Interdenominational
Interdenominationalism is an evangelical Protestant movement of cooperation among various Christian denominations.
History
The movement has its origins in the founding of the London Missionary Society, a missionary society, in 1795 by variou ...
, established =
, headmaster = D. van Wyk
, grades_label =
Forms
Form is the shape, visual appearance, or configuration of an object. In a wider sense, the form is the way something happens.
Form also refers to:
*Form (document), a document (printed or electronic) with spaces in which to write or enter data
* ...
, grades = 1—6
, gender =
Co-educational
Mixed-sex education, also known as mixed-gender education, co-education, or coeducation (abbreviated to co-ed or coed), is a system of education where males and females are educated together. Whereas single-sex education was more common up to t ...
US$
The United States dollar (symbol: $; code: USD; also abbreviated US$ or U.S. Dollar, to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies; referred to as the dollar, U.S. dollar, American dollar, or colloquially buck) is the official ...
4000.00
, affiliations =
, alumni = Falcon Old Boys
, website =
, footnotes =
Falcon College (or simply Falcon) is an
independent
Independent or Independents may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups
* Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in the New Hope, Pennsylvania, area of the United States during the early 1930s
* Independ ...
boarding school
A boarding school is a school where pupils live within premises while being given formal instruction. The word "boarding" is used in the sense of "room and board", i.e. lodging and meals. As they have existed for many centuries, and now exten ...
for boys and girls aged 12–18 in the southern
Matabeleland
Matabeleland is a region located in southwestern Zimbabwe that is divided into three provinces: Matabeleland North, Bulawayo, and Matabeleland South. These provinces are in the west and south-west of Zimbabwe, between the Limpopo and Zambezi r ...
region of
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe (), officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country located in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the south-west, Zambia to the north, and Mozam ...
Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland
The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, also known as the Central African Federation or CAF, was a colonial federation that consisted of three southern African territories: the Self-governing colony, self-governing British colony of Southe ...
(now Esigodini, Zimbabwe), 55 km southeast of
Bulawayo
Bulawayo (, ; Ndebele: ''Bulawayo'') is the second largest city in Zimbabwe, and the largest city in the country's Matabeleland region. The city's population is disputed; the 2022 census listed it at 665,940, while the Bulawayo City Council cl ...
on the remains of the Bushtick Mine. The college's graduates include a British member of parliament, surgeons and doctors, leaders of industry and commerce, soldiers and educators.
The college has 40 km² of Matabeleland bush, 10 km² approximately is game fenced and houses Quiet Waters game park. The park contains examples of most of Zimbabwe’s plains game species, including zebra, giraffe, kudu, impala, tsessebe, bushbuck and warthog. The campus is surrounded by an electric fence (a reminder of the bush war of pre-1980). An air strip is nearby.
The school's motto is ''Sic itur ad astra'' and the school badge is a representation of a
Lanner Falcon
The lanner falcon (''Falco biarmicus'') is a medium-sized bird of prey that breeds in Africa, southeast Europe and just into Asia. It prefers open habitat and is mainly resident, but some birds disperse more widely after the breeding season. A l ...
designed by the wife of a former Headmaster.
Falcon College was ranked as one of the Top 10 High Schools in Zimbabwe in 2014.
Falcon College is a member of the
Association of Trust Schools
The Association of Trust Schools (ATS) is an organisation of independent primary and secondary schools in Zimbabwe that was founded in 1962. Each of these schools are run by their own Board of Governors and are not for profit entities. The Heads ...
(ATS) and the Headmaster is a member of the
Conference of Heads of Independent Schools in Zimbabwe
A conference is a meeting of two or more experts to discuss and exchange opinions or new information about a particular topic.
Conferences can be used as a form of group decision-making, although discussion, not always decisions, are the main p ...
(CHISZ).
In December 2015 Falcon became a coeducational school accepting girls in January 2016.
