Key College - The Year in Review
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s a successful year is about to come to a close, it is an opportune time to look back on what we have accomplished so far at Key College, St Francis Bay’s first high school.
The dream of Key College started in early 2022 when my partner and I were considering making the move to St Francis Bay. Once we arrived, and after much consideration, I invited parents from the community to attend a presentation in my home, where I spoke about my bold plans to start a high school. Thank you to those parents who bought into my dream and are still supporting Key College to this day! We now have a multitude of students who have moved from CAPS, IEB and international curriculums onto the Cambridge Lower Secondary curriculum, and we are proud to say that they are thriving! So much so that one of our students was invited to participate in an Academic Achievers Tour to the United Kingdom and Ireland. With fewer subjects to focus on, a small classroom environment and dedicated teachers, our students have soared through a demanding curriculum. Our students have not only flourished in the classroom but also in following their own passions. We have had many students participate and dominate in the waves, in the Ripcurl GromSearch and SA Surf Champs, as well as in the equestrian arena. Our talented horse riders have participated in many shows, including the Eastern Cape Showing Championships. As we step into 2024, we look forward to having two new teachers join our team. Laura Cowling is an English specialist who has spent many years helping homeschoolers through their schooling careers in our beautiful town. Laura has experience teaching the Cambridge curriculum and helping students with their IGCSEs. Alison Stevenson, who has years of experience teaching the sciences in southern Africa and in France, will be joining us to teach biology, science and geography. Alison has her PhD in Zoology and is passionate about sustainability, our natural environment, and education. I truly believe that with this team, our students are going to move from strength to strength
on their education journey. We will be teaching our first Grade 10 pupils next year, who will write their International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) external examinations. Our admissions are still open for Grade 8–10 students who wish to join for 2024. As our late president, Nelson Mandela, said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” We believe that education is about more than just the content of a curriculum or textbook. This is why, in 2024, we are making a conscious effort to enrich our curriculum with subjects that speak to our values of personal and social responsibility, respect and curiosity. We will be introducing a subject called Sustainability (at Foundation 1 and 2 levels), which will teach learners how to respect and protect the natural world around them. Additionally, we will introduce a subject called Social Responsibility that will teach learners about internet safety, respectful relationships, mental well-being, and healthy eating, among other topics. The positive benefits of experience-based education are well recognised, and we therefore also plan to take the students on more excursions next year, where they can experience the majesty of the country we live in. When I look at where we have come from and the journey that we plan ahead, I am filled with awe. We would never have made it this far without a supportive community, fabulous teachers, and committed parents. I thank all who have been involved in making this dream a reality. I would also like to commend our exceptional students on their year so far and wish them the very best of luck with their exam season coming up. I look forward to writing to you again and keeping you updated about the developments and events at Key College. Have a wonderful festive season. Yours Sincerely, Cristan Sardinha
