A QUEENSTOWN school is one of the best in the world, according to a global list.
Queen’s College is among the 150 top learning centres – from kindergarten to university – as recognised by the Oxford and Cambridge universities’ Global Education & Skills: An Oxbridge Guide.
The 154-year old all-boys’ school is one of only three in South Africa – and the only one in the Eastern Cape – to make the list.
KwaZulu-Natal’s exclusive private school, Hilton College, and Gauteng’s Benoni High School on the East Rand – the alma mater of Oscar-winning actress Charlize Theron – also cracked the nod.
Queen’s spokesman Hayden Buchholz said they were proud to have made the list. “The staff, boys and Old Queenians are obviously thrilled with this remarkable achievement,†he said. “We strive for excellence and have done so for the last 154 years.
“This recognition is just reward for all the educators and Queenians who have walked before us. The entire Queen’s College family can be proud of this achievement.â€
The publication introduces the world’s most innovative schools and presents the foremost centres of education. The directory, comprising more than 500 pages, celebrates global education and features the places and people who demonstrate their commitment to improving education at a national and international level.
The criteria for inclusion in the Oxbridge guide include philosophy, innovative teachers and teaching concepts, achievement, reputation, services offered, and dialogue with children and parents, as well as the guarantee of quality educational care.
Inclusion is on an invitation-only basis, and the 50000 printed copies are targeted for distribution to leading figures in education, finance and politics around the globe.
According to the Oxbridge Guide, the Queen’s College curriculum material, which includes real-life social, ethical, environmental and economic issues, is what sets it apart.
Integrating technology tools into the learning and teaching experience was named as another example.
Buchholz said the boarding school provided a “solution to city parents who are faced with a variety of social evils, and we do this by providing an excellent education coupled with a small town feelâ€.
The school’s sports teams – including rugby, athletics and cricket – attended sports festivals around the country and regularly featured among the top 20.
Buchholz said they were “bitterly disappointed†with the school’s 97% matric pass rate last year – but of the three who failed, two were receiving remarks.
“We expect excellence from our boys. They are expected to be well-mannered and courteous at all times and to behave as gentlemen,†he said.
Among Queen’s College’s notable alumni are Discovery Health chief executive Neville Koopowitz, Nampak chief executive Trevor Evans, former cricketer Darryl Cullinan, first black Springbok rugby player Kaya Malotana, Sunday Times editor Ray Hartley and renowned political journalist Allister Sparks.
Welcome to Queen's College
?
