Potchefstroom Gimnasium, colloquially known as Potch Gim, is a public Afrikaans medium co-educational high School in Potchefstroom, North West, South Africa.
History The “Voorbereidende Skool” () was founded in 1907 as a Dutch language school by the Theological Centre of the Reformed Church of South Africa.Magazine:Koersjournal title:De Voorbereidende School te Potchefstroom. (Translated: preparatory school), author:Coetsee, J.C The founders committee existed of Kamp, J., Duvenage, A.P.C, Lion Cachet, J., Postma, F. and du Toit, J.D. The school's first hostel was built in 1907, and classes were initially held in the Theological Centre's Library.Book: Fac et Spera 1907–1957, page 22, author:Coetsee, J.J.ABook: Fac et Spera 1907–1957, page 26, author:Coetsee, J.J.A
On 13 November 1914, the school was renamed the Potchefstroom Gimnasium and became a government school the following year.Book: De noodzakelijkheid van een Gereformeerd Gymnasium. (Translated: the necessity of a reformed School), author: Postma, D., page 5Book: Die Voorbereidende Skool te Potchefstroom page 134 (Translated: the preparatory school in Potchefstroom, Coetzee, J.C. In 1916 the school began teaching in Afrikaans.Book: Die oudste Afrikaanse hoërskool in die wêreld page 7(Translated: oldest Afrikaans school in the world), Author:JV Coetzee 1967
In May 1947, the school was relocated to its own building.Newspaper Potchefstroom Gimnasium, published in: “Die Westelike Stem” (Translated the Western voice) page 10- 11
Present The school has two hostels Brandwag for boys and Cachet for girls.
Motto and crest The school's mottos is “Fac et Spera” (), a quotation from the Statenvertaling.Book: "Ons bring hulde: Totius en die Hoërskool Gimnasium"page 6 (Translated: we honour Totius) author: VE d'Assonville, V.E. The motto is “Fac et Spera”, which is Latin for “Work and Hope”. The school's crest consists of an anchor, symbolising hope, and a pick and shovel, symbolising work.Book: "Gimnasium “page 4, author:Henning, P.J.P
Performance In 2017 and 2018, the school had the best academic performance in the North West province.
In 2018, the school was the North West provincial winner for athletics.
International connection Since 2005 the school has a long-term agreement with , an upper secondary school in Växjö, Sweden. Each year, eight students are selected who together with students from the Swedish school form a working group focusing on development work in schools in South Africa's townships. They organize different fundraising projects and help in practical construction and repair of Schools.
Notable former pupils Tjaart Marais (born 1961)- Rugby Fly-half for Western Transvaal and scored 703 Currie Cup points in his career. Henriette Grové (1922–2009)– Writer Greta Jones (1965–1992)- SingerGreta Jones, Retrieved 29 June 2018 Theuns Eloff (born 1955) – Ex- vice Chancellor of the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education and executive director of the FW de Klerk Foundation. Theo Jansen van Rensburg (born 1967)- springbok rugby player (full-back) Jan Brand van Rooyen de Wet (born 1950) –Singer Ockert Potgieter (1965–2021) – South African Missionary in Ukraine. and movie director TB Truter (born 1997) - Chief editor at "Stywe Lyne" a fishing and tackle magazine
Notable former teachers Johannes Christiaan Coetzee – taught at the school from 1917–1920
Headmasters J.A.A. Coetsee (1907–1938) Book:Die Gereformeerde beginsel en die onderwys in die Transvaal (Translated:the reformed principals and education in the province), 1859–1937, author=Coetzee, J.C. W.deK. Kruger (1938–1965) A.J. Combrink (1965–1974) A.B.J. Kruger (1974–1979) L.A. Dreyer (1979–1982) A.N. Grobler (1982–1985) C.A. Janson(1986–1999) J. Breed (2000–2008) R.A. Oosthuizen (2009–2021). F.W. Van der Merwe (2022–2025) M. Van der Merwe (2026-present)https://gimmies.co.za/skoolbestuur/
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