Sir Ramaswami Mudaliar Higher Secondary School

The primary school, started by Natesa Iyer, Deivasigamani Mudaliar and Muthukrishna Iyer in Venkatapuram, Ambattur may be regarded as the nucleus of the present school.

In 1927, a registered society called the Ambattur Educational Society had taken over the management of the school and had developed it into a higher elementary school, which was called Sri Maha Ganesa Vidya Sala. The members of the society were very sincere in their efforts and thanks to them, the record of the school was one of steady growth. Due to their continuous efforts and the generosity of the public, the school was able to maintain a steady growth. The society then put up a permanent building for the school in 1953 at a cost of about Rs. 15,000/-. In the same year, after obtaining permission from the Department, a secondary school was started in the new building.

In the latter half of 1950 India began to industrialise. Thanks to the efforts of industrial pioneers like A. M. M. Murugappa Chettair, Ambattur became an important centre on the industrial map of India. The hectic industrial growth in and around Ambattur led to a need for providing A. M. M. Murugappa Chettiar greater and better facilities for education. There was also a growing demand from the public for a High School in this locality because students at that time had to go a long way either to Villivakkam or Tiruvallur for High School studies. C. R. Ramanathan, Retd D. E. O. and Headmaster, Sri Maha Ganesa Vidya Sala and V. Swaminatha Iyer, President, Ambattur Educational Society met A. M. M. Murugappa Chettiar and A. M. M. Arunachalam and impressed upon them the need for a High School and convinced them to take up its management. The Ambattur Education Society willingly agreed to transfer the management of the Sri Maha Ganesa Vidya Sala school to A. M. M. Charities Trust. The formal transfer of management took place on 12-09-1957.

Soon after the take over, the management of A. M. M. Charities Trust effected several improvements and took steps to upgrade the school. Our first Correspondent, M. M. Muthiah, and the first Headmaster, C. R. Ramanathan, spared no efforts in developing this school into a model institution.

After obtaining permission from the department of public instruction, Fourth form was opened in 1958 and V & VI forms followed in the next two years. In June 1959, the whole school was shifted from its old site to the three sheds put up on the new site, specially acquired by the management for the school. The new site consisting of 22.03 acres, situated on an elevated ground in the Madras Trivellore High Road, was amidst calm and picturesque surroundings.

The construction of the permanent buildings for the high school was entrusted to M/s.Coromondal Engineering Company - pioneers in building construction - and this was completed by K. Kamaraj, C Subramaniam and Sir Ramaswami Mudaliar June 1960 in a record time. A special colourful function was held in the school premises on 22 June 1960, in which Honorable Chief Minister of Madras State, K Kamraj presided and the then Minister of Education, Government of Tamil Nadu, C Subramaniam declared open the new buildings and unveiled a portrait of Sir Ramaswamy Mudaliar. On 4-07-1960 Sir Ramaswamy Mudaliar visited the school along with A. M. M Murugappa Chettiar and M. M. Muthiah. That was the beginning of Sir A Ramaswami Mudaliar Higher Secondary School as it stands today.[1]

The school became a full-fledged high school and the department accorded permanent recognition to standards VI and X in the following years. The management then took a progressive step by introducing English medium in one section of each standard. Bifurcated courses of study with secretarial and engineering sections were also introduced in order to give equal importance to vocational education and training.

The school was upgraded into a Higher Secondary school on 12 July 1978 and a permanent recognition was accorded by the Education Department.

The school now has a big, renovated auditorium where 3000 students can gather at a time.

The school celebrated its golden jubilee in October 2008; the chief guest for the occasion was A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.[2]

• A.A. Alagammai, Chairperson
• H.Narayanan, Chief Executive—AMM Foundation
• B.Nandagopal, Correspondent & Secretary
• V.Lakshmy, Headmistress [1]

The school is one of the top schools in the government-aided schools category, as is evidenced by this year's Plus Two performance; some statistics:

• Average Mark—860.9 (This is much higher than last year's average mark of 810.3)
• Pass percentage—96.3%
• Highest marks—1169

The school has a new club called the SRM Film Club (குறும்பட மன்றம்) inaugurated by the AMMF Managing Trustee. Short films carrying important values are shown to the club members after which they discuss and interact freely; this may lead to the imbibing of certain values in the young minds.[5]