SACS High School Prospectus

SACS High School Prospectus

Postal Address: Private Bag, Newlands, Cape Town, 7725

Ph: 021-6894164

Fax: 021-6852669

Admissions Secretary: Mrs Sarah Townes – [email protected]

Brief History
SACS is the oldest high school in South Africa, founded in September 1829. It is arguably the most
magnificent setting at the foot of Table Mountain and Devils peak.

The concept of the South African College was first formed in 1791 when the Dutch
Commissioner-General, Jacob Abraham Uitenhage de Mist, asked for funding to be set aside to
improve schooling in the Cape. After the British took over control of the Cape Colony its first
governor, Lord Charles Henry Somerset PC, gave permission for the funds reserved by de Mist
to be used to establish the South African College in 1814.

It was decided in 1874 that the younger students should be separated from their older
counterparts. The South African College was separated into the College which became the
University of Cape Town and the College School.

The College School moved to its own building on Orange Street, separate from the College, in
1896. For the next few decades, the school grew and the building became too small for the
number of students attending.

In 1959 the school moved to its current home in the Montebello Estate in Newlands,] former
home of the mining magnate Sir Max Michaelis, after a decade-long negotiation with the Cape
Administration.

SACS High School Mission Statement

The school prides itself on the balanced education it provides, the world-class facilities on offer, the fact
that SACS men strive for excellence in all spheres of school life and that it places a strong emphasis on
high moral values.

SACS School Moto – “Spectemur Agendo” - (Let us be judged by our actions)

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Facts and figures:
English is medium of teaching, learning and School Fees:
communication.
Grade 8 - R 59 000
School hours: Mon, Wed, Thurs 7.50 – 3pm,
Grade 9 – 11 -R 57 200
Tues 8:40am – 3pm
Grade 12 -R 51 060
Fri – 7:50am – 12:55pm
Voluntary Development fund levy - R 2 500
Number of pupils: 820
Boarding Fees - R 63 000
Number of staff: 60

Academic Facilities
Air conditioned and networked Library and SACS Archive

Air conditioned IT Centre housing 40 machines and dual projectors. A second wireless Internet venue.

Air conditioned Lecture Theatre with seating for 170

Various Science laboratories’

Cultural Facilities

Air conditioned Band Room for rehearsals and sound

Lecture Theatre doubles as a smaller “amphitheatre”

Academics
The National Curriculum and Assessment Policy (CAPS) is followed in all subjects, except for ‘AS’ –
and ‘A’-level Cambridge subjects. The qualifying certificate at the end of Grade 12 is the National
Senior Certificate (NSC)

General Education and Training (GET):

Grades 8 and 9 do all compulsory subjects, plus a choice of Isixhosa, French, Visual Arts and
Music

Further Education and Training (FET)

Grades 10, 11 and 12 complete the following compulsory subjects: English (Home Language),
Afrikaans (1st Additional Language) or Isixhosa (1st Additional Language), Mathematics or Maths
Literacy and Life Orientation

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 Choice Subjects to make up seven subjects: Physical Science, Life Science, Marine Science, Music,
French (1nd Additional), Geography, History, Visual Arts, Economics, Accounting, Information
Technology.

Cambridge GCSE, ‘AS’ and ‘A’ Levels.

In addition to the normal FET Curriculum, senior SACS students may choose to take GCSE in
Maths and A-level Cambridge subjects in English, Mathematics, Biology or Chemistry. The
students will commence these in their Grade 8 year for GCSE Maths and Grade 10 year and
complete in May of their Grade 12 Year.

Cultural
Four full-time music teachers and nine part-time staff provide opportunities for most instruments to be
studied. Music is offered as a Matric subject or as an extra-curricular course. Lessons are held during
school hours and students are required to play two practical exams per annum. All levels of playing are
nurtured with the emphasis being on solo performing opportunities, ensemble playing and playing in
one of the many bands at SACS. Entering Royal Schools, Trinity College and Unisa external exams is
encouraged and many students play the Grade 8 final exams during their years at SACS. Pupils are also
encouraged to enter for various Eisteddfods, as well as for the three music competitions hosted by
SACS.

The highlight on the musical calendar is the annual Concerto Festival, where auditioned soloists
perform with a full professional symphony orchestra. Being the highest achievement for a SACS
musician, SACS is proud to be able to promote this level of talent and to be able to fill a concert
programme of this standard with SACS soloists.

SUBJECT MUSIC

From Grade 8 boys are offered all the opportunities available to music students. Although the Subject
Music syllabus begins in Grade 10, music is offered as a specialized component in the Arts and Culture
course in Grades 8 and 9. This includes instrumental tuition (two practical lessons per week), gaining
general musical knowledge in class and participating in any of the bands, ensembles or choirs.
Requirement: Boys need to have attained Grade 1 or 2 practical level to be considered for music in
Grade 8.

