Delhi hosts one of the country’s highest concentrations of CBSE-affiliated schools. This sheer volume of choice can paralyze parents. Selecting the right school goes far beyond comparing fees; it demands that you align a school’s core philosophy with your child’s future. These ten questions will help you cut through the marketing noise and make a truly informed decision.
Before you begin the admission process, you must scrutinize a school’s CBSE affiliation, its real-world plan for NEP 2020, and its teaching methods. Ask about teacher quality, student safety, and skill education. Your questions will determine if a school offers a future-ready, holistic environment or just an outdated one with a fresh coat of paint.
Key Takeaways
What to Check: Verify a school’s permanent affiliation status, question its specific NEP 2020 implementation, and confirm its teacher-to-student ratio.
Why It Matters: These factors directly dictate the quality of education, your child’s safety, and their preparedness for modern challenges.
How to Use This: Take this list to every school visit and admissions interview. Use it to gauge whether a school’s promises match its reality.
1. Is Your CBSE Affiliation Permanent?
Choosing a school is a long-term commitment, but a school’s affiliation might not be. Some schools operate on a provisional or temporary status that requires constant renewal. This ambiguity can cause massive disruption for your child. You need absolute clarity on the school’s official standing with the Central Board of Secondary Education.
Demand the school’s CBSE affiliation number and its validity period. Crucially, ask up to which grade the school is affiliated. A school with clearance only up to Class X forces your child to switch schools for their critical senior secondary years.
- Verify independently: Use the school’s affiliation number on the CBSE’s official SARAS portal.
- Seek stability: Look for a “Regular” affiliation status. This indicates long-term stability.
- Confirm grade levels: Ensure the affiliation covers both the All India Secondary School Examination (AISSE) for Class X and the All India Senior School Certificate Examination (AISSCE) for Class XII.
2. NEP 2020: Are You Just Talking or Actively Implementing?
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is reshaping Indian education, yet many schools remain stuck in the planning phase. A school that merely talks about NEP 2020 is worlds apart from one actively using its principles. Getting this wrong means your child could be trapped in an obsolete system.
Ask for specific examples of how the school has integrated the National Curriculum Framework for the Foundational Stage (NCF-FS). For children aged 3-8, this is non-negotiable. Look for concrete proof:
- Play-Based Learning: How do teachers use activities, not just books, for learning? Request to see the activity rooms and outdoor play areas.
- Panchakosha Vikas: The NCF focuses on developing five key domains: physical, life energy, emotional, mental, and spiritual. How does the daily timetable reflect this holistic goal?
- Competency Over Rote: How exactly is the school shifting focus from memorization to critical thinking and problem-solving?
3. How Do You Measure Growth Beyond Marks?
The traditional report card is obsolete. CBSE now mandates a focus on assessing specific learning outcomes. If a school’s assessment process still revolves solely around exams and percentages, it is not preparing students for skill-based challenges.
Ask to see a sample holistic report card. This 360-degree report tracks progress in competencies, not just syllabus completion, and should include self-assessment, peer assessment, and teacher assessment. Specifically, ask how the school measures conceptual clarity. This skill is a key advantage of the NCERT curriculum and is vital for cracking national exams like JEE and NEET.
4. Who Is Actually Teaching My Child?
An impressive building means nothing without qualified, motivated teachers. Overcrowded classrooms and underqualified staff can severely damage your child’s learning, especially in primary school where core concepts are formed.
Ask for the minimum qualification requirements for teachers and the current teacher-to-student ratio. A lower ratio in the primary and middle wings means more personalized attention when your child needs it most. The quality of mentorship, not the size of the campus, defines a great school.
5. What Practical Skills Will My Child Learn?
To align with NEP 2020, CBSE mandates that schools offer a range of Skill Education subjects alongside traditional academics. Courses like Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, and Financial Literacy give students practical, modern skills. A school with few or no such offerings is failing to prepare its students for the future.
The Shift in Skill Education
| Traditional Stream | NEP 2020-Aligned Skill Subjects |
|---|---|
| Focus on Physics, Chemistry, Math, Biology | Introduction of subjects like AI, Coding, Design Thinking |
| Limited vocational options | Integration of vocational training from middle school |
| Primarily theory-based assessment | Emphasis on practical, project-based learning |
| Rigid subject combinations | Flexibility to combine skill and academic subjects |
6. Is ‘Co-Curricular’ Just a Buzzword Here?
Many schools list “extracurriculars” as a generic feature on their brochures. Unstructured activities, however, offer limited developmental benefit. You need to know if these programs are thoughtfully planned, integrated into the timetable, and designed to build specific life skills.
Ask for the school’s formal curriculum for co-curricular programs. Schools with structured plans for sports, arts, public speaking, and life skills foster much higher student engagement. This detail is a clear indicator of a school’s commitment to genuine all-around development.
7. Can I See Your Written Safety, Health, and Transport Policies?
Vague assurances about safety are not enough. Parents need to see the concrete, documented policies a school has in place to protect its students.
Request to see the school’s safety compliance certificates, its child protection policy, and its transportation policy. These documents are now major decision factors for parents. Key questions to ask are:
- What is the visitor verification process?
- Are buses equipped with GPS and attended by verified staff?
- What is the exact protocol for a medical emergency?
8. Are Your Smartboards More Than Expensive TVs?
Having smartboards does not equal an integrated digital learning strategy. Technology must be a tool that enhances learning, not a gimmick for the admissions tour. You need to understand how technology actively improves teaching.
Ask how teachers use digital tools for daily instruction, assessment, and communication. A truly modern school will have a clear policy on screen time, use educational software to create personalized learning paths, and provide a portal for parents to track progress online.
9. How Do We Communicate When There’s a Problem?
Problems do not wait for the term-end Parent-Teacher Meeting. A lack of clear, consistent communication channels leads to misunderstandings and missed opportunities to support your child’s progress.
Inquire about the school’s official communication system. Is there a school app or portal for direct contact? What is the expected response time for a query sent to a teacher? How often do parents receive progress updates outside of formal report cards?
10. What Happens if My Child Is Struggling or Bored?
A one-size-fits-all teaching model fails most students; it leaves some behind and others unchallenged. A school’s ability to cater to diverse learning needs reveals its true commitment to inclusive education.
Ask about the presence of a dedicated special educator or school counselor. How does the school identify and support students who are struggling? Conversely, what programs exist for gifted children who need advanced challenges? A great CBSE school will demonstrate clear strategies for adapting its instruction to fit the child, not the other way around.
You can verify any school’s status on the official CBSE website using its SARAS portal. You will need the school’s name or affiliation number to check its current status, the grade level of its affiliation, and its validity period.
Old assessments focused on rote memorization and marks. Competency-based education, a core principle of NEP 2020, evaluates if a student can apply knowledge to solve real-world problems. The assessment is continuous and measures a student’s actual skills, not just their memory.
Yes, all CBSE-affiliated schools must follow the curriculum prescribed by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). This requirement ensures a high-quality, standardized curriculum across India, which is especially helpful for students preparing for national competitive exams.
