About us
St. William's Anglo Indian High School · Presentation Convent · Royapettah, Chennai
St. William's Anglo Indian High School, Royapettah, is a Presentation Convent school managed by the Congregation of the Presentation Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary (PBVM). We serve children from LKG to Std X, guided by the vision of our Foundress, Venerable Nano Nagle.
We strive to be a beacon of discipline, integrity and responsibility, where education extends beyond textbooks to include character formation and moral strength. Our goal is to nurture students who are not only academically accomplished, but also ethically grounded, compassionate, resilient and socially responsible. Above all, St. William's remains a place that promotes the empowerment of women, equipping our young women with intellectual strength, moral clarity and self-belief.
Our foundress
Venerable Nano Nagle founded the Congregation of the Presentation Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Cork, Ireland, in 1775. At a time when the penal laws made it illegal to run schools for Catholics, she opened little schools for the poor in secret, convinced that education was a powerful force for transforming society.
She came to be called the Lady of the Lantern because, after a day in the classroom, she walked the streets each evening with a lantern to visit poverty-stricken homes. Her lantern has become our symbol of hope: the light of knowledge and the warmth of compassion.
From its humble beginnings in Cork, the congregation spread across Ireland and to many parts of the world. The Presentation Sisters arrived in India in 1842, and through their schools they have shaped young minds across India and beyond. Beyond education, the Sisters extend their compassionate outreach to the elderly, the sick and the marginalised.
In 2025 the congregation celebrated 250 years since its founding. The Williamites marked this Sestercentennial Jubilee throughout the 2025–26 academic year, renewing our commitment to keep Nano's lantern burning brightly.
If I could be of any service in saving souls in any part of the globe, I would willingly do all in my power.Venerable Nano Nagle
Leadership
Rev. Sr. Vinita, PBVM Correspondent 
Mrs. Pamela Machado Headmistress Our heritage
We remember with gratitude the former Headmistresses whose leadership built the school.
Every student belongs to one of four houses: the Marianites, the Patricians, the Josephites and the Teresians. The houses compete in the Annual Sports Meet, inter-house dramatics and many other events, and each celebrates the feast of its patron during the year.
Our students grow through a wide range of co-curricular activities: the English Literary, Tamil Literary, Maths, Heritage and Eco Clubs; the School Band and the school choir, The Williamite Bells; the Guides, Junior Red Cross (JRC) and Road Safety Patrol (RSP); and Abacus and Silambam. They regularly represent the school in zonal, district and state competitions.
