Leading through a changing environment
Victoria Girls’ High School is a Proudly South African senior school of about 425 pupils, situated in Makhanda.
The school caters for pupils from Grade 8 to 12 and offers a holistic educational approach through a variety of academic subjects, sports, cultural and co-curricular activities.
“We offer both termly and weekly boarding facilities in our newly-renovated hostels.
“In our day-to-day school life, through teaching and learning, we continually strive to embody our three core values: passion, integrity and excellence,” headmaster Warren Schmidt said.
“Victoria Girls’ High School remains at the forefront of innovative teaching. For more than 125 years we have not only continuously adapted to the changing environment, we have done so as leaders: proactively embracing challenges.
“We thrive on challenges, the greatest of which is the holistic development of our pupils. Our focus will never be on academic development solely, or on sport or cultural activities. It cannot be if we want to help each pupil on the road to self-discovery and selfactualisation.”
The Arts at VG
The VGHS Music School is a beautifully-renovated building situated next to the main school block. It houses four fully-equipped classrooms, a large performance room, a small computer room/library and three practise rooms.
VG has some of the largest subject music classes in the Eastern Cape: Gr 12-36, Gr 1120, Gr 10-35.
The four full-time music teachers offer tuition in piano, violin, viola, flute, recorder, marimba, drumkit and voice.
Ensembles: choir, orchestra, marimba bands and string ensembles.
Drama at VG remains at a consistently high standard. Pupils have the opportunity to take drama as a subject, participate in competitions or festivals such as the Alexander Playhouse Competition (where VG placed second in 2019) or be part of one of the many productions including the annual Inter-house plays and the Grade 9 Spring Play. They learn about stage management, directing, choreographing, and the technical and backstage work (sound and lights), and gain valuable opportunities to perfect their craft through our close working relationship with the Rhodes University Drama Department.
Pupils who take art as part of creative arts in Grade 8 and 9, and visual art or design in Grade 10 to 12 can attend classes at the Johann Carinus Art Centre. For visual art they can choose painting, graphic art and printmaking, and sculpture; and for design, textile or ceramic design. Cultural co-curriculars These include:
Debating
General knowledge Christians in Action Photography Club Chess Club
The Diversity & Inclusivity Committee
The committee is devoted to promoting inclusivity within VG, as well as bringing to light the diverse backgrounds and identities of all pupils.