The private school in South Africa named one of the best in the world

Michaelhouse in KwaZulu-Natal has been named as one of the best schools in the world, and, looking forward to its 150th anniversary, the school has big plans to stay relevant in a changing world. 

The school was founded in 1896 by Anglican Priest Canon James Cameron Todd. The priest recognised the need for a high-quality boys’ school in the region. 

Todd’s vision for the school, still quoted by the current leadership, was “to make, not accountants, not clerks, not clergymen, but men; men of understanding, thought and culture.”

Very few schools at the time offered education beyond Standard VII (Grade 9). At its start, the school welcomed only 15 boys in two small houses on Loop Street in Pietermaritzburg.

Over the years, the number of students increased. When the school had 77 students, it relocated to Balgowan in the KwaZulu-Natal midlands in 1901.

These 77 students were Michaelhouse’s first boarders, taking up residence in the buildings which remain standing in the school today. 

At the time, the school did not have electricity or running water, and all the school’s food was grown and produced on-site. 

Since then, almost 9,000 boys have passed through the school in the last 125 years of its operations. The school has built a reputation for excellence.

It now charges R392,000 per year for students and is renowned for its excellent grounds and strong academic performance, appearing on the Spear’s list of the world’s best private schools. 

This ranks schools based on academic performance, cultural and social factors and overall standing. It achieved a 100% pass rate for the 2024 Independent Examinations Board (IEB) exams.

Michelhouse alumnus Craig Featherby, founder and CEO of the Carrick Group of Companies, credits the school with his success. 

“When people ask me if it was worth the investment – boarding school fees, time away from home, the sacrifice it took to be there – my answer is simple. Yes. Every single penny,” he said. 

He said being given the opportunity to attend the school was one of the greatest privileges of his life. 

“Michaelhouse gave me a foundation from which I’ve built everything since, a code to live by, and a community that still stands strong decades later.”

Planning for the next generation

Looking back at the school’s last 130 years of success, the school’s leadership has developed a Generational Plan to keep the school relevant, leading up to its 150th anniversary in 2046. 

Andrew Schaefer, Chairman of the Board of Michaelhouse, said the things the school is now striving for in the years ahead will take time. 

“This includes innovation in education, estate planning, transformation, community outreach, and sustainability.” 

The plan is based on preserving the heritage and tradition of the school, while embracing change and giving boys the tools to succeed in a changing world. 

The school’s foundation of being a termly boarding school for boys, based on Christian values, will continue. 

The Michaelhouse curriculum, however, will be adapted to a modern world. Antony Clark, Rector of Michaelhouse, said that the school will assess the role of AI going forward. 

“Michaelhouse will embed ethical, human-centred innovation into education to ensure that AI supports, not replaces, student effort or teacher expertise.”

The school further plans to increase community and environmental service projects, so that the boys who attend the school will contribute to positive change and raise their social awareness and empathy. 

The school acknowledges that its fees are steep. It is envisaged by the board that by 2046, two-thirds of the boys attending Michaelhouse will require financial aid. The school aims to grow its bursary endowment trust to cater to these students. 

The generational plan also involves making the school’s estate more sustainable, committing to a carbon-negative future and achieving energy, water and internet independence, “not just for ourselves but as a model for others,” the board said. 

Clark added that the rural context of Michaelhouse must be preserved, and so the school plans to retain and acquire further land surrounding the estate. 

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More photos of Michaelhouse

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