Kingsmead College: A school building grace and courage
Academics aren’t everything — embracing ‘the whole individual’ is the key in education
Kingsmead College girls’ school in Melrose, Johannesburg, is built on a proud tradition of helping its learners discover their strengths and become responsible young women.
With a 100% university exemption rate among its 2016 matriculants, and consistently one of the top achieving IEB schools, Kingsmead College surprises by not requiring aspirant senior school pupils to write admission examinations.
“We don’t just cherry-pick the best academic performers,” says headmistress Lisa Kaplan. “We know that all girls have different strengths and mature at different rates, so we consider the whole individual and our dedicated staff help them to grow within a nurturing environment.
“During the school’s matric exit interviews, pupils regularly comment favourably on the school’s focus on their individual needs, saying they appreciated the fact that they were never ‘pigeon-holed’.”
Kings me ad College learners typically go on to excel in a broad range of fields, notably the health sciences, education and — increasingly — engineering. Alumni frequently report that their senior school foundations prepared them well for university.
Kaplan explains that this may be due to enrichment courses the school offers its youngest pupils as a basis for further learning. In grade eight, learners are taught research and information evaluation methods. In grade nine, they undergo a course in philosophy for children, where their abilities to evaluate, question and empathise are honed.
Although the school is steeped in tradition, its curricula and approach remain current. Grade eights and nines are taught coding skills, iPads are used extensively to support lessons, and the Kingfisher Awards programme sees pupils competing to create the best topical multimedia films using their iPads. With environmental awareness increasingly important in modern society, the school hs introduced a strategic greening initiative, in which pupils play an active role. “Our girls have a Green Committee, which does not hesitate to alert me to green issues — for example, if lights have been left on, or they feel we have been watering the gardens excessively,” says Kaplan.
Kingsmead College girls participate in the running of all facets of the school, with pupils’ academic and general committees contributing to decisions on school policy and operations. “Simply imposing rules does not work,” says Kaplan. “We believe it is important to give our girls a voice.” They not only have a voice, but are empowered to act on it. For example, when lengthy tuck shop queues became a problem, the pupils’ committee was authorised to work with the facilities manager to find a solution. “By involving the pupils in the running of the school, we empower them, and we benefit from some fantastic ideas they put forward,” she says.
At Kingsmead College, academic excellence is a given, but sport, cultural activities and community service are considered equally important. An extensive community service and engagement programme led by a dedicated head of service sees learners participating in a number of successful outreach and service programmes. “We do not just donate money — our girls give of themselves and engage in a reciprocal way with community organisations. For example, boys from the inner city Fight With Insight programme taught our girls to box, while our girls read to the little ones there.”
“The service programme, like all Kingsmead College’s initiatives, supports the school’s goal of raising courageous young women with heart,” says Kaplan.