South African College High School (SACS)

Description

South African College High School (SACS) is a public high school with boarding facilities in Newlands, Cape Town. It is one of the oldest schools in South Africa. The school teaches Grade 8 to 12 and has 800 students. SACS also has a primary school.

HERITAGE

The school was first formed in 1791 when the Dutch Commissioner-General, Jacob Abraham Uitenhage de Mist requested funding to improve education in the Cape. After the British took over the Cape Colony, the first governor, Lord Charles Henry Somerset PC gave permission to establish the South African College in 1814. In 1874, the South African College was separated into the University of Cape Town and the South African College School. The South African College High School itself was founded in 1829. The school motto is Spectemur Agendo which means “let us be judged by our actions”.

ACADEMICS

SACS offers A-levels in maths, English, biology, and chemistry from Grade 10 to 12. The 2014 Matrics achieved a 100% pass rate.

SPORTS & CULTURE

SACS is best known for rugby, cricket, water polo, and rowing. The most important sports grounds are called Memorial Fields.

• Cross country
• Hockey
• Rugby
• Body boarding
• Golf
• Shooting
• Squash
• Surfing
• Athletics
• Basketball
• Cricket
• Rowing
• Swimming
• Tennis
• Water polo
• Cycling
• Sailing

SCHOOL FACILITIES

• Floodlit AstroTurf
• 4 rugby fields and additional training field
• Heated swimming pool
• Rim flow pool
• Basketball court
• Squash court
• Media centre
• Pavilions
• Tuckshop
• 6 tennis courts
• 2 squash courts
• 2 basketball courts
• Gymnasium
• 2 boarding houses (Rosedale and Michaelis)

SCHOLARSHIPS

SACS is one of 4 schools named by Cecil John Rhodes that has the annual Rhodes Scholarship. It also has the Van Staveren Scholarships

NOTABLE GRADUATES

• Jan Hendrik Hofmeyer
• Peter Kirsten
• Stephen Simpson
• Andrew Beauchamp-Proctor
• Solly Kessler