Historical background
Originally Bushtick Mine, and with 36 boys and a handful of staff, the college was founded on Wednesday 3 February 1954. It was opened by the
Governor General
Governor-general (plural ''governors-general''), or governor general (plural ''governors general''), is the title of an office-holder. In the context of governors-general and former British colonies, governors-general are appointed as viceroy t ...
of the
Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland
The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, also known as the Central African Federation or CAF, was a colonial federation that consisted of three southern African territories: the Self-governing colony, self-governing British colony of Southe ...
, Lord Llewellin, on Saturday 10 April 1954. Much has changed since then but the college has some remains of its founding days.
The original motto was ''Arduus ad Solem''. The newer Motto is: Sic Itur Ad Astra
The school motto comes from the words of
Virgil
Publius Vergilius Maro (; traditional dates 15 October 7021 September 19 BC), usually called Virgil or Vergil ( ) in English, was an ancient Roman poet of the Augustan period. He composed three of the most famous poems in Latin literature: t ...
(70-19BC) a classical Roman poet who wrote: “nova virtute, puer; sic itur ad astra” which translates: Look to your new-found courage, young man, for that is the way to the stars.
In the beginning, the boys were divided into three colour groups for sport, Whites, Blues, and Khakis. Later, the houses were named A,B,C, and D, and in April 1956, Sir Robert Clarkson Tredgold, Chairman of the Board of Governors, announced that the houses were to be renamed Hervey, Oates, Tredgold, and Founders. Founders was so named to commemorate the Founders of the School; Tredgold after Sir Robert Clarkson Tredgold, who was also Chief Justice of Southern Rhodesia; Oates after
Frank Oates
Francis (Frank) Oates (1840–1875) was a British naturalist, explorer, and uncle of Antarctic explorer Lawrence Oates. He was one of the first Europeans to see the Victoria Falls.
Early life
The second son of Edward Oates (1792–1865), of Me ...
, explorer and naturalist who travelled extensively in southern central Africa in the 19th century; and Hervey after Hubert Hervey, adventurer, gentleman and soldier, who was killed in the
Second Matabele War
The Second Matabele War, also known as the Matabeleland Rebellion or part of what is now known in Zimbabwe as the First ''Chimurenga'', was fought between 1896 and 1897 in the region later known as Southern Rhodesia, now modern-day Zimbabwe. ...
and buried in the
Matopos
The Matobo National Park forms the core of the Matobo or Matopos Hills, an area of granite kopjes and wooded valleys commencing some south of Bulawayo, southern Zimbabwe. The hills were formed over 2 billion years ago with granite being forced ...
..
Student body
The college admittance is based on strength of prior education and character of the applicant. Although the vast majority of students are Zimbabwean, others attend from neighbouring countries (
Zambia
Zambia (), officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country at the crossroads of Central Africa, Central, Southern Africa, Southern and East Africa, although it is typically referred to as being in Southern Africa at its most cent ...
,
Botswana
Botswana (, ), officially the Republic of Botswana ( tn, Lefatshe la Botswana, label=Setswana, ), is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. Botswana is topographically flat, with approximately 70 percent of its territory being the Kalahar ...
). Some
scholarships
A scholarship is a form of financial aid awarded to students for further education. Generally, scholarships are awarded based on a set of criteria such as academic merit, diversity and inclusion, athletic skill, and financial need.
Scholarshi ...
are available to deserving students whose particular financial circumstances do not allow for the payment of school fees.
The house system
The school is based on a
house system
The house system is a traditional feature of schools in the United Kingdom. The practice has since spread to Commonwealth countries and the United States. The school is divided into subunits called "houses" and each student is allocated to o ...
that is divided into six
Houses
A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air condi ...
; Founders, Hervey, Oates, Tredgold, George Grey and Chubb, each comprising the full range of year groups. Each house has a
housemaster
{{refimprove, date=September 2018
In British education, a housemaster is a schoolmaster in charge of a boarding house, normally at a boarding school and especially at a public school. The housemaster is responsible for the supervision and care o ...
in charge who lives nearby. Each housemaster has a house Tutor and two assistant tutors, as well as other members of staff, who assist in duties.
