St.Mary's HSS ,Pattom

 St. Mary’s HSS, Pattom – A Pioneering Beacon of Education in Kerala

Nestled atop the serene hillock beside the magnificent St. Mary’s Cathedral in Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram, St. Mary’s Higher Secondary School (HSS), Pattom has stood as a benchmark for scholastic accomplishment since its inception in 1940. Founded by the visionary Archbishop Mar Ivanios—affectionately known as the “Newman of India”—this institution began as the Sachivothama Shashtyabdhapoorthy Memorial English High School, welcoming its first cohort of 260 students guided by just 12 teachers.

Over the decades, it has evolved into one of Asia’s largest schools by student strength, serving over 12,000 students across divisions ranging from kindergarten to Higher Secondary, supported by a dedicated staff of approximately 400 .

 The school's divine patronage under Major Archbishop Baselios Cardinal Clemis aligns it firmly with the Malankara Syrian Catholic Church’s ethos of inclusive, value-driven education.

🏫 Academic Excellence & Infrastructure

Comprehensive curriculum: The school follows the Kerala State Board from grades 5–12, with a Higher Secondary wing added in 1998–99—offering Science, Commerce, and Humanities streams .

Outstanding results: In a 2012 statewide board exam, the school achieved a 90.5% pass rate and secured 56 A+ achievers, among the highest in the region .

Modern facilities:

Smart classrooms: As of 2018–19, 28 higher-secondary classrooms were equipped with LCD projectors, laptops, and digital whiteboards, funded by KITE 

Computer labs: The school runs multiple labs: 60 computers in HSS labs, and about 100 more across UP and HS sections.

 

Auditoria: A main auditorium (≈5,000 seats), a mini-auditorium (700 seats), a conference hall, and AV centers have been built to support large-scale functions.

Library & campus: Equipped with over 6,000 books, this institution provides inclusive infrastructure—ramps for special-needs students, spacious grounds, and reliable essentials like power and water supply 

🎯 Holistic Student Development

St. Mary’s places strong emphasis on well-rounded growth:

Clubs & celebrations: A vibrant student life featuring NCC, NSS, cultural fests like Kalolostavom, annual sports, Independence and Gandhi Jayanti events, teacher days, reading days, and science fairs.

Support systems: Offers career guidance, counseling, special classes for differently-abled students, and encourages social responsibility—lending itself results like “Swachh Class” awards and initiatives like a vegetable garden .

Spiritual foundation: A Christian institution that welcomes all communities, nurturing moral and spiritual values alongside academic rigour .

💻 A Journey of Transformation

Earlier infrastructure challenges—like leaking roofs and overcrowding—were addressed through Kerala government initiatives and funding such as KIIFB/KITE. By 2021, upgrades included digital classrooms, reliable water and power supply, updated labs, and new buildings, signaling the school’s commitment to contemporary education 

🌟 Leadership & Legacy

Leadership lineage: Began with Shri A. Sankara Pillai (first Headmaster) and continues under respected figures such as Rev. Dr. Varkey A.V., Rev. Fr. Nelson P., Smt. Rani M. Alex, and others who steer the academic, moral, and administrative vsion.

Alumni impact: With tens of thousands of former pupils, the school’s alumni network spans multiple fields, a testament to its enduring influence and societal contribution.