Woodridge College
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".
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 in 1936, all of whose descendants have attended the school. 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.
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. Surf lifesaving is also offered.
Other sports offered are rock climbing, canoeing, and hiking. 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.
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, - golfer
- Jade de Klerk - cricketer
- Mark Rushmere - cricketer
- Riki Wessels - cricketer
- Edith Molikoe - Hockey
Headmasters
The Headmaster of the school is Luke Hartley.
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
- ^ "King's-Edgehill School". www.kes.ns.ca. Archived from the original on 2 March 2007.
- ^ "History". Archived from the original on 24 September 2006.
- ^ "At least half of Eastern Cape's Woodridge College burnt down". 10 June 2017.
- ^ http://www.woodridge.co.za/Content.asp?pageID=302
- ^ "Surf Lifesaving". Archived from the original on 24 September 2006.
- ^ "Woodridge College & Preparatory College".
- ^ Paget, Dick (23 August 2007). Paget's Progress: A Tale of High Adventure and Low Salaries. ISBN 9781467018692.
- ^ Ndabeni, Khanyi (21 March 2008). "Golfer 'Cobra' Kamte once aimed for soccer stardom". The Herald Online. Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Retrieved 9 November 2009.
- ^ "Headmaster".