The capital of South Africa is Pretoria. It is home to all foreign embassies in the country. While the city is known for its government dealings, it lacks quality education.
Here are some schools in Pretoria for your children to attend.
Listed below are some of the top schools in Pretoria for children. Read on to find out more about these schools and their locations. We’ve also listed some other schools in Pretoria that you might want to consider.
The 9 Best Schools In Pretoria
Pretoria Boys High School
One of the best high schools in Pretoria is the Pretoria Boys High School. This school aims to produce well-rounded young men who are independent thinkers, tolerant of other cultures, and physically courageous. Its motto is “Learning to Serve”, and this motto is evident in all aspects of school life. Pretoria Boys High School is proud to promote racial, ethnic, and religious diversity.
Its history dates back to 1909 when it was opened by Jan Smuts. It is situated on Waterkloof Hill near the University of Pretoria. The school consists of ten constituent houses. Students are encouraged to participate in house assemblies, elect house prefects, and attend annual inter-house sports meetings. The swim meet is the most popular event.
Pretoria Boys High School, also known as Boys High, is a public, English medium school. It is one of the oldest and most prestigious schools in Gauteng. Its three boarding houses house more than 300 students.
The school takes pride in its holistic education and is one of the oldest schools in South Africa. It has an impressive list of alumni that includes two Nobel Prize laureates, eighteen Rhodes scholars, and several government ministers. In addition, it also boasts a rich history in sports.
The beautiful campus and buildings of the Pretoria Boys High School deserve a five-star rating. The campus and buildings of the school are well maintained and updated. The campus feels like a home, which is rare in a school in South Africa. You will have to be a student of this school to experience that. The academic standards are impressive and the staff is warm and caring.
Hatfield Christian School
The Hatfield Christian School in Pretoria serves around 730 students and shares campus with a large modern evangelical church. Its educational philosophy focuses on giving students a competitive edge in all activities while establishing moral values and preparing them for society and humanity. The school was founded in 1985 and is located at 551 January Masiela Drive in Waterkloof Glen, Pretoria.
The school has an excellent reputation and has earned multiple accolades and high ratings from the community. The Principal Bleeker and the school’s 79 teachers are highly dedicated to providing students with an excellent education. It is a Combined School and not a section 21 school. It is recommended to visit the school before deciding on whether it is the right place for your child. The school does not offer section 21 status, so parents should make sure to ask for a tour.
The school is known for its small class sizes. Classes vary from 10 to 24 in the Primary School to twenty-six students in the High School. The school also offers Music Additional Subject (GET), which allows students to learn an instrument and contribute to the extensive band program. Hatfield Christian School is considered one of the best schools in Pretoria. You can enroll your child in the school’s Grades 0-12.
The Hatfield Online teachers are highly trained and focused on content. They use digital curriculum to teach topics like biology and electric circuits. Students are taught compound interest in the digital age while other classrooms still rely on old textbooks. Test-driven education in South Africa is test-focused, with matriculation exams determining graduation and eligibility for higher education. In fact, many parents choose their high schools based on their “matric” passing rate.
Hilton College
The boys’ school at Hilton College offers a unique education that caters to the needs of this unique student body. Students here are exposed to a wide variety of subjects and can choose those that interest them for their National Senior Certificate (NSC). They receive full-time academic support, counseling, and a learning journey class that teaches them foundational skills and work habits. This helps students become well-rounded individuals and prepare them for a successful future.
The school’s reputation is a major selling point. Boys enrolled at Hilton College live on-campus, and the school has received numerous awards and accolades for the quality of its education. The school has close to 500 students enrolled and is renowned for developing critical thinking, creativity, and flexibly. The tuition fee is R298 600 per year, which includes accommodation, meals, health care, and tuition.
The school offers a holistic education and aims to produce young men with confidence and strong self-esteem. The school also offers boarding facilities for both boys and girls. Since 1888, it is the oldest high school in the city. Students from kindergarten to matric can attend this private school. It is a Christian school, and prides itself on excellent academic learning. The school is located in Hatfield, Pretoria.
Tyger Valley College
Tyger Valley College is another co-educational private school that follows the South African National Curriculum Statement. It boasts excellent facilities and highly qualified teachers.
Tyger Valley College is a private English Medium, co-educational school in Pretoria, South Africa. The school follows and trails a coordinated education model within a village of schools. Tyger Valley College consists of a Pre-preparatory, preparatory, and college.
The school has an average of 24 to 26 students per class. The school is one of the best schools in Pretoria for children and is known for offering a quality education. The school has a 100% matric pass rate since 2011.
