Roedean School

History & Milestones

Roedean School South Africa was established in 1903, beginning its life in a small house in Johannesburg. It was founded in the spirit of the original Roedean School in Brighton, England, bringing that institution's ethos of excellence in girls' education to southern Africa.

Key Milestones

• 1903: School founded in Johannesburg, providing quality education for girls in the then-British colony.
• Growth across the century: Over more than 120 years, the school expanded its campus, facilities, and academic offering, becoming one of the most respected independent schools in South Africa.
• Modern era: The school now educates over 750 pupils from 47 nationalities, reflecting the increasingly international character of Johannesburg and the school's reputation beyond South Africa's borders.
• 2023: Lindi Dlamini is appointed as Executive Director — a landmark moment as she became the first Black woman to lead an independent girls' school in South Africa, signalling the school's commitment to inclusive leadership and transformation.

Campus and Community Today

The school operates across a Junior School (Grade 0–7) and Senior School (Grade 8–12), with a boarding facility (Mary Williams House, capacity 76) that has been part of the school's character for decades. The three-house system — Bears, Kats, and Lambs — creates the inter-house competitions and community bonds that are central to the Roedean school spirit.

Roedean SA maintains a distinct identity from its English namesake while sharing the same founding values of academic ambition, sporting excellence, and the cultivation of confident young women.

Campus Life and Atmosphere

Roedean School South Africa occupies a substantial campus in Johannesburg that blends historic tradition with modern facilities. With over 750 students from 47 nationalities, the campus has a genuinely international atmosphere, unusual for a South African independent school.

Sports and Physical Facilities

The school is particularly well-resourced for sport:

• Olympic-size swimming pool with diving boards and water polo infrastructure, linked to the Roedean Academy swim programme
• Indoor gymnasium and basketball courts for year-round indoor sport
• Astroturf all-weather field supporting hockey, netball, and other team sports
• Indoor climbing wall supporting the school's rock-climbing programme
• Tennis and squash courts
• Cross-country running routes within and around the campus

Arts and Academic Spaces

• Art and Design Centre with dedicated studios and exhibition spaces
• IT and Media Centre with computer labs and multimedia learning tools
• Multi-purpose auditorium with professional audio-visual equipment for performances, assemblies, and events

Boarding and Residential Life

Mary Williams House provides accommodation for up to 76 boarding pupils in single and double rooms. Boarders can choose between weekly boarding (home for weekends) or full term boarding, each priced accordingly. The boarding house creates a second community within the school — one with strong bonds and its own routines.

House Culture

The school's three-house system — Bears, Kats, and Lambs — underpins much of the inter-school competitive life, from House Drama and House Choir to sports days and other inter-house contests. This structure is central to the sense of belonging and friendly rivalry that characterises the Roedean school spirit.

Community, Access, and Financial Support

Roedean School South Africa actively works to broaden access through a range of scholarships, bursaries, and foundation partnerships. While fees are significant — ranging from R121,638 (Grade 0) to R233,104 (Grades 10–12) per year — the school has created multiple pathways for talented students who might not otherwise be able to attend.

Named Scholarships

The school offers several named merit and talent scholarships, including:

• Anne Cleaver Scholarship — academic merit
• Joan Raikes Scholarship — academic merit
• Ella Le Maitre Scholarship — academic merit
• Sports Scholarships — recognising outstanding athletic ability
• Cultural Scholarships — recognising excellence in arts, music, or drama

These scholarships typically cover up to one term's fees, providing meaningful but partial financial relief.

Foundation Bursaries

In partnership with the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation and other linked funds, the school awards up to six full bursary places per year to Grade 8 (Lower V) entrants. These are aimed at academically talented students with demonstrated leadership potential who could not otherwise access a Roedean education.

What This Means for Families

Families considering Roedean should be aware that:

• Scholarships are competitive — a small number are awarded relative to the size of the school
• Bursaries through foundation partnerships may have separate application processes from the school itself
• Optional fees (lunch, tutoring, music, arts activities, boarding) add to the headline tuition figure
• The building levy (R8,340/year) and student insurance (R195/year) are additional compulsory charges on top of tuition

Despite the fee level, the school's scholarship and bursary programme reflects a genuine commitment to ensuring that financial circumstance is not the sole barrier to a Roedean education.

Educational Philosophy

Roedean School South Africa's educational philosophy centres on the belief that rigorous academic preparation and holistic personal development are inseparable. The school describes its approach as a progressive cross-curricular model, which means that learning transcends individual subject silos and connects to broader social, ethical, and global themes.

At the heart of this philosophy is the ambition to develop socially responsible young women equipped to lead lives of significance. This language — drawn directly from the school's official communications — signals that Roedean is not simply preparing students for university entrance, but for meaningful participation in society.

Key Pillars

• Academic excellence: The school's 2024 Matric cohort achieved a 100% pass rate with a 100% Bachelor's Degree pass rate, demonstrating the rigour of its academic programme.
• Character and leadership: The house system (Bears, Kats, Lambs), the Student Representative Council, prefect programme, and leadership roles are all deliberately structured to build confidence, responsibility, and peer leadership.
• Service and community: Social responsibility programmes, including voluntary community engagement, are embedded in school life rather than treated as optional extras.
• Global perspective: With 47 nationalities represented in the student body, internationalism is lived rather than taught — diverse perspectives are a daily reality in classrooms and co-curricular activities.

Curriculum Approach

The school follows the South African National Curriculum (CAPS), but adds significant value through enrichment, a wide range of optional subjects, and competitive co-curricular offerings. The Senior School uses multiple assessment methods, including diagnostic testing in Mathematics and English, to monitor individual progress and tailor support accordingly.

This philosophy places Roedean in a long tradition of leading independent girls' schools that believe single-sex education creates a particular environment of confidence and academic ambition — one where every girl sees herself as capable of leadership and excellence.

Academic Culture and Results

Roedean School South Africa has built a reputation for consistent academic excellence within the South African National Curriculum (CAPS). The school's 2024 Matric results underline this reputation.

2024 Matric Highlights

• 100% pass rate for the Class of 2024
• 100% Bachelor's Degree pass rate — meaning every graduate qualified for university entrance
• Strong individual subject performances, including in English Home Language and Life Orientation
• Notable results in Mathematics and other core subjects

Senior School Academic Approach

The Senior School academic journey is designed to go beyond rote learning. The school uses multiple assessment methods rather than relying solely on end-of-year examinations. These include:

• Diagnostic tests in Mathematics and English at key entry points (especially Grade 8)
• Project-based and portfolio assessments in creative disciplines
• Continuous assessment aligned with CAPS requirements
• Additional academic enrichment programmes

Subject Breadth

Students choose from a range of subjects spanning the sciences, humanities, languages, and creative arts. The school teaches Afrikaans as a First Additional Language alongside English Home Language, and offers visual arts, dramatic arts, music, and life sciences among other disciplines.

Support and Enrichment

For students who need extra support, the school offers optional paid tutoring (35-minute sessions) in individual subjects. The Senior School also provides structured study environments and access to teachers for additional academic guidance.

The combination of a demanding curriculum, diverse assessment approaches, and strong pastoral oversight creates an academic culture where girls are encouraged to achieve their personal best rather than simply meet minimum benchmarks.