Sree Rama Varma High School, officially Sree Rama Varma Govt Model Higher Secondary School and popularly known as SRV High School) is the largest government-owned school in Kochi, Kerala, India. It was founded by the Kochi Royal family as the English Elementary School in 1845.[1] The school was later named after King Rama Varma of the founding Kochi Royal family. After the independence of India from British rule in 1947, and the reorganization of the states of India in 1956, the school was handed over to the Government of Kerala, which now owns and operates it.
In 1845, the school was founded as the English Elementary School, located in what is now the campus of Maharaja's College, Ernakulam. It was renamed as Raja's School in 1865, and was upgraded to a college in 1875. Later,[vague] the school was separated from the college, was moved to its present location, and was renamed Sree Rama Varma High School.[citation needed]
Sree Rama Varma High School offers curricula for grades 1 to 12. The school is divided into four sections: Lower Primary (grades 1 to 4), Upper Primary (grades 5 to 7), High School (grades 8 to 10), and Higher Secondary (grades 11 and 12). The different sections have separate, though adjoining, campuses as well as separate administration.[citation needed]
The architecture of the school showcases the British architectural styling of colonial Kerala. It is a two-story building built using primarily lime and teakwood. The floor and roof utilize terracotta tiles.
Donated by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) during the term of the former chairman Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan (a former student of the school), the school contains a Space Museum, which showcases the ISRO's space research and educates students in space science. The museum displays miniature replicas of ISRO's satellites as well as satellite launch vehicles. The exhibits educate students on various kinds of satellites and launch techniques, namely the ISRO's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, geosynchronous satellites, and related technologies and applications such as remote sensing. It was inaugurated by former President of India Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam on 19 December 2006.
