History
Herschel was established in February 1922, on land that had been settled since the late
17th century. The property on which it stands belonged to V.A. Schonnberg, who, when
he sold the main estate in 1834 to Sir John Herschel, the astronomer, retained this
portion and named it after his illustrious neighbour.
View image of The Hon, John William Jagger M.P
View image of Herschel School 1922
In July 1921, the estate was bought by The English Church Schools Association, with the aid of a generous loan from John William Jagger, to provide for the needs of the many girls living in the Southern Suburbs who wished to attend a private school. The first Headmistress was Miss Morley Armitage Ralph, and the school opened on Wednesday, 1 February 1922, when the first seven boarders arrived. On the following day, Thursday, the roll call was taken and the first school day began with prayers led by Archbishop Carter. There were twenty-nine girls on the roll and seven staff members. Herschel's first head girl was Enid Harsant.
View image of Miss Morley Armitage Ralph
The formal opening was held two weeks later, on Thursday, 16 February 1922. Dean Rolt conducted a brief service, John Xavier Merriman, the Minister of Education, performed the official opening and Jagger delivered the vote of thanks.
View 1922 School Photo
View General Purpose Room
View The Dining Room
At this time the school comprised only what is now the Administration section, but it grew rapidly - the Mary Jagger Hall (named after John William Jagger's wife) was added in 1926, and in 1930, extensions were made to the Hall - including the famous open sleeping balconies which were popular at the time, though not with the unfortunate girls who endured them until 1971! Sports facilities were also built - the first tennis court was constructed in December 1922, though the school did not have its own swimming pool until 1939.
View Sleeping Balcony
The Depression years were difficult for Herschel and numbers dropped. Miss Ralph resigned in 1933 and was replaced by Miss Harriet Robinson, who imposed higher academic standards and insisted on the building of a new wing to house the kindergarten, in what is now the staffroom. In 1939/40 the Baxter library was added. This is now our lovely chapel. It was Miss Robinson who gave us our motto Ad Dei Gloriam and who designed the new badge with the symbol for Uranus reminding us of the link with the Herschel family.
When Miss Robinson resigned in 1944, Miss Barbara Elcome was appointed, but her reign was short, for she was married in 1947 and left the school. She did, however, secure the addition of the crypt chapel - now the Matric common room. Miss Hilda Caroline McLean was Herschel's longest-serving Head, from 1947 to 1962. During this time, the kindergarten moved up to its own premises at The Hill, and the school's academic standards were given high priority. She left her successor, Mrs Mavis Kittow, a school to be proud of.
View The Hill
When Mrs Kittow left in 1970, Dr Barbara Silberbauer was appointed and presided over the celebrations for the Golden Jubilee in 1972. Her successor, Miss Pamela Geldard (1979 to 1985) felt very strongly that privileged girls should involve themselves in community projects, and established a strong ethos of caring for others.
During Mrs Pamela Duff's Headship (1986 to 1997), the school grew phenomenally. A new theatre was added in 1988, a magnificent Resource Centre and classroom block in 1992 and a Sports Centre in 1994. Many other innovations were introduced to keep Herschel at the forefront of South African education.
View the Theatre Entrance
Inside the Resource Centre
Mrs Diana van Zyl, in her ten years as Headmistress, continued with the building and modernizing process and kept Herschel at the forefront of academic development and success.
The current Head is Bruce Probyn, the first male Head of School, who came to Herschel with a wealth of experience.
View image of The Hon, John William Jagger M.P
View image of Herschel School 1922
In July 1921, the estate was bought by The English Church Schools Association, with the aid of a generous loan from John William Jagger, to provide for the needs of the many girls living in the Southern Suburbs who wished to attend a private school. The first Headmistress was Miss Morley Armitage Ralph, and the school opened on Wednesday, 1 February 1922, when the first seven boarders arrived. On the following day, Thursday, the roll call was taken and the first school day began with prayers led by Archbishop Carter. There were twenty-nine girls on the roll and seven staff members. Herschel's first head girl was Enid Harsant.
View image of Miss Morley Armitage Ralph
The formal opening was held two weeks later, on Thursday, 16 February 1922. Dean Rolt conducted a brief service, John Xavier Merriman, the Minister of Education, performed the official opening and Jagger delivered the vote of thanks.
View 1922 School Photo
View General Purpose Room
View The Dining Room
At this time the school comprised only what is now the Administration section, but it grew rapidly - the Mary Jagger Hall (named after John William Jagger's wife) was added in 1926, and in 1930, extensions were made to the Hall - including the famous open sleeping balconies which were popular at the time, though not with the unfortunate girls who endured them until 1971! Sports facilities were also built - the first tennis court was constructed in December 1922, though the school did not have its own swimming pool until 1939.
View Sleeping Balcony
The Depression years were difficult for Herschel and numbers dropped. Miss Ralph resigned in 1933 and was replaced by Miss Harriet Robinson, who imposed higher academic standards and insisted on the building of a new wing to house the kindergarten, in what is now the staffroom. In 1939/40 the Baxter library was added. This is now our lovely chapel. It was Miss Robinson who gave us our motto Ad Dei Gloriam and who designed the new badge with the symbol for Uranus reminding us of the link with the Herschel family.
When Miss Robinson resigned in 1944, Miss Barbara Elcome was appointed, but her reign was short, for she was married in 1947 and left the school. She did, however, secure the addition of the crypt chapel - now the Matric common room. Miss Hilda Caroline McLean was Herschel's longest-serving Head, from 1947 to 1962. During this time, the kindergarten moved up to its own premises at The Hill, and the school's academic standards were given high priority. She left her successor, Mrs Mavis Kittow, a school to be proud of.
View The Hill
When Mrs Kittow left in 1970, Dr Barbara Silberbauer was appointed and presided over the celebrations for the Golden Jubilee in 1972. Her successor, Miss Pamela Geldard (1979 to 1985) felt very strongly that privileged girls should involve themselves in community projects, and established a strong ethos of caring for others.
During Mrs Pamela Duff's Headship (1986 to 1997), the school grew phenomenally. A new theatre was added in 1988, a magnificent Resource Centre and classroom block in 1992 and a Sports Centre in 1994. Many other innovations were introduced to keep Herschel at the forefront of South African education.
View the Theatre Entrance
Inside the Resource Centre
Mrs Diana van Zyl, in her ten years as Headmistress, continued with the building and modernizing process and kept Herschel at the forefront of academic development and success.
The current Head is Bruce Probyn, the first male Head of School, who came to Herschel with a wealth of experience.