School Type: Co-Educational

Thomas More College is an independent co-educational Christian day school offering Grades 00-12. The school is set on 42 acres of conservancy, in the leafy suburb of Kloof, KwaZulu-Natal.

Thomas More College can trace its origins to modest beginnings when on 1st February 1962 it opened its doors to only 55 pupils, all boys. Coeducation was not to come for another 14 years. The Founder-Headmaster was Robin Savory, who had long had a dream of starting a Catholic School run by the Catholic laity. In this he had the support of Archbishop Denis Hurley. So, from the start the School had a strong religious element – strengthened in later years with a broader Christian base.

In the early numbers never rose above a maximum of 197 and, in fact, in 1990 the School was facing closure. Fortunately, this was averted and a vigorous campaign was launched, not only to revive it, but to promote its expansion. In 1992 Peter Habberton was appointed as Headmaster and devoted considerable energy to an expansion programme which entailed increasing numbers to the point where fees alone would make it possible to run the School.

A major step in this direction was the establishment of a Primary School, based in the Farmhouse. From 1992 to the present there has never been a halt to the building programme. Classrooms were built, up the hill to Sykes Road, and downslope to the swimming pool and beyond; there were extensions to the Farmhouse; the old ceramic factory (later a classroom block and school hall) became the Dalberg Library; the solitary tennis court disappeared, the land together with the workshop and what had been horse stables being replaced by the imposing Habberton Hall.

In both the College and the Primary School academic standards were raised and close attention was paid to activities such as sport, music, drama and outreach programmes, while the religious base remained of paramount importance. The first Headmaster of the Primary School, Hilton Stander, and his immediate successor, Greg Brooks, certainly played their parts.

In 2002 Shane Cuthbertson followed Peter Habberton as Principal. There was no let-up in expansion! Attention focussed on improving the sporting facilities, notably a new hockey field, an all-purpose field and netball courts. By this time, thanks to the generosity of Peter Savory, the Robin Savory Pavilion had been erected and much more recently the Ken Mackenzie Centre appeared on the other side of the Savory Field. Now, with well over a thousand pupils on the roll, a major initiative has been set in motion – the Build to Last Programme, aimed at improving and providing facilities over a wide range and which will take some years to complete.

At present the school has 1150 pupils, making it the biggest independent school in KwaZulu-Natal.

School Phase:

• Pre-Primary
• Primary
• Secondary

Lowest Grade: Grade 00
Highest Grade: Grade 12
Boarding: No
Number of Pupils: 1153
Founding Year: 1962
Religious Affiliation: Interdenominational
Lowest Tuition Fees Per Annum (2008): R17440
Highest Tuition Fees Per Annum (2008): R42920
Examinations or Curricula:

• General Education and Training (GETC)
• National Senior Certificate (IEB)

Postal Address: PO Box 101, Kloof
Postal Code: 3640
Telephone: 031 764 8640
Fax: 031 764 4964
Website: http://www.thomasmore.co.za
Suburb: Kloof
City/Town: Durban
South African Province: KwaZulu-Natal
Country: South Africa