Kearsney College

Kearsney College was founded by Sir Liege Hulett in 1921. Hulett founded what would become Tongaat Hulett Sugar. Sir Liege Hulett cherished the idea of establishing a boys' school for Methodist ministers and their sons and those of the families of the free churches. Kearsney took its name from Kearsney, Kent where Sir Liege Hulett had moved to where his father established St Martin's Academy.[1]

He considered Kearsney House, the house he originally built for his family to be ideally suited for this purpose. On 29 November 1920, a contract was signed with the Wesleyan Church for the use of Kearsney House as a school. This was the birth of Kearsney College and remains a living memorial to Sir Liege. The school opened with 11 boys. Kearsney College remained at the Kearsney Estate until June 1939 when it moved to its present site at Botha's Hill between Pietermaritzburg and Durban. The decision to move the school was based on the reluctance of parents to send their sons to a school on the north coast that suffered many cases of malaria in the 1930s, although none were reported at Kearsney.[2] On hearing of this, Clement Stott of Botha’s Hill donated 25 acres (10 ha) of land. At the same time, J.J. Crookes offered to build a boarding house. The move was completed a month before the beginning of World War II. The new Kearsney College opened with 196 boys.

Kearsney's badge was designed by the then-headmaster, R.H. Matterson, and the chaplain, the Rev. W.H. Irving, in about 1923.[3] The greyhound is taken from the arms of the founder, Sir James Liege Hulett[3] The scallop shells and the dividing chevron are from the arms of the founder of Methodism, John Wesley. The pheon, or arrowhead, is taken from the badge of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, where Matterson studied.[3] The motto Carpe Diem, traditionally at Kearsney translated "Seize the Day," comes from the Roman poet Horace.[4]

There are five boarding establishments - four senior houses and one junior house. They are Finningley (blue), Gillingham (red), Pembroke (green), Sheffield (yellow) and Haley (house for student's first year of boarding). Finningley is named after the town of Finningley in South Yorkshire, England. Gillingham is named after Gillingham, Kent, England Where Sir Liege Hulett lived as a young man[1] Pembroke is named after the town of Pembroke, Pembrokeshire, Wales. Sheffield is named after Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England where Sir Liege Hulett moved to following his time in Gillingham.

Kearsney College has an outstanding record of academic achievement in the IEB Matriculation Examinations. There has been a 100% pass rate for over a decade, with over 80% of boys receiving an A, B or C aggregate and a quarter receiving A aggregates. The School offers the following subject choices for Grades 10,11,12 : English; Afrikaans or isiZulu; Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy; Life Orientation; Accounting, Business Studies, Dramatic Art; Engineering Graphics and Design; Geography; History; Information Technology; Life Sciences (Biology); Music; Science; Mandarin and Visual Arts.[5]

In 2019, Kearsney had a 100% pass rate and a 98% Bachelor Degree pass rate.[6][7]

In keeping with Kearsney College’s aim of developing well-balanced boys, all boys are encouraged to become a member of at least one club. Clubs offered range from academic extension (12 Club; History Club) to personal enrichment (SCA; Dale Carnegie Course; Art Appreciation; Chess) to creative (Photographic Club; Video Editing Club; Enviro Club) to the physical (Surfing; Survival Club; Mountain Bike Club) and to the just plain fun (Board Games Club). Finally, in order to build confidence, develop important life skills and develop character, boys are coached in the skills of public speaking through their membership of the Speakers’ Circle and Inner Circle Speakers’ Club.[8]

The Kearsney choir boasts a long list of accolades, including 13 Gold medals and 6 Silver medals at the World Choir Games (the Olympics for Choirs) between 2000 and 2014. The choir was awarded the "Prize of the City of Vienna" at the 33rd International Youth and Music Festival in Vienna, as well as 1st prizes in various international choral competitions in Hong Kong, Germany and Austria.  At the 7th World Choir Games in Cincinnati, USA (July 2012), the choir was crowned World Champions in Scenic folklore for the third time.  At the World Choir Games in Latvia (2014), the choir won the Scenic Pop category and won the Champion title once again, as well as gold medals for the Folklore and Young Male Choir competitions.[9] Kearsney College enjoys a special relationship with Drakensberg Boys' Choir School. A large number of Drakies boys typically join Kearsney in Grade 10, as they want to be part of our world-class choir and have the opportunity to continue to pursue their passion at a top level and display their talent on the world stage.

Sports facilities include several rugby fields, several cricket ovals, an artificial turf for field hockey and two swimming pools. Included is the SportZone, an indoor training facility that holds several cricket nets, two basketball courts, and a fully equipped gymnasium. The SportZone was opened by renowned scientist Dr Tim Noakes. Upon opening the SportZone he stated that this was a world-class facility, and that the College had set a new standard for other South African schools to follow. Professor Noakes stressed the importance of sporting excellence, participation and fun – key philosophies of Kearsney’s approach to sport. "If South Africa is to succeed globally, we have to have excellence.  And this facility is about excellence," Noakes said.[10]

Sports on offer at the College include:

• Athletics
• Basketball
• Canoeing
• Cricket
• Golf
• Hockey
• Indoor hockey
• Rugby
• Rugby sevens
• Soccer
• Squash
• Swimming
• Tennis
• Water Polo

Kearsney has been the host of the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival since 2008. This school's rugby tournament regularly attracts top South African schools teams.[11] Previous festival players that have achieved higher honours include : Handré Pollard, Warrick Gelant, Jan Serfontein, R. G. Snyman, Dan du Preez, Jean-Luc du Preez

Kearsney has an international exchange programme with several schools. Schools that Kearsney pupils spend time at include: Catholic University School in Dublin, Ireland, Rossall School in Rossall and Canberra Grammar School in Red Hill, Australia.

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