Ixopo High School
Encyclopedia
Ixopo High School is a boarding school in Kwazulu-Natal
, South Africa
. It was founded in 1895 as the Ixopo Government School in what was originally called Stuartstown. The first black pupil was admitted for the 1989/1990 school year after the crumbling Apartheid policies were swept aside by P. W. Botha.
Although the " Ixopo Government School " was opened officially in August 1895, formal education in the village dates back to as early as 1878, when the township of Stuartstown (Ixopo's former name) was first laid out by the first settlers in the village. In that same year, the enterprising village folk also founded the "Ixopo school and library Association", and built a building on the land behind the present Agricultural Hall.
The first mistress of the school was Mrs. J.T. Shum, who taught for 17 years in the "Ixopo Government Aided School".
In 1895, the Natal Education Department was persuaded to assume full responsibility for education in the village and established the Ixopo Government School, with Mr J.W. Robinson as its first headmaster.
The original school building was built on the corner of High Street and Commercial Road, now one of the Primary School Hostels. In 1920 the school moved to the site of the present Primary School.
In 1957 the High School moved to it's present site with the official opening of the new school building.
Our Ethos.
Complementing more than 100 years of history and tradition, and linked to the fact that the school is relatively small, it has been possible over the years to develop a very special spirit and ethos. The school community, in many ways, resembles an extended family unit where the individual is able to maintain his or her own identity.
Because the majority of our pupils are boarders, many younger staff members live on campass and even those who reside off-campus, live within walking distance of the school. They are all a dedicated group of ladies and gentleman who are fully involved in all aspects of school life and, by their example, a similar spirit of envolvement and participation exists among the boys and girls. We have endeavoured toi nuture a caring ethos which can cater for the many needs of our student body.
Parents are encouraged to communicate directly with teachers and boarding staff, should problems be encountered and staff members in turn, will reciprotate when the cecessity arises. we acknowledge that various problems will arise from time to time, as they do in all schools, but believe that through communication and a caring attitude we are able to find solutions to most areas of concern.
Cassington is the senior boys hostel. It was name after Mr Cassington, who owned a large farming estate of which the lower playing fields were part of that original estate.
Ellerton House
Ellerton is the junior boys hostel. The original boarding hostel was Ellerton House. Behind it are the original school buildings that composed the entire school block in a quad. Later on, after the Second World War, much of the school was built and extended to become as it was in 2010. As part of the extensions, a library was built that has been dedicated to the memory of Alan Paton
.
Stuart House
Stuart is a girls hostel housing both junior and senior girls.
During the Eighties and early Nineties, Ixopo became a feared name amongst the South West and Districts Rugby teams for their roughness and readiness to fight. This reputation often earned them top points for entire seasons and the "Third World War" matches against Maritzburg College
would often become bitter and bloody fist-fights. It was the violence of inter-schools rugby that forced the national rugby board to change the rules of rugby
during this period to the more gentle and gentlemanly game it has become today.
Cadets
Towards the end of the apartheid era, there were weekly sessions of Cadet Training for the young men. This was instituted throughout "white" government schools as a pre-requisite to forced conscription. Most boys would receive their call-up papers during their penultimate year of school and then either continue to university or join the army. Conscientious objectors were scorned and ridiculed. Even foreign pupils were given the same conscription orders by the South African Defence Force
to fight in Angola
or Namibia
. Usually the first port of call was Oudtshoorn for training.
As a result of this conscription, the school had to train the boys how to march, shoot and defend themselves.
KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal is a province of South Africa. Prior to 1994, the territory now known as KwaZulu-Natal was made up of the province of Natal and the homeland of KwaZulu....
, 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...
. It was founded in 1895 as the Ixopo Government School in what was originally called Stuartstown. The first black pupil was admitted for the 1989/1990 school year after the crumbling Apartheid policies were swept aside by P. W. Botha.
Although the " Ixopo Government School " was opened officially in August 1895, formal education in the village dates back to as early as 1878, when the township of Stuartstown (Ixopo's former name) was first laid out by the first settlers in the village. In that same year, the enterprising village folk also founded the "Ixopo school and library Association", and built a building on the land behind the present Agricultural Hall.
