Michaelhouse: Difference between revisions
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:''For the former college of the [[University of Cambridge]], see [[Michaelhouse, Cambridge]]. |
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{{Infobox School2 |
{{Infobox School2 |
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| name = Michaelhouse |
| name = Michaelhouse |
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Revision as of 09:59, 28 October 2006
- For the former college of the University of Cambridge, see Michaelhouse, Cambridge.
| Michaelhouse | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | |
 | |
| , | |
| Information | |
| Type | Private, Boarding |
| Motto | Quis ut Deus |
| Established | 1896 |
| Locale | Rural |
| Rector | Guy Pearson |
| Exam board | IEB |
| Grades | 8 - 12 (Known as Blocks E - A) |
| Number of students | 540 boys |
| Color(s) | Red and white |
| Fees | R 105 600 p.a. |
| Website | www.michaelhouse.org |
Michaelhouse is a private boarding school for boys founded in 1896. It is located in the Balgowan valley in the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is widely regarded as one of the top schools in South Africa and is part of the Elite Seven.
History
St. Michael's Academy for Young Gentlemen was founded in Pietermaritzburg in 1896 by James Cameron Todd, an Anglican canon. The school was established as a private venture with fifteen boys in two small houses in Loop Street.
James Cameron Todd had a clear idea of what he wanted the school to be. He wrote: "A man's tone, moral and spiritual, as well as intellectual, is largely determined for life by his school."
Within a few years, Michaelhouse became the Diocesan College of Natal, governed by a permanent trust deed and administered by a board of governors.
In 1901 the school relocated to Balgowan, when some 77 boys took up residence in the buildings which remain the core to the school to this day. Its name was later changed to Michaelhouse. The school adopted the 9th century chorale Stars of the Morning as its official school hymn.
Rectors
- Canon James Cameron Todd (1896 - 1903)
- Canon Edward Bertram Hugh Jones (1903 - 1910)
- Antony William Scudamore Brown (1910 - 1916)
- Eldred Pascoe (1917 - 1926)
- Warin Foster Bushell (1927 - 1929)
- Ronald Fairbridge Currey (1930 - 1938)
- Frederick Rowlandson Snell (1939 - 1952)
- Clem Morgan (1953 - 1960)
- Robert Thomas Stanley Norwood (1960 - 1968)
- Rex Frampton Pennington (1969 - 1977)
- Neil Jardine (1978 - 1986)
- John Hay Pluke (1987 - 1996)
- Reginald Dudley Forde (1997 - 2001)
- Guy Pearson (2002 - present)
Academics
Michaelhouse school-leavers write the Independent Examinations Board exams and consistently achieve top results.
| IEB Results | 2004 | 2005 |
|---|---|---|
| Number of candidates | 106 | 109 |
| Number of failures | 0 | 0 |
| University endorsement (%) | 87.2 | |
| A aggregates (%) | 20 | 22 |
| A-B-C aggregates (%) | 94 | 83 |
| Subject distinctions | 125 | 126 |
| Number in top 50 | 0 | 0 |
Most leavers go on to attend top South African universities such as the University of Cape Town, Stellenbosch University, Wits University, University of KwaZulu-Natal and Rhodes University.
The school has produced over 30 Rhodes scholars to study at the University of Oxford and 10 Elsie Ballot scholars to study at the University of Cambridge.[1]
In recent years, one Michaelhouse graduate was accepted directly to the University of Oxford and four to the University of Pennsylvania, of which three were accepted to Wharton Business School.
The pupil-teacher ratio is 10:1 with a male teaching quorum of approximately 70%.[2]
The Estate
The school buildings are made of historical Pietermaritzburg red brick.
The stained glass windows featured in the Sir Herbert Baker designed chapel include the Michaelhouse rose window, depicting the head of Christ surrounded by the birds of Natal Province at the rear of the chapel, and windows depicting Christ, St Michael and other angels in the sanctuary. The windows were created by Ervin Bossanyi.
The school has a 550 seat theatre and two 60 seat lecture theatres.
There are 12 playing fields, including an artificial field hockey surface, a heated swimming pool, 7 tennis courts, a 6 court squash complex, a golf driving range, an indoor sports centre and a reservoir for canoeing.
Notable alumni (by year of matriculation)
- Peter Brown (1941), founding member of the Liberal Party
- Sir Richard Scott (Cantab)
- Wilbur Smith (1950), bestselling author
- Lord Richard Rashleigh Folliot Scott (1951)
- Sir Rupert Bromley, 10th Baronet (Oxon) (1952)
- Sir George Albu, 3rd Baronet (1962)
- Craig Higginson (1989), author of The Hill
- Dale Benkenstein (1992), Nashua Dolphins cricket player
- Nolly Zaloumis, environmentalist
- Robert Holmes à Court, Australia's first billionaire
Michaelhouse today
The relatively high fees of R105,600 p.a. in 2007, make Michaelhouse the third most expensive boarding school in South Africa, after Hilton College and St. Martin's School.
Michaelhouse is a member of the Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa and the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference.
The Deputy President of South Africa, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka was the guest speaker at the speech and prizegiving day in 2006.
Development
The school has an endowment of approximately R21.7 million.
Feeder schools
- Clifton Preparatory School, Nottingham Road, KwaZulu-Natal
- Highbury Preparatory School, KwaZulu-Natal
- Cordwalles Preparatory School, KwaZulu-Natal
- Clifton School, KwaZulu-Natal
- The Ridge School, Gauteng
- Pridwin Preparatory School, Gauteng