Our history

Epworth is actually two schools: Epworth Preparatory School for Boys and Girls and Epworth High School for Girls.
Set in scenic 15-hectare grounds on the outskirts of Pietermaritzburg, which is known as the Garden City, Epworth has a history dating back to 1898.

Epworth was established by Miss Emily Lowe and Miss Emma Mason to teach 45 Natal settler children. The school was named after a village in Lincolnshire, the birthplace of John and Charles Wesley, two brothers who developed the Methodist ethos during the Industrial Revolution in England. The brothers believed strongly in the need for education (unsurprising as their mother was a teacher).

At the time, only one in 25 children attended school. John believed that education was vital to address social problems such as poverty, crime and alcoholism. He believed that through education, children could become individuals of sound character who would improve the world around them. In 1748, the brothers established their first educational institution, a boarding school for the children of coal miners.

For its first 21 years, Epworth operated as a private venture, before being transferred in 1919 to the Conference of the Wesleyan Methodist Church of South Africa, which appointed a management council. In 1982, the running of the school was taken over by an independent trust, which assumed responsibility for the school’s assets and liabilities.

The original school was housed in various different buildings located in the centre of Pietermaritzburg. Over the years, further properties in Loop, Chapel, Burger and Prince Alfred streets were acquired to accommodate the growing school. In 1936, spurred on by Miss Church’s (the then principal) desire for Epworth to become “one of the foremost schools in the land”, a decision was taken to move the school to a more appropriate setting. Forty acres of land in Scottsville was bought from the Pietermaritzburg City Council and the new school was officially opened in 1941.

In 1959, a beautiful chapel, strategically located at the heart of the campus, was a significant addition to the new school. Smaller building projects followed, culminating in a ten-year development plan for Epworth. Except for the construction of the hall, this plan came to fruition in five years and forms the basis of the school as we know it today.

The foundation stone for a dedicated junior school was laid in 1965, which also saw the school swell to 445 pupils. The school’s 75th anniversary, in 1973, marked the opening of the Haley Hall and a nursery school to house its 50 pre-primary pupils.
1978 was a noteworthy year in Epworth’s history. It marked the admission of the school’s first black pupils and brought to fruition Miss Kachelhoffer’s long-held belief that Epworth’s success would be gained through giving each girl, regardless of colour or creed, a chance. Previous attempts, in the early 70s, to offer education to pupils of all races, was thwarted when schools in the Cape were denied permission to do so. In 1980, despite Government working against integration by cutting subsidies to schools with less than a 90% white population, Epworth boasted the highest number of non-white pupils of all the Natal private schools

Between 1983 and 1991, due to a shrinking economy and declining pupil numbers, Epworth was forced to operate on an extremely tight budget. Pupil numbers dropped to 316 and the High School lost 48 boarders in one year. In 1989, many private schools in the area were experiencing severe financial constraints and were forced to increase fees to meet rising expenditure and to counter dwindling numbers. Despite considerations to amalgamate with another school, Epworth stood resolute and remained independent.
The primary school, meanwhile, was going from strength to strength. Its innovative, child-centred approach was beginning to attract more pupils from the surrounding community. In order to free up much needed space, a new building, specifically designed to accommodate the pre-primary section, was built. Boys, who had been part of Grades one to three since the 1950s, were introduced into the rest of the primary school in 1994.

By the time Epworth celebrated its centenary in 1998, it had turned a major corner in terms of management, finances and pupil numbers. There had been a steady growth in the number of day scholars and a third Grade 8 class was introduced, pushing classroom capacity to its maximum. The school recorded a total of 520 pupils, the largest the school had ever been.

Epworth approached the 21st century – and its second century – with a clear sense of its identity and where it was going. Since then, it has, over the last 17 years, overcome many challenges and has come out on top – today Epworth proudly stands amoungst the top schools in the country. We look forward to the challenges of the future, confident in the strength of our values of Faith, Compassion and Courage which have been so integral to our past success.

View Epworth Museum and Archives

Our campus

Epworth is a lovely place for children to be educated, with wide-open spaces and the fresh-air-feel of the nearby countryside. The school is set in rolling yet secure 15-hectare grounds on the outskirts of Pietermaritzburg, with ample room for spacious classrooms and admin buildings, boarding houses and extensive sports facilities.

As our faith is central to the school’s way of life, it is appropriate that our beautiful 50-year old chapel is located at the heart of the campus. Our learning facilities include a state-of-the-art Performing Arts Centre, home to music, dance and drama, a fully equipped lecture theatre that seats 80 pupils, a team teaching room, computer centre, library, design and technology room, media centre, and art studio. There is Wi-Fi throughout the school and a computer, iPad and projector in every classroom.

Our sports facilities, which are expertly maintained and upgraded, cater for the school’s diverse and extensive sporting programmes. They are able to support every single school sport, with the exception of canoeing, which takes place at Camps Drift, 5km from campus.

These include, inter alia, two multi-purpose centres which accommodate a range of sports; an artificial hockey surface; a squash centre with four glass-backed courts; a ten-lane swimming pool with a diving well; six newly-resurfaced tennis courts, including mini tennis facilities, and cricket, rugby and soccer fields.

