Woodridge College and Preparatory School, located just outside Port Elizabeth/Gqeberha, is known for its experiential learning approach, and an extensive sporting, cultural, and outdoor educational curriculum.

The 365-acre estate, set in the heart of the Eastern Cape countryside, lends itself beautifully to the philosophy of teaching in “classrooms” without walls.

Pupils thrive in this environment, given that the emphasis is not on their last test result, but rather on nurturing children to become good citizens, who are respectful, can think independently and creatively, and make good decisions. As a result, a solid foundation is laid, creating a mindset for lifelong learning.

Moreover, the resources available at Woodridge are extensive, from state-of-the-art facilities to a wide range of extracurricular activities, all designed to enrich the educational experience. Parents can rest assured that their children are receiving a top-tier education, tailored to their specific needs and interests.

More recently, this excellent private school has also joined the Round Square Network, making it the only school in Nelson Mandela Bay to join this international and diverse network of over 230 like-minded institutions around the world.

The Round Square Initiative

Round Square schools share a passion for experiential learning and character education. But what exactly is the Round Square initiative, and how does it benefit the Woodridge pupils?

Kurt Hahn, who inspired the creation of Round Square nearly sixty years ago, became famous because of his saying, “There is more in us than we know. If we could be made to see it, perhaps for the rest of our lives we would be unwilling to settle for less.”

Round Square is based on six pillars, known as the IDEALS: Internationalism, Democracy, Environmentalism, Adventure, Leadership, and Service. These principles guide the educational programs and activities at Woodridge, ensuring that students develop into well-rounded, responsible, and compassionate individuals.

Garron Adlard, who oversees the implementation of Round Square at Woodridge Preparatory School says, “Many of the aspects of Round Square were already part of the Woodridge ethos and by joining the initiative, we found a way to formalise our approach and created a template for the future.  Round Square is now fully embedded in our curriculum, from academics to sports and culture.”

Internationalism

By fostering a global perspective, pupils are encouraged to appreciate and understand different cultures and perspectives. This international outlook goes a long way towards enabling children to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world.

There are several international events that pupils from as young as Grade R participate in during the year.  These include international conferences, online collaboration on topical issues, and show-and-tell with the younger grades with fellow Round Square school pupils in far flung countries.

Democracy and Leadership

Democracy and Leadership are closely intertwined. The school promotes democratic values, teaching pupils the importance of participation, fairness, and justice. They are encouraged to take an active role in their community, developing the skills necessary to become thoughtful and engaged citizens.

One of the key leadership programs that have emerged from Round Square is known as HIS (Heard, Included & Seen). It involves Grade 7 pupils choosing their peers for leadership roles that cover a wide range of responsibilities

Environmentalism

The school had a strong environmental policy in place before joining Round Square.  Much of the electricity at the school is generated by solar panels, while all the grey water is recycled on campus and reused for other purposes.

Storm water is also collected and recycled for other uses. Garron says that the recycling of waste is also high on the agenda.

Woodridge is also a proud member of the WESSA Eco Schools initiative, andrecently received the esteemed Diamond Decade Award in recognition of its ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability. The award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of its Eco-Committees and the entire school community.

Adventure

Woodridge has long been known as a school offering plenty of outdoor adventures. From as young as Grade 1, pupils learn to embrace outdoor activities like camping, fishing, cycling, cooking, and trail running and participate in structured outdoor experiences that gradually intensify as they gain confidence and get older. These experiences serve them well in the College when they embark on a 21-day journey that takes them from the Baviaans to Woodridge on foot, bicycles, and in canoes. Adventure is a key component of the Round Square initiative, and Woodridge offers numerous opportunities for pupils to challenge themselves and step outside their comfort zones. These experiences build resilience, confidence, and a spirit of exploration, amongst other character-building aspects.

Service

Service is at the heart of the Round Square ethos, and Woodridge encourages their pupils to give back to their community. Through service projects and volunteer work, they learn the value of compassion, empathy, and making a positive impact on the world.

Garron says that amongst the projects that Woodridge supports is the Olli (One Land Love It) Foundation, a conservation and education-focused non-profit company based in South Africa with a focus on protecting rhinos.

Twelve Discoveries

Round Square has 12 key Discoveries that are explored during the child’s learning journey. These include inquisitiveness, tenacity, courage, compassion, inventiveness, problem-solving, self-awareness, responsibility, diversity appreciation, sustainability commitment, communication, and teamwork skills.

Woodridge has developed an exceptional Merit System to bring these discoveries to life for their pupils. The process of awarding merits has been automated, which makes it easy for staff to recognise pupils who exemplify these character traits. The system goes as far as sending an email to parents when pupils are awarded a merit, which allows parents, especially those who have children that are boarding at Woodridge, closer to the learning journey.

Hahn believed that given the right opportunities, and encouragement, children can dig a little deeper and achieve more than they might expect from themselves. In other words, when we put our minds to it, we can discover a greater strength of character.

Woodridge College and Preparatory School is committed to providing opportunities and the necessary support to help their pupils to realise their full potential.

For more information, visit their website and Facebook page or call them on College: 041 492 0005, Preparatory: 041 492 0006, Admissions: 041 492 2395. Find them on Google Maps here.