Thomas More College (South Africa)

Infobox School2
name = Thomas More College


motto = Vincit Omnia Veritas
established = 1962
type = Independent
locale = Suburban
grades = 0 - 12
head_name = Principal
head = Shane Cuthbertson
head_name2 = Exam board
head2 = IEB
city = Kloof
state = KwaZulu-Natal
country = South Africa
students = 1150
school_colors =
mascot =
free_label = Fees
free = R 42 920 p.a. for Grade 12
website = [http://www.thomasmore.co.za/ www.thomasmore.co.za]

Thomas More College is an independent, co-educational day school located in Kloof, near Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

History

Thomas More College was founded as Thomas More School in 1962 by Robin Savory as a boys-only school with a Roman Catholic foundation, with the support of Archbishop Denis Hurley. 55 boys were enrolled, mainly boarders. In 1975, girls were enrolled for the first time, and Thomas More became a co-educational school. Thomas More Primary School opened in 1993. Thomas More College is part of the Elite 7 Group of SA schools.

Past Headmasters include Robin Savory (1962-1971), Chris Hurley (1972-1981), Bill Pickering (1982-1991) and Peter Habberton (1992-2001). Shane Cuthbertson is the current Headmaster, as of 2002.

Thomas More Today

Today Thomas More is a co-educational, interdenominational Christian school accepting pupils from the pre-primary level to grade 12. Its boarding establishment closed in 2002.

The school is set on 42 acres and presently has 1150 pupils, making it the largest private school in KwaZulu-Natal.

The Long Walk

The Long Walk is a well known tradition of Thomas More College. In March every year, approximately 1,300 students, parents, past pupils, teachers and visitors set off in the hope of completing the 80km.

The inspiration for this event came from John F. Kennedy in 1962, when he challenged his fellow Americans to walk a 50 mile event annually.

The earliest walks were from Pietermaritzburg to Greytown, away from Kloof. In the early 1960s there were no more than 30 participants on the Long Walk. Later walks still started in Pietermaritzburg, but students would then walk 80km coastwards to their school. It was easier than the walk to Greytown because there were fewer steep hills to walk up!

The modern route starts from the school grounds in Kloof, and winds its way through the suburbs of Kloof, Hillcrest and Botha's Hill, before finishing in Summerveld.

Before 2004, the finish was not at Summerveld, but back to the school. Due to safety concerns, the course now loops around Summerveld several times before finishing at the Polo Pony Club.

Academics

Its leavers write the Independent Examinations Board (IEB) exams.

Thomas More offers a variety of subjects to its students and compulsory subjects include:
*English
*Afrikaans or isiZulu (as a first additional Language)
*Life Orientation
*Mathematics Core or Mathematics Literacy

The students are also required to take at least three other subjects of their choice:
*Accounting
*Additional Mathematics
*Visual/Design Arts
*Business Studies
*Geography
*History
*Information Technology
*Computer Application Technology
*Life Science (Biology)
*Physical Science
*Dramatic Arts
*Engineering, Drawing and Design

External links

* [http://www.thomasmore.co.za/ Thomas More official site]