Boys can either go home, or (with parental permission) to friends or relatives on two Fixture Frees which last from break time on a Friday to dinner time on the following Monday. There is a Mid term
Exeat
The Latin word ''exeat'' ("he/she may leave") is most commonly used to describe a period of absence from a centre of learning.Quiet Waters conserves indigenous fauna and flora, furthers the educational pursuits of the college and serves as a base for conservation education in other schools. It is also used for scientific research and provides recreational facilities for the College community and visitors.
Picnic sites are available for the use of day visitors within the Nature Reserve area, with four chalets which can be rented for overnight stays in the Wilderness area.
Animals which can be seen are
kudu
The kudus are two species of antelope of the genus ''Tragelaphus'':
* Lesser kudu, ''Tragelaphus imberbis'', of eastern Africa
* Greater kudu, ''Tragelaphus strepsiceros'', of eastern and southern Africa
The two species look similar, thou ...
,
zebra
Zebras (, ) (subgenus ''Hippotigris'') are African equines with distinctive black-and-white striped coats. There are three living species: the Grévy's zebra (''Equus grevyi''), plains zebra (''E. quagga''), and the mountain zebra (''E. zeb ...
,
giraffe
The giraffe is a large African hoofed mammal belonging to the genus ''Giraffa''. It is the tallest living terrestrial animal and the largest ruminant on Earth. Traditionally, giraffes were thought to be one species, ''Giraffa camelopardalis ...
,
reedbuck
Reedbuck is a common name for Africa
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it ...
,
bushbuck
The Cape bushbuck (''Tragelaphus sylvaticus'') is a common and a widespread species of antelope in sub-Saharan Africa.Wronski T, Moodley Y. (2009)Bushbuck, harnessed antelope or both? ''Gnusletter'', 28(1):18-19. Bushbuck are found in a wide ra ...
,
steenbok
The steenbok (''Raphicerus campestris'') is a common small antelope of southern and eastern Africa. It is sometimes known as the steinbuck or steinbok.
Description
Steenbok resemble small oribi, standing 45–60 cm (16"–24") at the ...
,
tsessebe
The common tsessebe or sassaby (''Damaliscus lunatus lunatus'') is the southern, nominate subspecies of ''Damaliscus lunatus'', although some authorities have recognised it as an independent species. It is most closely related to the Bangweulu ts ...
,
impala
The impala or rooibok (''Aepyceros melampus'') is a medium-sized antelope found in eastern and southern Africa. The only extant member of the genus '' Aepyceros'' and tribe Aepycerotini, it was first described to European audiences by Germa ...
,
klipspringer
The klipspringer (; ''Oreotragus oreotragus'') is a small antelope found in eastern and southern Africa. The sole member of its genus and subfamily/tribe, the klipspringer was first described by German zoologist Eberhard August Wilhelm von Zim ...
,
bushpig
:''"Bush pig" may also refer to the red river hog.
The bushpig (''Potamochoerus larvatus'') is a member of the pig family that inhabits forests, woodland, riverine vegetation and cultivated areas in East and Southern Africa. Probably introduced ...
and
warthog
''Phacochoerus'' is a genus in the family Suidae, commonly known as warthogs (pronounced ''wart-hog''). They are pigs who live in open and semi-open habitats, even in quite arid regions, in sub-Saharan Africa. The two species were formerly cons ...
and the two species of
jackal
Jackals are medium-sized canids native to Africa and Eurasia. While the word "jackal" has historically been used for many canines of the subtribe canina, in modern use it most commonly refers to three species: the closely related black-backed ...
, while there are many smaller mammals which are not so easily seen, such as four species of
mongoose
A mongoose is a small terrestrial carnivorous mammal belonging to the family Herpestidae. This family is currently split into two subfamilies, the Herpestinae and the Mungotinae. The Herpestinae comprises 23 living species that are native to so ...
.
