The Nicholson Syrian Girls Higher Secondary School and Training Home was started in 1910 by the late Mrs. F. S. Nicholson and Miss .S. C. McKibbin. The control is now vested with a Board of Trustees and managed by a Board of Management according to the provisions of the Trust Deed made by the donors. Miss M D Ward served as the Manager of the school from 1910 till 1960. The school is situated on a hill overlooking Tiruvalla – Kozhenchery road about three kilometers away from Tiruvalla town in Pathanamthitta District of Kerala State now known also as– God’s Own Country. Students are prepared for the Secondary School Leaving Certificate examination and Higher Secondary examination. Besides the school subjects, needle work, arts and crafts, music and dance are also taught. Since 2007 CBSE programme is also launched by the school. 

The Chapel is to the left of the main building and has an entrance on its western side to access it without going through the boarding. Pupils have direct access to the Chapel from inside itself. The service areas are placed at the back of the main building. New three storey academic block housing Middle School, High School and Higher Secondary school stands in a picturesque setting. Another academic block is under construction to the right of the main administrative block. 

Higher Secondary students are housed in the new Hostel building constructed for them adjacent to the old block 

Right from the initiation of the school, specially the High School, a Library with a good collection of books and periodicals has been developed for students’ reference. Apart from this a Consulting Library with books not to be issued out but to be referred to in the library room itself is also available to the pupils. The library collection is strengthened year after year. English and Malayalam Dailies are subscribed and news cuttings are displayed on two News Boards as a means to inculcate reading habit in the pupils and also to develop a desire to keep abreast of current events and happenings in them. Children’s news paper, Geographic Magazine and periodicals are left in the library for the benefit of the pupils. 

The school has well equipped laboratories for Physics, Chemistry and Biology subjects. Students learn the practicum of these subjects under the able guidance of qualified and committed teachers.

The school has an excellent computer lab. Students have computer classes and access to computers and select software tools that go with them. Students in the higher classes can get connected to the outside world via the internet under the supervision and guidance of the teacher. Students get an insight into the working of computers, the essential components of hardware, and operation and application of select soft-wares they are exposed to under the curriculum. Computer lessons sharpen creative and analytical skills of students.  

The school has well furnished and well equipped class rooms with an ambience to promote learning.The Middle School and High School classes are conducted in the two storey High School building located to the right of the main building. A Three storied building has been constructed with three well equipped labs for the Higher Secondary Section.  At present CBSE students up to Class IV are enrolled in the school. Every year the school is upgraded with a higher class. Classes from Preschool to Class IV are conducted in the Home Science Institute building as the latter programme is terminated. A new building is urgently required to house the growing CBSE classes as each year a higher class is added. 

The school has a wide expanse of land surrounding it. It has extensive play grounds. Various courts for games are available in the campus itself. Girls play games and have physical exercises and drill under the supervision of a qualified games teacher.  Teachers stay in the boarding with the students and help them all times.The school has its own land which the founders had chosen with a vision for its future growth.