St Mary’s Diocesan School for Girls
Founded in 1871, St. Mary’s Diocesan School for Girls is one of the best schools in Pretoria, South Africa. It caters for both boys and girls from Grade 0 to matric, and offers a diverse curriculum that enables students to excel in their chosen fields. Students from diverse backgrounds attend St. Mary’s, and are encouraged to develop self-confidence and a love of learning. Graduates of the school have made their mark in the arts and sciences, business, and politics, as well as in sport.
St. Mary’s Diocesan School for Girls is an Anglican private boarding school for girls in the Hillcrest area of Pretoria. It was founded by Bishop Bousfield in 1879, and originally housed at 279 Skinner Street. After more than 40 years, the school relocated to a site in Hillcrest. Sisters of St. Mary the Virgin served as the school’s administrators from 1905 to 1975.
The school’s administration is easy to reach. Students at St Mary’s Diocesan School for Girls should wear appropriate dress and shoes. They should dress neatly to avoid being teased or scolded by other students. Those attending Independent Urban schools should also pay attention to dress code, as students are expected to dress appropriately. Ultimately, it is your child’s education that matters.
The city of Pretoria is home to over 2.5 million people and has been a centre of academics for South Africa. Here are some of the best private and independent schools in Pretoria. The best schools in Pretoria aren’t necessarily the most expensive. They’re affordable, and offer state-of-the-art learning facilities.
St Alban’s College
Known for its diverse learning environment, St Alban’s College is a top private school for boys in Pretoria. Founded in 1963, this school ranks in the top ten of all grade levels every term. Its students are assigned to either boarding or day boys houses and will be taught according to their house and school positive scores. With 559 learners, this Pretoria school is truly diverse.
The private boys-only school has a long history, founded by Anton Murray in 1963. The school has both day and boarding facilities and is considered to be one of the best in the city. The school is also affiliated with a sister school, St Alban’s Girls’ High School. While St Alban’s College is one of the best schools in Pretoria, it isn’t the only one.
The best high school in Pretoria offers a diverse learning environment, including courses in Digital Technology and Computer Science. Students are encouraged to apply their computational thinking skills, and they can even learn to code. Music Additional Subject (GET) allows students to learn an instrument and contributes to the extensive band program. There are seven subjects offered at St Alban’s College. All of them have excellent teachers who care about their students’ education.
The Bishop’s offer is comprehensive and values-based, preparing children for the world beyond school. It is renowned for developing a genuine desire to serve the community and help people. The curriculum of the school focuses on the development of the whole child, which means that it combines academics with pastoral activities. The school also offers three boarding schools and five day boy options, so children of all abilities can find the best education for themselves.
Redford House The Hills
Redford House The Hills is one of the newest private schools in Pretoria. It is located in Mooikloof Glen, Pretoria. Redford House was founded in 2015 by the Inspired Team and has succeeded well in the education sector of South Africa.
Redford House The Hills has three schools, of which the first two were opened with 600 students, and the third was established in 2016. The school is uniquely situated in an upmarket, secure residential estate known as The Hills Game Reserve Estate. The Estate also includes a game reserve occupied by diverse species of antelope and zebra.
Redford House The Hills actively encourages students to find their unique gifts, talents, and abilities to become well-rounded learners. It offers excellent education from 3 months to Grade 12 in Pretoria, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, and North West.
SA College Private School
South African College Private school, sometimes called SACPS, is an independent, coeducational school located in the center of Pretoria. It is within walking distance of the Union Buildings and alongside the Apies River dissecting Pretoria.
The school is one of the few in Pretoria that offers an affordable After Care center where parents who work in the city can pick up their children after school closing hours by 17:00. SA College Private school has undergone physical upgrades in line with the municipal plan to upgrade the inner city of Pretoria.
It is highly secure and safe for learners giving parents the freedom to do their daily work in the city. They are constantly reassured that their wards are in safe hands, well catered for, and are being offered high-quality private education.
St. Mary Diocesan School for Girls
St. Mary Diocesan college was established in 1879 by the Retired Reverend Henry, the first Bishop of Pretoria. It is an Anglican private boarding school for only girls and is located in Hillcrest, Pretoria, in the Gauteng province of South Africa.
For the first 75 years of St. Mary’s Diocesan college, it was managed by the nuns of the Community of St Mary the Virgin. The institution has a brother school, St. Alban’s college, which has been cited earlier in this writing.
There are arguments that the school was first established in 1871 as St Etheldreda’s before its name changed to St. M as Ryan Diocesan School for Girls in 1879. It is regarded as one of the most prestigious schools in South Africa. St. Mary’s DSG boasts 850 girls aged 3 to 18 in a Grade system of Grade 1 to Grade 12.
Conclusion
As for the quality of education offered by these great schools on this list of the best schools in Pretoria, there is no doubt. Making a choice would therefore depend on other factors such as your location, and your ability to afford the tuition fees. However, you can rest assured that whatever school you decide upon, your child will receive a quality education.
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