St John's College, Johannesburg

St John's College is an private English medium school for boys in South Africa founded in 1898. The college, originally established as an Anglican school for boys, accepts boys and girls at various levels of education: Bridge Nursery, Pre-Preparatory, Preparatory, College, and Sixth Form. St John’s College campus is located in Houghton, Johannesburg, and it is a part of the Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa.

St John's College
The Bell Tower at St John's College
Address
St David Rd, Houghton Estate

Johannesburg
,
Gauteng

South Africa
Information
TypePrivate & Boarding
MottoLux Vita Caritas
(Light Life Love)
Established1 August 1898 (1898-08-01)
FounderRevd John Darragh
HeadmasterMr Stuart West
Exam boardIEB
ChaplainThe Revd Dr Jeremy Jacobs
GradesPre-Preparatory (0–3) Preparatory (4–7) College (8–12) Sixth Form ( Cambridge A Levels)
GenderMale
Number of students1,350 boys
LanguageEnglish
Schedule08:00 - 15:00
CampusUrban Campus
Colour(s)  Navy
  Maroon
  White
MascotEagle
NicknameSJC
RivalKing Edward VII School
Parktown Boys' High School
St Stithians College
Dayboy HousesThomson, Alston, Clarke, Fleming
Boarding HousesNash, Hill, Clayton, Hodgson, Runge
FeesR 283,000p.a. (tuition and boarding)
R 167 658 p.a. (tuition only)
Websitewww.stjohnscollege.co.za

History

Early history

St John's College was founded in Johannesburg on 1 August 1898,[1] by the Revd Mr John Darragh, rector of St Mary's Anglican Church, Eloff Street, Johannesburg,[2] and is an Anglican school.[3] He persuaded his parish council of the need to establish an Anglican school for boys, whereby his curate, the Revd Mr J L Hodgson, was appointed the first Headmaster.[1] The first classes started in a house in Plein Street, Johannesburg with two desks and seven pupils aged six to 14, however, the school was forced to close at the end of 1899 due to the outbreak of the Second Anglo-Boer War. St John's re-opened in 1902 two months after the signing of the peace treaty, and grew rapidly under Mr Hodgson and eight staff. [4]

After having 180 students St John's moved to a larger premises in a wood and iron building, near the Union Grounds between Joubert Park and the old Wanderers (now Johannesburg's main railway station). The British colonial government, under Lord Milner, was ideologically opposed to private schools, believing that they were not beneficial to society. Over the next few years the school's enrolment plummeted as a result of policies introduced by the Transvaal administration, including the creation of public schools (such as King Edward VII School) within a short distance of their private counterparts.

In 1904, the parish was relieved of the responsibility for St John's College, which became a diocesan institution. However, by 1905 St John's was facing closure, and an approach was made by the diocesan board of education to the Community of the Resurrection (an Anglo Catholic order of missionary priests and lay brothers) to take over the school, they would later establish what is now St. Martin's School.

In 1906 Father James Nash became the new headmaster and oversaw the move north out of the city to the current site on 23 hectares (56 acres) across Houghton Ridge.[5]

In 1907 the school had opened in Houghton and accepted its first boarders. By then it had 100 boys, and four college houses had been instituted: Nash, Thomson, Alston and Rakers (which became Hill in 1910).[5]

The bell tower completed in 1933, houses one of the largest bells in South Africa.[6] and is an Anglican school.[3] It also has the largest clock in South Africa. The flag at the top of the bell tower is changed every day, from the South African flag, to the St Johns College flag, to the flag of St George.

Expansion and growth

The Community of the Resurrection relinquished control of the school to the Diocese of Johannesburg in 1934.[7] In 1935, Rev S.H. Clarke began his two decades as Headmaster. In 1954 Deane Yates became the first lay headmaster. By then there were 664 boys, 375 in the college, 100 boarders in the Prep. During Yates’ headship St. John's College has widened in interests and outlook. Boys and masters move towards a broader and more modern concept of education and an appreciation and critical understanding of the rapidly changing life of Johannesburg, of South Africa, and of the world at large.

