Mrs. Cecelia Rose Smith along with her husband William Henry started an English medium Nursery and Day School at Satti Varanasi in November 1958. The school was later shifted to its present site in a thatched roof mud house near St. Paul''s Church, Sigra. The school became popular within a few years and gradually was upgraded to class VIII when the name was changed to Smith''s Junior High School. The growing need for an English medium High school in the Sigra locality was met by adding two more classes up to X. The students were prepared to appear for U.P. Board High School Examination, as private candidates. School was finally affiliated to the Council for the Indian School Examination, New Delhi in 1987 through the sole efforts of the founder''s niece Lt. Mrs. Pauline Sodhi and her husband Lt. Mr. P.M. Sodhi The school is known today as W.H. Smith Memorial School in memory of Mr. William Henry Smith, co-founder with Mrs. C.R. Smith. The institution is governed by the Managing Committee of the W.H. Smith Memorial School Society, which is registered under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860. This is a private, unaided Christian minority institution catering to the educational needs of boys and girls of all communities.

Value Education forms an integral part of the school curriculum. Daily prayers form a compulsory part of the school assembly which is conducted by the students. English is the medium of instruction and examination. Hindi is the compulsory second language from Lower Nursery to Class X. Sanskrit is the compulsory third language from Class VI to VIII. The syllabus prescribed by the Council for the ICSE Examination includes: English Language and Literature, Hindi Language Literature, History/Civics & Geography, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Socially Useful Productive Works and Community Service. Fine Arts, Commercial Studies and Computer Applications are offered as the Sixth subjects which is elective. Computer Application was introduced in July 1989 by the present Principal Mrs. Anita Dey. It is compulsory from class IV to VIII.

The teaching staffs are qualified, trained and motivated to help in building up the overall personality of each student together with discovering the potential of each child.

In 1994 the school opened its Intermediate or I.S.C department permitting students to appear with science subjects. In July 1999 the commerce department was opened and Psychology introduced as a subject in 2003 together with Fine Arts.

Drawing and Painting, Games and P.T., Singing and Library form a part of the school curriculum. Students are encouraged to participate in Dramatics and Debates. Sports and Yoga, Holiday Camps, Concerts and Fete, Educational Tours, Picnic and a number of Inter School Competitions are held.