About
Introduction
Grove is situated in Upper Claremont, The Grove Primary School has a range of about 720 boys and girls, from Grade R to Grade 7. Most pupils come from the surrounding southern suburbs, but a number travel daily from areas further away ..
The school is widely known for its progressive and innovative position in South African education. The staff is highly qualified and experienced, and interacts with different sectors of the South African educational community. Numerous curricular innovations have been piloted at The Grove before being incorporated into the general school curriculum, and the school has contributed regularly towards the new educational establishment through responses to government discussion documents and working on Education Department committees.
Within the school The Grove teachers and parents work closely together to make the most of our community expertise in order to maximise the resources necessary to the provision of quality education. There are numerous committees involved in the day to day running of the school, as well as planning and development. This enables us to maintain an outstanding library and computer network, improve our grounds and buildings, and assist teachers in classwork, administration and sport. All committees work under the elected Board of Governors.
Grade 7 pupils belong to voluntary committees which help to run school affairs relating to the pupil body. The committees are Art, Chess, Computers, Environment , First Aid, Mediators, Hall, Junior Primary, Senior Primary, Library, Music, Technology, Sport and Tuckshop. Representatives from each of these committees serve on a Student Council, which meets with class representatives each term.
There is an extensive sport and extramural programme after school hours run by Grove staff and private teachers. Summer and winter sports teams play in the local schools' leagues. Children whose families cannot care for them in the afternoon can be accommodated in our aftercare facilities. (Application forms are available from the office or see Prospectus - Applications.)
This year we celebrate our 125th Anniversary.Originally founded in 1885, the school also celebrates its links with the past, and in particular with Sir John Herschel, astronomer, mathematician, botanist, chemist, photographer, pioneer, philosopher, musician, educationist and author. He and his family spent four years at the Cape, from 1834 to 1838, surveying the Southern skies to finish the task his father had begun in the Northern hemisphere. His home was Feldhausen Estate, the house situated where the Talmud Torah Cheder now stands. His renowned twenty-foot reflecting telescope stood in the Grove grounds, the pivot marked by the obelisk which is now a national monument. Grove continues to be at the forefront of of South African education and we look forward to many successful years in the future.
In the classroom
The Grove is implementing National Curriculum Statement. The eight learning areas will be taught in all Grades .
Language (incorporating English, Afrikaans - first additional language, Xhosa - second additional with enrichment for first language speakers.)
Mathematics
Social Sciences (incorporating History and Geography)
Technology (incorporating problem solving and numerous practical skills such as those found in woodwork, needlework, handwork, etc.)
Natural Sciences
Arts and Culture (incorporating the visual arts, music, and drama )
Economic and Management Sciences
Life Orientation.
Learners with special needs in education are catered for by a team of teachers who work closely with class teachers in diagnosing special remediation or enrichment needs and providing appropriate tuition in a group withdrawal programme.
The school maintains a class teaching approach from Grades 1-6 except for specialist areas such as music. Class sizes from Grades 1-6 are 25-29 pupils in a class. Grade 7 classes have subject teaching in preparation for high school.
In the last week of every term on "Cake and Candy" day pupils are given an opportunity to practise their entrepreneurial skills. This is organised by different Grades each term and the pupils come to school in "civvies" for the privilege of which they pay R5.00.
Exercise books are supplied by the school. Textbooks are loaned to the pupils. (Parents are required to replace any lost or damaged books.)
Music
Individual or group piano and / or recorder tuition is offered by the Grove Music staff before, during and after school. Fees for these lessons are not included in the general school fee structure.
Private teachers and the staff from Beau Soleil Music School come to The Grove to offer tuition in a variety of instruments.
Please contact Miss Fiveash, Head of the Music Department, for further information.
Houses
Pupils are grouped into 4 houses.
Sparta (green), Troy (blue), Athens (red), and Rome (yellow).
Inter-house activities such as Athletics, a Gala and sports matches are held during the year, and house points are also awarded for good academic achievement, progress and behaviour.
Transport to and from the school
Please help to ensure the safety of all our pupils by obeying these simple rules:
Never stop on a pedestrian crossing, on a red line, across a driveway, or in front of a gate.
Always drive around the school in an anti-clockwise direction. keep the school on your left at all times.
There are "stop and drop" spots in Bishoplea Road at Gate 5 , Feldhausen Road at Gate 3 and Morris Road.
Access Control
In order to ensure the security of all our pupils and staff, school gates are locked out of the main arrival and departure times. Access to the main entrance is controlled and parents have to sign in if entering the school grounds out of the arrival and departure times.
School Times
Grade R (Pre-Primary) Monday - Friday 08h30 to 12h30
Grade 1 and 2 Monday - Thursday 08h15 to 13h00
July to December Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 08h15 - 14h30
Thursday, Friday 08h15 - 13h00
Grade 3 to 7 Monday - Thursday 08h15 to 14h30
Grade 3 to 7 Friday 08h15 to 13h20
If there is any information you need that is not currently on this website, please contact reception on:
Phone : 021 6742077 or e-mail postmaster@grove.wcape.school.za
