotKingfisher
Publication
  • News and Views
  • Chrysalis
  • Techkey
  • Delphic
  • Kshitij
AffiliationICSE
ISC
Former pupilsWelhamites
Websitewww.welhamgirls.com

Welham Girls' School is an all girls boarding school located in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India. It was established in January 1957 by Hersilia Susie Oliphant, who had previously founded Welham Boys School in 1937.[1][2]

The school accommodates approximately 540 students between the ages of 12 and 18. Its student body includes pupils from multiple Indian states and Union Territories, as well as from other countries.[3][4][5][6]

History

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The school was founded by Hersilia Susie Oliphant, who came to India in 1920 as a companion to the Princess of Cooch Behar.[7]

In 1937, Oliphant established the Welham Preparatory Boys School (now Welham Boys' School) in Dehradun.[2]

The name Welham is derived from a village in Wales. The school's motto, Artta Shanti Phala Vidya, is in Sanskrit and translates to the aim of knowledge is to bring peace.[8]

The school began with an inaugural batch of ten students, later referred to as the First Ten.[2]

The name Welham is derived from Welham, Nottinghamshire, a village in Nottinghamshire, England. The village is the home town of Hersilia Susie Oliphant. [7]

During the early 1950s, Oliphant began planning the establishment of a residential school for girls in Dehradun. In 1954, she secured the use of Nasreen, a former estate in the Dalanwala area, after its owner, Dr. Hamida, agreed to make the property available for the proposed school.[7] The estate had previously been occupied by refugees following the Partition of India.[7][9]

At the Founder's Day of Welham Boys' School in 1955, Oliphant announced that she had rented premises at 12 Circular Road as the initial location for the girls' school. Welham Girls' School was subsequently established in January 1957 under the leadership of its founding principal, Grace Mary Linnell.[10][11]

Oliphant had originally envisaged a boarding school accommodating between 150 and 200 students. As enrollment increased, the school expanded its campus through the acquisition of adjoining properties. Land for sports facilities was acquired in 1964, followed by the purchase of 17 Municipal Road in 1966 for the junior school and 6 Chander Road in 1967. The property at 19 Municipal Road served as the school's initial administrative and academic centre during its early years.[12]

The school has been described in The Economic Times as one of a group of "old, rich and popular schools — the Eton equivalents in India ... These boarding schools are a state of mind in themselves, an attitude which can't be duplicated".[13]

Architecture

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The campus of Welham Girls' School has developed around Nasreen, a historic building that served as the school's original campus. The structure, designed in the Neo Tudor style with half timbered elements, influenced the architectural character of subsequent campus development.[14]

Originally known as Klonakitty, the building was later acquired by Dr. Sahibzada Saiduzzaffar Khan in the early 20th century and renamed Nasreen, a Persian word meaning flower. At the time of its acquisition, the building was single storeyed. An additional floor was subsequently constructed to accommodate residential and reception spaces.[15]

The Nasreen estate originally extended across approximately five acres. The original building is characterised by Neo Tudor architectural features, including gabled roofs and timber detailing. Subsequent campus buildings were planned around courtyards and pedestrian pathways that follow the site's topography.[1]

Over time, the buildings have undergone restoration and structural conservation, including repairs to architectural elements and interior features. As the school expanded, additional facilities, including hostels, laboratories, an auditorium, a hospital, and a swimming pool, were constructed using reinforced concrete frame structures with masonry infill while maintaining architectural compatibility with the older buildings.[16][1]

Academics

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Welham Girls' School is affiliated with the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations and provides the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education and Indian School Certificate curricula. Prior to affiliating with CISCE in 1994, the school followed the Senior Cambridge examination system. In 2023, the school reintroduced the Cambridge curriculum for its middle school.[17]

Activities and associations

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The school has five residential houses Bulbuls, Flycatchers, Hoopoes, Orioles, and Woodpeckers. Students participate in inter house academic, sporting and cultural activities, along with extracurricular activities such as performing arts, debating, photography and mountaineering.[18][19]

The school also participates in the International Award for Young People programme and organises educational tours and trekking activities. Student exchange programmes are conducted with schools in the United Kingdom, United States, Morocco and Japan.[20][21]

The school is a member of several educational organisations, including Round Square, the Heads' Conference, the International Coalition of Girls' Schools, the Indian Public Schools' Conference, AFS Intercultural Programs, the Confederation of Indian Industry, the Boarding Schools' Association of India, and the Dehradun Public Schools' Association.[21]

Museum

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In June 2025, Welham Girls' School inaugurated a museum on its campus to document the institution's history since its establishment in 1957.[22] The museum is housed in Nasreen, the school's original Neo Tudor style building. Its collection includes archival photographs, documents, memorabilia, and personal artefacts associated with the school's history, including items related to former principals, alumni, and staff.[23]

Among the exhibits are a letter dated 24 January 1984 from former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and artworks by R. K. Laxman.[24]

Extracurricular activities

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The school hosts competitive events such as sports, craft, dramatics, music, dance and photography.[25] Sports include basketball, hockey, swimming, badminton, lawn tennis, athletics, table tennis, karate, shooting and aerobics.[26] The basketball team has won numerous tournaments and represented Uttrakhand at the national level. Several students have been chosen for the India camp as well.[27]

