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Words: Crystal Espin We all remember our school days; lazing on the lawns during lunch break on hot summer days, ignoring the bell, struggling from class to class laden with books, painfully long morning assemblies and double Maths on a Friday afternoon. Most of us couldn’t wait for home time each day; although tortured by the same drudgery of school as most adolescents, some learners have the pleasure of being tortured in buildings of great beauty, on grounds steeped with history and culture. South Africa is known for its beautiful landscapes and breathtaking views. As a result designing a building to fit seamlessly alongside this beauty is no easy task. These top South African schools have managed to do just that. Herschel School for Girls’ Herschel was established in February 1922, on land that had been settled since the late 17th century. The property on which it stands belonged to V.A. Schonnberg, who, when he sold the main estate in 1834 to Sir John Herschel, the astronomer, retained this portion and named it after his illustrious neighbour. In July 1921, the estate was bought by The English Church Schools Association, with the aid of a generous loan from John William Jagger, to provide for the needs of the many girls living in the southern suburbs who wished to attend a private school. The school, which is situated in leafy Claremont, has breathtaking mountain views and is engulfed by greenery. The school’s world-class facilities include a modernised music centre, Olympic-size swimming pool, chapel, theatre, computer centre, sports centre, and amphitheatre. The school offers a beautiful environment for young women wanting to explore their every talent and the girls take full advantage of this beauty; every lunch break is a picnic of mass proportions with girls enjoying their lunch on the school’s ample lawns. South African College of Schools: SACS The famous South African novelist Alan Paton once described SACS as having 'the grandest buildings of any school in the country.' The SACS community, under headmaster Kenneth Ball, works hard in showing its gratitude for that privilege, ever-conscious of their heritage as the oldest boys’ high school in South Africa. Designed in elegant, neo-classical style, the school buildings, together with immaculate fields and surrounding gardens, occupy some forty acres of prime residential property in the heart of Newlands, one of Cape Town’s most desirable suburbs. The heart of the school's Montebello property is century-old Michaelis House, a stately Cape-Georgian building, formerly the home of l9th century diamond magnate, Sir Max Michaelis. Today, hungry boarders happily take their meals in the home's beautiful ballroom. Within a stone's-throw of UCT, the school's sister institution, SACS is situated an easy ten-minutes' drive from Cape Town. With its junior school on the same campus, the South African College School prides itself in producing positive, focused and hard-working young men, eager to play their part as leaders in South Africa's future. Diocesan College: Bishops Bishops Robert Gray arrived in 1848 as Cape Town’s first Anglican Archbishop, giving it its status as a city. The following year he founded a new school at Protea, calling it the Collegiate School of the Diocese of Cape Town, known today as Bishops. As the school grew too big, the Principal looked for suitable premises further a-field. Finally, the Collegiate moved from Protea – today’s Bishopscourt – to its current site in Woodlands, Rondebosch in 1850. The east and south wings of Founders House were erected, thus beginning a tradition of Gothic and Victorian-Gothic buildings which has been extended over the years. The school’s facilities are truly exceptional with the boys having access to abundant grounds which include numerous sports fields, a chapel, computer centres, a music wing, swimming pool, and several boarding houses. The school’s history is reflected in its impressive buildings and grounds which complement the beauty of Cape Town. Grey College Grey College is the oldest school north of the Gariep River and third oldest in the Republic of South Africa. After visiting the new Republic of the Orange Free State, Governor of the Cape Colony, Sir George Grey donated a sum of money towards the establishment of an institution for higher education on 13 October 1855. The school was officially opened on 17 January 1859 with Dr. Andrew Murray as the first headmaster. The Model Republic, Bloemfontein and Grey College grew and developed together – the school under the leadership of headmasters like Dr. Johannes Brill, messrs. James Lyle, Jock Meiring, J.M.B. Faure, A.K. Volsteedt. J.L. Cronje, Dr. M.G. Heyns and since 1993, Mr. Johan Volsteedt. Grey College is one of the best known schools in the country, and its past pupils are to be found in all walks of life – not only in South Africa, but also abroad. In many respects Grey has developed into a unique school since it was founded in 1855. New school buildings have replaced old ones and some old buildings have been restored, thereby