Senior School

The Senior School consists of three Grades (10, 11 and 12) in which we have approximately 100 boys and girls.   We believe the smallness of our School is one of our greatest strengths in that:

• It enables parents, teachers and students to get to know one another really well and this creates an environment for genuine educational growth and achievement;
• Both inside the classroom and extra-murally, our students receive almost personalized attention;
• No one is lost in the crowd and the uniqueness and infinite value of each individual boy and girl is easily identified and nurtured;
• Direct, face-to-face accountability of learners and teachers is promoted and developed;
• We are able to challenge the gifted, to develop the interest of the average and to encourage the under-achiever so that all students are imbued with confidence in themselves and made keen to realize their potential.

ACADEMIC MATTERS

During their final three years of secondary school, our students are prepared for their final Matriculation Examination, the Western Cape Senior Certificate.   As from 2006 the new Further Education and Training (FET) syllabus has been introduced into Grade 10.

In spite of our smallness, we offer a remarkably wide choice of subjects; certain combinations of these result in very small, compact classes.

Subjects currently offered are English, Afrikaans, Xhosa, Mathematics, Mathematical Literacy, Physical Science, Visual Art, History, Geography, Business Studies, Life Sciences, Computer Application Technology,  Dramatic Arts, Engineering Graphics Design and Life Orientation. Music and French may be taken by special arrangement with the Head. Foreign students who wish to include languages such as Portuguese, Spanish, German, Chinese and Japanese in their final external examinations, are able to do so. These subjects are catered for by the British Council.
Well-planned fieldwork exercises and excursions are very effective forms of education.   Thus we make full use of our environment beyond the school campus as an educational resource, and outdoor education is intrinsic to the timetable.   For example, excursions related to syllabuses in Physical Science, Life Sciences and Business Economics regularly take place, as do visits by Visual Art and Dramatic Arts students to galleries and theatres.

LEADERSHIP AND RESPONSIBILITY

We do not have a prefect system, having abolished it in 1989.   Instead, members of the Matriculation class take it in turns to be responsible for helping staff to administer various aspects of school life, on a rotational basis.   Thus all senior students are given the opportunity to develop their leadership potential, to take decisions, and to be innovative, by playing a part in areas such as discipline, sports coaching, library organization, supervising prep, etc.  The school has instituted a Network of Portfolios which are run by Matrics to assist in the general running of the school. All children are encouraged to participate in Round Square activities and the President’s Award Scheme.   The school gives official recognition to those who render outstanding service.

A student representative is elected onto the Student Council from each tutor group.

CAREER GUIDANCE

This important facet of secondary education is built into the timetable from Grade 10.  This is covered mainly in Life Orientation classes. Issues studied include general coverage of Law, Sexuality and Relationships, Time Management, Study Methods and an Introduction to Careers.   Grade 11 concentrates on Personal and Career Assessments.   In Grade 12, students are exposed to information from academic institutions and businesses, and they regularly visit Career Exhibitions and Open Days.

SPORT

Sport is an integral part of the curriculum and all students are encouraged to participate.   Teams play in the appropriate leagues and full recognition is given to those sports which are not offered at the school.   Opportunities for large team sports are limited by numbers.   Individual sports (tennis, squash, badminton) are also offered and we enter the appropriate leagues in the Southern Suburbs.

ROUND SQUARE

Round Square is open to all Middle and Senior School students and many take up this challenge of involvement and commitment.   The Grade 11 class elects a committee to run the Round Square programme for the year.   The Round Square pillars are practiced throughout the school.   These pillars are Internationalism, Democracy, Environmentalism. Adventure, Leadership and Service.   A number of our learners participate in the President’s Award.   Delegates from the school attend the annual African Junior Round Square Conference for the Senior School.   The aim of Round Square at St George’s is centred on a quote from Kurt Hahn, the Round Square founder:  “There is more in each of us than we think – more courage, more strength and more compassion”.

