School History

Sant Baba Amar Singh Ji is well known within the Sikh community as the spiritual leader and the Head of the Guru Nanak Isher Thath Trust, a non profit making organisation and a UK registered charity. Since 1969 the organisation has grown and has a world wide presence with Gurudwaras in New Zealand, United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and throughout India. The organisation’s core belief is education and has addressed this by opening schools in the UK and India.

In 1969 Baba JI opened Anand Isher Public School Punjab India. The first day it opened it had five pupils and now it has over 2,500 children enrolled. The success of this school has led to other schools being opened in Punjab and India.

 

Guru Nanak

Guru Nanak Sikh School – Springfield Road Hayes Middlesex UK

In January 1993 Baba Ji responded to the concerns of the Sikh community in the UK in relation to Sikhism, discipline and educational standards by opening the first Sikh School in Europe, Guru Nanak Sikh College in Hayes, Middlesex. The chair of the governors of the school is Sant Baba Amar Singh Ji and its Headmaster is Rajinder Singh Sandhu.

The school was originally on a three acre site with further eight acres being bought in later years.

Originally the school was privately funded; however despite having limited resources it succeeded in being able to have its first pupil Ms Rai gaining a place at Oxford University. Through the support of the local community and Baba Ji it gained recognition as a voluntary aided school and UK state funding in 1999.

The Schools Philosophy

The school is governed by its vision that Sewa is the Key to Success. Sewa in Punjabi means, self sacrifice, service and hard work through volunteering. As result of this the school is governed by the following philosophic statements:

  • Children should learn first and foremost humility.
  • Children need to learn Sewa – what is it to be a citizen? To become a person that sacrifices themselves for the well being of fellow persons and humanity.
  • Children should be educated to high standards to become high achievers to help flourish and develop their community and humanity as whole.
  • The community regardless of the ethnic, religious, gender and racial backgrounds of its people, should actively partake and share in the values of the work of the school.

Founder & Chairman of Guru Nanak Sikh Schools Sant Baba Amar Singh Ji Chronology of Achievements of Guru Nanak Sikh School Hayes:

  • 1993 Guru Nanak Sikh College Opened
  • 1995 Campaign launched for state funding.
  • 1998 Miss Rai gains a place at Oxford University to study law.
  • 1999 The college state funding and becomes voluntary aided. As result two schools are formed: Guru Nanak Secondary and Primary VA Schools.
  • 2001/02 £3.2million spent on refurbishment of the school buildings and equipment.
  • 2001/02 Awarded the Department of Education and Skills award for achievement.
  • 2002/03 Awarded £16million development funding by the Department of Education and Skills.
  • 2003 Successful Ofsted inspection report of Guru Nanak Secondary School. It stated “the powerful influence of the holy man Sant Baba Amar Singh Ji, who has realised his vision of establishing the school, supported hugely by local Sikhs…… Is an inspiration to students, parents and staff."
  • 2004 Nationally, amongst one of the hundred schools to be recognised as a leading edge school. Thus becoming a model school at a local and national level.
  • 2005 Summer Mela – Organised by governors, parents, pupils, staff and the local community to raise funds for its building programme. The mela successfully raised over £101, 000.
  • 2006 Summer Mela Repeated – Raised further sums for the schools development programme in excess of £100K. Building works to the new primary school start.
  • 2007 Primary school moves into the new building. Expansion into work with slum dwellers in India – provision of education and welfare to families in New Delhi. Furthermore the Primary School receives an excellent Ofsted report…. "At the heart of the schools philosophy is the aim to promote effective learning, caring attitudes and responsible young citizens".
  • 2008 Secondary school afforded the highest status as an “outstanding school” in the ofsted inspection report, which further stated “This is an outstanding school, which not only enables students to reach exceptionally high academic standards but also to develop into mature, well-rounded young people prepared for the next stage of their education and life.”