Through excellent work ethic, committed teacher support, and an Emotional Intelligence (EQ) focussed programme, our girls have achieved a 100% pass rate for more than four decades. We teach our girls to believe the best in themselves, and others.
Ms Jo Kinsey
Head of High School
About
Through excellent work ethic, committed teacher support, and an Emotional Intelligence (EQ) focussed programme, our girls have achieved a 100% pass rate for more than four decades. We teach our girls to believe the best in themselves, and others.
The girls’ final phase of their school career is most important and that’s why at St Mary’s, our committed teaching staff do everything they can to inspire our girls and help them become remarkable women – and the results speak for themselves.
Our Boarding facility, offered from Grade 8 to Grade 12, is a fun, safe, and secure environment which helps foster a strong sense of sisterhood, and gives girls the opportunity to get involved in school activities beyond the classroom.
We instil Christian values, encouraging our girls to nurture and grow their spiritual life through regular Chapel attendance.
The focus is on Healthy Heart, Healthy Mind and Healthy Body, which allows the girls to use all the opportunities at their disposal to ensure they become remarkable women.
Our girls pride themselves in achieving excellence. Our teachers ensure that girls stay motivated and are encouraged to achieve their personal best at all times, in every situation.
We provide a quality education and it’s precisely the reason why we believe in smaller class sizes per grade with a maximum of 25 girls in a class. This ensures every girl receives the attention and support daily that she requires.
GET (Grade 8 and Grade 9)
The following subjects are offered to our girls:
Chaplain’s Lesson
Consumer Studies
Dramatic Arts
EMS (Economic Management Studies)
English
First Additional Language - Afrikaans or isiZulu
Geography
History
IT (Information Technology)
Library
Life Orientation
Life Sciences
Mathematics
Media Skills
Music
Natural Sciences
Physical Sciences
Grade 8 - Thrilling Thursday
Visual Arts
Grade 9 - iWoza Wednesday
As a school, we recognise the need for learning skills beyond the curriculum. Our Thrilling Thursday for Grade 8 and iWoza Wednesday programme for Grade 9 has run for a couple of years now. The girls are exposed to techniques to help them think creatively and work collaboratively in Project-based learning situations – broadening their perspectives and looking at issues which may have no right or wrong answer.
Coding/Robotics and Design
isiZulu Culture
Green Chemistry
Biomimicry
Life Skills
Art
Face to Face EQ
Sustainable Consumption
In the Grade 9 iWoza Wednesday modules the girls are exposed to project-based learning in the form of:
A music module
Designing more in the Makerspace
Business Studies/Entrepreneurial module
Life Orientation
FET (Grade 10 to Grade 12)
Girls must study 7 subjects from the following list:
Accounting
Advanced Programme English (additional subject)
Advanced Programme Maths (additional subject)
Afrikaans
Business Studies
Computer Applications Technology
Consumer Studies
Dramatic Arts
English
Geography
Global Perspectives (Compulsory subject for Grade 10 - Cambridge IGSCE subject)
History
isiZulu
Information Technology
Life Orientation
Life Science
Mathematics
Mathematical Literacy
Music
Physical Sciences
Visual Arts
At St Mary’s, we believe that our girls experience true success by participating in sporting activities.
We have a variety of sporting programmes on offer – each of which are aimed at suiting every girls’ needs whether they are on the field or involved in an exercise activity. Our Lifestyle Programme affords girls the opportunity to exercise and maintain a healthy lifestyle while enjoying the varied activities on offer. We encourage our girls to participate and get involved where they can, because character is developed through embracing both success and failure. This, in turn, helps them become remarkable sportswomen.
Action Netball
Athletics
Netball
Badminton
Soccer and soccer skills
Basketball
Cross Country
Diving
Swimming
Equestrian (Official School Sport)
Tennis
Hockey
Indoor Hockey
Squash
Waterpolo
Karate - paid for extra with an external Karate Club
Boot Camp
Cumba
Run Strong
HR Workout
Stretch & Tone
Skip Set
Shape
Kettle Bells & Bands
Strength & Conditioning
Step
Biokinetics
Injury Assessment
Functional Strength and Conditioning
Physiotherapy
High Performance Conditioning
At St Mary’s we offer our girls the chance to develop their curiosity, character, confidence and talents through cultural activities to inspire and help build their imagination.
