The South African boys high school that is over 200 years old

Muir College, located in Kariega, formerly Uitenhage, lays claim to being the oldest boys’ school in South Africa, celebrating its 203rd birthday this year.

Scottish educationalist James Rose Innes founded the school in 1822 as Uitenhage’s first free government school. He was 22 at the time.

However, it had not yet received the name by which it is known today; instead, it was referred to as the Uitenhage Government School.

The institution, which comprised 60 learners upon its establishment, admitted all children, irrespective of their race, gender, ethnicity, or economic status. It offered instruction in both English and Dutch.

After seven years, the school’s enrolment had increased to 167 learners. However, Innes resigned in 1830 to take up the position of Professor at the South African College in Cape Town.

This was the institution that eventually split into the University of Cape Town (UCT) and South African College School (SACS).

Innes later became the Superintendent General for Education in the Cape after almost a decade in the position.

In 1865, a private, fee-paying school called the Uitenhage Proprietary School was established, which merged with the Government School in 1873.

The institution became known as the Undenominational Public School and eventually moved to new premises on the corner of Cannon Street and Park Avenue in 1875.

According to the school’s website, there was a declining number of girls attending the school during the 1870s due to “private institutions for girls being opened in the town, as well as the establishment of our sister school, Riebeek College for Girls in 1877.”

Because of this, and the threat of closure on account of financial issues, the institution was revived as a ‘First Class Public School for Boys’ in July 1888.

In 1892, its name changed to Muir Academy, named after Dr. (later Sir) Thomas Muir, who was appointed Superintendent-General for Education in the Cape.

Muir is said to have had a significant impact on education in the region, known for emphasising the importance of subjects requiring manual dexterity and the training of teachers.

There was only one teacher training college when he arrived in the Cape, and twelve when he retired 23 years later.

Muir opened a new red-brick school building designed by architect William White-Cooper in 1904, which later became the home of the high school when it split from the junior school in 1962.

About 20 years later, Muir College Boys’ High School moved to a more spacious campus in Vanes Estate, where the primary school later joined it in 1994.

Muir College today

Today, the school badge includes the rampant lion of Scotland, representing the school’s first headmaster, a cross taken from Uitenhage’s coat of arms at the time, a Xhosa warrior, and an ancho, representing the Cape Colony.

Today, the school remains on the same campus in Vanes Estate that it relocated to in 1987 and comprises approximately 730 boys, including the primary school, which begins at grade 4.

It offers a range of sports, including tennis, squash, swimming, cricket, athletics, hockey, and rugby.

There is evidence that rugby was played at the school as early as 1893, with Grey High School recording its first-ever match against Muir Academy in 1894.

However, the school stopped playing the sport for several decades when headmaster John Sutherland decided on football as the winter sport in 1897.

Rugby was only reintroduced as a winter sport in 1923, with the First XV soon getting back up to speed, achieving nine victories out of 14 matches in 1931.

The school has gone on to produce two Springboks: Fred Smollan in 1933 and Garth Wright in 1986.

Muir College has a 26-meter swimming pool, four tennis courts, a squash court, five cricket fields, four rugby fields, one hockey field, six cricket nets, and one cement cricket pitch.

There is also a boarding facility that houses roughly 100 boys.

In terms of academics, the school achieved a 95.4% pass rate in 2024, with 67.82% of learners qualifying for a Bachelor’s pass.

The learners performed best in English Home Language, Geography, and Accounting.

Muir College also offers a range of cultural activities, including a debating society, a marimba band, a choir, a school newspaper, a dance committee, and a media society.

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Muir College photos

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