Potchefstroom High School for Boys is a public English medium high school for boys situated in Potchefstroom in the North West province of South Africa. It is one of the oldest schools in South Africa.
Historical perspective
School history
With the Transvaal under British control, Lord Milner, the Colonial Secretary at the time created educational facilities for English-speaking pupils. The site for the school had been an infamous concentration camp during the 2nd South African War. The first school on the land was for the children interned in the camp. On 31 January 1905, accompanied by the band of the Border Regiment, Sir Richard Solomon, Lt-Governor of Transvaal opened Potchefstroom College upon instruction from the then Education Department, the school was renamed Potchefstroom High School for Boys. "College" is a boarding school based on the English boarding schools system. Founded by C.D. Hope, the original structure had been built long before and had to close during the Anglo-Boer war. The school-building itself was designed in Cape Dutch architecture design as was prominent in style during those times which has since been declared a local heritage site. There are 3 boarding houses: Granton , Milton and Buxton, which was constructed much later. The fourth house, Barnard is the 'Day-Boy' house. These later buildings did not follow the traditional Cape Dutch styles and were built more suited to the period they were built in. The school's motto, Iustorum Semita Lux Splendens, was adapted by the founder C.D. Hope, from Proverbs 4:18, and means "The path of righteousness is a shining light." During the 1905 hunting season, just before the first Springbok team went on their rugby tour, the headmaster C.D. Hope was given the horns of a springbok by his brother-in-law. These horns, mounted, are in the school’s museum and a springbok head forms part of the school’s badge.
Past headmasters
Schooling
Academics
Sports
The school has a reputation for being very sports-orientated as every student is required to participate in at least one sport during each sport's season. Since the schools inception "Boys High" has produced many internationally recognized sportsmen. A wide variety of sports are offered at the school of which the more popular ones include: rugby, hockey, cricket, tennis and swimming. Beyond this, each student is then required to do athletics at inter-house level. Apart from the local schools Potchefstroom Boys' traditional sporting rivals include Pretoria Boys’ High, King Edwards, Jeppe Boys, Parktown Boys and St Stithians each year.
Cultural
The school's cultural activities are run with the school's teaching staff in collaboration with the students, activities such as plays and public speaking occur regularly.
The school's alumni is formed of old school members who join the school's Old Boys Society. This is often referred to as Old Mooi because of the schools close proximity to the Mooi River which bisects the town of Potchefstroom. Among other tasks, the society is responsible for the over-seeing of the school and helps with the SGB. The society is also responsible for meetings and student reunions.