giving the complex a totally new, modern appearance without affecting the rich traditions of the school. An atmosphere of moderation and tolerance pervades the school. St Andrew’s College St Andrew’s College is set in the historical city of Grahamstown, in the Eastern Cape. The school campus is beautiful with all its old historical buildings. Two of these that feature most prominently are the Chapel and the Clock Tower. Chapel: The beautiful Romanesque building was designed by Sir Herbert Baker and executed by his partner Franklin Kendell. The Chapel was dedicated in 1914 to the Old Andreans who had died in various conflicts in the first 50 years of the school’s history. The Clock Tower: The War Memorial Clock Tower, College’s most iconic building was dedicated to the 125 Old Andreans who died in the Great War. Its design is simple, yet it has an imposing weight that makes it unique and memorable. The architect, Kendell, intended it to have a step-tiled roof but lack of funds prevented this. Built with the dressed grey stone that gives such character to the buildings of College, it evokes steadfastness and permanence. The Diocesan School for Girls Diocesan School for Girls (DSG) lies adjacent to Rhodes University forming a unique educational belt in the historical city of Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape. Situated on adjacent, gracious open plan campuses, each school is set in beautiful grounds with aesthetic architecture. These schools are the oldest family orientated independent schools in the Eastern Cape and are known for their excellent reputation in all spheres of education. The Chapel: The Chapel with its exquisite stained glass windows was built in 1874 in the middle of the campus and has become the spiritual centre of the school. The foundation stone of the All Saints Chapel for the Diocesan School for Girls was layed in 1883 by Bishop Webb. Mr Sydney Stent designed the building which fits very handsomely into the gardens of the school. The Library: The Library at DSG, formerly the school hall, was named in honour of Queen Victoria who had died in 1901. The foundation stone of this lovely building, which employs the use of red brick relieved at intervals by white bands of brickwork, was laid in 1908 by the widow of Bishop Nathaniel James Merriman. A sealed bottle was placed in a hole below the stone, containing a newspaper of the day, the Order of Service and a complete list of the council, Staff and members of the School (Evergreen). The conversion of the Victoria Hall into the school Library took place in the late 1970s. St Cyprians School for Girls Situated on the slopes of Table Mountain, St Cyprian’s School, founded by Bishop Robert Gray, first Anglican Bishop of Cape Town in 1871, is widely recognised as one of Cape Town’s leading independent girls’ school. The outline of the map of Africa on the majestic mountain is visible from the school’s hockey field and is a strong reminder for the school that they are rooted in, and representative of, Africa. The boarding establishment, Katherine House, is a home-away-from-home for just over 100 girls from elsewhere in South Africa, Africa and the rest of the world. Here, more than 16 different languages are spoken, creating a vibrant, international atmosphere in the house. St Cyprian’s School’s heritage dates back to 1871, when in response to the increasing need for a good school for girls in Cape Town, Bishop Gray established St Cyprian’s School. His choice of St Cyprian of Carthage as patron saint of this new school in Africa was most appropriate, since Cyprian was the first African to be canonised. The school is a founder member of Round Square Conference of Schools in Southern Africa, a prestigious association of over 65 international schools all over the world, which strives to provide learners with exceptional opportunities for personal development, leadership and internationalism. St John’s College The school was founded on 1 August 1898 in a house in Plein Street by an Irish priest, Reverend John Darragh, the rector of St Mary’s Church (now Cathedral). Johannesburg was then 12 years old, and the tiny school boasted two desks and seven pupils. The renowned architect Mr Herbert Baker was appointed to design the new school buildings which occupy 56 acres on Houghton Ridge. The first blocks used were of rough-hewn quartzite quarried on the site, but subsequently rock was sourced from Krugersdorp and hand-chased by Maltese craftsmen. The school is arranged around a number of quadrangles, each with its cloisters. The buildings around David quad were the work of Leonard Fleming, who worked with Baker. The Bell Tower houses a chiming clock; the only other one of similar size in the country, in the Rissik Street Post Office, is no longer in use. The bells are dedicated to Old Johannian, Terence Moon. The tower overlooks David Quad, named after the statue of David, sculpted by a Florentine sculptor, Verrochio, which stands proudly in the middle of a cross-shaped pond. David Quad is considered the showpiece of the school.

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