St Cyprian's Diocesan School for Girls

Since 2020, Shelley Frayne. Educated at Rhodes University with a BA in secondary education and teaching, she arrived with extensive experience gained from twelve years as head of Diocesan School for Girls in Grahamstown, and ten years previously as

School is bursting at the seams, with some grades oversubscribed as school finds it hard to turn good applicants down. Places are filled for the youngest 000 grade well over a year in advance of entry. Head is quick to point out that they cannot

The majority stays locally at University of Cape Town (UCT) or an hour away at Stellenbosch University (‘Stellies’), but with these being the most popular in the country for high-achieving matrics, there’s a huge pressure on places. A few branch out

School is rightly proud of its stellar results, including 100 per cent achieving a bachelor’s pass in the IEB every year, but they are not seen as the be all and end all.

In 2024, 88 IEB candidates achieved 304 subject distinctions, an average of

The newish preschool is bright and cheery, with classrooms (some bigger than others) personalised by teachers and a few having direct access to the outside. Classes of 20-25 students have an intern and teaching assistant in addition to the qualified

Already supporting many girls with special needs and requiring special accommodations for exams, school is stretched to the limit and unlikely to take on any further students with identified SEN. However, they will always help those already enrolled,

Girls are kept very busy, both during and after school. In design lessons, grade 7s recently put on a sustainable fashion show, having researched, designed and made the clothes themselves.

Music is a highlight, with a new soundproofed music

Recent heavy investment in facilities and specialist staff as part of a ‘long term athlete development’ sports programme, is now producing excellent results. It helps that the head is ‘mad about sport’, according to parents. Hockey is huge but

Saint Katherine’s, home to 50 girls in grades 8 to 12, is currently located above the main school buildings and was the only part we did not visit. There are plans afoot to acquire a new boarding house just outside the campus and turn the current

With the wealthy area and relatively high fees attracting a certain crowd, it’s inevitably not as diverse as the population at large, but school takes inclusivity seriously. A transformation and diversity committee (comprising senior staff, parents,

A real mix of families here, including a smattering of local celebrities and politicians, but parents are not flashy. ‘It’s not somewhere you would rock up in a Lambo to pick up your daughter,’ said one parent with a chuckle.

Around 60 per cent of

With a wry smile, parents told us the only things they would change are ‘more land and lower fees’. But they also understand that fees are competitive and offer good value for money. As a non-profit, ‘school can focus on the girls and their

Engaged, motivated and hard-working girls will thrive in this fast-paced but supportive environment, whatever their interests and passions. Emphasis is on developing each student as an individual with a strong moral compass and a social conscience,