Anne Van Zyl
Encyclopedia
Anne Van Zyl is a South African education administrator from Cape Town
, South Africa
. She is currently the headmistress of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls
. She has also been headmistress at five different schools including Pretoria High School for Girls
, St. Stithians College, and Bridge House. She is well known in academic circles for her work in education, including the integration of Pretoria High School for Girls
which became the first segregated white state school during in the Northern Transvaal
to open its doors to all races during apartheid when integrated state schools were still illegal.
.
(PHSG) where she remained for the next few years and gained responsibilities. She soon moved up the ranks by becoming, Head of Department of English and then Deputy Head. By 1988 she had became Principal of Pretoria High School for Girls
. In 1990 she was instrumental in the move which saw Pretoria Girls High becoming the first state school in the Northern Transvaal Province(present day Gauteng
) to admit girls of all races before apartheid was legally dismatled. The first Black student to be admitted was the daughter of a Malawian diplomat, Percy Kachipande
.
in Magoebaskloof, Limpopo Province. In 2003 she became the Head of Bridge House School
in Franschhoek. St. Stitihians became the first South African School to be accepted as members of the Round Square
International movement because of its emphasis on "internationalism, democracy, environmental awareness, adventure, leadership and service (IDEALS)". Stanford Lake College and Bridge House School, soon followed by achieving the distinction as Round Square
International members under her leadership. She has also worked as an Examiner for English literature and been a member of the Assessment Committee of the IEB (Independent Examinations Board). She achieved international acclaim when she became the headmistress of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls
, an independent school founded by Oprah Winfrey
that opened in 2007, offering education for girls from low income backgrounds. She was appointed Head of the Academy in January 2010. She took over in 2010 after controversies surrounding former headmistress, Tiny Virginia Makopo.
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. She is currently the headmistress of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls
Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls
The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls - South Africa is a girls-only boarding school that officially opened in January 2007 in Henley on Klip near Meyerton, south of Johannesburg, South Africa...
. She has also been headmistress at five different schools including Pretoria High School for Girls
Pretoria High School for Girls
Pretoria High School for Girls, also called Girls High or PHSG, is a public, fee charging, English medium high school for girls located in Hatfield, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa.-Second Anglo-Boer War:...
, St. Stithians College, and Bridge House. She is well known in academic circles for her work in education, including the integration of Pretoria High School for Girls
Pretoria High School for Girls
Pretoria High School for Girls, also called Girls High or PHSG, is a public, fee charging, English medium high school for girls located in Hatfield, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa.-Second Anglo-Boer War:...
which became the first segregated white state school during in the Northern Transvaal
Transvaal Province
Transvaal Province was a province of the Union of South Africa from 1910 to 1961, and of its successor, the Republic of South Africa, from 1961 until the end of apartheid in 1994 when a new constitution subdivided it.-History:...
to open its doors to all races during apartheid when integrated state schools were still illegal.
Early Education
Van Zyl went to high school at St Cyprians School in Cape Town. After graduation, she went on an exchange student program to San Mateo High School in California under the American Field Service program. She briefly attended Stellenbosch University but eventually received her French and English degree from the University of Cape Town. After graduation she traveled to France to work and attend classes at the Sorbonne University. When she returned to South Africa, she worked at Loreto Convent part time whilst obtaining her diploma and a BEd degree majoring in Educational Management from University of South AfricaUniversity of South Africa
The University of South Africa is a distance education university, with headquarters in Pretoria, South Africa. With approximately 300 000 enrolled students, it qualifies as one of the world's mega universities.-History:...
.
Early Education Career
Van Zyl began her education career as a French teacher at Loreto Convent in Pretoria. She then taught English at Pretoria High School for GirlsPretoria High School for Girls
Pretoria High School for Girls, also called Girls High or PHSG, is a public, fee charging, English medium high school for girls located in Hatfield, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa.-Second Anglo-Boer War:...
(PHSG) where she remained for the next few years and gained responsibilities. She soon moved up the ranks by becoming, Head of Department of English and then Deputy Head. By 1988 she had became Principal of Pretoria High School for Girls
Pretoria High School for Girls
Pretoria High School for Girls, also called Girls High or PHSG, is a public, fee charging, English medium high school for girls located in Hatfield, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa.-Second Anglo-Boer War:...
. In 1990 she was instrumental in the move which saw Pretoria Girls High becoming the first state school in the Northern Transvaal Province(present day Gauteng
Gauteng
Gauteng is one of the nine provinces of South Africa. It was formed from part of the old Transvaal Province after South Africa's first all-race elections on 27 April 1994...
) to admit girls of all races before apartheid was legally dismatled. The first Black student to be admitted was the daughter of a Malawian diplomat, Percy Kachipande
Percy Kachipande
Safiel Percy Kachipande was born in Ntcheu, Malawi. He is a former civil servant and diplomat for Malawi diplomatic missions to Germany, US and South Africa ....
.
Later Education Career
She was appointed Founder Head of St Stithians Collegiate in 1995. In 2001 she became Head of Stanford Lake CollegeStanford Lake College
Stanford Lake CollegeHeadmasterJohann UeckermannSchool typeIndependent Day/Boarding Co-EdFounded1998LocationHaenertsburg, Limpopo Province, South AfricaEnrollment272 School coloursGreen, navy and whiteGrades8 - 12...
in Magoebaskloof, Limpopo Province. In 2003 she became the Head of Bridge House School
Bridge House School
Bridge House School, situated in the Cape Winelands close to Franschhoek, Stellenbosch and Paarl, is an independent day / boarding school for over six hundred and fifty girls and boys from Grade 00 to Grade 12.-History:...
in Franschhoek. St. Stitihians became the first South African School to be accepted as members of the Round Square
Round Square
The Round Square Conference of Schools is a worldwide association of more than 80 schools that allows students to travel between schools,tour foreign countries, involve themselves in community service and discover cultures along the way.-History:...
International movement because of its emphasis on "internationalism, democracy, environmental awareness, adventure, leadership and service (IDEALS)". Stanford Lake College and Bridge House School, soon followed by achieving the distinction as Round Square
Round Square
The Round Square Conference of Schools is a worldwide association of more than 80 schools that allows students to travel between schools,tour foreign countries, involve themselves in community service and discover cultures along the way.-History:...
International members under her leadership. She has also worked as an Examiner for English literature and been a member of the Assessment Committee of the IEB (Independent Examinations Board). She achieved international acclaim when she became the headmistress of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls
Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls
The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls - South Africa is a girls-only boarding school that officially opened in January 2007 in Henley on Klip near Meyerton, south of Johannesburg, South Africa...
, an independent school founded by Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey is an American media proprietor, talk show host, actress, producer and philanthropist. Winfrey is best known for her self-titled, multi-award-winning talk show, which has become the highest-rated program of its kind in history and was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2011...
that opened in 2007, offering education for girls from low income backgrounds. She was appointed Head of the Academy in January 2010. She took over in 2010 after controversies surrounding former headmistress, Tiny Virginia Makopo.
Achievements
- St Mary’s DSG - Board member
- Mitchell House - Board member
- Penryn College - Board member
- International Board of Round Square member
- St Cyprians Council - Member