Ages 
‘Once your child has experienced BHS they won’t want to go anywhere else.’ We have rarely heard such fulsome praise from parents in this country, and we can believe it. There’s a lot going on here, keeping pupils busy but not stressed. On the contrary, they appear confident, happy and healthy.
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Overview
- Student numbers
- 820
- Curricula
- Other curriculum
- SEN provision
- SEN considered case by case
- Offers boarding
- Boarding available
- Pre school provision (up to 4)
- Yes
- Religion
- Non-denominational
- Fees
- Day R 90,500 - R 151,800; Boarding R 129,950
Head of school
Head of school
David Clark
Since 2020, David Clark. Bachelor of commerce at University of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), first teaching post at Kingsway High School then deputy head of Treverton College (also coaching rugby and water polo first teams), both in KZN, followed by ten years
Entrance
Prides itself on being non-selective: ‘We’ll take just about anyone, as long as they will thrive here.’ Instead of an entrance exam, every child is interviewed to ensure the school can meet their needs; on rare occasions this is not considered
Exit
Most head off to local Stellenbosch University (‘Stellies’), or to University of Cape Town (UCT), while around 12 to 15 per year go to universities abroad, especially to English-speaking courses in The Netherlands. Regular careers presentations,
Latest results
A 100 per cent matriculation pass each year, and, despite being non-selective, around 95 per cent each year awarded a bachelor’s pass, essential for applying to university. More is needed for the top courses at the top universities and school doesn’t
Teaching & learning
Though it’s non-selective, standards are high, learning is cool and success is celebrated. Engraved wooden honours boards line the entrance way – not just the ‘dux scholar’ (top student academically each year) but also up to five pupils achieve the
- Curricula & qualifications
- Other curriculum - IEB South African National Curriculum
- Other curriculum - IEB South African National Senior Certificate (NSC)
- Bilingual programmes
- Other/English
Learning support & SEN
Education support unit (ESU) in each school offer not just academic but also social, emotional and behavioural support to pupils. The prep unit has a speech therapist, occupational therapist and two full time learning support therapists. College ESU
Language support
No specific English as an additional language (EAL) support. School says that from grade 10 a good level of English is required to access the curriculum.
Arts & extracurricular
The charming 600-seater Barnyard Theatre, complete with rustic wooden furniture, sliding barnyard doors and woodchip on the floor, has a grand piano, drama and music classrooms and practice rooms attached, a marimba group practice area, a bar area
Sport
It will never compete with local boys-only schools on the rugby field, and nor is it trying to, but all agree that sport has improved, especially boys’ hockey. Parents say the sports education model encourages participation, with children learning
Boarders
Four white-washed boarding houses dotted around the school grounds are the home-from-home for boys and girls, divided into juniors (from grade 6) and seniors (grades 10 or 11 to 12, depending on numbers).
Many boarders come from other African
Ethos & heritage
Founded by three local families after the country’s first democratic elections, it moved to its current location in 1998, on land donated by a local farmer. During the pandemic the land was bought by a local family trust, long-connected to the
Pastoral care, inclusivity & discipline
‘Very diverse,’ say staff and parents, confirmed by our visit. Head says the diversity committee hadn’t met for eight months beforehand; ‘there’s no need for it’. There’s a ‘pride club’ and school has experienced pupils going through
Classroom & community
Serving a large area of the Cape winelands, school attracts post-Covid work-from-home locals, many of whom have moved down from Jo’burg for a better quality of life; busy executives flying in and out of the international airport 40 minutes away, or
- School year
- January – December, with four terms
- School hours
- 8:00am – 5:00pm
- Uniform requirements
- Yes
Money matters
We heard no complaints about fees, which are in line with other similar schools in the province. Parents are proud that school is independent and not-for-profit and feel they they get value for money.
- Annual fee range
- Day R 90,500 - R 151,800; Boarding R 129,950
- Fee information
- Application fee: Application fee per family R 500;
Fees can be paid termly (x4) or monthly (x11) with a premium.
Sibling discount 2.5% for 2nd child, 5% per sibling for 3rd child or more
Placement fee (on acceptance of place) R 4,000 per child playschool to Grade 0;
R 8,000 per child from G1-G12;
Capital Development Levy R 7,500 annually (G1-10), R 6,800 (G11). Can also be paid as a one-off payment of R 21,500 (G1-10).
Annual Grade Levy from R170 (age 2) to R 5,325 (G12) to cover camps, workbooks, matric fees etc.
Lunch (if required) payable for whole term @ R 44 per day (prep and college), R 32 (pre-primary).
The last word
‘Once your child has experienced BHS they won’t want to go anywhere else.’ We have rarely heard such fulsome praise from parents in this country, and we can believe it. There’s a lot going on here, keeping pupils busy but not stressed. On the
Accreditations, inspections & memberships
- Accreditations/Inspections
- Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa (ISASA)
- Memberships
- International Round Square Organisation; President's Award (Duke of Edinburgh)
