Westville Boys' High School

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Westville Boys' High School
Incepto Ne Desistam
Established	1955
School type	Public school, Boys
Locale	Suburban
Grades	8 - 12
Headmaster	Trevor Hall
Exam board	KZN Education Dept.
Location	Westville, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Students	1200 boys
Colors	Red and blue
Pupil-teacher ratio	19:1
Website	www.wbhs.co.za

Westville Boys' High School, often referred to as WBHS, is a public high school for boys located in Westville, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Along with schools like Durban High School, Hilton College, Kearsney College, Maritzburg College and Michaelhouse, it ranks as one of the leading boys' schools in the province of KwaZulu-Natal.

Contents 1 History 1.1 The original school building: Bernard's House 1.2 School Badge 1.3 The School Motto: Incepto Ne Desistam 2 Modern Times 2.1 Academics 3 Notable achievements by some Old Boys 4 List of Notable Sportsmen (Partial) 5 Proposed Future Developments 6 External links

[edit] History

2006 marks the 41st anniversary of WBHS as a purely boys' high school. The roots of the school however can be traced back to 1861, when German immigrant farmers operated a school from a 9 by 4 metre wattle and daub structure sited on the main Durban-Pietermaritzburg road. They were the first large group of settlers to populate the area, named after Sir Martin West, the first Lieutenant Governor of Natal. Details of school activities after this time range from the sketchy to the non-existent. The next recorded date of a school in Westville was in March 1935 when the Westville Kindergarten School, a private farm school, first opened its doors. Under the careful guidance of Miss Gladys Carr, the school eventually outgrew the Church Hall used at the time. In 1941 the school was moved to Bernard's House, an old house situated on the present school site. This residence on six acres of land had been bequeathed by Mr and Mrs Bernard to the people of Westville for educational purposes. It was near this site that the Outspan Tree, which marked the first overnight stop for the old ox wagons travelling to the interior, once stood. The Outspan Tree today forms part of the WBHS badge.

By 1944 the admissions roll had increased to 66 pupils. The following year the co-educational Westville Government School opened as a provincial institution and operated at primary level until 1955. In 1949, Bernard's House was demolished to make way for the new school buildings which were opened in January 1950. These buildings, built at a cost of £27 500, were hailed as the finest erected by the Administration since the war. The year 2000 marked the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of these buildings that today form the inner quadrangle of the school. A special ceremony was held in recognition of the contribution made by the Bernard family, and a memorial in their honour was erected on the site of the original farmhouse.

[edit] The original school building: Bernard's House

Secondary education at Westville can be traced back to 1955 when a group of 21 pupils formed the first Standard Seven (Grade Nine) class of the then Westville High School. The secondary school initially co-existed with the infant and primary classes but by 1961 the last of those classes were accommodated in separate institutions.

In 1963 work on the building of a new Westville Girls' High School commenced and at the end of 1964, the split into the boys' and the girls' high schools was completed.

The Headmaster who laid the foundation and guided the School into full secondary status was Mr N W Bowden (1955–1963). The main sports field bears his name and WBHS's reputation as a leading academic school dates back to the results of the very first matriculation class of 1959. Mr Bowden's comments on the constructive role played by the parents was that they "went out of their way to support the School and we lacked nothing in any sphere in which they could help us", remains, to this day, a truism.

A number of large capital projects aimed at developing the school physically were initiated between 1961 and 1963. In 1961 work on what was later to be called Commons Field began and a pavilion and scoreboard were erected on Bowdens field. Work commenced on the school hall in 1962. In this year WBHS produced the top pupil in the matric examinations. In 1963 the three-story complex overlooking the tennis courts was started and this was the beginning of a building programme which developed at a rapid rate of expansion over the next ten years. Mr H Commons became the new Headmaster in 1964, the year in which the School split into two single sex schools. A brilliant mathematics teacher and fine administrator, Mr Commons had served the school as effective vice-principal under Mr Bowden and his short period of the years as Headmaster ended when he was promoted to the Headmastership of Maritzburg College.

