Clifton School
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Clifton School | |
 |
|
|
Prodese Quam Conspici
|
|
| Location | |
|---|---|
| Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| Information | |
| Locale | Urban |
| Headmaster | Brian Mitchell |
| Exam board | IEB |
| Students | 654 boys |
| Type | Private |
| Grades | 0 - 12 |
| Established | 1924 |
| Homepage | www.cliftonschool.co.za |
Clifton School is a private day school for boys located in Morningside, an area above the city of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] The Early Years
Mr Harry Stubbs, the retired first headmaster of Durban Prep, established Clifton Preparatory School on the 5 February 1924. His home, at 102 Lambert Road, provided the classrooms needed for the small numbers of boys who enrolled at the time. Although the school had at first been named ‘Stubbs’ School’, Mr Stubbs’s daughter, Dorothy, suggested the name ‘Clifton’, in memory of her cousin ‘Clifford’, who had been killed during the First World War.
Miss Stubbs taught Class One at Clifton until her marriage to a Mr Grindrod. Her position being filled by Miss Helen Fenell, who hailed from India. After a couple of years at Clifton, Miss Fenell also left, to be married. She married Dr Joseph, and (as Helen Joseph), she went on to become a respected leader in the field of political activism against apartheid. She was placed under house arrest in 1962 and lived under a banning order for 23 years until she was 80, surviving anonymous gunshots and a bomb wired to her front gate. She died in 1992 at the age of 87.
Within two years, the school had an enrolment of 37 boys, ranging from Class One [Grade One] to Standard Three [Grade Five]. In the early years, boarding was offered, and boys slept in dormitories housed in the upstairs verandas, which were enclosed at the time.
There were, of course, no sports fields at the time, and both cricket and rugby were played at the Old Fort grounds adjoining Kingsmead. Athletics meetings were held at Mitchell Park, and swimming took place at the Town or Beach Baths.
In 1938, with an enrolment of 60 boys, the school was purchased by Mr Kenneth Haworth, who succeeded in increasing numbers to 160 by 1942. Not much is known of him, but he will be remembered for two far-reaching decisions: the founding of Clifton Nottingham Road in 1942, and the appointment of Anthony Greenwood Sutcliffe as his successor to head the Durban School.
It is believed that many parents were concerned about the possibility of enemy action which, from today’s standpoint, seems unlikely, but with the American Pacific fleet largely destroyed at Pearl Harbour and the Royal Navy badly battered in the Mediterranean, the dangers seemed real enough. An air raid shelter was constructed at the school (later used as a changing room for the swimming pool).
Mr Haworth moved to ‘Spring Grove’, a farm that he purchased from Col. E.M. Greene at Nottingham Road, with almost half the boys, while Mr ‘Tim’ Sutcliffe took over the headmastership of the Durban School.
[edit] The Sutcliffe Years
Mr Sutcliffe, a History teacher at Hilton College, was but twenty-seven years of age, and had no previous experience of teaching in a Preparatory School. The Clifton he came to was situated on just one acre of ground, and his staff consisted of six female teachers. He set about the task of consolidating and extending the Durban School. This was not always easy, for there were several economic troughs after the war. His task required strong nerves, as well as vision and financial expertise to weather the difficulties.
In December of 1945, Kenneth Haworth’s health broke down completely under the strain of starting the Nottingham Road School, and he signed an irrevocable power of attorney which authorised Tim Sutcliffe to form a Trust to continue the two schools. Although prospects were bleak, Tim’s enthusiasm and confidence inspired the Advisory Committee of parents, whose co-operation, encouragement, advice and generous financial assistance enabled the schools to remain open.
Tim married Yolande D’Hotman, a well-known actress and broadcaster, in 1944. But the Sutcliffes lived largely separate lives and were never blessed with children, and successive generations of schoolboys constituted what was, in effect, his extended ‘Clifton’ family. Tim Sutcliffe was a man of stature in every sense of the word. Astute and intelligent, he inspired both pupils and teachers alike, and his very presence commanded awe and respect. He was an imposing and, at times, sardonic and intimidating figure, who practiced corporal punishment with enthusiasm. Tim Sutcliffe caned hard and often, famously leaving welts that lasted a fortnight or more. He did have a gentle and kindly side, however. He had his eccentricities too: one of his habits, unremarked in those more innocent times, was to join the students in the Kingsmead changing rooms at sports events, appearing stark naked among them. Under his strong leadership Clifton quickly established a reputation for excellence, which continues to this day. He had a passion for Shakespeare, and held the senior classes enthralled with his participatory style of introducing them to gory, action-packed excerpts from Julius Caesar, Hamlet and Macbeth! Though secular himself, he also taught the Bible, communicating his love of the sonorous language of the King James version through vivid Old Testament passages that captured his pupils' imagination. He was a man of vision, and as early as the mid nineteen-sixties, was a recognised advocate and pioneer of progressive teaching methods.
