Theodor Herzl School

In 1962, Theodor Herzl moved to its sprawling current site in Walmer, housing all three schools. It has continued to thrive for more than half a century and is today one of South Africa’s top independent co-educational schools, with a significant academic record. Although its community has become largely multi-cultural, it retains its Jewish heritage and flavour.

Three bodies, one soul... Theodor Herzl Pre-Primary, Primary and High Schools together form one of South Africa's top independent, co-educational institutions. Nestled in the leafy suburb of Walmer, Port Elizabeth, Theodor Herzl has a reputation for doing things differently; for building confidence and excellence. This is the school where everybody knows your name, where individual attention and inspired teaching is the norm, and where each child is motivated.

heodor Herzl Pre-Primary offers a warm, nurturing environment maintained by professional staff who are highly qualified Early Childhood Development (ECD) practitioners. Boys and girls between the ages of 3 and 6+ enjoy happy, constructive days as they develop from grade 000 to grade 0 in preparation for the demands of formal schooling.

We pride ourselves on fostering independence and group interaction while still focusing on the unique and individual needs of our children. Universal beliefs, values and attitudes are the vital life skills that we continue to instil in our children, as they are essential to their future endeavours.

Our programme is designed to identify the individual needs of our pupils to awaken a desire to learn by stimulating curiosity and creativity. We strive to create positive experiences of schooling so that learning becomes a continued joyful experience. Our superbly equipped facilities include resource-rich classrooms, in house Occupational and Speech Therapy (which is scheduled within the school day) and an exceptional playground that includes a sound garden, climbing wall and sensory garden. All of which provide the optimal environment for your children can learn, grow and develop.

This structured routine meets and exceeds the National Curriculum requirements of Literacy, Numeracy and Life Skills. These learning experiences as well as free play are critical in providing opportunities for physical, social, cognitive and creative development, including time management, problem solving and promotion of emotional intelligence.

Regular class excursions to exciting child-friendly facilities like the fire station and touch farm further enrich the children’s experiences every term. A convenient aftercare facility, that is a structured extension of the school programme and coordinated by qualified teachers,is available from 12h00 to 17h00. Optional extra-mural activities are offered on site and these include Monkeynastix, Playball, Creative Dance, Sandula Kids, Soccer, Cricket, Ballet and Experibuddies.

Theodor Herzl Pre-Primary pupils are given the opportunity to be the best that they can be by experiencing the joy of learning in a nurturing environment that celebrates their individuality.

Theodor Herzl Primary School is a happy place for children to be, where they are nurtured, stretched and encouraged to develop with confidence.

Our children develop a strong sense of independence, backed by an experienced, caring staff. Support for the child goes beyond the classroom to include supervised homework and academic assistance.

Pupils are set homework or are expected to prepare for projects and tests every afternoon. But not before they have unleashed their pent-up energy and enjoyed a wide variety of fun-fueled activities. Extra murals range from traditional team and individual sports practice to art club, craft club, Thespa (Theodor Herzl’s performing arts club), chess, the steel band and computer club.Theodor Herzl Primary offers learning support through our in-house remedial specialist at no additional cost.

The school week runs from Monday to Friday, over four terms. The school morning starts at 7h45 for everyone, with a mid-morning and lunchtime break. Classes end at 12h50 for Grade 1, 13h30 for Grade 2, and at 14h10 for Grades 3 to 7. A supervised aftercare facility on the premises is available to Theodor Herzl Primary School children.

Participation in sport is compulsory at Theodor Herzl Primary School, and an active, healthy lifestyle is encouraged. At most times of the day, groups of pupils can be seen (and heard!) playing games in the grounds, either in a scheduled PE lesson, a tightly contested match against a competitor school, or just a random game of cricket that has sprung up on a sunny day.

While Jewish ethos and values form a traditional foundation, our student body reflects South Africa’s colourful nation. Spiritual development is an important element of Theodor Herzl School life for our Jewish pupils, who are taken under the wing of the Rabbi and attend prayers in the school’s own shul. However, all backgrounds, religions, races and interests are equally valued at the Theodor Herzl Schools. Theodor Herzl High pupils are confident; their cultural diversity establishes a platform on which they can just be themselves, and they thrive within an environment that nurtures tolerance and the critical coping skills required in our multi-cultural society.