Woodridge College
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2015}}
{{Use South African English|date=May 2015}}
{{Infobox school
| name = Woodridge College and Preparatory School
| logo = Woodridge logo HQ V2 1.png
| logo_size = 200px
| motto = Fideliter
| motto_translation = Faithfully
| established = {{start date and age|1936}}
| religion = Christianity
| grades = 0000{{ndash}}12
| gender = Boys & Girls
| head_name = Headmasters
| head = Luke Hartley & Trevor von Berg
| head_name2 = Exam board
| head2 = IEB
| city = Thornhill
| state = Eastern Cape
| country = South Africa
| staff = 100 full-time
| students = 800 pupils
| colours = {{colourbox|Brown}} Brown
{{colourbox|Gold}} Yellow
{{colourbox|White}} White
| schedule = 08:00 - 16:30
| language = English
| lower_age = 2
| upper_age = 18
| alumni = Old Woodridgean Association - https://oldwoodridgean.co.za/
| website = [http://www.woodridge.co.za/ www.woodridge.co.za]
}}
Woodridge College and Preparatory School is a private, co-educational school in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.
Woodridge is situated near the small town of Thornhill, Kouga, halfway between Jeffrey's Bay and Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth). The school offers education to both boys and girls and accommodates both boarders and day scholars.
Motto
The motto of the school is Fideliter, as can be seen on the school emblem, meaning "Faithfully".{{cite web |url=http://www.kes.ns.ca/alumi_volunteer.asp |title=King's-Edgehill School |website=www.kes.ns.ca |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070302134501/http://www.kes.ns.ca/alumi_volunteer.asp |archive-date=2007-03-02}}
Location
It is situated on the edge of the gorge that has been created by Van Stadens River, next to the Van Stadens Bridge.
History
The school was started by the Carter family{{cite web|url=http://www.woodridge.co.za/Content.asp?pageID=47|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060924235510/http://www.woodridge.co.za/Content.asp?pageID=47|archive-date=2006-09-24|title=History}} in 1936, all of whose descendants have attended the school.{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}} Originally the school was only a preparatory school, and the college was started during the 1960s.
On June 10, 2017, Woodridge experienced a fire that engulfed at least half of the campus.{{Cite web | url=https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/at-least-half-of-eastern-capes-woodridge-college-burnt-down-20170610 | title=At least half of Eastern Cape's Woodridge College burnt down| date=10 June 2017}}
Curriculum
The school offers the standard schooling under the guidelines of the Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa, and pupils taking their National Senior Certificate write the IEB examinations. Woodridge is also strongly supporting outdoor education, meaning that the students frequently take outdoor excursions and learn outdoors or about the outdoors.
Sport
Woodridge is involved in the sports of rugby, cricket, hockey, star gazing, netball, squash, tennis, bird watching, athletics and water polo.http://www.woodridge.co.za/Content.asp?pageID=302 {{deadlink|date=December 2022|fix-attempted=yes}} Surf lifesaving is also offered.{{cite web|url=http://www.woodridge.co.za/Content.asp?pageID=67|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060924234345/http://www.woodridge.co.za/Content.asp?pageID=67|archive-date=2006-09-24|title=Surf Lifesaving}}
Other sports offered are rock climbing, canoeing, and hiking.{{Cite web | url=http://www.woodridge.co.za/ | title=Woodridge College & Preparatory College}} Outdoor education is offered, which is similar to Outward Bound, although it got its roots more from the Veld en Vlei society in nearby Sedgefield which many Old Woodridgeans used to attend, which was later bought out by the Outward Bound association. The Outward Bound was modelled on the Scottish school Gordonstoun, as was the rating system.{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=C63VIRGl2PsC&q=veld+en+vlei+outward+bound&pg=PA387 |title = Paget's Progress: A Tale of High Adventure and Low Salaries|isbn = 9781467018692|last1 = Paget|first1 = Dick|date = 23 August 2007}}
Inter house competitions are held for all sports offered by the school. The Outdoor Education house trophy is considered the most revered of house trophies.
Notable alumni
- Colin Ingram - cricketer
- James Kamte,{{cite news|title=Golfer 'Cobra' Kamte once aimed for soccer stardom|url=http://www.theherald.co.za/herald/2008/03/21/news/n17_21032008.htm|first=Khanyi|last=Ndabeni|date=21 March 2008|accessdate=9 November 2009|work=The Herald Online|location=Port Elizabeth, South Africa}} - golfer
- Jade de Klerk - cricketer
- Mark Rushmere - cricketer
- Riki Wessels - cricketer
- Edith Molikoe - Hockey
Headmasters
The Headmaster of the school is Luke Hartley.{{Cite web|url=http://www.woodridge.co.za/Content.asp?pageID=45|title=Headmaster}}
Previous headmasters include:
- 2024-present: Luke Hartley
- 2017-2023: Derek Bradley
- 2014-2017: Simon Crane
- 2005-2014: Craig Neave
- 2002-2004: Ken Ball
- 1997-2001: Guy Norman Pearson
- 1967-1992: Keith Starck
Religious teachings
Woodridge is considered a Christian school, and is a parish of the Anglican church.
References
External links
- {{official website|http://www.woodridge.co.za}}
{{ECSchools}}
{{Coord|-33.9178|25.203|display=title}}
Category:Boarding schools in South Africa
Category:Private schools in the Eastern Cape