Lilyfontein School

Lilyfontein Primary was taken over by the Cape Education Department in 1905, and operated as a Primary Farm School for 96 years. In 2001, the SGB and School Management decided to introduce a High School Curriculum with the introduction of Grade 8 & 9 in the same year.

Middlecourt Farm was purchased within a trust and the High School buildings have been developed on this farm which actually surrounds the Department of Education section of our school. In this time the SGB and parent body have built 12 classes, a large mulit-purpose hall, an Art room, an Adventure Centre, fully equipped Hospitality classroom, boys and girls toilets, built 3 new netball fields, pushed two rugby/cricket fields on our private land. Additional to this on state land, it has built three Foundation Phase classes, revamped the old Principal's house into a fully fledged pre-primary, built two new Grade R clases, revamped the old Hall into 2 Grade 1 classes, resurfaced tennis courts, rewired tennis courts. We have also put in a recycling plant through which all our grey water passes. All of this has been at our SGB expense - not one cent has been given to us by the Department of Education. The Department of Education, however, only pays for 25% of our staff salaries.

Due to demand, the SGB agreed to introduce two classes per grade as from 2008. This began with two Grade R's and two Grade 1's in 2008. In 2009 we introduced two Grade 2 classes this will continue until 2019. This plan will include toilets in each case.

Lilyfontein School is a family community with pride in our school. We delight in excellence and we strive to develop young people who are self-confident, happy and marketable within the changing society that is South Africa. The means to this end will be through sound academic education which is augmented by the peaceful country setting, the emphasis on outdoor adventure leadership, a Christian ethos with religious tolerance, a broad range of cultural and sporting activities, and positive pupil involvement.

We provide an academic programme that is balanced with a strong and competitive sporting programme and enhanced with unique adventure leadership and environmental programmes which are incorporated into our everyday curriculum.

Lilyfontein School is a Public Combined School comprising of a Pre-Primary (G0 - R), a Foundation Phase (G1 - 3), an Intermediate Phase (G4 - 6), a Senior Phase (G7 - 9) and an FET Band (G10 - 12).It is situated in the tomato heartland just 20km from the East London CBD and 10 minutes drive to coastal resorts such as Areena, Yellowsands, Glen Eden, Chintsa and the Inkwenkwezi game reserve.

Lilyfontein has capacity for 568 students in small classes and classrooms are predominantly modern and very comfortable.Ample space and fresh air on our 35-hectare farm are conducive to happy learning.We provide an academic programme that is balanced with a strong and competitive sporting programme.

The school distinguishes itself from other local school through its unique adventure leadership and environmental programmes which are incorporated into our everyday curriculum. These programmes the foundations for the further physical and emotional development of our students.

Being a family community having pride in our school and delighting in excellence, we strive to develop young people who are self-confident, happy and marketable within the changing society that is South Africa.

The means to this end will be through sound academic education which is augmented by the peaceful country setting, the emphasis on outdoor adventure leadership, a Christian ethos with religious tolerance, a broad range of cultural and sporting activities, and positive pupil involvement.The classroom environment will be characterised by quality teachers, small classes,modern technology and the experience of learning in an outdoor environment.

The staff, parents and pupils will maintain the unspoilt natural environment that is the backdrop to the school. This will be achieved by means of environmental education, treasuring local knowledge, preserving and enhancing the indigenous flora and fauna.

The provision of a unique and unconventional learning experience will make Lilyfontein a dynamic, competitive school within the area, thus securing its future and financial security.

To be a school where our natural environment is utilised to provide quality education based on sound Christian principles in order to contribute positively towards a changing society as pupils are prepared for life and leadership.