Established in the year 1849 with the name of Hindu Female School and with just two students Bhubanmala and Kundamala, daughters of Madanmohan Tarkalankar, an eminent educationist, writer, administrator and one of the patrons of the school in its elementary stage. In 1856, the Government took charge of the school and later renamed it as Bethune School. Bethune School was at the time the centre of learning for the girls from 'progressive' families. Hindu reformers like Madanmohan Tarkalankar and Brahmo leaders like Rajnarayan Bose, Shivanath Shastri and Durgamohan Das sent their daughters to Bethune School.