Heritage@Herschel Girls School

The Herschelian Road to Success

For the past ninety years Herschel Girls’ School has played an important role in shaping the lives of young women who have attended the school. Herschel has equipped its girls with the skills and knowledge that would allow them to develop into successful women.

-1922: Herschel Girls’ School opened to 13 girls.

-1972- 1987: Sue MacGregor became a reporter for BBC and then went on to host ‘Woman’s Hour’.

Sue MacGregor: BBC reporter and host of Woman’s Hour

 -1987: Kim Broadbent emigrated to London and held an exhibition of Indian Silver at the Musee d’Art d’Histoire in Geneva. This exhibition was attended by Princess Anne of England and Prime Minister Ghandi of India.

-1987: Prilla Horn (Barret) became a book illustrator in Cambridge, England.

-1987: Lynne Brailey worked in the Public Relations Department for the magazine ‘Fair   Lady’.

-1988: Alexa Singer became an international model who was fortunate enough to grace the covers of famous fashion magazines, such as ‘Vogue’, numerous times.

Alexa Singer: International model

 -1995: Carolyn Lander was selected for the South African Underwater Hockey Team.

-1997: Corien Pelt starred in ‘Egoli’, a popular South African television drama.

-2003: Nicky Newton-King became the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Johannesburg     Stock Exchange (JSE) and won the Business Woman of the Year Award.

Nicky Newton-King: CEO of the JSE

-2004: Amy Hudson took the stage in Cape Town’s production of the timeless classic ‘Phantom of the Opera’.

-2009: Melissa Greeff, at fifteen, became an International Woman Chess Grandmaster.



Melissa Greef: International Chess Grandmaster at fifteen



 -2010: Dominque Dryding was selected to represent South Africa in life saving.

-2011: Lara Dendy-Young was chosen to represent South Africa in water polo.

-2012: Chloe Bradley has been selected to represent South African in water polo.

Over the years the definition of women’s success has evolved. During Herschel’s formative years, a woman would be regarded as being successful if after school she found herself a comfortable lifestyle as a dedicated wife and loving mother. This is evident in early Herschelian magazines which state the engagements, marriages and births relating to Old Herschelians. During this time apart from being educated, girls were taught to become sophisticated young ladies. Herschel provided the training young girls needed in order to fulfil what used to be a woman’s role in society.

Over the past ninety years a woman’s role in society has changed dramatically. Herschel’s way of educating its girls has changed with these times. The school no longer sees its role as ensuring that its girls marry and start a family. Rather it sees its ultimate goal as providing its students with a holistic education that will prepare the girls for the real world and for an environment in which men and women have equal opportunities. Herschel equips its girls with the knowledge, skills and competencies that they need in order to compete in this type of environment.

Herschel’s strong belief in holistic education is evident in the outstanding achievements of many of its alumni. These achievements range across the board from representing South Africa in underwater hockey and acting in local dramas to hosting international delegates and being the CEO of the JSE. 

Authored by Navjothi Raju and Brittany MacGregor