List of Headmasters at Falcon
* Frank Cary (1954–1955)
* Ashley Gordon Brooker (1955–1959)
* Hugh Cole (1959–1960)
* Dougal Turner (1960–1984)
* Neil Todd (1984–2000)
* Gordon Macdonald (2000–2001)
* Reginald W Querl (2001-2019)
* Dave van Wyk (2020 - to date)
Notable alumni
*
Brendan Ashby
Brendan Ashby (born June 30, 1980) is a Zimbabwean former swimmer, who specialized in backstroke events. Since 2004, Ashby currently holds two Zimbabwean records in the 100 and 200 m backstroke from the World championships and U.S. invitational ...
Debrett's
Debrett's () is a British professional coaching company, publisher and authority on etiquette and behaviour, founded in 1769 with the publication of the first edition of ''The New Peerage''. The company takes its name from its founder, John Deb ...
hotel executive.
*
David Curtis David Curtis may refer to:
*David Curtis (rugby union) (born 1965), Irish rugby union international
* David L. Curtis (born 1947), American politician in the North Carolina Senate
*David Roderick Curtis (1927–2017), Australian scientist
* David Wh ...
Dion Ebrahim
Dion Digby Ebrahim (born 7 August 1980) is a former Zimbabwean cricketer, who played Tests and ODIs. He now lives in New Zealand where he works as a cricket coach.
International career
A graduate of the CFX Academy in Harare, Ebrahim was consid ...
, cricketer.
* Craig Evans, cricketer and rugby player.
*
Gavin Ewing
Gavin Mackie Ewing (born 21 January 1981) is a Zimbabwean cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman and bowls a right-arm offbreak. As a teenager, he spent a short time at Potchefstroom Boys High in South Africa before returning to Zimbabwe to com ...
, cricketer.
*
Neil Ferreira
Neil Robert Ferreira (born 3 June 1979) is a Zimbabwean cricketer.
Having also tried his hand at sports including tennis, squash, and hockey, he made his name as a left-handed opening batsman for the academy and for Manicaland. He is also a wi ...
, cricketer.
* Keith A.A. Fox, Duke of Edinburgh Professor of Cardiology, University of Edinburgh
*
Frederick Goldstein
Frederick Steven Goldstein (14 October 1944 – 3 December 2017) was a cricketer who played first-class cricket in England and South Africa from 1966 to 1977.
Education
After attending Falcon College in Rhodesia, Goldstein was awarded a Rhodes ...
, cricketer,
Rhodes Scholar
The Rhodes Scholarship is an international postgraduate award for students to study at the University of Oxford, in the United Kingdom.
Established in 1902, it is the oldest graduate scholarship in the world. It is considered among the world' ...
CBE
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations,
and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...
FRCS
Fellowship of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons (FRCS) is a professional qualification to practise as a senior surgeon in Ireland or the United Kingdom. It is bestowed on an intercollegiate basis by the four Royal Colleges of Surgeons (the Royal C ...
, cardiothoracic surgeon.
*
Gail Kelly
Gail Kelly (née Currer) (born 25 April 1956) is a South African-born Australian businesswoman. In 2002, she became the first female CEO of a major Australian bank or top 15 company and in 2005 was the highest paid woman in an Australian corpora ...
,. business person and banker (ex Staff).
* Charlie Knaggs,.OBE, Colonel, British Army.
*
Graham Lord
Graham Lord (16 February 1943 – 13 June 2015) was a British biographer and novelist. His biographies include those of Jeffrey Bernard, James Herriot, Dick Francis, Arthur Lowe, David Niven, John Mortimer and Joan Collins. He was the lit ...
,. author, journalist and biographer.
*
Tafadzwa Madondo
Tafadzwa Bernard Madondo (17 February 1981 – 17 November 2008) was a Zimbabwean cricketer. He was a right-handed batsman and right-arm off-break bowler and wicketkeeper who played for Manicaland. Born in Bindura, he was the brother of Test pla ...
TJ Maguranyanga
Thabani Jehiel Tawana Maguranyanga, (born 22 December 2002) commonly known as TJ Maguranyanga is a Zimbabwean professional player for ASM Clermont Auvergne in the French Top 14. He was a member of the Golden Lions Under-18 Craven Week team in ...
, rugby player.
