Treverton Preparatory School and College

Infobox School
name = Treverton Schools


imagesize = 100px
city = Mooi River
province = KwaZulu-Natal
country = South Africa
religion = Christian
denomination = Baptist
type = Boarding and Dayscholar
system = Independant
grades = 000 to 7 in Prep, 8 to Post-Matric in College
language = English
campus size = 270 hectare
motto = Super Astra Spero (Reach Beyond the Stars)
accreditation = Independent Examinations Board
opened = 1964
pupils = 250 in Prep, 350 in College
free_label = Chief Executive
free_text = Noel Coetzee
free_label1 = Prep Headmaster
free_text1 = Les Stanley
free_label2 = College Headmaster
free_text2 = Graham Nolan
free_label3 = Our Mission
free_text3 = To provide a balanced all-round quality education based on a strong Christian foundation
homepage = [http://www.treverton.co.za www.treverton.co.za]

Treverton Preparatory School and College, situated in Mooi River, South Africa, cater for boys and girls of all faiths from Grades 000 to 12 and Post-Matric. A member of the Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa (ISASA), Treverton is an inter-denominational Christian school founded on a Baptist heritage.

History

Peter Binns opened the original Treverton Preparatory School for Boys on the present Prep School site in 1939, serving as Headmaster until his death in 1957. It had been his wish that Treverton continue in perpetuity, but it was “"with great sadness and utmost reluctance"” that his successor, Douglas Pennington, and the administrators decided to close the school and put the property up for sale in 1961. The Rev Sydney Hudson-Reed, then President of the Baptist Union of South Africa, cherished the idea of establishing a school embracing the Baptist ethos. He visited the derelict Treverton in 1963, shared his enthusiasm with friends and encouraged his brother Derek Hudson-Reed, a teacher at St Stithians College, to visit the school site.

The five Founders of the Treverton Trust who re-established the school, were the Rev Dr Syd Hudson-Reed, Prof John Jonsson, Dr Derek Hudson-Reed (RIP 2003), Mr Wilfred Harland (RIP 1998) and the Rev Rae Trew.

The Preparatory School opened in 1964 with 51 pupils under the headmastership of Derek Hudson-Reed, who took the school through to the first Matric class in 1970. Girls were first admitted in 1978 and the Post-Matric course started in 1987.

Academics

Treverton College is a mainstream, independent, co-educational school writing the Independent Examinations Board examinations, and is justifiably proud of the fine academic record that it has held over many years.Since 1995 it has enjoyed a 100% National Senior Certificate (Matric) pass rate, and a current 90% exemption rate among Grade 12 classes. (The national I.E.B average for South African Independent Schools in 2007 was a 78% exemption rate.)In 2007, 50% of the entire Grade 12 year averaged of over 70%.Treverton does not require an entrance examination, but acceptance is dependant on school reports and interviews.

Environmental Education

Over the years Treverton has developed a reputation both nationally and internationally, being a leader in Environmental Education / Education for Sustainable Development at school level.The 270-hectare Treverton estate incorporates a large variety of ecosystems - wetland, grassland, rocky outcrops, springs, spring dams, catchment area and indigenous forest together with exotic forest and plants.In 2000 a game fence was erected and the Treverton Wildlife Area (TWA) was established as the first natural, wildlife and game area in South Africa entirely managed by school pupils and staff under the guidance of experts in the field.

Awards

In 2000 Treverton was runner-up in the Natural Resources Section of the Green Trust Awards and the TWA recognised as a Site of Conservation Significance by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife.In 2001 Treverton was awarded the Green Trusts' Overall Winners prize.In 2002 The Volvo (South Africa) Environmental Awards awarded Treverton second place and in 2003 outstanding acknowledgements.For three consecutive years Treverton has been awarded the Eco-Schools Green Flag (2005, 2006, and 2007).

International Environmental Involvement

In 1982 Treverton hosted the first International Environmental Education Conference in Southern Africa at which the Environmental Education Association of Southern Africa (EEASA) was formed. In 2004 Treverton hosted the EEASA and ENO conferences. ENO-Environment Online is a global virtual school for environmental awareness (http://eno.joensuu.fi).

Recognition of Environmental Efforts

Treverton was the first South African school to introduce school colours and awards for Outdoor Pursuits and other environmental projects undertaken by pupils.

External Links

[http://www.treverton.co.za Official Treverton Schools website]