An extract from his message at a 1965 teachers’ conference follows:
“The rapid social and scientific development of recent years has inevitably stimulated a great deal of thought and research into the process of a child’s early education. As a result of this, the effectiveness of many traditional practices is questioned, and new and exciting techniques of teaching are advocated. More important than new techniques is a re-assessment of the role of the teacher and of the type of environment most likely to develop in children that capacity for constructive and analytical thought which they will need in the contemporary world.”
During his tenure, Clifton embarked on a period of remarkable growth. As adjacent properties became available, they were purchased by the school, providing additional classrooms, as well as housing for resident masters. In 1959 the school purchased a small hall from the Lambert Road Baptist Church, which was used as a school hall until 1974. By the mid-sixties, two one-acre plots on Innes Road had been bought and developed into a playing field, and a decade later, the Jubilee Hall was built at the Lambert Road entrance. The incremental development of the school buildings through the acquisition of residential properties ensured the enduring ‘Family’ feeling that still pervades the school.
Tim Sutcliffe wrote on his retirement in 1980 that, “The spirit of mutual trust and confidence which exists between pupils and teachers at this school is one of its most precious features.”
He had served Clifton in the capacity of Headmaster for 38 years.
[edit] 1980 - 2001
Mr T.A.Seymour was appointed as Headmaster in 1980. He hailed from Zimbabwe, where he had been head of the Bulawayo Teachers’ Training College. A man with a wide knowledge of educational policies and procedures, he had progressive views on discipline, and soon abolished the use of corporal punishment at Clifton. During his tenure as Headmaster, some significant developments occurred. In 1983 a second story was added to the old bungalow housing the ‘Standard Three’ block, providing Clifton with a spacious library and an adjoining projection room. Today our ‘state-of-the-art’ science laboratory occupies the top floor, above the existing three Grade Five classrooms. In the same year, cricket nets were erected on the top field and the block housing the existing Grade One classrooms was converted into a Music Centre. Mr Seymour left Clifton in July 1984, and Mr Alan Pass, a master of long standing, took over the reins of leadership until the appointment of Mr Kevin Whitehead in 1985.
Kevin Whitehead came to Clifton from Pridwin Preparatory School, in Johannesburg, where he had served as Deputy Headmaster. During his eighteen years at the helm, the school grew in numbers and in reputation. The number of academic scholarships burgeoned, going from but a single scholarship in 1984, to a record nineteen in 1999! His passion for cricket was legendary and he was recognised as an outstanding coach of the game. He initiated the annual Clifton U.K. cricket tour, a tradition which became one of the hallmarks of his energetic devotion to the school. A firm but fair disciplinarian, he believed in the development of self-discipline in the boys, who were encouraged to take responsibility for their own actions and to value honesty, concern for others and everyday decency. One of his greatest strengths was his public speaking, from his assemblies, which inspired the boys and brought a sense of unity to the school, to his Speech Day addresses, which were outstanding and spiced with exquisite humour. He was a much-loved and greatly respected headmaster, whose intense, all-encompassing commitment to Clifton eventually took its toll when ill health forced him to retire prematurely at the end of the first term of 2002. The year before he retired saw Clifton's first intake of Grade ‘R’ pupils, which proved to be a highly successful venture, as it has now expanded to three classes. Mrs Megan Birkett, a senior Science teacher and Head of Department, acted as Head until the appointment of Kevin Whitehead’s successor.
[edit] Clifton College
For many years Clifton parents had spoken of the possibility of extending Clifton Prep to include a high school, and January 2002 saw the establishment of Clifton College, with Mr Mike Thiel at the helm. Just as was the case in the founding year of the Prep School, numbers were small, but it was a proud group of boys who wore the distinctive black blazer and khaki chinos for the first time.
By August of the same year, Mr Brian Mitchell had been appointed as Headmaster of the Prep School, and within eighteen months he took over the Headship of the whole school, Mr Thiel having completed the difficult task of steering the College through the initial months.
