Woodridge College is a private, co-educational school in the Eastern Cape

Eastern Cape

The Eastern Cape is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are Port Elizabeth and East London. It was formed in 1994 out of the "independent" Xhosa homelands of Transkei and Ciskei, together with the eastern portion of the Cape Province...

, 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...

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Woodridge is situated near the small town of Thornhill, roughly half way between Jeffrey's Bay and Port Elizabeth. The school is attended by both boarders and day-scholars.
It has produced several famous athletes and business leaders both nationally and internationally, including golfer James Kamte

James Kamte

James Bongani Kamte , nicknamed "Cobra", is a South African golfer. He has been playing on the Sunshine Tour and European Challenge Tours for the past four years, and earned his tour card for the 2008 European Tour season by finishing in the top 30 of the qualifying school.-Early life:Kamte was a...

, champion canoeist Martin Dreyer and cricketers Mark Rushmere

Mark Rushmere

Mark Weir Rushmere is a former South African cricketer who played 1 Test and 4 One Day Internationals for South Africa in 1992....

, Colin Ingram

Colin Ingram (cricketer)

Colin Alexander Ingram is a South African cricketer who currently plays for the Warriors. He represented South Africa at the 2004 U-19 Cricket World Cup in Bangladesh.-Early life:...

 and Riki Wessels

Riki Wessels

Mattheus Hendrik Wessels, also known as Riki Wessels, is an Australian cricketer who has played for the cricket teams of Marylebone Cricket Club and Northamptonshire...

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The school has an orientation towards focusing on the pupil as a whole versus being a school that focuses on academics or any particular sport, a statement that is re-affirmed to parents and pupils alike.

School Motto

The Motto of the school is Fideliter, as can be seen on the school emblem, meaning faithfully.

Location

It is situated on the edge of the gorge that has been created by Van Stadens River

Van Stadens River

Van Stadens River is a river in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The river mouth is located about 30 km west of Port Elizabeth.The Van Stadens Bridge where the N2 national highway crosses the river is known as a suicide location....

, next to the infamous Van Stadens Bridge

Van Stadens Bridge

The Van Stadens Bridge is a concrete arch bridge over the Van Stadens River in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. It carries road traffic for the N2 national highway.- Suicides at Van Stadens Bridge :...

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History

The school was started by the Carter family in 1936, all of whom's descendants have attended the school. Originally the school was only a preparatory school, the college was only started during the 60's/

Curriculum

The school offers the standard schooling under the guidelines of the Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa

Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa

The Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa is the largest association of independent schools in Southern Africa.-History:...

, and pupils taking their National Senior Certifiate write the IEB examainations.

Sport

Woodridge is involved in the sport of Rugby, Cricket, Hockey, Netball, Squash, Tennis, Athletics, Waterpolo and swimming.

In addition, surf life saving is offered, as a sport, which is unique within South African schools.

Other alternative sports are also offered, such as Rock Climbing, Canoeing, and hiking and Outdoor education. Outdoor education is offered, which has similar style of achieving individual growth the way Outward Bound

Outward Bound

Outward Bound is an international, non-profit, independent, outdoor educationorganization with approximately 40 schools around the world and 200,000 participants per year...

 does, although it got its roots more from the Veld en Vlei society in nearby Sedgefield which many Old Woodridgeans used to attend, which was later bought out by the Outward Bound

Outward Bound

Outward Bound is an international, non-profit, independent, outdoor educationorganization with approximately 40 schools around the world and 200,000 participants per year...

 association.

Inter house competitions are held for all sports offered by the school. The Outdoor education house trophy is considered the most revered of house trophies.

Headmasters

Headmasters are often seen as the leadership identity within South African schools. It is often their decisions (in conjunction with the governing body) that improve or degrade the success of the school.

The current head master of the school is Craig Neave, who was previously the deputy headmaster.

Previous Headmasters include

• 2002 - 2004 Ken Ball
• 1997 - 2001 Guy Norman Pearson

Since their success at one school is often their best reference, schools like Woodridge which have a shorter history than other schools in South Africa, are often stepping stones for successful headmasters. Guy Pearson, whose term was incredibly successful at achieving goals went on to become the rector of one of South Africa's oldest and top schools, Michaelhouse

Michaelhouse

Michaelhouse is a full boarding senior school for boys founded in 1896. It is located in the Balgowan valley in the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.- History :...

.

Ken Ball is currently (2010) headmaster at SACS in Cape Town, another well known, old, established school.

School houses

The school has three houses, which pupils are divided into to compete on a intra-school level amongst each other.

• Carter House
• Kohler House
• Founders House

Founders house was closed for many years (approximately 1985-2005) when the numbers of pupils is the school did not warrant three houses).

The school houses used to dictate in which physical location and building the pupils board within on the property.

Hostels

There are four hostels on the Woodridge campus:

• Carter (Girls)
• Founders (Girls)
• Kohler (Boys)
• Matopos (Boys)

Religious Teachings

Woodridge is considered a Christian school, and is a parish of the Anglican church, but it is neither prerequisite to be accepted as pupil, nor is the religion forced to children. It is loosely used within the assemblies of the school, and optional cultural classes.