School Type: Boys

STABLE GROUND, OPEN SKIES

Most vital amongst the gifts which parents have the power to bestow are stability and freedom. The stability of family and societal values and traditions, a sense of place and history, and the gift of freedom, empower children to launch confidently into a challenging future. 

In bestowing these gifts and opening up the limitless opportunities of a new age, a partnership is needed to give dimension to and provide support for this parental endeavour. It is precisely this supportive partnership which Hilton College offers: a commitment far beyond the material pursuit of achievement, and to an holistic learning experience which marks the entry into a lifelong education. Hilton College is a school at the centre of innovation, sure in its foundations, clear in its vision for the future and deservedly proud of the young men whose confidence and bearing accurately reflect the breadth and depth of the Hilton experience. 

Fundamental to the ethos of Hilton College, is its status as an all-boarding school. All Hilton College boys are full, termly boarders, a fact which ensures the stability of a dynamic, integrated community where all operate under the same set of rules. 

If I were asked what I considered to be the ideal Hilton boy, I should say that I would not look primarily for academic excellence or for success on the playing field. I would look for compassion, for humility, for sensitivity, for imagination, for concern for the needs of others and for the ability to communicate with other human beings. Raymond Slater, 9th Headmaster

More importantly, as an all-boarding school, Hilton College sees education as a process which incorporates all aspects of a child’s life. What underlies the belief in this process is a nurturing educational philosophy which considers personal and social growth, the development of character, independence and confidence, and spiritual development, to be as important as the intellectual and physical components which contribute to an excellent education.

More importantly, as an all-boarding school, Hilton College sees education as a process which incorporates all aspects of a child’s life. What underlies the belief in this process is a nurturing educational philosophy which considers personal and social growth, the development of character, independence and confidence, and spiritual development, to be as important as the intellectual and physical components which contribute to an excellent education.

More importantly, as an all-boarding school, Hilton College sees education as a process which incorporates all aspects of a child’s life. What underlies the belief in this process is a nurturing educational philosophy which considers personal and social growth, the development of character, independence and confidence, and spiritual development, to be as important as the intellectual and physical components which contribute to an excellent education.

WHERE A HOUSE IS A HOME

It is a culture of caring that each boy encounters when he enters one of the seven Houses at Hilton: vibrant ‘homes away from home’. In his early years in the House, a boy will enjoy the congenial atmosphere of the dormitory and benefit from supervised study in the prep room. This will be followed by increasing freedom to develop self-reliance and responsibility. Ahead, in recognition of his growing maturity, his own study/bedroom marks his entry into his Matric year.

The Houses are managed by Housemasters, senior staff who live in comfortable homes which adjoin the houses. The Housemasters are carefully selected members of the academic staff and their lightened teaching loads enable them to pay close attention to their charges. They are assisted by Assistant Housemasters, Tutors and House Managers. In order for boys to take full advantage of their time at Hilton, it is essential that they are treated as individuals and provided with adequate support. Each boy has an academic staff member as a tutor, with whom he meets at least once a week, and has access to the School Counsellor, the Chaplain, the School Doctor and the Sanatorium Sisters.

At the centre of the school, appropriately, stands the beautiful stone Chapel, an unequivocal statement of the importance of Hilton College’s Christian foundation, and the value structures that prevail. Here, the resident Chaplain truly embraces the ecumenical approach to the spiritual life of the school.

Hilton College gave me the confidence to hold my head up high, to think laterally and to stand on my my own feet. Rusty Barnes

The non-denominational status of the school is affirmed by the fact that although worship is rooted in the main Protestant traditions, visiting preachers from various churches often taken Sunday services. Provision is also made for the number of Roman Catholic boys, with Mass celebrated on most Sundays. On the understanding that a life based on a personal relationship with God is important to a meaningful existence, boys of any faith are welcomed, respected and provided for.

LEADERSHIP FROM THE INSIDE OUT

With the recent introduction of a carefully considered leadership initiative which involves all senior students, Hilton College has placed itself once again at the forefront of educational innovation.

The leadership system is aligned both with the ethos and style of Hilton College, and further with current trends in the wider society into which our students will move. This new, inclusive leadership model, developed in conjunction with educational consultants and senior boys, enables all boys to develop their leadership potential. This stems from an acute understanding of our responsibility to equip all Hilton students for life in the modern world.

The reality and challenges of the future are unpredictable, but the certainty is that it will continue to be dynamic, that people will need to take control of their own lives, and that success will involve the capacity to think, to be imaginative, to work with others, to act decisively, to be accountable and to accept responsibility, all within a framework of clearly acknowledged principles.

An excellent school is a place where young people learn social skills and debate values and ethics – where teams are built, where our youth come to terms with their interpersonal skills, and where the academic emphasis is on how to get information and how to judge it. MJ Nicholson, 13th Headmaster

We believe effective leadership should be an inside-out process that is founded on effective personal leadership, the capacity to lead our own lives and consistently to make wise choices based on sound values. At Hilton College, we believe leadership should be intimately related to the concept of service. This service is construed in two senses: service to the community and culture which Hilton College represents and values, and service to those who follow our lead.

With this leadership model as an example, the young boy entering Hilton College learns quickly that the development of individual potential is of primary importance to both staff and senior pupils.

There is an understanding at Hilton College that every boy is a complex and variously talented person in his own right. Hilton College is geared to recognise special needs and potential within a framework which creates space for individual development. The pressures of adolescence are recognized and respected in an enlightened and caring environment.

Hilton College is critically aware of its responsibility to pupils and their parents, and has committed itself to a sophisticated support system on which every boy can rely.