Subject Music in Grades 10 – 12: Intensive musical training is provided in all spheres with unique
performing and academic opportunities. The entrance requirement is Grade 3 level, practically and
theoretically. Each subject music student receives two individual practical lessons and four subject music
lessons which include general music knowledge, music theory and aural training. In Grade 10 boys have
the option and are encouraged to write the external Grade 5 Theory exam. (For advanced pupils, it is an
option to do the Grade 6 Theory exam in Grade 11 or 12.) Music being a practical art calls for the
requirement that all music students partake in at least one of the bands or choirs. Included in the
curriculum are composing opportunities using music technology and working with current computer
software. Individual lessons are held during school hours and students are required to play two practical
exams per annum.

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EXTRA-CURRICULAR MUSIC

Tuition is available extra-murally in all grades, space permitting. Lessons are held during school hours
and students are required to play two practical exams per annum. Learners are expected to be part of
the band or choir programme and are encouraged to enter Royal Schools, Trinity College and Unisa
external exams. If SACS does not have a teacher of a particular instrument, we will recommend or
source one.

PERFORMING OPPORTUNITIES AND GENERAL

It is a primary goal that musicians have exceptional performing opportunities at SACS. These include
an annual Concerto Festival where SACS boys are featured as soloists and are accompanied by a full
professional symphony orchestra. Concert opportunities include those at the residence of the British
Consulate, the Cape Town Convention Centre, the Waterfront, the Baxter Theatre, St. George’s
Cathedral, Kirstenbosch and at the Standard Bank National Youth Jazz Festival, in Grahamstown.

Numerous internal SACS concerts, Lunch Hour concerts, Jazz in the Garden, Walter Swanson and
Christopher Brown Concerts give all music students unique performing opportunities.. For the popular
Jazz in the Garden concert in March, all of the SACS bands, the SACS Big Band, the Concert Band,
the Marimba Band and the SACS Jazz Vocal Ensemble perform in a relaxed outdoor concert.

An annual collaborative concert which takes place in the City Hall, with Rustenburg Girls High School
and Rondebosch Boys High School, features a major choral work performed by a massed choir and the
three schools’ orchestras. Many musical streams merge together in a very special evening for all three
schools.

SACS launched a National Music Competition this year and students are able to experience the high
standards of a music competition, where a “recital” programme has to be well-prepared and presented at
the highest level. With prize money of over R21 000, the competition is open to anyone playing any
instruments. The competition is for 11 years to 20 years age-categories with two preliminary rounds and
a final round, for which two finalists are chosen in each category. Four adjudicators select and judge the
finalists. By hosting a national classical music competition, SACS intends to nurture the musical
development of young people and to enhance our commitment to promoting music at SACS. It is our
privilege to introduce this opportunity to young people who have shown commitment to their musical
studies.

Cultural Facilities

• Band Room for rehearsal and recording using latest software, technology and equipment
• Various music rooms for individual lesson
• School Hall for annual productions, including lighting and sound room.

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Sport
SACS sees the merits of playing team sports; hence it is compulsory to take part in a winter and
Summer Sport at School. You are required to select one of the following sports in summer and winter
before being able to select another sport.

Summer

• Athletics
• Basketball
• Cricket
• Mountain Biking (Limited Numbers)
• Rowing
• Swimming
• Tennis
• Waterpolo

Winter

• Cross Country
• Hockey
• Rugby

Once one of the above sports is chosen, if it permits, you may take part in the following:

Sailing, Squash, Golf, Shooting, Surfing, Bodyboarding, Chess

Sports Facilities

• 480m² Gym facility with 8 squat racks, 4 bench press, free weights section, various weights
machines and many pull-up bars,. The mezzanine level has 2 Spinning Bicycles and 3 assault
bike, treadmill and a 45m² wrestling mat.

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 • Main Cricket Oval with both Pavilion and players’ pavilion
• Two other cricket fields, one of which doubles with an Athletics Track. Outside the track is a
long jump pit, two shot put/discus facilities.
• 5 rugby fields with seated pavilion and upstairs VIP seated area and functions room
• An Olympic size heated Waterpolo pool with floodlights
• A 25m Heated Waterpolo and Swimming pool with LED
• An Astroturf Hockey Field
• Two Basketball Courts
• Two Squash Courts
• Five Tennis Courts

Leadership
The School has a Prefect Body which is elected each year comprising of between 12 and 14 Matric
pupils. Each Prefect governs a portfolio whereby he will have five Grade 12 boys on his committee, thus
incorporating more leaders. SACS also has a Representative Council comprising a boys from each
grade.

The Leadership Portfolio is run by 4 teachers and present Leadership Seminars to Grade 8 – 12 pupils
throughout the year.

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