The M.CT.M Chidambaram Chettyar International School was founded in the year 2009 with a view to providing a form of education that would prepare students to meet the present day challenges. It was the first Indian School in Chennai to offer the International Baccalaureate programme for grades 11 and 12 (IBDP).

The main feature and the USP of this programme is its global and state-of-the-art approach to education. Apart from preparing the students for seamless entry into streams of higher learning in India and abroad, it is unique in the way it enables and catalyses students to study, learn and pursue the course of their own choice and interest, on their own steam. It sparks off in students, their quest for knowledge and literally delivers the world at the feet of those who enquire. It provides them simple tools on how to gather information and process it on almost any subject they wish to learn more about. It makes the student self sufficient and confident to face the world. We expect students to take advantage of this opportunity in large numbers.

Following the success of the introduction of the IB programme, the School grew and introduced the Cambridge programmes for grades 6-10 from the year 2010 i.e. the Cambridge IGCSE for IX and X and Secondary Programme I for students of Classes VI to VIII. It is now one of the premier institutions located in the heart of the city offering a combination of the international school programmes.

The M.CT.M. Chidambaram Chettyar International School functions under the aegis of the M.CT.M Chidambaram Chettyar Foundation. It is located in a spacious three-acre compound in the heart of Chennai, in Mylapore and has a good ambience and modern buildings. The sports facilities include a 5 side football/ hockey field, an international standard basketball court, volleyball and throw ball courts, two shuttle courts, two cricket nets, a 200-meter running track and an athletic field. It functions as a co-educational day school.

The meaning of the school emblem has to be understood in order to fully appreciate its significance. The monogram at the crest represents artistically, the initial letters of the name of the institution. The chiming bell which hangs from a pendant, is symbolic of the fact that sound is the source of all knowledge.

The Swans (Hansa Birds) on either side represent the power of discriminating good from evil, as the birds are able to sift milk from water.

The book underneath resting on a stand is meant to remind us that it is an important aid to learning and that the purposeful knowledge gained through its reverential study, is the goal of all educational endeavour.

At the bottom is a lamp engraved with the lotus, with the auspicious “swastik” mark on it. The effulgent flame of the lamp represents the removal of the darkness of ignorance and the illumination of true knowledge.

It is hoped that the school emblem which will constantly attract the attention of our pupils will help them grow in knowledge, wisdom and sublime emotions which will bring them peace and prosperity.

Our School Motto, which consists of three words “Smile, Strive and Succeed”, enshrines the quintessence of the purpose and the philosophy of not only the learning process but of life itself.

Wisdom lies in facing them all calmly without being ruffled and in overcoming them with composure.
The smile is not only an indication of moral courage and self-confidence but also radiates joy around.
Strive, one must to achieve great objectives in life. Hard, systematic and sincere toil can alone lead men and women to eminence.
In such circumstances, success will crown our effort and we will achieve our objective. Success is the inevitable reward for selfless work done with equilibrium of mind.

Our education will have fulfilled its lofty mission only if it helps us to smile away our obstacles in cheerful spirit, to strive with might and to succeed in achieving our objective namely, the acquisition of true wisdom.

To create a new global community of young learners in pursuit of knowledge with an innate spirit of inquiry, a reflective mind, sharing, caring, and true learning with like minded learners to reach the pinnacle of a glorious world order brought about by principled and knowledgeable young leaders of the global community.