The concept of the Sainik School originated in the fertile mind of Late V K Krishna Menon, who was our Defence Minister in the early sixties. He felt that a school with rudiments of a military way of life, in each State of our country, could go a long way in building up an infrastructure for in-take into the National Defence Academy. He was also of the view that such institutions would serve as an ideal Alma-Mater for the hardy, intelligent sections of the boys hailing especially, from the rural areas of our
country.

Moreover, the high levels of physical, mental and intellectual attainments needed for induction into the Officer Cadre could not be nurtured in the common schools, mainly because of the lack of infrastructure facilities.

Brief History
Location

The Chief Minister of Kerala, Late Pattom Thanu Pillai, chose Kazhakootam to be the venue for Sainik School in the early sixties and an area of 300 acres of undulating terrain was acquired on a hillock, close to the National Highway. Presently the school has 225 acres of land. The school is situated 18 kms away from Trivandrum on the National Highway 47. The sprawling campus, nestled between the slender strands of the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea, is an ideal location for a military biased
residential institution.

Inception

The school came into being on 20 Jan 1962, in a few barracks lent by the Army at Pangode, Trivandrum. At the inception a total of 120 students joined the school in Classes V, VI, VII and VIII. Six months later Class IX began with 12 students. Present strength is 628 Cadets. The Founder Principal was Lt Col BK Somaiah. The Headmaster was Sqn Ldr Babu Lal and the Registrar was Capt TVS Nair.

School’s Construction at Kazhakootam

The Foundation Stone was laid by the Late VK Krishna Menon, Minister of Defence on 05 Feb 1962. Prof. JC Alexander of the Engineering College, Trivandrum, was the ace architect who gave shape to the beautiful Academic Block and Eleven Dormitories. The school shifted to Kazhakootam in 1964.