Cambridge, CBSE, ICSE or IB: which suits a child in Navi Mumbai?
Ask around in Navi Mumbai and you will hear four names again and again: CBSE, ICSE, Cambridge and IB. Each is a different way of teaching and testing. None of them is simply the best. The right one depends on your child, and on where your family imagines that child in ten years.
The four at a glance
| Board | Run by | Style | Often chosen by families who |
|---|---|---|---|
| CBSE | Central Board of Secondary Education, India | Structured, built on the NCERT syllabus, closely matched to national entrance exams | are preparing for Indian engineering or medical entrance exams, or expect to move between cities |
| ICSE / ISC | CISCE, India | Broad syllabus with a strong focus on English and detail across subjects | want breadth, depth in language and a rigorous all-round education |
| Cambridge | Cambridge International Education | A path from primary through IGCSE to AS and A Levels, with skills-based learning and flexible subject choice | keep the option of studying in India or abroad, and want room to specialise |
| IB | International Baccalaureate | Inquiry-based programmes, ending in a two-year Diploma with an extended essay | want one global programme that links subjects together |
Five questions that matter more than the board
- Where might my child study after school? Check what the courses and universities you have in mind accept.
- How does my child learn best? Some children thrive on structure, others on projects and questions.
- How is learning assessed? Ask how much is a final exam and how much is ongoing work.
- What does the school do beyond exams? Look for time to build, perform, play and explore.
- Is the school itself approved? Ask for its affiliation or approval details and check them with the board.
Where Duama Bay fits
Duama Bay is a new age school, made for Gen Beta and the post-AI world, opening in Ulwe for learners in 2028. We plan to have more than one campus, and campuses may follow different boards, so we will not tell you that one board suits every child. What stays the same everywhere is how children learn: every child chooses a Super Student Pathway, such as Mathematics, Cricket, Music and Performing Arts, Entrepreneurship, STEM, or one they define themselves, and grows alongside a cohort of 15 to 20 children and expert mentors.
Whichever board you choose, visit the school, meet the people, and ask to see children's work. A board is a framework. The school is what your child lives in every day.
Have a question about boards or pathways? Tell us about your child and we will write back.
Apply to a pathway