The Senior School consists of three Grades (10, 11 and 12) in which we have approximately 100 boys and girls.   We believe the smallness of our School is one of our greatest strengths in that:

• It enables parents, teachers and students to get to know one another really well and this creates an environment for genuine educational growth and achievement;
• Both inside the classroom and extra-murally, our students receive almost personalized attention;
• No one is lost in the crowd and the uniqueness and infinite value of each individual boy and girl is easily identified and nurtured;
• Direct, face-to-face accountability of learners and teachers is promoted and developed;
• We are able to challenge the gifted, to develop the interest of the average and to encourage the under-achiever so that all students are imbued with confidence in themselves and made keen to realize their potential.

ACADEMIC MATTERS

During their final three years of secondary school, our students are prepared for their final Matriculation Examination, the Western Cape Senior Certificate.   As from 2006 the new Further Education and Training (FET) syllabus has been introduced into Grade 10.

In spite of our smallness, we offer a remarkably wide choice of subjects; certain combinations of these result in very small, compact classes.

Subjects currently offered are English, Afrikaans, Xhosa, Mathematics, Mathematical Literacy, Physical Science, Visual Art, History, Geography, Business Studies, Life Sciences, Computer Application Technology,  Dramatic Arts, Engineering Graphics Design and Life Orientation. Music and French may be taken by special arrangement with the Head. Foreign students who wish to include languages such as Portuguese, Spanish, German, Chinese and Japanese in their final external examinations, are able to do so. These subjects are catered for by the British Council.
Well-planned fieldwork exercises and excursions are very effective forms of education.   Thus we make full use of our environment beyond the school campus as an educational resource, and outdoor education is intrinsic to the timetable.   For example, excursions related to syllabuses in Physical Science, Life Sciences and Business Economics regularly take place, as do visits by Visual Art and Dramatic Arts students to galleries and theatres.

LEADERSHIP AND RESPONSIBILITY

We do not have a prefect system, having abolished it in 1989.   Instead, members of the Matriculation class take it in turns to be responsible for helping staff to administer various aspects of school life, on a rotational basis.   Thus all senior students are given the opportunity to develop their leadership potential, to take decisions, and to be innovative, by playing a part in areas such as discipline, sports coaching, library organization, supervising prep, etc.  The school has instituted a Network of Portfolios which are run by Matrics to assist in the general running of the school. All children are encouraged to participate in Round Square activities and the President’s Award Scheme.   The school gives official recognition to those who render outstanding service.

A student representative is elected onto the Student Council from each tutor group.

CAREER GUIDANCE

This important facet of secondary education is built into the timetable from Grade 10.  This is covered mainly in Life Orientation classes. Issues studied include general coverage of Law, Sexuality and Relationships, Time Management, Study Methods and an Introduction to Careers.   Grade 11 concentrates on Personal and Career Assessments.   In Grade 12, students are exposed to information from academic institutions and businesses, and they regularly visit Career Exhibitions and Open Days.

SPORT

Sport is an integral part of the curriculum and all students are encouraged to participate.   Teams play in the appropriate leagues and full recognition is given to those sports which are not offered at the school.   Opportunities for large team sports are limited by numbers.   Individual sports (tennis, squash, badminton) are also offered and we enter the appropriate leagues in the Southern Suburbs.

ROUND SQUARE

Round Square is open to all Middle and Senior School students and many take up this challenge of involvement and commitment.   The Grade 11 class elects a committee to run the Round Square programme for the year.   The Round Square pillars are practiced throughout the school.   These pillars are Internationalism, Democracy, Environmentalism. Adventure, Leadership and Service.   A number of our learners participate in the President’s Award.   Delegates from the school attend the annual African Junior Round Square Conference for the Senior School.   The aim of Round Square at St George’s is centred on a quote from Kurt Hahn, the Round Square founder:  “There is more in each of us than we think – more courage, more strength and more compassion”.