July 1966 saw the arrival of Mr D C Thompson as the new Headmaster. It was under his guidance that the academic reputation, which was already beginning to spread, became firmly established. For three years in succession, 1968–1970, and again in 1972, WBHS provided the top pupil in the Natal education Department's matriculation examination, and whose successes in the Olympiads was also outstanding. Impressive as the results of the top pupils were, it was the depth of "success" in the academic fields which established the reputation. Mr Thompson also adopted a new focus on extra-mural activities, as he said: "The essential thing is that every boy in the school should do something in and for the school, and, in giving unselfishly of himself, should contribute to the growth of that corporate spirit that is so prominent a feature of the alive school."

Mr C D Harcourt (1971–1973), Mr P C Doyle (1975–1983), Mr R W Couzens (1983–1989) and Mr K Elliott (1990), each as Headmaster made solid contributions to the development of WBHS, and its reputation developed even further.

Notable events during these times were:

• 1971 saw building additions of several new classrooms and general purpose rooms; 5 new Science and Biology laboratories, a Team Teaching Room, a new Library and a new staff room. These were completed by 1975.

• In 1982 the School developed its first computer room, and an impressive three storey scoreboard was erected on Bowdens, this being sponsored by the cricketing parents. Addition to Commons Pavilion provided three garages, new change rooms and storage facilities.

• A very significant and far-reaching event was the launching (in 1984) of the Westville Boys' High School Educational Trust Fund. This fund has spent millions of rands on capital developments at the school. The competitive edge that WBHS enjoys in secondary education in KwaZulu-Natal is in now small measure due to the workings of this trust.

[edit] School Badge

The emblem of the WBHS badge is a shield, quartered by the red cross of St. George. In the upper left-hand quarter is the griffin taken from the coat of arms of Martin West, the first Lieutenant-Governor of Natal, after whom Westville is named. In legend, griffins are portrayed with a lion's body, an eagle's head, long ears, and an eagle's claws, to indicate that one must combine intelligence with strength. The upper right and lower left divisions contain the Book of Knowledge and the Lamp of learning respectively. Represented in the lower right quarter is the familiar historic monument, the Outspan Tree, which is in Jan Hofmeyr Road, where the ox-wagons made their first stop after leaving Durban.

[edit] The School Motto: Incepto Ne Desistam

Unlike many school mottos, the one chosen for WBHS is taken directly from one of the great Latin writers, Virgil. These words, found in Aeneid, Book 1, are used by Juno, queen of heaven who hated the Trojans led by Aeneas. When she saw the fleet of Aeneas on its way to Italy, after the sack of Troy by the Greeks, she planned to scatter it by means of strong winds. In her determination to accomplish her task she cried out "Incepto Ne Desistam" — "May I not shrink from my purpose!"

[edit] Modern Times

Mr E W Maddams (1991–1997) took over the School during the period which may be best described as the years of political uncertainty. 1991 heralded the introduction of Model B status and the School was for the first time permitted to open its doors to pupils of all races. In August 1992, as a result of an overwhelming majority vote by the parents, the School changed to Model C. This brought about additional financial burdens on the parent body but did give them more say in the development of the school.

In these years of cut backs to the teaching staff funded by Government and general uncertainty, the fact that the school was able to stay focused on its task of educating its pupils bears testimony not only to the abilities of Mr Maddams but also to the magnificent support given to the school by the parent body. Further developments included the magnificent Ted Maddams Media Centre and the modernisation and expansion of the computer facilities. Ted Maddams retired as Headmaster in 1997.

In 1998 Trevor Hall became the first WBHS Old Boy to be appointed Headmaster of the School. Mr Hall's vision has always focused on producing and moulding the typical all-round "Westville boy" — that is, a boy who has benefited from the holistic educational approach offered by the School. The first major developments under Mr Hall's leadership have been the development of an upper level of Bowden's Pavilion, which has provided a domicile for the Westville Boys' High School Association, and the introduction of the integrated timetable and Sports Academy.