*
Patrick Mavros Patrick may refer to:
*Patrick (given name), list of people and fictional characters with this name
*Patrick (surname), list of people with this name
People
*Saint Patrick (c. 385–c. 461), Christian saint
*Gilla Pátraic (died 1084), Patrick or ...
, artist and founder of PatrickMavros luxury brand.
*
Keegan Meth
Keegan Orry Meth (born 8 February 1988) is a Zimbabwean cricketer. He plays domestically for the Matabeleland Tuskers and has represented Zimbabwe in One Day Internationals (ODIs). An all-rounder, he bowls right-arm medium-fast and generally bats ...
, cricketer
*
Nhlanhlayamangwe Felix Ndiweni
Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Felix Ndiweni (born 1963) is a Ndebele traditional leader from Zimbabwe who is known as one of the few traditional leaders to speak out against the ZANU-PF government. He is a Chief in the Matabeleland region of Zimbabwe. ...
Mluleki Nkala
Mluleki Luke Nkala (born 1 April 1981) is a Zimbabwean international cricketer. He took the wicket of Sachin Tendulkar with his second ball in senior international cricket in 1999. He also took five wickets against England in a test match in Nott ...
Nigel Pegram
Nigel Pegram (born 22 November 1940) is a South African-English actor and voice artist. He is best known for playing Eric in ''Robert's Robots'' (1973–1974), Group-Captain Ruark in ''Get Some In!'' (1977–1978), Sir Reginald in ''All Dogs Go ...
, actor.
*
Greg Rasmussen
Greg Rasmussen (born 30 April 1956) is a 2023 Indianapolis Prize nominee and wildlife conservation biologist who has studied the critically endangered painted dog, previously known as the African wild dog, for over thirty years, one of the longe ...
Paul Strang
Paul Andrew Strang (born 28 July 1970) is a Zimbabwean cricket coach and former international player. A leg-spinning all-rounder, he played in 24 Test matches and 95 One Day Internationals for Zimbabwe between 1994 and 2001. He played Test cri ...
, cricketer.
*
Heath Streak
Heath Hilton Streak (born 16 March 1974) is a former Zimbabwean cricketer and cricket coach who played for and captained the Zimbabwe national cricket team. By his statistical record, he is the best bowler to have played for Zimbabwe. He is the a ...
, cricketer.
*
Andy Waller
Andrew Christopher Waller (born 25 September 1959) is a former Zimbabwean cricket player who played two Test matches and 39 One Day Internationals for the Zimbabwe national cricket team. After retiring from the game he took up the post of coac ...
Andy Whittall
Andrew Richard Whittall (born 19 March 1973) is a former Zimbabwean international cricketer who played in 10 Test matches and 63 One Day Internationals between 1996 and 2000. He made his Test and ODI debuts in September 1996.
Domestic career
...
, cricketer.
*
Guy Whittall
Guy James Whittall (born 5 September 1972) is a former Zimbabwean international cricketer who played 46 Test matches and 147 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and captained Zimbabwe in four ODIs. He played as an all-rounder and was known as an a ...
Craig Wishart
Craig Brian Wishart (born 9 January 1974) is a former Zimbabwean cricketer, who played Tests and ODIs for 10 years. He played domestic cricket for Mashonaland and Midlands as well as the Zimbabwean national team.
Currently he is self-employed in ...
, cricketer.
See also
*
List of boarding schools
This list includes notable boarding schools (where some or all pupils study and live during the school year).
Africa
Cameroon
* Our Lady of Lourdes College, Mankon
*Saker Baptist College, Limbe
Ghana
*Aburi Girls' Senior High School
*Accr ...
*
List of schools in Zimbabwe
This list of schools in the African country of Zimbabwe includes the country's primary and secondary schools. Zimbabwe's tertiary schools are listed on a separate sub-list at List of universities in Zimbabwe.
Schools 'highfied' are listed alp ...
ATS
ATS or Ats may refer to:
Businesses
* ATS Wheels, or ''Auto Technisches Spezialzubehör'', a German wheel manufacturer and sponsor of a Formula One racing team
* ATS Automation Tooling Systems, an Ontario, Canada-based factory automation company
...