Class of 2017 ‘played out of their socks’
• Matriculants continue Roedean School’s strong record of academic excellence, writes Penny Haw
The excellent exam results achieved by the 2017 Roedean School matriculants are, says Executive Head Murray Thomas, the upshot of consistently hard work and several innovative initiatives the girls have benefited from during their years at the school.
But, he stresses, exam results are not the only metric the school uses to measure the success of its graduates.
“Every year we get excited and anticipate a level of media hype when the results are released,” he says. “Certainly, it is right to trumpet the successes of both the individual girls and the group regarding their academic metrics but, as educators, we celebrate the whole story. It is about every girl achieving her full potential, being prepared to go into the world as a highly competent, independent and thoughtful young woman, who will make her mark in an area that interests her and allow her to thrive as an adult. That is the full story, and it is something we have a strong record of succeeding at at Roedean for more than a century.”
With a 100% pass rate and a 100% matriculation endorsement (university entrance) pass in the Independent Examination Board (IEB) exams, there is no disputing the quality of the school’s 2017 exam results. The class comprised 84 girls who achieved 309 distinctions, which is an average of 3,7 distinctions per candidate.
Jacqueline Duvenage was included on the Commendable List, which means she was ranked in the top 5% of IEB pupils in five or more subjects. Anya Fries and Sarah Martinson made the Outstanding List, that is, they were ranked in the top 5% of IEB pupils in six or more subjects. Twelve other Roedean girls were placed within the top 1% of IEB pupils in one or more of the subjects including Advanced Programme Mathematics, Afrikaans First Additional Language, English, Geography, Gujarati Second Additional Language, History, Life Orientation, Life Sciences, Mathematical Literacy, Mathematics, Physical Sciences and Visual Arts.
“The girls really played out of their socks,” says Thomas. “They peaked at the right time and performed excellently in the final exams.”
Among the top achievers was deputy head girl for 2017, Lumengo Mngomezulu, who, with five distinctions, also earned herself an audition at the Juilliard School of Music, Drama and Dance in New York.
Excellence is a “sustained discourse” at Roedean from Grade 0 onwards, which is one of the reasons for the school’s consistently good showing in the IEB matric exams.
“Our commitment to getting the girls to think critically and creatively exceeds what is required in terms of exam fulfilment,” Thomas says. “Furthermore, we believe that the work ethic demonstrated throughout the organisation, including from staff, creates a culture and climate that shows the girls what is required of them — and they respond. In fact, they almost push us. There are no flies on a Roedean girl.”
There are arguably no flies on Roedean teachers either. Thomas, who replaced Mary Williams when she retired at the end of 2016 after 14 years in the position of Executive Head, says he has not had to “stoke any fires” during his inaugural year. “The teachers are bubbling with positive initiatives and fresh thinking that enhances the curriculum, and find ways to help each girl achieve her full potential.”
Among the teaching staff is head of the history department, Marjorie Brown, who has been shortlisted for the global 2018 Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize. The award, for which more than 30,000 educators from 173 countries were nominated, carries a prize of $1m. The winner will be announced in March.
But it is not only about work ethic, quality teaching, innovation and the effective implementation of initiatives like the Thinking Schools SA cognitive education programme; it is also about advancing opportunities in service learning, social responsibility and leadership development. This, says Thomas, is expedited by the diversity of pupils at Roedean. The school is piloting a venture called Roedean Access, which will become a key feature of the future orientation of the school. It is hoped a growing number of “assisted places” will be offered to capable girls whose parents can afford a portion of the fee. The pilot will allow Roedean to test and improve messaging to candidate families, means testing and selection.
The school accommodates several international families with business interests in the region. This means the pupil intake is not limited to a single demographic stratum and there is a wonderful social diversity in the mix of pupils, he says.
“It helps advance the kind of confidence, resilience, openmindedness and understanding we believe will prepare the girls for tertiary education and whatever comes next for them.”