St John's College, Johannesburg

St John's college
Location
Johannesburg, Gauteng South Africa
Information
Motto	Lux vita caritas (Light, life, love)
Principal	Paul Edey
Grades	Pre-Preparatory (0–3) Preparatory (4–7) College (8–12) Sixth Form ( Cambridge A Levels)
Enrollment	1350
Colour(s)	Navy blue and maroon
Mascot	Eagle
Rival	Parktown Boys' High School, KES, St. Stithians, St Benedicts
Dayboy Houses	Thomson, Alston, Clarke, Fleming
Boarding Houses	Nash, Clayton, Hill, Hodgson, Runge
Fees	R 201000 p.a. (tuition and boarding) R 125000 p.a. (tuition only)
Website	www.stjohnscollege.co.za

St John's College is a private school for boys in South Africa. It is situated in Houghton, Johannesburg.

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.^[1]

History

St John's College main Chapel.

St John's College was founded in Johannesburg on 1 August 1898 and is an Anglican school. It was founded by the Revd Mr John Darragh, rector of St Mary's Anglican Church, Eloff Street, Johannesburg. He persuaded his parish council of the need to establish an Anglican school for boys. His curate, the Revd Mr J L Hodgson, was appointed the first Headmaster. 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.

Soon there were 180 boys which was too many for the Plein Street premises, and St John's moved to 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). However, the British colonial government under Lord Milner was ideologically opposed to private schools believing that they were not beneficial to society. In order to Anglicize the Transvaal area during the Anglo-Boer war, Milner set out to influence British education in the area for the English-speaking populations. He founded a series of schools known as the "Milner Schools" in South Africa. These schools consist of modern-day Pretoria High School for Girls, Pretoria Boys High School, Jeppe High School for Boys, King Edward VII School (Johannesburg), Potchefstroom High School for Boys, Hamilton Primary School.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. By 1903 45 state schools were open across Johannesburg.

In 1904, the parish was relieved of the responsibility for St John's College which became a Dioscesan 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.

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). 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^[2] 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.

The Bell Tower completed in 1933, houses one of the largest bells in South Africa. It also has the largest clock in South Africa, the only other one comparable to it in size was in the Rissik Street Post Office. 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. The Headmaster during 1930-35 was Rev Charles H.S. Runge DSO MC*, who had served in France from 1914-18, before being ordained in 1922. His name is remembered as that of Runge House at the school today.

The Community of the Resurrection handed over their charge to the Diocese of Johannesburg in 1934. 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.

Dedicated to remaining on the leading edge of education the first computer installed in Room 39, Pelican Quad in 1977.

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. Electric bells take over signalling the end of periods from the bell manually rung by School Orderly Abie Moroane. A new School constitution, including the composition of Council, becomes effective and lasts until 1998.

1994 sees Macfarlane retires as Headmaster; Robert Clarence is appointed.

1997 Robert Clarence departs as Headmaster; Alan Wilcock appointed acting HM, and fully to the post the following year.

1998 Is the schools centenary year. 100 year celebration is commemorated by a mass of thanksgiving is 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, performances of Death of a Salesman, Pirates of Penzance and Mozart’s Requiem. Eleven OJ dinners were held around the world. Commemorative gifts are presented by Jeppe, St Mary’s and St Stithian’s schools. President Mandela opens the rugby festival. The celebrations ended with a massed Carols by Candlelight service and fireworks display on Burger Field in November. On Gaudy Day a School birthday cake was cut by F.E. Rowland, the second oldest living OJ, and Brendan Pyke, one of the youngest Grade 1 pupils in the Pre-Prep. The Centenary Venture target of R12.5 million is reached. The College constitution is redrafted and the first schoolboy representative appointed to Council. 25 Centenary Scholarships are introduced to be awarded at the rate of five per annum for the next five years. Owen Nkumane OJ selected as a rugby Springbok – the School’s first. Paterson and Wilkinson Houses named at the Pre-Prep. 68 pupils enrolled in the Sixth Form. The second school history Forward in Faith, written by Ian Grant-McKenzie, is published. Roger Cameron’s appointment as Headmaster is announced on Speech Day; he started at the beginning of Trinity Term 1999.