Having lived on a building site for several years, pupils and teachers are finally able to make use of the many world-class facilities. 2006 saw the first Grade 12 ‘Matric’ year. Clifton had achieved a magnificent milestone – the provision of thirteen years of excellence for pupils from Grade ‘R’ to Grade Twelve.
Clifton continues to grow. Most properties along Venice Road have been purchased, and there are plans for further development. 2006 saw the completion of the Clifton Aquatics Centre, comprising an Olympic Size Waterpolo pool. To this day, Clifton maintains its 'home-like' atmosphere, as it was in 1924.
[edit] Headmasters
[edit] Prep
- Harry Stubbs (1924 - 1938)
- Kenneth Haworth (1938 - 1942)
- Anthony "Tim" Sutcliffe (1942 - 1980)
- T.A Seymour (1980 - 1984)
- Kevin Whitehead (1984 - 2002)
- Brian Mitchell (2003 - 2006)
- Michael Foster (2007 - )
[edit] College
- Mike Thiel (2002 - 2004)
- Brian Mitchell (2005 - )
[edit] Headboys
- Fabrice Muhizzi (2006)
- Anand Naranbhai (2007)
- Paul Snell (2008)
[edit] Deputy Headboys
- Zukisa Luzwazi (2006)
- Jacques Blaauw (2007)
- Michael Downes & Cade Parton (2008)
[edit] Staff
[edit] Junior School
[edit] Grade R
- D Cole
- J Johnson
- J Skevington
[edit] Grade 1
- A Goosen
- W Stieger
- L Monk
[edit] Grade 2
- P Kenyon
- G Rayner
- M Wiebesiek
[edit] Grade 3
- A Abrahams
- M Franz
- L Hagen
[edit] Prep
[edit] Grade 4
- K Scott
- J Bresler
- A Watson
[edit] Grade 5
- M Norrie
- V Prota
- P Saayman
[edit] Grade 6
- Upton
- L-M Gibson
- D Mays
[edit] Grade 7
- B Mezher
- M Moran
- H Wreghitt
[edit] College
- G Barr (Head of Art)
- D Fletcher (English)
- B Bowley (Natural Science & Head of Grade 8)
- K Bresler (Head of Student Affairs - Discipline)
- H Bensch (English)
- P Farquarson (English & Head of Grade 12)
- I Bonniaschck (Dramatics)
- H de Haas (Head of Afrikaans & Grade 10)
- M Douglas (Physical Science)
- D du Preez (Afrikaans)
- M Elliott (Head of IT)
- G Goedeke (Deputy Head - Academics)
- H Goedeke (English)
- G Hendricks (Head of Life Sciences & Grade 11)
- M Howieson (Business Studies)
- I Joubert (Afrikaans)
- L Langton (Library)
- S McCabe (Head of History)
- P McKay (Accounting & Geography)
- T Mhlongo (Head of isiZulu)
- J Parry (Business Studies, EMS & Mathematics)
- G Pyoos (Afrikaans)
- M Savage (Physical Education)
- D Smith (Head of Geography)
- T Doyle (Head of Physical Science)
- S Sutherland (Physical Science & Head of Thuthuka Community Partnership Programme)
- C Thackwray (Mathematics)
- G Thomas (Design Technology)
- G Thompson (Drama, English & History)
- S Topper (Head of Accounting & Business Studies & Academic Head)
- V Tunley (Head of Mathematics)
- R Wyatt-Minter (Head of Life Orientation & College Counselor)
- B Rowe (Director of Aquatics, Water Polo Coach, Swimming Coach)
[edit] Administrative Staff
- N Bhele
- L Garcia
- C Jennings
- D Lauder
- P Mlungwana
- A Morton
- D Pillay
- S Ramsamy
- J Louw (Marketing Director)
- L Smith
- K Field (Bursar)
[edit] Ground Staff
- D Gcabhashi
- E Gumbi
- S Mbatha
- R Mthembu
- E Ngcobo
- S Ngcobo
- P Nyathikazi
- J Rankin
[edit] Clifton Today
The school is divided into four phases: Grade "R", Junior Prep, Senior Prep and College.
Clifton College was established in 2002. The first Grade 12 class graduated in 2006. Clifton College writes the Independent Examinations Board exams.
[edit] Notable alumni
- Barry Richards (cricketer), national and English cricketer
- Andrew Tweedie, provincial cricketer
- Tony Leon, Former Leader of the Democratic Alliance
- Robin Smith (cricketer), national cricketer
- Shaun Tomson, professional surfer
- Matthew Tomson, son of Shaun Tomson
