Kearsney College

Kearsney College was founded by Sir Liege Hulett in 1921. Hulett founded what would become Tongaat Hulett Sugar. Sir Liege Hulett cherished the idea of establishing a boys' school for Methodist ministers and their sons and those of the families of the free churches. Kearsney took its name from Kearsney, Kent where Sir Liege Hulett had moved to where his father established St Martin's Academy.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kearsney.com/college/?page_id=8656|title=Sir James Liege Hulett comes to Natal |website= Kearsney College|access-date=2019-09-03}}

He considered Kearsney House, the house he originally built for his family, ideally suited for this purpose. On 29 November 1920, a contract was signed with the Wesleyan Church to use Kearsney House as a school. This was the birth of Kearsney College and remains a living memorial to Sir Liege. The school opened with 11 boys. Kearsney College remained at the Kearsney Estate until June 1939, when it moved to its present site at Botha's Hill between Pietermaritzburg and Durban. The decision to move the school was based on the reluctance of parents to send their sons to a school on the north coast that suffered many cases of malaria in the 1930s. However, none were reported at Kearsney. On hearing of this, Mr Clement Stott of Botha’s Hill donated {{convert|25|acre}} of land. At the same time, Mr JJ Crookes offered to build a boarding house. The move was completed a month before the beginning of World War II. The new Kearsney College opened with 196 boys.

Kearsney's badge was designed by the then-headmaster, Mr RH Matterson, and the chaplain, the Rev. WH Irving, in about 1923.{{citation needed|date=September 2019}} The greyhound is taken from the arms of the founder, Sir James Liege Hulett The scallop shells and the dividing chevron are from the arms of the founder of Methodism, John Wesley.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}} The pheon, or arrowhead, is taken from the badge of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, where Matterson studied. The motto Carpe Diem, traditionally at Kearsney translated "Seize the Day," comes from the Roman poet Horace.Odes 1, xi, 8

• D. Pyne Mercier (1921–1922)
• R.H. Matterson (1923–1946)
• S.G. Osler (1947–1964)
• J.H. Hopkins (1965–1974)
• E.W. Silcock (1975–1990)
• O.J. Roberts (1991–2000)
• E.D. van den Aardweg (2001 -2022)
• P Lees (2023 - date)

There are five boarding houses - four senior houses and one junior house. They are Finningley (blue), Gillingham (red), Pembroke (green), Sheffield (yellow) and Haley (house for students' first year of boarding). Finningley is named after the town of Finningley in South Yorkshire, England. Gillingham is named after Gillingham, Kent, England, where Sir Liege Hulett lived as a young man Pembroke is named after the town of Pembroke, Pembrokeshire, Wales. Sheffield is named after Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England, where Sir Liege Hulett moved following his time in Gillingham.

The College offers the following subject choices for Grades 10,11,12 : English; Afrikaans or isiZulu; Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy; Life Orientation; Accounting, Business Studies, Dramatic Art; Engineering Graphics and Design; Geography; History; Information Technology; Life Sciences (Biology); Music; Science and Visual Arts.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kearsney.com/college/?page_id=8473|title=Academics |website= Kearsney College|access-date=2019-09-02}}

In 2020, Kearsney had a 100% pass rate and a 100% Bachelor Degree pass rate.{{Cite news|date=7 January 2020|title=IEB matric results: Kearsney College|work=Highway Mail|url= https://www.highwaymail.co.za/434019/ieb-2020-matric-results-kearsney-college/%3fpwa-amp&}}{{Cite web|date=7 January 2020|title=Outstanding IEB NSC results for the Class of 2019|url=https://www.kearsney.com/college/outstanding-ieb-nsc-results-for-the-class-of-2019/#:~:text=Kearsney%20average%3A%2081%25%20(IEB,2%2C02%20distinctions%20per%20boy.|access-date=24 June 2020|website=Kearsney College}}

Clubs offered range from academic extension (12 Club; History Club) to personal enrichment (SCA; Dale Carnegie Course; Chess) to creative (Photographic Club; Video Editing Club; Enviro Club) to the physical (Surfing; Survival Club; Mountain Bike Club) and the just plain fun (Board Games Club). Finally, boys are coached in public speaking skills through their membership of the Speakers’ Circle and Inner Circle Speakers’ Club.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kearsney.com/college/?page_id=8305|title=Clubs and Cultural Activities |website= Kearsney College|access-date=2019-09-02}}

