MORE ABOUT WESTERFORD HIGH

Mission Statement

“…Our mission is to be a South African public co-educational high school providing education of international standards of excellence and leadership, for the community it serves and contributing to the on-going development of our country….”

Westerford is a co-educational, secular, public high school located in Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa. Westerford is a pupil-centred school that prides itself on a strong academic curriculum, compulsory sport programme and an enthusiastically embraced cultural life. A focus on the balanced and holistic development of young minds and bodies combined with the motto of “Nil Nisi Optimum”, “Nothing but the best”, makes it no surprise that we have earned ourselves the reputation of “The school that never sleeps”.

Our Educational Approach

As a South African public co-educational high school we are committed to:

• The inclusion of a significant representation of learners and staff from the major cultural groups living in the Western Cape, in an atmosphere where each member from such diverse backgrounds feels equally part of the school;
• Being a multi-cultural community characterised by mutual respect and inclusivity;
• Providing equal opportunities for boys and girls.

We have a responsibility to:

• Equip all pupils with the skills, qualities and values necessary to participate effectively in a common future with all South Africans;
• Develop interactive relationships with a range of other school communities and groups in order to share skills and resources;
• Accommodate pupils who could not otherwise afford to come to Westerford.

We are committed to an education which:

• Offers a broad-based curriculum with academic, cultural, sporting, life-skills and spiritual components;
• Recognizes and develops the unique potential of each individual to the fullest;
• Encourages an open, analytical and questioning approach to life and to oneself, based on sound values;
• Engenders a balance between rights and responsibilities;
• Promotes a safe and healthy environment for all;
• Provides for the fullest possible all-round, balanced development of each learner and staff member in the school, thereby preparing learners for life;
• Encourages spiritual growth.

We believe that effective education is possible only where there is:

• Mutual support and co-operation between learners, staff and parents;
• A climate of care and support for the individual directed at developing self-confidence and a positive self-image;
• A set of common values shared by the whole school community;
• Good communication between all sectors of the school community;
• A sustainable, affordable financial support base which allows adequate staffing and effective management of the school’s resources.

We are committed to serving our community by:

• Building a caring, involved and creative community of pupils, staff and parents;
• Displaying concern and support for those with special needs.

As a centre of excellence and leadership in education, we are committed to:

• Excellence in every sphere of school activity;
• Creating and exploring an effective, challenging and dynamic learning environment with up-to-date, appropriate facilities;
• Pioneering the development of new, innovative teaching methods, applicable in a wide range of contexts.

It flows through our bones…

Westerford opened at the beginning of January 1953, housed in an old homestead which no longer exists. The site was originally known as Westervoort, but the school was known as Claremont Secondary School from the name of the school which shared a property with a small primary school on Dean Street.