In 2002 the launch of the Pharos Sports Academy introduced a new programme for all pupils in the school to participate in a wide variety of sports. The integrated sports time table has resulted in improved results in swimming, athletics, squash, cricket and other sports

In 2004, two more houses were added to the existing four houses in order to accommodate the increasing number of boys attending the school. The names of these houses were Outspan and Bernard. Theses are significant names as can be seen in the history of the school.

All evidence suggests that education at WBHS is alive and well and looking to the future with confidence.

The most significant recent development at the school has been the opening of the R6.5 million multi-purpose centre. This facility will cater for school assemblies, timetabled sport, afternoon sports practices, indoor field hockey, tennis and cricket, choir festivals, dramatic productions, a gymnasium and offices. The School has been granted a donation to cover this cost. The preferred site was originally the area where the swimming pool is currently situated, but costs in relocating the pool were prohibitive. Consequently, the centre is built on two of the three tennis courts adjacent to Commons Field. This site has its advantages in linking with a proposed new student centre above Commons changerooms.

[edit] Academics

WBHS is traditionally regarded as a strong school academically. In the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education matric exams each year WBHS students are invariably feature in amongst the top performers provincially and nationally. Of the 47 classes that have matriculated from WBHS since 1959, six WBHS learners have emerged as the top learner in the province and in 1999, the Dux of the school, Colin Bigg, achieved the top matric results in South Africa. In 1999 WBHS was also rated the top state-aided school in the country in a survey by the Sunday Times newspaper. This academic reputation has been maintained and enhanced in the new millennium.

[edit] Notable achievements by some Old Boys

• In 1997 WBHS old boys were top achievers at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in three separate year groups of the Faculty of Management Studies, viz. Robert Kelso, Jason Vowles and Mark Olivier.
• In 1994 WBHS old boys filled the top places in the Commerce Honours course at 4 different university campuses simultaneously, viz. Durban, Pietermaritzburg, University of the Witwatersrand and the UNISA.
• Wayne Goddard was awarded the University of Natal Vice Chancellor’s Research Award for his work in the Department of Computer Science and is acknowledged as one of the leading graph theory researchers in the world.
• Alan Ezekowitz, a graduate of Harvard University, is Chief of Paediatric Services at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. His brother Michael is a Professor of Medicine in Connecticut.
• Tim Davidson is a consultant surgeon and senior lecturer in cancer reconstructive surgery attached to University College London.
• Andrew Bonfield, one the youngest directors on the FTSE 100, was selected in 2000 by a leading UK business journal as one of the 21 business leaders of the 21st century.
• Kevin Slaney was placed first in the SAICA Chartered Accountant Board Exam in 1995.
• Mark Olivier was placed second in the 1997 SAICA Chartered Accountant Board Exam.
• Robert Kelso was placed third in the 1999 SAICA Chartered Accountant Board Exam.
• Sean Schulz has achieved a Master of Music degree (cum laude). He is presently studying for a Doctorate in the USA and playing in one of that country’s leading orchestras.
• Three WBHS graduates have been awarded prestigious Rhodes Scholarships to study at the University of Oxford. They are: Chris Young (2004), Gareth Morgan (1999) and Chris Swart (1982).
• Tapiwe Ngara won the Anglo American Merit Scholarship for 2000, rated the most prestigious undergraduate scholarship in South Africa. In 2002 he was named as one of the 100 Goldman Sachs Global Leaders from among scores of outstanding undergraduates from 17 countries.
• Gareth Morgan went on to gain election as a national member of Parliament in 2004.
• Jolyon Clulow was awarded the Cecil Renaud Scholarship in 2004 for post-graduate study at the University of Cambridge.
• Jim Sutcliffe is the CEO of Old Mutual (based in London).
• George Gleadall until recently was president of an offshore bank in Barbados. Now he remains on the board as head of the Research & Development Committee.