CHALLENGING THOUGHTS & TASTES

With the respect for the individual, central to Hilton College’s philosophy, comes the awareness of responsibilities: to others, to school, to family and to the society which one will grow to serve. Hilton boys learn early that they are part of a greater whole, that they live within a multi-cultural society and that they share a common humanity. The emphasis on trust, the nurturing of selfdiscipline and the healthy respect for others within the school render redundant archaic practices such as initiation and fagging.

Closely allied to this is the school’s commitment to transformation. There are compelling reasons for Hilton College to align itself with the broad based societal transformation that is everywhere evident so as to ensure that we produce graduates who are both attuned to and part of South Africa’s rich diversity, and networked with some of the key decision makers they will be required to work with during their careers. Hilton College must be seen as a centre of educational excellence, led by governors, management and staff whose composition and approach is free of racial and gender bias, and which develops young men of all races to go on to serve as confident, competent leaders in all walks of life.

Hilton gave me the self-confidence to take a few of the roads ‘less travelled by’ and it really has made all the difference to me. Coming from a financially middle-class, professional background, I learned at Hilton to be neither intimidated, nor unduly impressed by wealth and power for its own sake. There are more appropriate measures of achievement and worth. Graham Hopkins

Another area in which the school has developed a reputation for excellence, is in the field of academics. Within the community, academic effort and achievement are acknowledged, rewarded and highly prized. We believe that there is no substitute for the acquisition of essential higherorder skills like knowledge application, analysis, synthesis and evaluation. Challenging pupils to think is one of the school’s over-arching aims.

Every attempt is made to balance the requirements of a pupil-centred education with the Aristotelian idea that, "the object of education is to cause us to like what we ought to", the aim of which must be to challenge the tastes of the young. Consequently, the school is meeting the challenges posed by new Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) by providing outstanding facilities.

The main focus of our approach to ICT is, however, not the technology itself, but rather the contribution it can make to the development of cognitive and academic skills. All departments are engaged in finding sources of information and software applications which can improve the way their subjects are learned. This means that the technology is used in context, and as a means to developing other more fundamental skills such as problem solving and information management. With academic excellence as a hallmark of the school, every boy is encouraged to excel in his preferred fields of interest, in preparation for leadership and life.

ROOM FOR LIFE

The beauty of the unspoiled tract of land on which Hilton College stands is a unique and distinguishing feature of the school. These surroundings are integral to the culture of Hilton with the Estate forming the ideal outdoor classroom for the boys. The exciting variety and abundance of bird life, the riches of the fauna and flora, the majesty of the rivers and krantzes and the sheer size of the Estate provide experiences which Hilton boys long cherish and remember.

Hilton College is committed to producing pupils who are aware of the importance of the environment and its conservation. We hope that through their exposure to the outdoors, they will develop a love for the fauna and flora, and a sense of responsibility towards both their physical and social environments. The possibilities offered by this unique resource are limitless. No Hilton boy leaves without being touched to some extent by his experiences on the Estate, and for many these provide the foundations for life-long interests.

Just as the world beckons every Hilton boy to engage and confront its challenges and its bounties, so too does the world of the Hilton Estate and its community represent the opportunity to expand the enquiring young minds of the future. The Estate is the perfect space to realize and reflect, and to forge relationships that will withstand all trials.

You can learn more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. Plato (427-347 BCE)

Sport at Hilton College is one part of the balance that the school strives to achieve in its approach to extra-curricular activities. There is a long and proud tradition of excellence in sport, but importantly we aim to cater for the competence level of each individual boy. Great care is taken to ensure that all boys are provided with appropriate coaching and that matches are arranged for all teams, no matter how junior they may be. Boys are encouraged to be competitive, but values such as teamwork, manners and good sportsmanship are high on the agenda.

We are very aware that sport today may be a career option for some very dedicated and talented boys, and we strive to ensure that these boys are equipped with the necessary physical and mental skills to enable them to cope in the world of professional sport. Hilton Old Boys have enjoyed considerable success at provincial and national levels over recent years.

Hilton College is able to provide boys with wonderful facilities in the most beautiful surroundings. Apart from rugby and cricket fields, and tennis and squash courts, we also have an indoor Sports Centre, the Crews Fitness Centre, a rowing gym, a heated swimming pool as well as the Beckingham artificial Hockey Field and an extensive practice area for golf which includes greens, a bunker and a driving range.

The facilities and the infrastructure are there for the boys to enjoy. We hope that a Hilton boy will leave school with a rich tapestry of memories of happy hours spent on the sports fields, and that in the process, he will have learnt the true meaning of words such as friendship, commitment and enjoyment.

The richness of the Hilton experience is further complemented by a dynamic music department, a very active drama department and a wide variety of other activities. A highly respected Arts Festival, a theatre that hosts independent productions and the presence of numerous clubs and societies are all promising indicators of a highly textured cultural and social life outside of the academic and sporting commitments that the boys share. This vibrant world of varied opportunities and interesting people provides the time and space for a full, holistic experience, and a lifelong network of friends and acquaintances.

School Phase:

• Secondary

Lowest Grade: Grade 8
Highest Grade: Grade 12
Boarding: Yes
Boarding From: Grade 8
Number of Pupils: 552
Founding Year: 1872
Religious Affiliation: Interdenominational
Lowest Tuition Fees Per Annum: R173000
Highest Tuition Fees Per Annum: R173000
Lowest Boarding Fees (inc. Tuition): R173000
Highest Boarding Fees (inc. Tuition): R173000
Examinations or Curricula:

• National Senior Certificate (IEB)

Address: Hilton College Road
Postal Code: 3245
Telephone: 033 383 0100
Fax: 033 383 0080
Website: http://www.hiltoncollege.com
Suburb: Hilton
City/Town: Hilton
South African Province: KwaZulu-Natal
Country: South Africa