Bishop Cotton Girls' School

Infobox UK school
name = Bishop Cotton Girls' School


size = 140px
latitude =
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motto = "Nec Dextrorsum Nec Sinistrorsum"
("Neither to the Right Nor to the Left")
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established = 1865
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closed =
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type = Private School, Boarding School
religion = Protestant (Church of South India)
president =
head_label = Principal
head = Mrs. Princess Franklyn
r_head_label =
r_head =
chair_label = Chairman & Deputy Moderator
chair = Rt. Rev. S. VasanthKumar, Karnataka Central Diocese
founder = Rev. S.T.Pettigrew,Rev. J.Gordon and Rev. R.Firth [http://www.cottongirls.com/History.htm A History of Bishop Cotton Girls' School, Bangalore] ]
founder_pl = Rev. J.GordonRev. R.Firth
specialist =
street = St. Marks Road
city = Bangalore
county = Karnataka
country = Indiaflagicon|India
postcode = 560 001
LEA =
ofsted =
staff = 150 (approx.)
enrollment =
gender = Girls
lower_age =
upper_age =
houses = Barton, Elmes, Foley, Maiden, Millington, Waller
colours = Green and Gold color box|greencolor box|gold
publication = The Cottonian
free_label_1 =
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free_3 =

Bishop Cotton Girls' School, also known as BCGS, is a private all-girls' school for boarders and day scholars in Bangalore, Karnataka, India. It is known for its rigorous curriculum, house system, organized games and school sports, and the prefect system. The school also offers numerous academic scholarships, which aid students from lower income backgrounds to afford tuition and boarding fees. It has been awarded the International School award by the British Council, and is regarded as one of Asia's leading academic institutions.

History

Founded in 1865, it is one of the oldest established boarding schools in Asia.

The school was named after Bishop George Edward Lynch Cotton, the son of an Army Captain, who died leading his Regiment in battle. He was a scholar of Westminster School, and a graduate of Cambridge. In 1836 he was appointed Assistant Master at Rugby by Doctor Thomas Arnold, o­ne of the founders of the British Public School System.

Situated in Bangalore City, the school originated from a co-educational system, until its split from Bishop Cotton Boys School in the nineteenth century. It is based on the ICSE format of education, and has teaching facilities from Kindergarten, 1 to 10 (ICSE) as well as 11 and 12 (ISC).

Bishop Cotton Girls School has many extracurricular activities, such as sports, debates, creative writing, dramatics, declamation, verse speaking and choir. Over 140 years old, it has been visited by eminent personalities, including former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Fact|date=May 2008It is affiliated with Bishop Cotton Boys School, which is situated nearby on St. Marks Road. It is also affiliated with the Bishop Cotton School in Shimla.

The School Song and Founder's Hymn

The Bishop Cotton school song was penned by Rev. H. Pakenham-Walsh, of the Brotherhood of St. Peter, Warden of the school from 1907 to 1913, later to become Bishop. The words were set to music by N.M. Saunders, Esq..With its refrain "On, Straight, On", it follows the spirit of the School Motto, "Nec Dextrorsum Nec Sinistrorsum", Latin for "Neither to the Right Nor to the Left". The honored tradition of singing the school song and the Founder's Hymn in the Chapel or in assemblies held in the School Auditorium continues to this day.

Old Cottonians

Alumni of the school are known as Old Cottonians, or OCs. The Old Girls' Association (OGA) Members President is Mrs. Girija Shankar.

Some Famous Old Cottonians include:
*Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Chairman & Managing Director of Biocon Ltd., and India's Richest Woman in 2004
*Jayalalitha, famous Actress turned Politician, and Former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, India
*Nafisa Joseph, Miss India Universe 1997, successful model, and a respected Animal Rights Activist
*Diana Hayden, Miss World 1997, actress, and host of the History Channel's "Biography" series in India

References