[edit] List of Notable Sportsmen (Partial)

• Errol Stewart (SA cricketer & Natal rugby player, the record as the only South African to be part of the winning Currie Cup teams in both Rugby and Cricket in the same year)
• Mickey Arthur (Free State, Griquas and SA 'A' cricketer, SA national cricket coach (2005–)
• George Koumantarakis (SA Footballer in FIFA world Cup 2002 Korea/Japan)
• Shaun Payne (Natal rugby player, SA 7's Rugby, Munster, Irish International Squad)
• Ellis Ferreira (SA Davis Cup Tennis, Olympics 1996 & doubles champion Australian Open 2000)
• Robbie Koenig (SA Davis Cup Tennis)
• Trevor Strydom (SA Pentathlon, Olympics 1992)
• David Hibberd (SA Sailing, Olympics 1996)
• Marc de Marigny (SA 7's rugby player and captain)
• Roland de Marigny (Natal rugby 1995, Blue Bulls, Leeds Tykes & Italy)
• Shaun Platford (Natal rugby 1995)
• Dieter Kriese (Natal rugby 1995, SA 7's rugby)
• Neil Penrose (SA 7's rugby)
• Tim Cocks (Springbok rugby 1980)
• Oscar Chalupsky (Canoeing, lifesaving, Olympics 1992)
• Guy Coombe (SA Rugby League)
• Pierre Tostie (Surfing)
• Waylon Murray (current Sharks rugby)
• Duncan Brown (current Dolphins cricketer)
• Robbie Frylinck (current Dolphins cricketer)
• Brad Storm (SA triathlon, Commonwealth games 2006)
• Camron Wills (Yacting, current member of Shosholoza Americas Cup Team)
• Adhikar Hariram (SA Chess 2002-)

[edit] Proposed Future Developments

The following developments have been proposed to enhance the facilities of the school. WBHS plans to spend some R2 million on improvements to the school, many of these funded by donations from parents and past pupils.

• Drama & Arts Centre: This is to cater for the burgeoning interest in the performing arts at WBHS, and it is envisaged that the centre will develop into one that caters for the disciplines of Music and Film. This project will be funded by the Educational Trust and will be located in the vicinity of the School Hall.

• Class room and lecture theatre upgrades: This is to cater for the incorporation of modern technology across the curriculum. Currently, each subject department has at least one technologically upgraded venue. In the long-term, it is envisaged that all teaching venues will have these facilities, but this will depend on funding. To date, the Educational Trust has attended to all 7 Science and Biology laboratories.

• Student centres: This is to cater for the needs of all pupils during non-teaching times. The School day in fact ends at 5.00 p.m. each day, and a modern trend is for boys to attend to their additional work responsibilities on the campus. It is envisaged that five student centres will be enhanced to cater for each grade in the School. Funding is expected to be through the Properties budget.

• Traffic flow: In order to ease congestion in and around the School, the Governing Body will be attending to improved traffic flow. This plan is still in its infancy.

[edit] External links

Much of the information from this page was obtained from the official Westville Boys' High School web site. Current news and further updates are available here often:

• Westville Boys' High School
• Westville Old Boys’ Association
• South African Representatives
• SA Schools Representatives
• Aerial and School Pictures

	KwaZulu-Natal High Schools
Alternative schools Crawford College, Durban | Crawford College, La Lucia | Crawford College, North Coast | Roseway Waldorf School
Private schools Clifton College | Durban Girls' College | Epworth School | Hilton College | Kearsney College | Maris Stella School | Michaelhouse | St. Anne's Diocesan College | St. Charles College | St. Henry's Marist Brothers' College | St. John's DSG | St. Mary's DSG | Thomas More College | The Wykeham Collegiate
Public schools Alexandra High School | Carter High School | Durban Girls' High School | Durban High School | Durban North College | Glenwood High School | Hillcrest High School | Howick High School | Kloof High School | Maritzburg College | Mathunjwa High School | Nansindlela School | Northwood School | Ohlange High School | Pinetown Boys' High School | Pinetown Girls' High School | Port Shepstone High School | Verulam Secondary | Westville Boys' High School | Westville Girls' High School
Vocational schools George Campbell School of Technology