Fairmont High
Education is the key to a great future, and every parent or guardian wants the best for their children. Searching for success, many parents place time and effort into the exploration for the best school for their child. But what makes a great school? Is it their longevity, smaller-sized classrooms or dedicated educators?
Well the truth is that all of the above applies and carries weight when choosing a school. These and many more are the important factors. Fairmont High, situated in Durbanville near Cape Town, symbolizes quality education. Rated as one of the top ten public schools in South Africa, it was honoured by the Department of Basic Education at a gala function in Pretoria in 2010 for its achievement in mathematics in the matric examinations of 2009.
A special award of R150 000 was received by the school from the Anglo American Chairman’s Fund. The school was selected in the top ten from 200 schools identified by the Department of Basic Education as having especially strong 2009 mathematics and physical science results. A panel of educational experts from the DBE and Anglo American Chairmans’ Fund whittled down the schools to the ten awarded. It was indicated at the function that Fairmont was placed 2nd to a school from Durban.
Fairmont was originally known as The Eversdal English Medium School, and opened its doors in January 1977. The first Principal was Mr Clive Wigg who started with a staffing complement of seventeen teachers and 330 pupils. The three storey building was far too big for the first intake of pupils, so the top floor remained unused in the first year. There were no sports fields, no memorial quad and the hall was still under construction. The pupils had no prescribed uniform. At the end of the first year, the school became known as Fairmont High School and has experienced many changes since then.
The school is now academically well resourced and by 2011 every teaching venue will be equipped with drop down screens and data projectors together with interactive white boards in specialist classrooms.
Class sizes vary from 15 to 30 per class, made possible by the School Governing Body employing 36 teachers to complement the 36 provided by the state. The school has a total of 72 teachers and 20 administrative/maintenance staff, 50 classrooms, six laboratories, four computer centres, two art rooms, a design room, a technology centre, a multipurpose teaching and recreation centre, a well equipped library and four music rooms.
In 33 years, Fairmont has risen in prestige to be rated as 2nd amongst public schools in the country based on its performance in mathematics in the matric examination. This together with a proud record in sport and cultural pursuits places the school in a very strong position. The academic excellence, sport facilities and investment in coaching enables our learners to experience an all round education experience.
Our aim is to:
- provide our learners with a balanced education by focusing on academics in such a way that they will take their place in the community as well-educated people
- use sport and cultural activities as educational opportunities to the benefit of the learners
