Willowridge High School is a

public In public relations and communication science, publics are groups of individual people, and the public (a.k.a. the general public) is the totality of such groupings. This is a different concept to the sociological concept of the ''Öffentlichkei ...

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

co-educational high school situated in the suburb of

Die Wilgers Die Wilgers is a residential suburb of the city of Pretoria, South Africa. Located to the east of Lynnwood Ridge in a leafy, established area that is home to some affordable real estate. Education * Hoërskool Die Wilgers, Afrikaans medium high ...

Pretoria Pretoria () is South Africa's administrative capital, serving as the seat of the Executive (government), executive branch of government, and as the host to all foreign embassies to South Africa. Pretoria straddles the Apies River and extends ...

in the

Gauteng Gauteng ( ) is one of the nine provinces of South Africa. The name in Sotho-Tswana languages means 'place of gold'. Situated on the Highveld, Gauteng is the smallest province by land area in South Africa. Although Gauteng accounts for only ...

province of

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

. It is one of the top and academic schools in Pretoria, The high school was established in 1987.

History

As early as the start of 1985, a Vigilance Committee was elected at a meeting of prospective parents. Having been named the watchdogs, they monitored the progress of the new school, while the buildings started taking shape on the site that once had been a farm. The school opened its doors on Wednesday, 7 January 1987 to welcome the first 187 pupils in Forms One and Two. During the first term the name Willowridge High School became official and a badge needed to be designed. The Coat of Arms was approved by the Bureau of Heraldry in 1988 and depicts the name of the school and its inherent philosophy. The shape is that of a spade, symbolising the pioneering spirit with which the school was started. The two willow trees standing on the ridge, nurturing and protecting the Tudor Rose as it blossoms, represent the name of the school. The first headmaster, Eddie Penzhorn, came to Willowridge High from the Glen High School. In 1991, the second headmaster, Jack Birkenbach, was appointed. In 2005, the third headmaster, Andre du Plessis was appointed.

Academics

Academic learning is the first responsibility of the school. Willowridge High School offers various subjects, including English, Afrikaans, Sepedi, Mathematics, Mathematical Literacy, Physical Science, Information Technology, Computer Application Technology (CAT), Economics, Economical Management Sciences, Life Orientation, Business Studies, History, Geography, Tourism, Natural Science, Visual Art (Art), Design, Consumer studies, Life Sciences (Biology), Hospitality Studies (Hotel), Dramatic Arts (Drama), Technology, Sport Science, Accounting, and Design.

Sport

Sport is compulsory for junior students but not seniors. For the grade 8 students of the school it is compulsory to attend most of the

sport Sport pertains to any form of Competition, competitive physical activity or game that aims to use, maintain, or improve physical ability and Skill, skills while providing enjoyment to participants and, in some cases, entertainment to specta ...

meetings as spectator-supporters. Sporting facilities include netball facilities,

rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In its m ...

facilities and

cricket Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field at the centre of which is a pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two bails balanced on three stumps. The batting side scores runs by striki ...

facilities, a 25 metre swimming pool, athletics grounds, gym, several tennis and netball courts, a basketball court (outdoor), a rock-climbing wall and hockey fields. Willowridge High School is part of the Pretoria English Medium High Schools Athletics Association (PEMHSAA). The schools have three meetings a year, including the

Swimming Swimming is the self-propulsion of a person through water, or other liquid, usually for recreation, sport, exercise, or survival. Locomotion is achieved through coordinated movement of the limbs and the body to achieve hydrodynamic thrust that r ...

Gala (held at Hillcrest Swimming Pool), cross country (held at the host school) and an athletics meeting held at Pilditch Stadium.

External links

Willowridge High School official site
{{GPSchools Schools in Gauteng Educational institutions established in 1987 1987 establishments in South Africa