In 1972 Jan Breitenbach becomes the first South African Headmaster. Cadet corps ceases to exist. The first female is accepted into Sixth Form. In 1973 at 75 years old the school becomes a three-term school.

In 1977, the first computer on campus was installed in Pelican Quad.

In 1984 under the guidance of Headmaster Walter Macfarlane (OJ) 17 ‘legal’ versions of the school uniform are whittled down to two: Number Ones and summer khakis. Sixth Form girls are given a uniform. A new school constitution, including the composition of council, becomes effective and lasts until 1998.

In 1994, Macfarlane retires as Headmaster, and Robert Clarence is appointed in his place.

During 1997, Robert Clarence departs as Headmaster. Alan "Takkie" Wilcock replaces him as acting Headmaster, and fully moves into the post the following year.

In 1998, the school celebrated its centenary year. The 100-year celebration was commemorated by a mass of thanksgiving held on Burger Field for all three schools, staff, parents past and present, former pupils and friends of the school. During the year, the school celebrated with a ball, a race day, a golf day, a pageant, an arts and crafts fair, a centenary rose, basketball, cricket, hockey and rugby festivals, and multiple musical and theatrical performances. Commemorative gifts are presented by Jeppe, St Mary’s and St Stithian’s schools. The celebrations ended with a massed Carols by Candlelight service and fireworks display on Burger Field in November.

The Fred England Technology and Media Centre in the Prep opens in 1999. Sixth Form girls receive boarding. In March 2000, a move to establish St. John's College as a parish is formalised. Te Deum by Péter Louis van Dijk, commissioned for the school’s centenary, has its world premiere. The school museum is moved to the armoury with financial assistance given by the Old Johannian Association (OJA). A strategic review is undertaken by council and senior staff which results in the following mission statement: To be a world class Christian school in Africa.[8]

In 2001 the Centenary Venture tops R17 million. St John's College introduces a seventh house: Hodgson, a boarding house. The school has 1234 pupils with an annual budget of R44 million. The synthetic turf hockey field and the sports pavilion linking the hockey and Burger Field are completed. Sixth Form boarding school for girls is expanded with the acquisition of 14 St David Road. St. John's College and St Mary's School jointly sign a lease for Kloofwaters, an outdoor adventure camp in the Magaliesberg. St. John's College hosts three debates during the World Schools Debating Championships. Outreach continues with school support for the Yeoville Community School, Mother Theresa’s, educator workshops, the Toy Boyz project.

In 2003 The Bridge Nursery School, a partnership between St. Johns College and Roedean School, opens its doors. The actual bridge linking the two schools is constructed over Houghton Drive during the Easter weekend.

View of the North Facade, designed by Sir Herbert Baker.

Academics

Today there are five stages to a St John's education:[9]

  • The Bridge Nursery School offers two classes for the three to five years old.
  • The Pre-Preparatory School is for boys who start Pre-Grade (Grade 0) at the beginning of the year in which they turn six.
  • The Preparatory School is for boys typically until they are 13 (end of grade 7)
  • The College for boys, where the main point of entry is at Remove (Standard 6, now Grade 8) typically at the age of 13 (although a few vacancies do become available at other levels from time to time) and boys typically leave at the age of 18. There is an entrance test, and the applicant's interests and cultural activities, sporting achievements and general demeanour are taken into consideration. A confidential report from the pupil's preparatory school Headmaster/Headmistress is requested. Special consideration is given to siblings, sons of Old Johannians, sons of Clergy and those who come from a disadvantaged background
  • The VIth Form for both boys and girls offers a Sixth Form year to enable students to focus on three subjects of his/her choice in preparation for Cambridge A-level exams (written in November); the class numbers average between 60 and 90 boys and girls a year.

Test Performance

The IEB is a standardized assessment used in South Africa to test quality of schools and education.[10]

IEB Results 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2015
Number of candidates120124127
Number of failures000000 0
University endorsement (%)979795929894 100
A aggregates (%)27353330
A-B-C aggregates (%)
Subject distinctions158247220220 338
Number in top 50722333

Rankings

St John's College was ranked 11th out of the top 100 best high schools in Africa by Africa Almanac in 2003, based upon quality of education, student engagement, strength and activities of alumni, school profile, internet and news visibility.[11]

Campus
St John's College main Chapel.