Sports facilities include several rugby fields, several cricket ovals, an artificial turf for field hockey and two swimming pools. Included is the SportZone, an indoor training facility that holds several cricket nets, two indoor and two outdoor basketball courts, and a gymnasium.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kearsney.com/college/?page_id=10125|title=Sporting Environment |website= Kearsney College|access-date=2019-09-02}}

Sports on offer at the College include:

• Basketball
• Canoeing
• Cricket
• Cross country
• Golf
• Hockey
• Indoor hockey
• Rugby
• Rugby sevens
• Soccer
• Squash
• Swimming
• Tennis
• Water polo

Kearsney has been the host of the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival since 2008. This school's rugby tournament regularly attracts top South African schools teams.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kearsney.com/college/?page_id=10504|title=Standard Bank Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival |website= Kearsney College|access-date=2019-09-03}} Previous festival players that have achieved higher honours include : Handré Pollard, Warrick Gelant, Jan Serfontein, RG Snyman, Dan du Preez, Jean-Luc du Preez, JJ van der Mescht, [James Hall]{{cite web | url=https://www.epcrugby.com/2022/09/06/epcr-challenge-cups-south-african-stars-stade-francais-paris/ | title=EPCR Challenge Cup's South African stars: Stade Français Paris | date=6 September 2022 }}

Kearsney has an international exchange programme with several schools. Schools that Kearsney pupils spend time at include: Catholic University School in Dublin, Ireland, Mount St Mary’s College, Derbyshire, England and Canberra Grammar School in Red Hill, Australia.

• Douglas Livingstone (poet) (1949)

• Tony Leon (1974) - founder of South Africa's Democratic Alliance

• Luke Bailes - Owner of Singita Game Reserve
• David Polkinghorne – CEO of Grindrod Bank
• Nick Sloane (salvage expert) - Salvage master for Costa Concordia{{Cite web|url=https://www.kearsney.com/oldboys/?page_id=10973|title=Nicholas Sloane |website= Kearsney College |access-date=2019-08-23}}
• Gordon Schachat - Property, private equity and investment banking
• AB Theunissen - CEO of VW South Africa and of Total Oil SA.

• Henry Markram - Founder and Director of the Blue Brain Project.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kearsney.com/oldboys/?page_id=10980|title=Henry John Markram |website= Kearsney College|access-date=2019-08-23}}
• Jonathan Pons (1980) - ophthalmologist
• Dr Michael A. Belfort - World’s First Use of Thulium Laser-Assisted Fetal Cardiac Surgery{{Cite web|url=https://www.kearsney.com/foundation/?p=15292|title=World's First Use of Thulium Laser-Assisted Fetal Cardiac Surgery |website= Kearsney College Foundation|access-date=2019-09-02}}
• Professor Nigel Clement Halley Stott - professor of general practice in the Cardiff Medical School, awarded a CBE for services to primary care and general practice medicine{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2001/jun/15/highereducation.uk2|title=Queen's birthday honours for academics|last=MacLeod|first=Donald|date=2001-06-15|work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-09-03|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}

• Ian McGregor (1952) - director of the Smithsonian{{cite news|url=https://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/the-mercury-south-africa/20120920/282063389168670|newspaper=Natal Mercury|date=20 September 2012|title=Kersney Old Boys Leave their mark on World Stage}}
• Terence Reis - Guitarist Dire Straits{{Cite web|url=https://www.news24.com/Archives/Witness/Dire-Straits-call-up-local-muso-Terence-Reis-20150430|title=Dire Straits call up local muso Terence Reis|date=2011-04-09|website=News24|language=en|access-date=2019-08-23}}
• Professor David Hall - United Nations advisor, Leader in alternative energy
• Alan Dell - BBC radio broadcaster
• Kendrew Lascelles - actor, performer and writer
• HRH Prince Shlobosenkosi Zulu of the Zulu royal family
• King Ndamase Ndamase sixth King of Western Pondoland{{Cite web|url=http://xhosaculture.co.za/history/amampondo/|title=AmaMPONDO - Xhosa Culture|website =xhosaculture.co.za|access-date=2019-10-02}}

