Bombay Scottish School, Mahim

The institution was founded in 1847 at Byculla in Bombay, British India by a small group of Scottish missionaries as the Scottish Female Orphanage. The orphanage was set up to educate the daughters of Scottish Presbyterian soldiers and Indian navy seamen. The success of the Scottish Female Orphanage led to the establishment of a similar institution for boys known as the Orphanage for the Sons of Presbyterians in 1857. In 1859, the Scottish Female Orphanage and the Orphanage for the Sons of Presbyterians were merged to form The Bombay Presbyterian Male and Female Orphanage. In 1863, the name of the institution was altered to the Bombay Scottish Orphanage. The institution acquired a large plot of land adjacent to the Mahim Bay. Here a boarding school was built to impart education on the model of British schools. The school building was designed by D. E. Gostling and J. Morris and sanctioned by the Government of Bombay on 15 July 1875. The construction of the school building was commenced on 8 December 1875 by Sir Philip Edmond Wodehouse, then Governor and President in Council. The construction of the Bombay Scottish Orphanage was completed on 28 February 1878 at a cost of 84,015. The orphanage was opened by Sir Richard Temple Bart, then Governor and President in Council on 13 April 1878. The children were shifted from Byculla to their new accommodation in the boarding school at Mahim. The orphanage relied on the public to a considerable extent for monetary funds. Today, the school is open to children from all communities. The school has a sister concern in Powai, Mumbai which was established in 1997. Candidates for the ICSE examination need to finish satisfactorily courses in a third language (Marathi), Art and Craft, Physical Education, Moral Education, Socially Useful Productive Work (SUPW). These are evaluated internally by the school and the results contribute towards the award of the ICSE pass certificate. Field trips, camps and social service visits are organised regularly.

The school flag features the white Cross of St. Andrew against a blue background. St. Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland. The flag is flown during ceremonial occasions. The school shield represents the Cross of St. Andrew. The white Crux decussata (cross) quarters the shield into four segments each representing a house colour denoted by the Fleur de lis, the Castle, the Lion and the Palm tree.

The school's motto is 'Perseverantia et fide in Deo', Latin for 'Perseverance and faith in God'.

Bombay Scottish imparts Christian values to its students. A Christmas concert is held every December and is a three day event. Inter house competitions are held in cultural activities such as drama and elocution and sports such as football, throw ball, and basketball. An annual survey conducted by the Outlook magazine in 2002 ranked the school at top position in the Mumbai region.

The institution has had fourteen heads. The Gamaliel Hall and the MacKay Hall are named after notable principals Lazarus Gamaliel and Adam MacKay. After the completion of his tenure at Mahim, Mark David went on to become the first principal of the sister school, Bombay Scottish School, Powai. The school's principals include:

DesignationNameTenureSuperintendent John Anderson 1884–1914Superintendent D. G. Ross 1914–1916Superintendent H. M. Green 1916–1921Superintendent Thornton Ripley 1921–1927Superintendent/Principal Adam MacKay 1927–1947Principal S. A. Badvey 1947–1957Principal Lazarus Gamaliel 1957–1984Principal A. T. Balraj 1984–1987Principal Mark David 1987–1997Principal Rev. Arun Thomas 1997–1999Principal D. P. N. Prasad 1999–2009Principal Melanie Chandrashekhar 2009–2014Principal Molly Paul 2014–2019Principal Sunita George 2019–present

On 11 May 2008, unidentified Shiv Sena activists targeted the name plate of the school and blackened the word 'Bombay' written on one of the school gates with tar and replaced it with 'Mumbai'. The police was notified of the incident and a case was registered. Ironically, Shiv Sena chief, Uddhav Thackeray's sons Aditya and Tejas as well as Raj Thackeray's daughter Urvashi have all studied at Bombay Scottish School.