The college has eight college houses: Alston, Clarke, Clayton, Fleming, Hill, Hodgson, Nash and Thomson. Sir Herbert Baker designed the new Houghton school buildings and initially used rough-hewn quartzite quarried on the site, but subsequently rock was sourced from Krugersdorp and hand-chased by Maltese craftsmen. The school is arranged around a number of quadrangles, each with its cloisters. Leonard Fleming[12] later worked with Baker on certain of the buildings.

The college has two chapels, a main one and a crypt chapel. Construction began in 1915 on the Crypt Chapel designed by Fleming as a foundation for the main chapel. The Crypt Chapel seats about 100 pupils, and is adjacent to the Garden of Remembrance. Each House of the college has a week in which it is to attend the chapel service in the crypt. Above the Crypt Chapel is the War Memorial Chapel. The superstructure was completed in June 1924 and dedicated in 1926 to commemorate staff and pupils who fell in battle. Inside the War Memorial Chapel is the Delville Wood (All Souls) Memorial Chapel, which houses one of only five Delville Wood crosses in the world, entrusted to the school by the 3rd Regiment South African Infantry. It seats about 500 pupils, including staff, and has a fully functioning pipe organ and a choir gallery at the rear of the chapel above the main entrance. Its pipe organ is the largest of its kind in South Africa.[13]

Notable alumni

Old Johannian Association

The Old Johannian Association (OJA) is the official St John's College alumni organization. Created in 1903, an elected committee oversees the association and is elected every year at an annual general meeting. This committee meets monthly, and is divided into different specialized sections: finance, administration, reunions, sport and communication.[21]

According to the official OJA website, this association "seeks to provide Old Johannians with social and recreational facilities for the use and benefit of all members."[22] The OJA supports Old Johannian sports teams and maintains a social club for members. The OJA also funds scholarships for students of St John's College.

Events hosted and attended by the OJA include the OJ Annual Dinner, Gaudy Day and annual OJ sports events. Officers within the OJA also organize reunions for Old Johannian members.[22]

Memberships

See also

References
  1. "History of St John's College". St John's College. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  2. "History of St John's College". St John's College. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  3. "College". St John's College. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  4. "History of St John's College – St John's College". www.stjohnscollege.co.za. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  5. Pretorius, Dr. Daniel. "1906: 'A school where churchmen may have their boys brought up in a church atmosphere'". St. John's College.
  6. [CityNESS, cityness.co.za/product/st-johns-college/. ""Old Park Halt Station." CityNESS, cityness.co.za/product/st-johns-college/"] Check |url= value (help). “Old Park Halt Station.”. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  7. "History". St John's College. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  8. "About – St John's College". www.stjohnscollege.co.za. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  9. "Home". St John's College.
  10. "About Us". IEB. IEB. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  11. "top20highschools". Africa Almanac. Africa Almanac. 1 October 2003. Archived from the original on 14 January 2007. Retrieved 24 July 2016. The research leading up to the publication of the 100 Best High Schools in Africa began with the launching of the website in December 2000.
  12. "FLEMING, Francis (Frank) Leonard Hodgson". Artefacts.
  13. World Heritage Encyclopedia. ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE, JOHANNESBURG.
  14. Who's Who of Southern Africa Media24 Digital 6 January 2008
  15. Beresford, Belinda (29 May 2008). "Craig Williamson: Apartheid careerist". The M&G Online. Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  16. "Hugh Lewin".
  17. "'People are going to be outraged by a lot said in this book'- Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh". News24. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  18. "Maps Maponyane to host new local entrepreneurial show". Channel. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  19. SA Consulate article on Xuza
  20. Spedding's tears of joy for France
  21. "Welcome to the Old Johannian Association". oja. Old Johannian Association. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  22. "About". Old Johannian Association. Retrieved 13 March 2019.

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