From humble beginnings, founded in 1906 by the Nuns of the Order of St John’s the Divine,
St Mary’s has grown into a leading educational institution today. With a commitment to excellence and distinction, the school inspires girls to become remarkable women. Being a Christian girl’s school and guided by the motto “Service Before Self and God Before All,” St Mary’s provides a holistic education underpinned by faith, with consistently outstanding matric results.
This year, we are thrilled about so many exciting developments. Construction of the state-of-the-art “Sinenjabulo Zungu Sports Hub” is underway, set to replace the current sports office. Other upgrades include installing floodlights around the Astroturf, revamping the Indoor Sports Hall, and importing a new springboard for diving from the Netherlands.
In the Primary School, we embrace innovation with an integrated curriculum using Robotic Kits, Laser Cutting Technologies, 3D Printers, and AI to prepare students for a technology-driven world. Teachers continue to explore AI’s positive role in education as part of their professional development. Additionally, we are introducing the cultural intelligence programme, Thrive Together.
For Grade 8, we are launching a Project-Based Learning programme to develop critical thinking, teamwork, and investigative skills. The Thrilling Thursday programme offers diverse modules such as coding, robotics, dance, and wellness, fostering curiosity and problem-solving. Grade 9 students benefit from iWoza Wednesday, an entrepreneurship programme featuring guest speakers who share real-world business insights. We’ve also introduced Engineering, Graphics, and Design as a subject, eagerly anticipated by students entering Grade 10.
Our community partnership programmes allow students to engage in service activities aligned with our core values and motto.
We are incredibly proud of our Matric Class of 2024, who achieved remarkable results. They earned 100% Bachelor’s Degree qualifications and 314 distinctions, averaging 3.45 distinctions per student. The class achieved a 77.2% overall average, with 49% of results being distinctions. Subject averages exceeded national averages by 9.4%, and 76.6% of all subjects scored above 70%. Additionally, 20 subject results ranked in the top 1% nationally.
Special congratulations to Georgina Thornhill, Elizabeth Anderson, and Emma Stewart for ranking in the top 5% in six subjects and achieving top 1% placements in several subjects. Amy D’Eramo excelled in Geography, placing in the top 1%, while Georgina and Elizabeth earned seven distinctions each, plus two additional distinctions in Mathematics Further Studies.
Our sports programme also produces outstanding sportswomen. Last year, we celebrated 85 KZN representatives, 12 National Representatives, and a hockey team ranked fourth nationally.
St Mary’s remains dedicated to nurturing girls into confident, capable women, empowering them to excel in academics, sports, culture and service.