• Andrew Hudson (1982) - South African national team cricket player
• Kyle Abbott - South African national team cricket player and best first-class figures in more than 60 years{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/it-was-incredible-hampshire-quick-s-17-wicket-haul-best-since-1956-20190919-p52st1.html|title='It was incredible': Hampshire quick's 17-wicket haul best since 1956|date=2019-09-18|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en|access-date=2019-09-19}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/southafrica/content/player/297583.html|title=ESPN cricket profile}}
• David Polkinghorne – first-class cricketer

• Jonathan Lowe 1968 - South African Hockey{{Cite web|url=https://www.kearsney.com/college/?page_id=10192|title=Story of Kearsney Hockey |website= Kearsney College|access-date=2019-09-15}}
• Paul Logan 1985 - South African Hockey
• Greg Pilling 1992 - South African Hockey
• Justin King 1995 - South African Hockey
• Greg Last 2013 - South African Hockey
• Wayne Madsen 2004 - South African Hockey
• Lloyd Madsen 2007 - South African Hockey
• Nqobile Ntuli 2017 - South African Hockey
• Siphesihle 'Sihle' Ntuli, South Africa coached the South Africa men's national field hockey team.{{Cite web |title=Sihle Ntuli Appointed As Head Coach Of The South African Men’s Hockey Team |website= SA Hockey Association |url=https://sahockey.co.za/2025/01/22/sihle-ntuli-appointed-as-head-coach-of-the-south-african-mens-hockey-team/ |access-date=2025-01-22 |language=en-US}}

• Harry Newton-Walker (1945) - Springbok rugby player - Cap 311
• Mike Halliday - USA rugby player
• Giovanni 'John' Antoni Italy Rugby{{Cite web|url=https://www.iol.co.za/sport/rugby/durbans-john-to-back-up-italians-498861|title=Durban's 'John' to back up Italians |website=www.iol.co.za|language=en|access-date=2019-09-15}}
• Francois Viljoen - USA rugby player
• Ayron Schramm - Germany Rugby
• Trevor Halstead (1994) - Springbok rugby player - Cap 720
• Etienne Fynn (1990) - Springbok rugby player - Cap 710. Finished schooling at St. Charles College, Pietermaritzburg
• Matt Stevens (2001) - England and British & Irish Lions rugby player
• Brad Barritt (2004) - England rugby player
• Jean-Luc du Preez (2013) - Springbok rugby player - Cap 881
• Dan du Preez (2013) - Springbok rugby player - Cap 889
• Robert du Preez (2012) - Springbok rugby player - Cap 904

• Myles Brown - Rio Olympic Games – Swimming
• Troy Prinsloo

{{Reflist|refs=

{{Cite web|url=https://www.kearsney.com/college/?page_id=13279|title=Kearsney College Crest |website= Kearsney College|access-date=2019-09-02}}

{{Cite web|url=https://www.kearsneymanor.co.za/history.html|title=A Brief History Lesson - Kearsney Manor|website=kearsneymanor.co.za|access-date=2019-09-03}}

{{Cite web|url=https://www.kearsney.com/oldboys/?page_id=10016|title=Notable Alumni|website=Kearsney College|access-date=2019-08-23|archive-date=17 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917182940/http://www.kearsney.com/oldboys/?page_id=10016|url-status=dead}}

{{Cite web |title=David Hall |last=Scurlock |first=Jonathan |work=The Guardian |date=3 September 1999 |access-date=20 September 2019 |url= https://www.theguardian.com/news/1999/sep/03/guardianobituaries1 }}

{{Cite web|url=https://www.kearsney.com/college/?page_id=10171|title=Story of Kearsney Rugby |website= Kearsney College|access-date=2019-09-15}}

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{{Official website|http://www.kearsney.com/}}

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{{KZNSchools}}

Category:Boys' schools in South Africa

Category:Boarding schools in South Africa

Category:Private schools in KwaZulu-Natal

Category:Educational institutions established in 1921

Category:1921 establishments in South Africa