Courtney House International School

Since 2023, Dimitra (Demi) Bailanis. BA in English and psychology and BEd MEd in educational psychology, all from University of Pretoria. Registered educational psychologist with the Health Professions Council.

Started at the school in 2001 as a

Entry is from age four (reception) upwards. There’s no pre-school (the old Courtney Kids pre-school site is now used as a standalone AS/A level building, as there is more demand for these top years), but school liaises with and visits children at

AS levels are taken at the end of a two-year course in year 12 and some pupils stay on to sit A levels in year 13. South African universities do not generally require A levels - though they can help to gain entry to the more prestigious local

CIE exams are taken in November, towards the end of the school year.

In 2022, 13 students sat an average of seven GCSE exams each. Half of those sitting maths, chemistry, ICT and French achieved A*/A with the remainder all obtaining Bs. In

A largely technology-free school with all work completed by paper and pen – unusual for schools these days. No phones or other personal electronics allowed in school up to year 8, and even then, not for regular classwork. Computers (Acer laptops) are

School accommodates children with mild learning differences (eg dyslexia, mild autism or Asperger’s) but assesses every child individually to determine if school is the best fit. As a practising educational psychologist, the head is heavily involved

Children without English as a first language are welcomed up to lower secondary school level, and there are ELL specialists to work with them. More difficult once IGCSEs are on the horizon.

Music and art lessons are offered (on a rotating basis) within the primary school curriculum. The music room is kitted out with drums, marimbas (type of xylophone) and ukuleles. But by senior school there’s no music on offer, and only a handful took

Compulsory to year 8, with swimming (in the summer) plus a rotating carousel of basketball, softball, netball, athletics, football and cross country. A minibus takes pupils to sports facilities at a nearby seminary, including an outdoor (unheated)

Parents say that pastoral care is exceptional, with teachers really caring about the students and, as they get older, a fabulous relationship develops until they are treating them almost as adults, or peers. School earns high praise for its caring,

Drawn from a wide variety of backgrounds, but particularly popular with diplomats and NGO officers. The great location between the diplomatic residential enclaves and down town offices means parents can drop their children off on their way to work in

Fees are about average and considered reasonable. There is some hope of an injection of funds from Curro to create new facilities, but this remains to be seen.

‘Courtney House has a great feel, we didn’t seriously consider anywhere else’. School receives high praise from parents (and pupils) who love the small class sizes, personal attention and caring teachers. The Cambridge curriculum, which is hard to