January 13, 2025
15:30
Posted in General, Senior

Outstanding IEB NSC Matric Results 2024 – Letter from Head of School, Heather Goedeke

Last year, my opening paragraph read: What a way to end an incredible relationship and journey with the
WCED! We are so proud of our pupils’ performance in the 2023 WCED NSC examinations and so
excited for the opportunities that lie ahead.

And here we are – in the ‘ahead’.

I feel immense gratitude and pride in sharing with you the excellent IEB NSC results achieved by the
Class of 2024. Matrics, you have done yourselves, your parents, your teachers and Herschel so proud!
Congratulations!

Springbok coach, Rassie Erasmus said, “hulle weet nie wat ons weet nie” and it has become a South
African ‘code’ of sorts. We knew. We knew what you knew, and you knew that we knew you were
always going to deliver because of the phenomenal work ethic that you have and because of the
dedication of your teachers and support of your families. We are so proud of you all – well done!

Great things never come from comfort zones – Neil Strauss.

To the Matrics of 2024, I am sure that this quote makes sense to you! This has not been the most
comfortable of journeys!

The results reflect a proud tradition of hard work on the part of Herschel pupils and teachers, holistic
and enriching participation in school life, impressive time-management skills, and focused, curious
engagement. Beyond this, the results reflect an ability to adapt, to dig deep and to absorb pressure,
especially in this period of transition from the WCED to the IEB where pupils and staff have grappled
with the changes in assessment and a shift to lateral thinking, critical literacies and problem-solving
through the application and understanding of knowledge and concepts.

Those tough conversations and IEB meetings that we had when the Matrics were in Grades 10 and 11
put pressure on us all to deliver, and the pressure was certainly felt by everyone! But countering the
pressure, I believe, there has been a quiet confidence and consistency having regard to the ability of
the pupils and staff, driven by a desire to continue the proud tradition of academic excellence at
Herschel. Focused consolidation sessions offered on the weekends, plenty of practice papers and
feedback and reflection sessions ensured that the Matrics were well prepared for finals. Notably,
improved performances in almost every subject between preliminaries and the final IEB NSC
examinations bear testimony to the strategies put in place to support success. This, together with a
legacy of teaching at Herschel that has always taken pupils beyond the curriculum.