Somerset College (South Africa)

Somerset College
Pietas
Address
Bredell Road, Somerset West, Cape Town Cape Town South Africa
Information
Type	Co-educational and Independent Pre-Preparatory, Preparatory and High School
Established	1997
Founder	Mr David Wynne
Principal	Ms Meg Fargher
Grades	Grade 000 - Grade 12
Affiliation	IEB, CIE
Website	somersetcollege.org

Founded in 1997, Somerset College is an independent, co-educational school situated on a farm in the Winelands of the Western Cape. It offers schooling from Grade 000 (age 4) to Matric, as well as Cambridge A-levels. Boarding is available for students in the Senior School.

Overview

As a school with a Christian foundation, there is an emphsis on strong values, spiritual development and a commitment to community service, which the school believes play a fundamental role in the development of responsible, caring individuals. The Senior School is affiliated to the Independent Examinations Board (IEB) and the Cambridge International Examinations (CIE).

The Pre-Preparatory School

The Pre-Preparatory School caters for children from the age of 4 (Grade 000 / P1) to the reception classes (Grade R / P3), where the 6 year olds are prepared for Grade 1 of the Preparatory School.

The Preparatory School

Somerset College Preparatory forms part of the greater Somerset College campus, and caters for Grades 1 - 7. Surrounded by vineyards and mountain views, the campus has a country feel.

The Senior School

Catering for 570 students from Grades 8 to 12, Somerset College Senior School is a happy, dynamic learning community. Of the approximately 110 Grade 8 students enrolled annually, almost 50% come from the Preparatory School.

Certified Eco-School

Somerset College registered for the Eco-Schools Programme at the beginning of 2008. The school has since been awarded the Green Eco Flag, a reflection of the commitment of the entire school community to the environment.

Trek

Trek is a 27-day journey of self-discovery undertaken by all Grade 9 students in November, during which time they cover 360 km on foot, in canoes and on bicycles. With little contact with their parents and none with technology, students are expected to navigate themselves from the gates of Somerset College to the beaches of De Hoop Nature Reserve. Apart from learning to work in a team, students are left alone for 'solo' periods, in order to reflect on their experience. During the main 30-hour solo, halfway through the journey, the pupils reflect on what they have learnt about themselves throughout the experience.^[1]

Throughout the journey, pupils are exposed to the Western and Southern Cape environment, and stay in nature reserves and on private farms during the evenings.

History

Mr Wynne decided on the school motto of ‘Pietas’ meaning ‘Duty to one’s family and community’, or more simply, ‘Do what is right’. The core values were recognised as Respect, Integrity, Care, Diligence and Gratitude. The acorn was adopted as the emblem for the College badge, and Mr Wynne wrote the College Prayer and the words to the College Song. In its early days, the administration of the school was conducted by unpaid founding parents and staff. The first assembly of 11 staff and 70 founding students took place on 15 January 1997. Within 10 days the first cricket match had taken place between Somerset College and SACS in Cape Town, thus launching the sporting programme at the school. In the early years of the College students were transported to various venues so that sports practices could take place whilst the school’s fields were being established.

In keeping with the key focus on outdoor education, the first Trek took place in January 1999. This is a unique 27-day outdoor educational experience for Grade 9 students that has since been emulated by other schools wishing to provide their students with similar formative experiences. By 2000, barely three years after opening its doors, the Somerset College Rowing Club was established and has since gone from strength to strength as students compete in annual regional and national competitions.

The first Arbor Day took place in April 1998 with 130 indigenous trees planted on the school premises. In the same year the Boonzaier Centre, a multi-purpose hall, was built with funds donated b benefactors. Also in 1998, the boarding house was established and the first boarders were enrolled at the school. 1998 proved to be a pivotal year as the first student Exchange Programme was launched by Ms Kruyshaar, forging relationships between Somerset College and about 10 schools across the world.

On the academic front the school selected the Independent Examinations Board (IEB) as its Grade 9 and Matriculation examination provider, while following the National Curriculum Statements published by the Department of Education. e. Since the first Matrics of 1999 there has been a 100% pass record at the school.

Leadership positions in these Portfolios carry significant status at the College and represent important opportunities for students to involve themselves in life outside the curriculum. These include the Academic, Cultural, Eco, Public Relations, Sporting and Social Responsibility Portfolios. The latter coordinates numerous continuous outreach initiatives such as Macassar Maths, Outreach Hockey and Sandwich Spread. These initiatives aim to support poorer local communities and to instil in every student at the College an awareness of the needs of the people in our greater society thus nurturing a culture of social responsibility and active citizenship.

The year 2001 saw the first enrolment of pupils into the Preparatory School as well as the beginning of the annual Somerset College Combined Schools Orchestral Festival. In 2003, the dedication of Saint Matthew’s Chapel took place, marking a key moment in the history of Somerset College as the Chapel has come to hold a central role in the life of the school. Mr Cordery was appointed Chaplain of the school in 2004 and Somerset College would later become a member of the Church Unity Commission in 2006. Currently the Chaplain and the school’s Christian Union are assisting the Bridges of Hope Academy in Franschhoek through the Give Thanks Campaign. At the end of 2003, the Founding Head of Somerset College, David Wynne, retired. His post was taken up by Mr David Campbell at the start of 2004. However, Mr Wynne continued to contribute to the school after his retirement by supporting the establishment of the Old Oaks Union at the end of 2005. The vision was to create a fellowship of past pupils, teachers and parents that encapsulates and promotes the founding principles of Somerset College.

Mr Campbell appointed Ms Visser in 2005 as the school’s Counselling Psychologist and she established the Student Development Unit, which supports students with any emotional, behavioural and learning problems.

The College opted to be a BYOD (bring your own device) institution that does not prescribe any particular mobile device type or brand. An enterprise wireless solution was rolled out in 2012 to all buildings to facilitate wireless connectivity to mobile devices across the campus. In 2014 Somerset College joined the power of Google Apps for Education which opened the door for online collaboration in the true sense of the word.

Mr Campbell led the school until 2010 when Dr Nuttall became the new Head of the Senior School in January 2011. Dr Nuttall initiated a wide range of projects and placed strong emphasis on academic excellence, and over the past years our Matric results have placed us as academic leaders in the Western Cape and on the national level. Dr Nuttall led the school with great success until he ended his tenure in July 2013 to take up a senior position as Rector of St Stithians in Johannesburg. The current Head of the school is Ms Meg Fargher. Since her appointment in mid-2013, capital projects such as the new Arts Centre and Astro Hockey Field in particular, are well advanced. Ms Fargher has also focused on achieving excellence in all areas of endeavour within Somerset College and creating a place that demands an aversion to mediocrity. As she has put it, “Somerset College has been built on courage and generosity, the grace of God and the power of the dream. … Somerset College determines to be a great school in and for South Africa, and indeed Africa.”^[2]

References