Ms. Isabella Thoburn a True missionary at heart, a genuine and faithful follower of God's Word came to India. She wanted to inculcate in the minds of the Indian Girls of Lucknow the Message, " No one can predict to what heights you can soar. Even you will not realize it until you spread your wings!"

She opened a School, with six students in Nazirabad. In 1871 Residence of a Nawab was purchased to build up Lalbagh Girls College. It was a belief that the Nawab had buried their treasure in their residence and most probably a red ruby was buried there, hence the name Lal Bagh.

"When you educate a man You educate An individual and when you educate a women you educate a whole family"

​With these thoughts in mind on 17th July 1979, Emma Thompson School and English Medium School was established under the Chairmanship of Bishop J.R. Lance, Ms. S. Shipston, then the Manager Mrs. A. Lyall, Manager of Lal Bagh College,

​Ms. Emma Thompson, an eminent Manager of Lal Bagh College. We are privileged to be named after such a wonderful lady Ms. S. Strader. An American missionary, was that visionary who shaped the school. She was an able Principal and an excellent Administrator.

​The School grew into leaps and bounds from preparatory class to Class V. It was decided that the boys will also study till class V.

​From class VI onwards, it is entirely girls -School. "Give the world the best you have and the best will come back to you has proved true for our school. In 1987, class VIII was added.

In 1987 , the first of many achievements came our way. When the school acquired affiliation from the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations New Delhi.

In 1989, Our first batch of 16 girls appeared for the I.C.S.E. Examinations, New Delhi, In 2002, the school get permanent recognition for class X. Second landmark was the permission granted to open Class XI and XII for Humanities and Commerce. In 2004, the first batch of 84 students appeared for (ISC) class XII Board Examinations.

In 2009 we were granted permission from Council to open Science stream for XI, Now we have all the three streams, Humanities, Commerce and science.