Principal’s Weekly Update: 17th August 2026

Dear Parents, Grandparents and Guardians 

This week I am grateful that twenty-five millimetres of free water doused our campus, signalling to all the  dormant trees that Spring is not far away and giving me hope of warmer days and shorter nights. I am also  encouraged that our economy continues to send some strong signals of turning positively, and that even our  city is starting to show signs of responsible change. Mostly, I am grateful that we are able to be part of a  school that has been given space to design the future to deliver better to as many people as we can. 

Foundations, by definition, can only be laid once 

Raj Chetty states that: ‘Great kindergarten teachers help to develop social skills that lead to discipline and  character.’ Independent education is designed for parents who know that an investment partnership in their  young children yields a dividend of life-confidence that is priceless. Raj affirms that: “Their (Kindergarten  teachers) impact does not affect test scores at school but surprisingly reemerges years later when their former  students apply those skills to advance their careers in early adulthood.” 

We hear that we are criticised for being the most expensive Pre-School in Pietermaritzburg. We also note that  we don’t ever get questioned on value for money. Any parent with a young boy who has been through  Scrummies will testify that there is no other playscape so particularly and deliberately designed for the  informal adventure-play that is critical for healthy early childhood development. Our hard-working families  will note the importance of an aftercare facility included in the fees – an option which keeps little boys happy  and outside in the afternoons while their parents build their businesses and strengthen their family’s future  financial security.  

It is an extraordinary privilege as a through-school to be able to support holistic growth through our five  schools in one integrated journey. 

Cambridge leads with transparency 

Cambridge is synonymous with best practice in education internationally, and from early years to A Levels,  we are moderated by the sensibilities of a positive research-based curriculum. Cambridge focuses on deep  subject understanding and deliberately filters out ideology and agendas. The key benefit for us is being able  to run a Christian school without finding ourselves in conflict with the curriculum.  

Now Cambridge has taken a bold step forward in making scripts of students available to them after the exams  have been marked. The access is through the office of the Director of Academics. Cambridge clearly believes  their systems are robust enough to be completely transparent. Imagine if we were to apply the same principle  in South Africa.

Split seconds 

Danny de Vito, while not recognised as the sage of the century, states wisely in the Jumanji movie that,  “Getting old is a gift.” On Wednesday morning, I had to travel to Umhlanga, and while passing through the  north coast roadworks that never seem to finish, a metal bar came flying over the barrier from the south bound traffic and hit my car’s bonnet and then, in slow motion, came hurtling towards my face. I had time  enough to know I couldn’t do anything about it, and I had time enough to think, so this is how it happens,  and then… nothing. The bar skimmed off the windshield as though the angle was just right.  

We don’t always appreciate that it is by the grace of God that we will see out this day – or that we have no  guarantee of tomorrow. What we do know is that: “we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do  good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 

I guess that means we should make sure we spend our time doing the good things that are right in front of  us. 

Yours faithfully 

Allen van Blerk  

PRINCIPAL