1999 brings with it the opening of the Fred England Technology and Media Centre in the Prep. Introduction of Sixth Form girls’ boarding. Significant growth in weekly boarders. A move to establish St. John's College as a parish; this was formalised in March 2000. World premiere of Te Deum by Peter Lois van Dijk, commissioned for the School’s Centenary. 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.

In 2001 the Centenary Venture tops R17 million. An introduction of 7th 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.

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

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

• 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.

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

Academics

Notable alumni

• Glenn Babb, ambassador, politician and consul general of Turkey
• Craig Williamson, apartheid spy;^[3]
• Hugh Lewin, member of African Resistance Movement, anti-apartheid campaigner, author and founder of the Institute for the Advancement of Journalism; ^[4]
• John Edmund Kerrich (1903–1985), Professor of Mathematical Statistics at Witwatersrand University, who performed a celebrated series of statistical experiments while interned in Nazi-occupied Denmark in the 1940s;
• Owen Nkumane^[5] – Golden Lions hooker and first old boy to play for the South Africa national rugby union team
• Demetri Catrakilis – Western Province (rugby team) flyhalf and member of the 2012 Currie Cup winning team
• Ian Player, international conservationist
• Oswald Austin Reid – Victoria Cross recipient ^[6] (1893–1920)
• Caesar Hull, World War II flying ace
• Eric Rosenthal, historian and author
• Tony Trahar, CEO of Anglo American 2000–2007
• Clive Rice, Cricketer
• Omphile Ramela, Cricketer
• Sir Alistair Morton, chief executive of Eurotunnel and chairman of the Strategic Rail Authority
• Tshilidzi Marwala, academic and businessman
• Jack Phipps (1925–2010), British arts administrator
• Bruce Mitchell, cricketer
• Siyabulela Xuza, developed a cheaper, greener rocket fuel. Received aid to attend Harvard, and is now working with NASA. He has a minor planet named after him.^[7]
• James Baillieu, multiple international award winning pianist, professor of accompaniment at the Royal Academy of Music and recording musician.^[8][9]
• Spoek Mathambo, musician
• Kiernan Forbes (AKA), Rap artist, producer
• Gideon Emery, actor
• Chris Froome, British professional road racing cyclist and 2013, 2015, 2016, and 2017 Tour de France winner
• Scott Spedding, professional rugby player, representing France at a national level after obtaining citizenship at the beginning of 2014. He plays for Rowing Bayonne at club level^[10]
• David Hunt, South African rower, Rio 2016 Olympian and U23 World Champion.

Old Johannian Association

The Old Johannian Association (OJA), in existence since 1903, plays a vital role within the wider St John’s community. A strong and united Old Johannian (OJ) network is needed to ensure that the values and ethos of St John’s College are maintained and carried forward outside of the school corridors. The OJA is of the belief that a world-class school requires a world-class network of OJs, and strives to be a central point through which all Old Johannians can stay connected with the St John’s community. The OJA is governed by a committee which is re-elected every year at a formal Annual General Meeting. This committee, which meets on a monthly basis, is composed strictly of Old Johannians and is tasked with overseeing all matters relating to the OJ community and ensuring the commercial sustainability of the Association. The committee itself is divided into specific portfolios including finance, administration, reunions, sport and communication.

Aside from these core functions, the OJA seeks to provide Old Johannians with social and recreational facilities for the use and benefit of all members. As part of this service, the OJA contributes to Old Johannian sports teams and maintains the Old Johannian Club as a gathering point for all OJs. The Association is also tasked with reaching out to all OJs across the globe and cultivating an ever-increasing number of OJA representatives in key cities such as London, New York and Sydney.

Importantly, the OJA also funds bursaries for selected pupils to attend St John’s College, at the discretion of the School, as part of our on-going contribution to the St John’s community.

The OJA is committed to the role it plays in bringing all OJs together under the banner of St John’s. The OJ Annual Dinner, Gaudy Day and annual OJ sports and events allow ex-pupils to reconnect on a regular basis. The OJA also coordinates dedicated reunion officers in an effort to bring together as many OJs as possible in reunion years.

Memberships

• Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa
• Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference

See also

• List of boarding schools

References

External links

• Official website
• Old Johannians official website

Coordinates: 26°10′35″S 28°03′27″E / 26.17639°S 28.05750°E / -26.17639; 28.05750