1950 - 1959

Cape Town in the 1950s differed greatly to Cape Town today, as did Herschel. Cape Town - and South Africa - had a very different government and set of laws to those we have today. The systems in place naturally shaped Herschel and, as a result of this, many differences are seen in areas such as Academics, Culture and the school’s Ethos.

The 1950 Herschel Prospectus describes Herschel’s aim to be giving girls liberal education in accordance with the teaching of the English Church. This trains girls to think and work for themselves and to become thoughtful, efficient, “public-spirited” women, much like Herschel’s aim today. Mr Bruce Probyn, the current Headmaster, speaks of Herschel providing an “incomparable learning continuum for girls.” The 1950’s Prospectus also speaks of how particular attention was paid to ensuring clear and correct enunciation and a courteous manner of speaking.

The curriculum compromised of many subjects similar to those offered today, such as English, Mathematics, Physics and History. Some subjects differed entirely however, such as Botany, Zoology, Physiology, Class Singing, Aural Culture, Latin and Swedish Drill (a form of Physical Education similar to Yoga). Subjects such as Elocution (the study of formal speaking in areas such as pronunciation, grammar, style and tone), Ballet, Ballroom Dancing, Conversational French and Horse Riding could be taken at an additional cost. This cost averaged 3 Pounds per term, a large sum of money at the time.

The school year was divided into 4 terms, each roughly nine weeks in length, as it continues to be to this day. Emphasis was placed on girls not being permitted to miss the first or last day of term – another thing that has not changed! The fees were 24 Guineas per term for Day Girls (approximately 26 Pounds today) and 50 Guineas (55 Pounds) per term for Boarders.

The School Council was made up of thirteen members, as well as the Headmistress at the time, Miss HC McLean. The members consisted of the School Chaplain, Reverend Eustace Wade, and His Grace the Archbishop of Cape Town, Esquire H Alers Hankey, Mrs A J Ballantine, Esquire B Baker, Mrs JF Brock, Professor WF Grant, Esquire GD Jooste, Mrs R Lane Forsyth, the Right Reverend Sidney Lavis (Coadjutor Bishop of Cape Town), Esquire FC Robb, Esquire GH Starck. These esteemed individuals were responsible for all major decision making at Herschel during the 1950s. An example of their work is the acquisition of The Hill, the property that would become the Preparatory School. South Africa was known as the Union of South Africa in the 1950s. The National Party came into power in 1948, but South Africa was still under British Influence until she gained her independence in 1961. Herschelians would be seen singing “God Save the Queen” at school events, and one Founder’s Day celebration was postponed due to the death of George V1 in 1952.

The National Party began introducing various Apartheid policies during the 50s and this affected the daily lives of Herschelians. The Population Registration Act of 1950 catogorised South Africans as “White,” “Coloured,” “Asian,” or “Native.” All South Africans and Herschelians alike had to carry ID books specifying their race from the age of sixteen.

The first Group Areas were demarked in 1957, in coordination with the Group Areas Act of 1950. Claremont – and thus Herschel – was deemed a “Whites only” zone. DF Malan said the following as one of the many justifications made for these policies: “Frequently Natives and Coloured people deliberately seat themselves next to white women...simply to show that they stand for absolute equality. ... Respectable European women, who not only have the colour but the odour next to them, have to resort to motor cars, and that has not only imposed a large additional burden on their shoulders but has contributed to the traffic congestion in Cape Town.

Girls attending Herschel were thus greatly influenced by the Apartheid Government, as well as British Royalty due the Britain’s control over South Africa. The main differences between Herschel in the 1950s and Herschel today are as a result of South Africa gaining independence from Britain in 1961, as well as the more recent abolition of Apartheid in 1994. While our history has obviously played a role in shaping Herschel today, it is widely believed that the transitions that South Africa has undergone have further improved life at Herschel, and Herschel is committed to continue this in years to come. 

Miss Hilda Caroline McLean came from St Anne’s Diocesan Collage in Pietermaritzburg, where she was the vice principal. She is Herschel’s longest running head to date, with the record of 13 years.

Mrs. Hilda Caroline McLean

Ms McLean had strong beliefs in strict discipline and the importance of academic work that she instilled at Herschel. Two months after her arrival, she wrote to the council stating how she was impressed by the academic standards of the school, but felt bothered by the fact that the pupils were notified of test dates in advance. She took steps to put this right at once. Each subject was to be tested once in a three-week period without prior warning. She also made Afrikaans a compulsory second language.

Ms McLean was responsible for the second major development at Herschel, the acquisition of “The Hill” in 1954. She launched the extension fund, which was aimed at raising funds in order to purchase “The Hill”. It was also intended that the funds be used for other projects, such as the development of the swimming pool changing rooms in 1950. Ms McLean had a vision to see “The Hill” being a complete separate junior school, not as a boarding house. The council did not have the funds for what Ms McLean sought after. She was very enthusiastic about her vision and spent many of her early years at Herschel getting the parents involved with fund raising activities. Along with getting the parents involved, she urged the council to apply for a loan. After a large amount of determination she raised enough money to purchase The Hill in 1954, together with sufficient ground to extend the sports field.

Ms McLean started the Four Schools fund in 1959. This was a fund to ensure the financial future of the four Anglican Church schools in Cape Town at that time; which include Herschel, Bishops, St Georges and St Cyprians. This fund provided permanent income independent of the school fees. The fund was discontinued due to the schools wanting separate financial backing.

Four Schools Fund

Ms McLean’s thirteen dedicated years at Herschel benefitted not only the schools physical development and with academics, but also with bringing the Herschel community together.

During 1950 – 1959 many new developments were built at Herschel. The most important development built thought out this time period, was of the Preparatory School.

The Hill was a 13-acre property that was owned by Captain Wilks before becoming the new Herschel Girls Preparatory School. Captain Wilks requested the subdivision of the property to the Town Planning Board, who later approved the request. Herschel was offered the property containing 13 acres of land by Captain Wilks, for £70 000. Herschel was not able to afford this amount due to lack of funding, but due to the subdivision of property that had granted a few years previously, Herschel was then offered 4 and a half acres for £28 000. Only a quarter of the sum was available to purchase the property. So in order to raise the money to purchase the land, Mrs. McLean, the headmistress at the time, started various fund raising activities. The funds that were available at the time was a total of £7 500 and it would be imperative to raise £32 000 in order to complete the project and make the necessary alterations. Alterations would cost a total of £12 000.

By February 1955, The Hill had been turned into the new Herschel Girls Preparatory School. Alterations to the building started immediately in April, with the promise of being completed by the third term of the year. Due to delays during the process, alterations were only completed on Friday the 18^th of November 1955.

Herschel Girls' Preparatory School

After moving 140 of the junior pupils to the new Preparatory School, more space was now available in the already existing buildings.This allowed Herschel to now accommodate over 80 new daygirls into the High School. The High School was now also able to provide a new lecture room, projector room and other facilities that the school needed. 

By April 13^th 1957, Herschel had completed building a new Gravel Hockey Pitch, which they had been working towards building for 10 years. Herschel was able to completed The Hockey Pitch with two additional tennis courts, which were put to sufficient use in its first year of existence.

The Junior Boarding House that Herschel had been working towards became a reality by 1958. During the development of the boardinghouse, the weekly boarders were placed in temporary housing, which consisted of two flats across from Herschel. By the end of the development four large dormitories, a common room and more space was avalible to the boarders in their new home.

Since the 1950’s, when the Preparatory School was built, many new developments and extension projects have taken place. Creating a timeless place of learning.

Authored by Carina Pentz, Anna Meyer Danielle Hugo