Grey College, Bloemfontein

Grey College Primary & Secondary Schools
Location
Bloemfontein, Free State
South Africa
Information
Type All-Boys Public School
Motto NIHIL STABILE QUOD INFIDUM (Nothing is steadfast if it is not true.)
Established 1855
Principal Deon Scheepers
Grades 0 - 12
Boarding Houses Murray, Brill, Leith
Website Grey College

Grey College is a public school for boys located in Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa, one of the 23 Milner Schools.

Grey College was ranked 1st out of the top 100 best high schools in Africa by Africa Almanac in 2003 and 2013, based upon quality of education, student engagement, strength and activities of alumni, school profile, internet and news visibility.[1]

History

Grey College was founded on 13 October 1855 when Sir George Grey, the then Governor of the Cape Colony, paid a visit to the Orange Free State Republic and donated a sum of money towards the establishment of an institution for higher education. The foundation stone was laid by Jacobus Nicolaas Boshoff, the second President of the Orange Free State Republic, on 13 October 1856.

The school was officially opened on 17 January 1859 and the first headmaster was the Reverend Andrew Murray. It is the third-oldest school in South Africa and the oldest north of the Orange River.[1]

Afrikaans- and English-speaking pupils study under one roof, but each language group is educated in separate classrooms and in its own mother tongue.

The college first accepted matriculants for a full B.A. course in 1904. In 1906 the tertiary part of Grey College became known as the Grey University College (GUC), but shortly thereafter the school and college separated. GUC grew and evolved into the institution now called the University of the Free State.

Grey College today

The Tuck Shop

The school grounds consist of a number of historic buildings, of which five are Free State provincial heritage sites: the Main building and Hamilton Hall,[2] the Andrew Murray House,[3] the Brill House[4] and the Tuck shop.[5]

Extensive sport facilities includes an Olympic-sized swimming pool, a hockey astro, squash courts and several hockey, soccer, cricket and rugby fields. The school also has 16 all-weather tennis courts.

The school celebrated its 150th jubilee during October 2005, when numerous alumni visited their alma mater. The current headmaster at the High School is Deon Scheepers and the headmaster of the Primary School is Jurie Geldenhuys. A Museum which houses memorable artifacts, such as old rugby jerseys, and paintings, was unveiled in 2005. Each year on 13 October many old-boys hold a reunion.

In 2001 the school won the Sanix World Rugby Youth Tournament.

A trademark of the school is the unique handshake, widely recognized and used by students, old boys and members of staff.

Old Greys donate funds to the Jock Meiring Trust and Bram Fisher Trust, funds used for the administration of schoolgrounds and granting of scholarships.

Badawi Legacy Trust- Grey College became part of a unique educational programme thanks to a donation from a French donor. The donor, who prefers to remain anonymous, after several years' interaction with Old Grey rugby players at Montpellier Rugby Club in France, decided to establish a legacy project at the school. The decision was also based on the school's identity and culture that promotes inclusivity, diversity, equality, discipline, respect, hope, faith and charity. The Badawi Legacy scholarship programme has committed to make contributions to the school in the following areas over the next five years: to fund the appointment of a French language teacher at the school, to provide funding support for at least 50 scholarship holders awarded to learners on an unconditional basis and without recoure or any other obligation during, or post-study at the school. Finally, the donor of the programme has secured a commitment from Montpellier Rugby club in France to make available resources, including a commitment to share coaching methods and exchange programmes for rugby coaches. Badawi Scholarship holders will be indiviuals who have demonstrated potential in leadership and/or academics and the sport of rugby. They will be awarded on merit by Grey College. Scholarships will be allocated to talented individuals on a means tested basis and will enable scholarship holders to attend Grey College. Learners whose financial positions do not impose any restriction on their attendance of the school or similar institutions will not be eligible for this scholarship. Scholarship holders will be invited to, but will not be required to study French as a subject. The programme is not exclusive and will hopefully serve as a blueprint for similar programmes and/or donors.

Notable alumni

International Rugby Players:

National rugby union team|Springboks]] rugby player

... other nations:

References

  1. 1 2 "top20highschools". Africa Almanac. Africa Almanac. 1 October 2003. Archived from the original on 14 January 2007. Retrieved 19 June 2016. The research leading up to the publication of the 100 Best High Schools in Africa began with the launching of the website in December 2000.
  2. ↑ "9/2/302/0056 - Main building and Hamilton Hall, Grey College, Bloemfontein". South African Heritage Resources Agency. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013.
  3. ↑ "9/2/302/0057 - Andrew Murray House, Grey College, Jock Meiring Street, Bloemfontein". South African Heritage Resources Agency.
  4. ↑ "9/2/302/0058 - Brill House, Grey College, Jock Meiring Street, Bloemfontein". South African Heritage Resources Agency.
  5. ↑ "9/2/302/0059 - Tuck shop, Grey College, Jock Meiring Street, Bloemfontein". South African Heritage Resources Agency.

Coordinates: 29°6′34″S 26°11′48″E / 29.10944°S 26.19667°E / -29.10944; 26.19667

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