7 Best Primary Boarding Schools in South Africa

South Africa, a country located in the southernmost part of Africa is one of the most popular countries in Africa. It has a population of 60 million people who are of different tribes and ethnicity. Their languages include English, Zulu, Afrikaans, Northern Sotho, etc.

Education in South Africa begins at the tender age of 2 years old. Infants are enrolled in crèche and preparatory school and are prepared for nursery and primary school before moving to high school and university.

There are lots of primary and secondary schools in South Africa, some of the schools are public institutions while some are private institutions. They are categorized into day school or boarding school. All of these schools offer similar educational curriculum as approved by the country’s ministry of education. The only difference is in their mode of operation.

Attending a boarding school or day school is usually one of the decisions one has to make. From writing entrance examinations into different schools to trying hard to choose a boarding school that is most comfortable and affordable.

While you try to get the best education, you also have to consider more important factors such as environmental conduciveness, academic records, boarding facilities, etc. These are some of the most important considerations to make when choosing a boarding school.

Boarding schools are very rampant for secondary education, there are a few primary schools that are boarding schools but not as much as the secondary schools. These schools have won the trust of parents to leave their wards in their care. They make sure to instil proper discipline in the child while taking care of all physical and emotional needs of the child.

A lot of people might not want to enrol their wards in a primary boarding school because of reasons best known to them. But looking at it critically, you don’t have to worry so much about the safety of your child if you choose the right boarding school.

Having identified this challenge, I went ahead to make deep and thorough research from different sources to give you the list of some of the best primary boarding schools in South Africa. This list was made while considering factors such as safety, the academic strength of the school, emotional and physical care of the child, good boarding facilities, accommodation, etc.

7 Best Primary Boarding Schools in South Africa

Below are some of the primary boarding schools in South Africa in no particular order:

1. Pinnacle Primary and Secondary Boarding School

Pinnacle is a private primary and secondary boarding school that was established in 2000, the school is one of the most renowned schools in South Africa. It is located near Sterkfontein in the northern part of South Africa. Pinnacle prepares young people with an outstanding education through standard learning facilities and competent teachers who are the best in their various fields.

The school has a standard boarding facility that is conducive for students to live through their primary and secondary education. It is registered with the northwest department of education and uses English as its official language of communication. If you are looking for a well-equipped, conducive, and trusted primary boarding school to enrol your ward in, then you should consider pinnacle.

2. The Ridge School

Established in 1919, the ridge school is another private boarding school in South Africa that has been in existence for more than 100 years. The school is located in Johannesburg and is one of the top-ranked schools in the country.

“where boys are known and grown”, its slogan for years depicts their competence in grooming future leaders right from infancy. The school has a population of over 500 boys and is in one of its best and full years.

Their boarding facilities are state of the art with experienced mentors and mentees who listen to know the physical and emotional needs of young boys. They are provided with the best care and are disciplined to become the best in society.

3. Woodbridge College and Preparatory School

Situated in eastern cape, South Africa, and founded in 1936 is Woodridge College and preparatory school. The school is a private boarding school for students as young as 3 years old. It is an interracial school that does not discriminate and has students from different races, ethnicity, and religion. The school is home to over 800 students of which some are boarders from different parts of the country.

The university offers standard boarding equipment and has provisions for primary and preparatory students. they have well-experienced caregivers and guidance who attend to the needs of young people. The students are nurtured to become confident leaders who are filled with a good moral spirit and with the right mindset. this is done through intensive education and discipline. Students are also allowed to participate in extracurricular activities which develop their strengths in other fields of life.

4. Waterkloof House Preparatory School

Waterkloof House Preparatory School Is a primary boarding school which is located in Pretoria, South Africa. The university was founded in 1923 and has since ranked as one of the outstanding primary boarding schools in South Africa.

It prepares young boys to become independent, disciplined, and well-mannered men with a positive self-image and confidence which enables them to reach their full potential in life.

The school offers a boarding school with state-of-the-art facilities and standard equipment. They train their boarders to have the ability to make personal decisions that affect a positive change in their lives. They also teach students to be more organized with improved social awareness and state of responsibility. Fun activities are incorporated into the student’s curriculum to ensure they are well aware of the different phases of life. While they work hard, they also play hard.

5. Treverton Preparatory School

Treverton preparatory school consists of a preparatory school and college. It has students from grade 0 to grade 12 and is one of the most recognized schools in the region. It is located in mooi river, South Africa, and has been in existence since 1964. It is an interdenominational Christian school that is built with sound morals and Christian values.

The school has a preparatory boarding school that can accommodate young students in primary education. The boy’s hostel consists of 15 2-sleeper rooms which are equipped with TV and DVD. They also have game facilities such as table tennis, soccer, and board games.

The girl’s hostel contains two large rooms with 2 to 4 beds each and has a beautiful common room with TV and DVD access which is restricted. Students also have access to game facilities like table tennis and other board games.

The university provides students with guardians which are good listeners to the students to understand their immediate challenges and profer a solution.

6. Merchiston Preparatory School

This is one of the longest-standing preparatory schools in South Africa. It was established in 1892 by Miss Agnes Rowe and Miss Elizabeth Allan and has been in existence for more than 100 years. It is located in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.

The school creates a safe and conducive environment to train and prepare young people to become the best of themselves as they grow up. It is built on a strong Christian background and places value on morals and hard work.

Merchiston Preparatory School is one of the schools in South Africa with a primary boarding school that has been running for years and keeps maintaining its rank as one of the best primary boarding schools in South Africa. They offer an intensive curriculum that emphasizes hard work, commitment, and self-discipline, the curriculum also includes extracurricular activities such as sports which allows students to develop their athletic strength and involve in competitions that build their strength and tolerance.

7. Eunice Primary School

Eunice primary school was founded in 1875. It is one of the best primary boarding schools and boasts of modern facilities and a large number of students. The name Eunice was derived from the biblical reference to the mother of timothy and it is a Greek word meaning “happy victory”.

The school aims to be a world-class school with strong values that are committed to academic excellence.

Their boarding school has state-of-the-art modern facilities that ensure students have the best of comfort and can learn while growing. They also have sporting facilities that encourage sporting activities amongst students.

Conclusion

There are a number of primary boarding schools which you can choose from. Some of the best ones have been listed here while some did not make it to this list. However, when enrolling your child, you should ensure to consider the school environment, the state of their boarding facilities, and the academic and extramural activities. These are some of the things that help to build up a child with good discipline. Christian parents can also enroll their wards in primary boarding schools owned by Christian bodies.  While you do your best to be outstanding and have an excellent education, you should also make sure to have fun while at it.