African Music Ensemble
Jazz Band
Ballet**
Marimba Band
Modern Dance, Hip Hop and Contemporary**
Art Projects like ceramics
Orchestra
Choir
Photography Club
President’s Award*
Christian Fellowship
Saxophone Ensemble
Confirmation
String Group
Debating
Saints Who Serve
SMILE
Eco-School Club
Flute Group
Toastmasters
School Production
Inter house plays, singing and dancing
Social Awareness
Technology Club
International Exchange*
SOAR (Saints on Air Radio)
Regular Service Opportunities
Outreach Opportunities
Worship Team
**These are paid-for extras and do not meet the requirements for school awards
The following facilities are offered for our High School girls:
Amphitheatre
2 Heated Swimming Pools
Badminton Courts
1m Diving Board
Chapel
Indoor Sports Hall (Indoor Hockey, Badminton, Netball, Basketball and Squash)
Drama Studio
Dance Studio
Netball Courts (1 Indoor and 8 outdoor)
Lighthouse (Chaplain’s Classroom)
2 Sports Fields (Soccer, Netball, Athletics)
Recording Studio
Saints Café
2 Squash Courts
School Hall
Sanatorium
Saints Studio (lifestyle programme)
7 Tennis Courts
Soundscapes (St Mary’s Music School)
Water-based Astroturf
Old Girls
St Mary’s is proud to be a school steeped in history and tradition. Since 1906, we have been inspiring our girls to become remarkable women. Discover their stories here and learn more about the ‘Sisterhood Network’.
Refilwe Moloto
1997A strategic and economic advisor with over 15 years of financial services experience in Emerging Markets research, broking and asset …
Bongiwe Beja
2004Amongst 400 change-makers world-wide under 35, Bongiwe was honoured to attend the Global Shapers Annual Summit in Switzerland in 2018. …
Tammy Fry Kelly
1998Tammy lives in Australia and is the International Marketing Director for the family business Fry’s Family Foods Co. Tammy founded …
Victoria Verbaan
1996Studying Fine Arts, Art Direction and Graphic Design. Victoria began Victoria Verbaan & the Smoking Daxi in 2009. Working in …
Athena Strauss
2012Athena completed her MSc Chemical Engineering in 2019, with specialisation in Bioprocess Engineering. She has focused on sustainable end-processing techniques …
Roxann Message nee Shea
2003Roxy completed her BBA Business Management degree while working in Dubai. By 2011, Roxy’s entrepreneurial passion led her to open …
Julia James nee Westbrook
2003Julia moved to Australia after Matric to study Public Relations. Once back in SA, she studied Graphic Design and she …
Yolanda Miya nee Majozi
1997Joining Deutsche Bank in 2002, Yolanda is now the Managing Director of Financing & Solutions Group (FSG), the first female …
Dr Deborah Lees nee Thomson
1990Trauma and Orthopaedic Spinal Surgeon working in Australia specialising in adult and paediatric spine trauma and paediatric spinal deformity. Deb …
Reanne de Klerk nee Leigh
2000Graduating with a Music Degree, Reanne also furthered her IT skills (MCSD). A talented musician, Reanne has performed locally and …
Alexandra Torborg
1993Anaesthetist, and volunteer with Operation Smile – With a passion for paediatric anaesthesia, and a commitment to giving hope and …
Alison Ruth Frase nee MacGregor
1983Alison studied BSocSci Nursing, graduating top of class in 1987, three years later then graduating with a Hons Degree in …
From classrooms, boarding houses and even the Chapel, this easy to understand map will help you find your way through St Mary’s.
Download map High School
Quick FAQ
What is the Matric pass rate at St Mary’s?
100% Matric pass rate for over 40 years.
What leadership and mentorship opportunities are available for High School girls?
In Matric, each girl has a leadership portfolio which is monitored and supported by a teacher. There are many leadership roles in each year of high school ranging from sports roles to cultural and Chapel roles.
How do we develop our girls’ character during this phase?
Teenager’s learn best about themselves through experiential learning. By having outdoor education programmes, community projects and outreach, leadership opportunities and high standards, our girls learn to plan, persevere and to take life one day at a time.
What is the 21-day Journey about?
This journey of self-discovery focuses on the personal growth of the girls who have to work individually and in teams over the 21 days in the outdoors. Research shows that building traits like perseverance, grit, problem-solving, social skills play an enormous role in academic and personal success.
Are extra lessons available? If so, what subjects are offered?
There are support lessons run every afternoon of the week and girls may sign up for these and request on specific areas. Different subjects are offered on different days to accommodate the sports and cultural programmes.