St. Mary's Diocesan School for Girls, Pretoria
St. Mary's Diocesan School for Girls is an Anglican private boarding school for girls situated in Hillcrest, Pretoria in the Gauteng province of South Africa, St Mary's DSG was founded in 1879 by the Rt Revd Henry Bousfield, the first Bishop of Pretoria.[1] For 75 years of its existence the school was run by the nuns of the Community of St Mary the Virgin, The brother school is St. Alban's College.
| St. Mary's Diocesan School for Girls | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
| |
186 Duxbury Road, Hillcrest , | |
| Coordinates | 25°45′18″S 28°14′31″E |
| Information | |
| Type | Private & Boarding |
| Motto | Filiae Regis (Daughter of King) |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Diocese of Pretoria |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Patron saint(s) | St Mary |
| Established | 1879 |
| Founder | The Rt Revd Henry Bousfield |
| Sister school | St. Alban's College |
| School district | District 9 |
| School number | 012 366 0500 |
| Headmaster | Mr Paterson |
| Exam board | IEB |
| Staff | 100 full-time |
| Grades | 000–12 |
| Gender | Female |
| Age | 3 to 18 |
| Number of students | 850 girls |
| Language | English |
| Schedule | 07:30 - 14:10 |
| Hours in school day | 6h30 |
| Campus | Urban Campus |
| Campus type | Suburban |
| Colour(s) | Blue Brown |
| Nickname | St Mary's |
| Rival | Pretoria High School for Girls St Mary's School |
| School fees | R252,000 (boarding) R153,000 (tuiton) |
| Alumni | Old Girls |
| Website | www |
The school was established in 1871 by Henry Bousfield known as St Etheldreda's but it became St Mary's DSG later on. It is one of the most prestigious schools in South Africa.
History
St Etheldreda's 1879–1909
The school was known as St Etheldreda by Bishop Henry Bousfield, it became St Mary's DSG later. initially it was situated at No.279 Skinner Street. Before moved to Hillcrest.
The school started to have 20 pupils in 1886 and 75 pupils in 1889, The school costed £1,500 of which only £300 was immediately available. The rest was raised by the Bishop and friends by 1895, 138 pupils and nine academic member of staff.
St Mary's DSG establishment
Henry Bousfield died and seemed all lost, The Headmistress resigned and return to England and 25 pupils remained at St Etheldreda's, The Education Department suggested that the school buildings might be used as a hostel for the newly established girls high school in Arcadia called Pretoria High School for Girls.
When the Bishop William Carter was appointed as second Bishop of Pretoria (1903–1909), he fervently opposed the absorbing of church schools by the government, It was his inspiration that saved our school: he invited the community of St Mary's the Virgin from Wantage in England to take it over and the Community accepted. However, they were not able to send sisters to South Africa until September 1903. So far for nine months, Miss Grenfell kept the school going, Finally the great day came when the tour Sisters arrived at the Pretoria station in September 1903, A new era dawned during which the school developed into an efficient highly regarded and institution under the capable and loving guidance of Sisters. Tribute, however must be paid to those gallant Headmistress who left St Etheldreda's afloat on the storm-tossed seas of national and educational turbulence. The name St Etheldreda's was not heard from the war and by the time of the school became St Mary's Diocesan School for Girls also known as the DSG.
The year 2004 gave the school further opportunity to celebrate: 125 years of the best that a holistic education has to offer.
Sports
Notes and references
- Addison 1979, p. 1.
- Addison, Betty (1979). Daughters of the king: the story of St. Mary's Diocesan school for girls, Pretoria, 1879–1979. Governing Body of St. Mary's Diocesan School for Girls.