TAKE A VIRTUAL TOUR OF THE SCHOOL

TAKE A VIDEO TOUR OF THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE

Our Vision, Mission and Values

Our vision:

To free the potential in individuals to become relevant, resilient and ethical leaders who contribute to our ever-changing world.

Our mission:

Our Methodist ethos, diversity, innovative and relevant education, promote the development of character and enable individuals to realise their full potential in an ever-changing world. These are provided in a nurturing and enriching environment where our values are fostered and honoured.

Our values:

Together…
We keep faith in God, ourselves and others.
We serve all with compassion and respect.
We take the courageous option.
We nurture hope.
Our integrity is above reproach.
Our lifestyle cares for and sustains the social and natural environment.
Our commitment to Epworth is fuelled by fellowship and passion.
We pursue excellence through self-discipline.

Community Engagement

Our Methodist ethos teaches that true spirituality includes serving others in our community, especially those less fortunate than ourselves.

Epworth pupils meet people unlike themselves: those in need, the aged, the orphaned and the neglected, through our social responsibility programmes.

At Epworth, we believe that a lifetime of service begins at school. Even our youngest pupils are involved in social responsibility projects throughout the year.

Epworth supports numerous community projects including: Eden Kids, the Pietermaritzburg SPCA, Nicols Primary School, CHOC, Allison Homes, the Sunflower Fund, CANSA, Lupus Awareness, iThembalomntwana Pre-School and Youth for Christ.

The Epworth bus services

DAILY ROUTES WITHIN PIETERMARITZBURG
(Not available on a Saturday School)

Mornings:

Those pupils requiring this service do not need to book but must be at the point of departure at least 5 minutes before and give their names to the bus driver.

Bus 1

Bus Travels along Chief Albert Luthuli
06:45 Pick up at Shell Garage, Athlone Circle
Pick up in town in Chief Albert Luthuli Road just before Nedbank

Bus 2

06:50 Pick up at Hilton Garage, Quarry Centre. Proceed to school.

Afternoons:

The afternoon buses go to the Shell Garage at Athlone Circle. There are two departure times from school – 15:10 and 16:20.
These outward bound trips are also used by boarders for trips to the local shopping malls or for visits to doctors, etc.
Day scholars who wish to use this service must do their own booking on a daily basis with Mr Singh in the Admin department.

WEEKLY BUS TO AND FROM DURBAN
(This includes Saturday School)

This bus will only be available if there are 3 or more children on the bus. Bookings with Mr Singh by 11:00 on the Thursday preceding the Monday of travel.

Monday:

05:15 Pick up from the Hyper-by-the-Sea; Shell Garage parking
06:00 Pick up at The Hillcrest Private Hospital

Friday:

16:00 Leave from Epworth and drop off at The Hillcrest Private Hospital and Hyper-by-the-Sea; Shell Garage parking

Saturday School:

12:45 Leave from Epworth and drop off at The Hillcrest Private Hospital and Hyper-by-the-Sea; Shell Garage parking

For Further Information Contact:
Mr R Singh
Tel: +27 (0)33 846 2583
Email: rsingh@epworth.co.za

Contact us

Epworth Switchboard: 033 846 2500
Epworth Fax: 086 538 8256

Epworthians: 033 846 2573
Epworth Foundation: 033 846 2587
Epworth Archives: 033 846 2539
Marketing: 033 846 2580/48
Admissions: 033 846 2519
School Shop: 033 846 2536

High School Secretary: 033 846 2552
Prep School Secretary: 033 846 2554
Pre-Primary Secretary: 033 846 2541
Email: marketing@epworth.co.za

Our Trustees and Board of Governors

Trustees

Cathy Smith (Chair)
Ian Ogilvie
Jeremy Smith
Fiona Bell
Kerry Moffett
Dr Rowanne Marie
Thandolwenkosi Mthembu
Collin Moore

Ex-officio

Representative of Natal West District, Methodist Church SA: Bishop Vuyo Dlamini (Bishop of the Natal West Synod)
Lisa Robertson (Board Chairperson)

Honorary Life Trustees

Lance Hackney
Patricia Oehley
Dr Graeme Shuker

In Attendance

Wentzel Lawler (Trust and Board Secretary)

Board of Governors

Elected Governors

Lisa Robertson (Chair)
Jeremy Diedricks (Vice-Chair)
Laureen Confait
Sunusha Moodley
Celita Begbie
David Poole
Cornelia Mcunu
Keletso Totlhanyo
Fumani Mthembi

Delegated Governors

Sharryn Middleton (HS PA Representative)
Bernadette Cameron (PS PA Representative)
Jacqui Terblanche (Epworthian President and Representative to Board)
Cindy Kidger (Epworthian Representative to Board)
Representative of the Synod of the Natal West District of the Methodist Church (to be confirmed)

Ex-Officio

Representative of the Epworth School Trust (alternate)
Emwee Zeelie (Epworth Business Manager)
Tracey Munro (High School Principal)
Reynard White (Prep School Principal)
Rev Luvuyo Sifo (Local Circuit Minister, Methodist Church SA)