Two South African boys’ private schools, Michaelhouse in the KZN Midlands and Bishops Diocesan College in Cape Town, appear on the list of the top 150 private schools in the world according to Carfax Education’s fifth annual edition of The Schools Index.
Carfax Education stated that the index is a leading international listing of top private schools from across the globe, hand-picked by leading education consultants.
“The guide is comprehensively curated by international experts, with each school recognised as notable for their individual footprint in education, including academic standards, facilities, preparation for university entry, unique ethos, and how they set their pupils up for life beyond academia.”
The index includes brief profiles for each of the selected schools. It states that Michaelhouse is a boarding school that blends academic rigour with a strong emphasis on character development.
“Each boy is encouraged to find their niche in life by giving them the freedom to explore and develop their talents and to become ‘the best one can be’.”
According to the index, Michaelhouse, which has 620 pupils aged between 13 and 18, has a 100% pass rate in the IEB exams and consistently ranks among the top schools globally.
“Their reputation attracts boarders both locally and internationally, building a community of diverse perspectives and global citizenship.”
Speaking to “The Mercury” on Tuesday, Michaelhouse spokesperson, Murray Witherspoon, said the school was very excited about the listing, which comes on the heels of Michaelhouse being included in London-based Spear’s Magazine’s index of the top 100 schools on earth and last week’s announcement that Michaelhouse was the International STEER School of the Year.
“We are, of course, very proud of all of these acknowledgements which validate the work done by our world-class staff under the guidance of an effective Rector and his executive team, and our board of governors,” he said.
Murray noted that Michaelhouse is a unique educational setting with a fully resident academic staff and a pupil/staff ratio of about 7.5:1.
The Index noted that Bishops Diocesan College, which has 1 550 pupils aged between 6 and 18, has been shaping young minds since its establishment in 1849.
“Bishops prioritises community engagement, with boys involved in local outreach programmes, ensuring they grow not just as scholars but as responsible citizens. Its vibrant campus life, combined with a strong emphasis on tradition and excellence, prepares Bishops alumni for impactful futures.”
Bishops principal, Antony Reeler, said it was humbling for the school to be listed, as there were many fine schools out there. “We are proud to be on this list,” he said.
Reeler added that the school strived to develop good men who understood the role they needed to play in today’s world.
“We do this by encouraging all-round excellence, trying to give our boys a rigorous academic programme that extends and inspires them while providing multiple opportunities in leadership, sport, music and culture for them to excel,” he said.
The Mercury