Woodridge College and Preparatory School is a private, co-educational school in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.
Woodridge is situated near the small town of Thornhill, Kouga, halfway between Jeffrey's Bay and Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth). The school offers education to both boys and girls and accommodates both boarders and day scholars.
Motto The motto of the school is Fideliter, as can be seen on the school emblem, meaning "Faithfully".
Location It is situated on the edge of the gorge that has been created by Van Stadens River, next to the Van Stadens Bridge.
History The school was started by the Carter family in 1936, all of whose descendants have attended the school. Originally the school was only a preparatory school, and the college was started during the 1960s. On June 10, 2017, Woodridge experienced a fire that engulfed at least half of the campus.
Curriculum The school offers the standard schooling under the guidelines of the Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa, and pupils taking their National Senior Certificate write the IEB examinations. Woodridge is also strongly supporting outdoor education, meaning that the students frequently take outdoor excursions and learn outdoors or about the outdoors.
Sport Woodridge is involved in the sports of rugby, cricket, hockey, star gazing, netball, squash, tennis, bird watching, athletics and water polo.http://www.woodridge.co.za/Content.asp?pageID=302 Surf lifesaving is also offered.
Other sports offered are rock climbing, canoeing, and hiking. Outdoor education is offered, which is similar to Outward Bound, although it got its roots more from the Veld en Vlei society in nearby Sedgefield which many Old Woodridgeans used to attend, which was later bought out by the Outward Bound association. The Outward Bound was modelled on the Scottish school Gordonstoun, as was the rating system.
Inter house competitions are held for all sports offered by the school. The Outdoor Education house trophy is considered the most revered of house trophies.
Notable alumni Colin Ingram - cricketer James Kamte, - golfer Jade de Klerk - cricketer Mark Rushmere - cricketer Riki Wessels - cricketer Edith Molikoe - Hockey
Headmasters The Headmaster of the school is Luke Hartley.
Previous headmasters include: 2024–present: Luke Hartley 2017-2023: Derek Bradley 2014-2017: Simon Crane 2005-2014: Craig Neave 2002-2004: Ken Ball 1997-2001: Guy Norman Pearson 1967-1992: Keith Starck
Religious teachings Woodridge is considered a Christian school, and is a parish of the Anglican church.
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