Parktown Boys' High School

The origins of Parktown Boys’ High School may be traced back to 1920 when the school was established on a site now occupied by the SABC in Auckland Park. In 1923 the present school was founded in Wellington Road, the original building now being a National Monument. Past Parktonians have acquitted themselves as leaders of commerce, renowned academics and international sportsmen.

We believe in commitment to the school’s ethos of excellence and quality, honesty, integrity and gentlemanly conduct, tolerance and empathy, trust and respect, self-discipline, initiative and enterprise, leadership and team spirit, full participation, personal and social achievement, free communication. The motto of Parktown Boys’ High School, “Arise”, inspires the tradition, values and spirit of the learners, parents and staff of the Parktonian family.

Our stated values are applied in a day-to-day school life that strives for mastery of the basic learning tools and resources including: communication in spoken and written language, number skills, mathematical reasoning, entrepreneurial skills and spatial relationships, logical inquiry and their applications, creative, imaginative and intuitive ways of thinking and experiencing, the ability to apply and use knowledge symbols, processes and skills’ perception, expression and appreciation through the arts and crafts, motor and other physical skills, management of bodily and mental health, the articulation of experience and thinking into value and belief systems.Academic Philosophy Education at Parktown draws significantly on proactive discovery-based learning, problem-sharing opportunities and the principle of freedom of expression.

A formalized system of extra tuition allows every learner the opportunity to succeed and excel in any academic area. Available resources inculcate in the learner independent recourse to study materials and reference works. Parktown’s computer centre allows students to practice latest trends in information technology and to access authorized academic training programmes. A qualified Guidance Counsellor deals with the intellectual, physical and emotional changes experienced by young/adolescent learners and offers advice on appropriate subject choices and career opportunities.

Parktown Boys’ High School believes in the commitment to an ethos of excellence and quality, honesty, integrity and gentlemanly conduct, tolerance and empathy, trust and respect, self-discipline, initiative and enterprise, leadership and team spirit, full participation, free communication, personal and social achievement. The motto of Parktown Boys’ High School, “Arise”, inspires the tradition, values and spirit of the learners, parents and staff of the Parktonian family.

Over the past five years, Parktown Boys’ High matric classes achieved a pass rate of 98-100%, with 90%+ learners achieving university entrance passes. During this period, twenty five learners obtained a minimum of 7 distinctions each. Of these top achievers, ten obtained 9 distinctions each and two further achieved ten distinctions. The subject average, across all subjects is 60%+, with our boys also excelling (72% average in 2018) in subjects such as Advanced Programme Mathematics, administered by the IEB. Parktown featured prominently in a Sunday Times Top 100 schools survey in South Africa. The study also identified Parktown as the only boys’ school in Johannesburg to make it into The Top 10 Schools in Gauteng, and the only Johannesburg state school in the top 10 Science schools in South Africa. Apart from regular teaching, Parktown offers a rigorous extra-lesson programme that caters for all subjects and all grades. These classes form the backbone of an education system aimed at excellence. It is our belief that a strong education will make the difference in your ability to choose a career that both interests you and suits your unique character traits.

Sport is undoubtedly the best arena for learners to experience and grow as individuals and to learn to work in teams. These are aspects which will help individuals succeed in day to day life once they leave the secure environment provided by a school. They will learn to be humble in victory and gracious in defeat. They will learn to push themselves in order to realise their potentials, whilst having fun at the same time. Sport at Parktown Boys’ High School will ensure that all learners excel to the best of their individual abilities, whether that be representing an A side or an E side.

Culture, together with sport, comprises all extra-mural activities at Parktown. Our philosophy is one that caters for a holistic development of young people, addressing their academic, physical, emotional and aesthetic needs. In pursuit of our aim to enrich and extend our boys to the highest of levels, cultural activities have expanded to include an amazing eleven activities.