Notable alumnae

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Art and Entertainment

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Business

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Journalism

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Politics and Public Service

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Art and Design

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Literature

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Sports

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References

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  1. 1 2 3 Mohta, Nikita (25 October 2025). "From Indira Gandhi's letter to Indo-Pak wartime contributions: how Welham Girls' School, Dehradun, preserves its rich legacy". The Indian Express. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 "Museum opens at Welham Girls' School documenting institute's history". The Times Of India. 29 July 2025. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
  3. ↑ "Rishi Valley ends Doon's legacy as best boarding school – India News – IBNLive". Ibnlive.in.com. Archived from the original on 23 September 2011. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
  4. ↑ "Award India: Gold completion in Welham Girls' School the largest in India: a peek into their Residential Project with HESCO". Gahs.in. 26 September 2011. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
  5. ↑ "Educationworldonline.net". Archived from the original on 7 May 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
  6. ↑ Top ranked ISC and ICSE Schools: http://www.thelearningpoint.net/home/examination-results-2013/top-icse-and-isc-schools-based-on-academic-performance
  7. 1 2 3 4 Chopra, Jaskiran (22 September 2019). "Dehradun's journey to town of schools, with Miss Oliphant". The Tribune. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  8. ↑ Post, Garhwal (12 August 2026). "Welham Girls' School opens Museum celebrating Legacy of 'Women Who Dared'". Garhwal Post. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
  9. ↑ Post, Garhwal (25 August 2026). "Celebrating 250 Years of Jane Austen at Welham Girls' School". Garhwal Post. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  10. ↑ Post, Garhwal (25 August 2026). "Welham Girls' School to host 68th Founders' Day on 16-17 Oct". Garhwal Post. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  11. ↑ Post, Garhwal (25 August 2026). "Welham Girls to celebrate 63rd Founders' Day virtually". Garhwal Post. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  12. ↑ Post, Garhwal (26 August 2026). "A Tribute to Grace Mary Linnell". Garhwal Post. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  13. ↑ Ghosh, Aniruddha; Naithani, Ambika (5 November 2006). "At school, forever". The Economic Times. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  14. ↑ Chaturvedi, Megha (7 July 2025). ""Never compromise on what you believe in": Inside the ethos of Welham Girls' School". India Today. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  15. ↑ Contents, WA (20 July 2023). "Where Education Meets Aesthetics: Discover 5 Indian Schools with Remarkable Architectural Brilliance". World Architecture Community. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  16. ↑ Sharma, Yahvi (26 January 2026). "Inside Welham Girls' School's Living Museum of Memory". Goodhomes. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  17. ↑ Welham Girls School Dehradun: Admission, Fees, Campus & Reviews, retrieved 20 August 2026
  18. ↑ Post, Garhwal (25 August 2026). "VoW-Welham 'Sahitya Spriha' – 'Beyond Words, To Ideas'". Garhwal Post. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  19. ↑ Post, Garhwal (25 August 2026). "Welham Girls' School wins DDPSA Senior Girls' Basketball Final". Garhwal Post. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  20. ↑ Post, Garhwal (25 August 2026). "Annual Sports Meet held at Welham Girls' School". Garhwal Post. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  21. 1 2 "The Role of International Exposure in Welham Girls School". Education. 4 October 2024. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  22. ↑ "Museum opens at Welham Girls' School documenting institute's history". The Times Of India. 29 July 2025. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
  23. ↑ "New museum unveiled at Welham Girls' School, Dehradun". The Tribune. 30 July 2025. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
  24. ↑ Mohta, Nikita (25 October 2025). "From Indira Gandhi's letter to Indo-Pak wartime contributions: how Welham Girls' School, Dehradun, preserves its rich legacy". The Indian Express. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
  25. ↑ "The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Dehradun Plus". Tribuneindia.com. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
  26. ↑ "The Tribune, India". Tribuneindia.com. 7 May 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  27. ↑ "YPS, Mohali cagers shine". The Times of India. 6 May 2011. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
  28. ↑ Gopalan, Krishna (8 September 2022). "Ogilvy's new Global CEO is Amritsar-born Devika Bulchandani". Business Today. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  29. ↑ Pesta, Jesse (6 June 2001). "A Look at Two Players in Massacre Could Help Explain Nepalese Crisis". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  30. ↑ Krishna, Geetanjali (21 March 2014). "Business Standard". Business Standard India. Business Standard. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  31. ↑ Gupta, Trisha (23 May 2015). "Secular Deities, Enchanted Plants: Mrinalini Mukherjee at the NGMA". The Wire. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  32. ↑ Bhardwaj, Karan (3 August 2013). "Roots of revival". The Pioneer. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  33. ↑ Chitkara, Vanita; Singh, Ayesha (1 March 2010). "Off the beaten track". India Today. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  34. ↑ "Why everyone's talking about Deepti Kapoor's Age of Vice". The Indian Express. 15 January 2023. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  35. ↑ "Footballer Jyoti yearns for space to play in Delhi". Rediff. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
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30°18′59″N 78°03′23″E / 30.3163°N 78.0564°E / 30.3163; 78.0564

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