The first mistress of the school was Mrs. J.T. Shum, who taught for 17 years in the "Ixopo Government Aided School".
In 1895, the Natal Education Department was persuaded to assume full responsibility for education in the village and established the Ixopo Government School, with Mr J.W. Robinson as its first headmaster.
The original school building was built on the corner of High Street and Commercial Road, now one of the Primary School Hostels. In 1920 the school moved to the site of the present Primary School.
In 1957 the High School moved to it's present site with the official opening of the new school building.
Our Ethos.
Complementing more than 100 years of history and tradition, and linked to the fact that the school is relatively small, it has been possible over the years to develop a very special spirit and ethos. The school community, in many ways, resembles an extended family unit where the individual is able to maintain his or her own identity.
Because the majority of our pupils are boarders, many younger staff members live on campass and even those who reside off-campus, live within walking distance of the school. They are all a dedicated group of ladies and gentleman who are fully involved in all aspects of school life and, by their example, a similar spirit of envolvement and participation exists among the boys and girls. We have endeavoured toi nuture a caring ethos which can cater for the many needs of our student body.
Parents are encouraged to communicate directly with teachers and boarding staff, should problems be encountered and staff members in turn, will reciprotate when the cecessity arises. we acknowledge that various problems will arise from time to time, as they do in all schools, but believe that through communication and a caring attitude we are able to find solutions to most areas of concern.
Boarding Establishments
Cassington HouseCassington is the senior boys hostel. It was name after Mr Cassington, who owned a large farming estate of which the lower playing fields were part of that original estate.
Ellerton House
Ellerton is the junior boys hostel. The original boarding hostel was Ellerton House. Behind it are the original school buildings that composed the entire school block in a quad. Later on, after the Second World War, much of the school was built and extended to become as it was in 2010. As part of the extensions, a library was built that has been dedicated to the memory of Alan Paton
Alan Paton
Alan Stewart Paton was a South African author and anti-apartheid activist.-Family:Paton was born in Pietermaritzburg, Natal Province , the son of a minor civil servant. After attending Maritzburg College, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Natal in his hometown, followed...
.
Stuart House
Stuart is a girls hostel housing both junior and senior girls.
Sport
RugbyDuring the Eighties and early Nineties, Ixopo became a feared name amongst the South West and Districts Rugby teams for their roughness and readiness to fight. This reputation often earned them top points for entire seasons and the "Third World War" matches against Maritzburg College
Maritzburg College
Maritzburg College, known locally as College, is a public school for boys situated in the city of Pietermaritzburg, in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa....
would often become bitter and bloody fist-fights. It was the violence of inter-schools rugby that forced the national rugby board to change the rules of rugby
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
during this period to the more gentle and gentlemanly game it has become today.
Cadets
Towards the end of the apartheid era, there were weekly sessions of Cadet Training for the young men. This was instituted throughout "white" government schools as a pre-requisite to forced conscription. Most boys would receive their call-up papers during their penultimate year of school and then either continue to university or join the army. Conscientious objectors were scorned and ridiculed. Even foreign pupils were given the same conscription orders by the South African Defence Force
South African Defence Force
The South African Defence Force was the South African armed forces from 1957 until 1994. The former Union Defence Force was renamed to the South African Defence Force in the Defence Act of 1957...
to fight in Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
or Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
. Usually the first port of call was Oudtshoorn for training.
As a result of this conscription, the school had to train the boys how to march, shoot and defend themselves.
Headmasters and staff
The current headmaster is Brian Dawson, who started teaching at the school as a geography teacher.Famous People
- Alan PatonAlan PatonAlan Stewart Paton was a South African author and anti-apartheid activist.-Family:Paton was born in Pietermaritzburg, Natal Province , the son of a minor civil servant. After attending Maritzburg College, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Natal in his hometown, followed...
, author of the book Cry the Beloved Country which was more recently made into a Hollywood movie - Lawrence BransbyLawrence BransbyLawrence Bransby is a South African author of several books, such as "Downstreet" which highlighted the racial prejudice of individuals towards people of many different races and showed that it need not be the case. It also highlighted the political turmoil of a nation undergoing change through...
, author of many books (Downstreet and many others)