Why Future-Fit
“Empowering the future-fit child for a world of opportunities.”
In today’s fast-paced and ever-changing world, is your child in an appropriate, future-fit learning environment?
Does your child have the skillset and grit to thrive as a citizen in the African and Global context?
And, why should you act now to ensure that they are future-proof for this dynamic world of work?
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Why Future-Fit
“Empowering the future-fit child for a world of opportunities.”
In today’s fast-paced and ever-changing world, is your child in an appropriate, future-fit learning environment?
Does your child have the skillset and grit to thrive citizen in the African and Global context?
And, why should you act now to ensure that they are future-proof for this dynamic world of work?
The reality is that we are more interconnected than ever before. As such, our children are required to have universally relevant skillsets – meaning, that they will need to:
- Fully participate in and adapt to an array of environments.
- Be able to not just embrace diversity, but actually thrive on diversity.
- Have razor-sharp communication, problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.
- And, have a whole-hearted approach to building a more equitable and sustainable world.
So, where do you turn to for more than just the conventional education for your child?
You choose a school firmly fixed on the horizon and all the wonders that the future holds.
At Penryn, we have a strong sense of purpose. Our reason for being surpasses the ordinary. We exist to leave a legacy and build a better tomorrow. This is the basis of our Honour Code, which encourages a sense of belonging, community and a genuine drive to make the world a better place for all.
This is the heart of Penryn.
OUR ESSENCE
MISSION
To reach out into our community and achieve educational excellence – guided by ethics and the values of adaptability, inclusivity and globalism – to develop future-fit individuals who display integrity, responsibility and respect for themselves and their community and who are guardians of their environment and heritage.
VISION
The Penryn vision was to build a beacon school, a centre of excellence from which a major education outreach programme would be developed into the surrounding disadvantaged school system. We remain true to this vision today.
MISSION
To reach out into our community and achieve educational excellence – guided by ethics and the values of adaptability, inclusivity and globalism – to develop future-fit individuals who display integrity, responsibility and respect for themselves and their community and who are guardians of their environment and heritage.
VISION
The Penryn vision was to build a beacon school, a centre of excellence from which a major education outreach programme would be developed into the surrounding disadvantaged school system. We remain true to this vision today.
HONOUR CODE
Every Penryn scholar, from preschool to matric, signs and lives by our Honour Code.
Even our alumni still live by it today – it has become part of their DNA and thus part of Penryn’s legacy.
IT READS
Honour Code
Honour God
By taking every opportunity to develop our spiritual life through service and worship.
Honour Others
By discovering with respect, tolerance and humility the thoughts and ideas of others, irrespective of culture, race, creed or gender.
Honour Self
By taking pride in our actions and thoughts and striving at all times to act with honesty and integrity and to improve ourselves through moral courage and self-discipline.
Honour the School
By maintaining at all times, a high level of dignity, sportsmanship and behaviour. Remember the school motto ‘one and all’, that through our individual actions we bring honour and respect to the whole community.
Honour Society and the Environment
By respecting other people’s property and the environment in which they live and by serving the community with humility and compassion.
Our History
The vision for Penryn has always been to be a model of best practice, the beacon school, to raise the bar and to allow for access to quality education for all children. This is how Penreach came to be.
Our staff and scholars are invested in Penreach through volunteer work, fundraising and development workshops. The campus was designed to be an educational institution, Monday through Friday and then a development centre on weekends for Penreach.
Penreach, which is entirely donor funded and has no impact on the fee structure of Penryn, has become one of the largest educational outreach programmes in South Africa.
PENRYN TIMELINE
1980s
April 3, 1980
Bill and Denise Carter began talking about establishing a model school.
1988
April 3, 1988
David Wylde first discussed the concept of Penryn with Peter Anderson
1989
April 3, 1989
Bill Carter first met Minister of Education, Selby Ripinga. 1989 – 1992 Setting up of the Penryn Trust and sub-committee meetings. First meeting of the St Stithians Outreach KaNgwane Project. First Meeting of the Sub-committee of the St Stithians KaNgwane Outreach Project – including, Enos Mabusa. 23 November Eight representatives of St Stithians School visited KaNgwane.
1990
April 3, 1990
Robbie Williams was appointed as the inaugural Chair of Trust. Rob Snaddon was appointed the first Chair of Council. The formal planning of Penryn commenced. 19 October It was decided to name the school Penryn College. December Penryn College, Nelspruit Site Evaluation was produced
1991
April 3, 1991
Peter Beckenstrater became treasurer of Penryn. Susann Oosthuizen became the first teacher at Penryn. March It was agreed to start development of St Christopher’s into a preschool facility. 16 April The Plaston school opened. 19 April The first newsletter came out.11 April 1991: First general meeting at Eco Link.
1992
April 3, 1992
May 17 Penryn Cycle Run was introduced. 31 May The flame and a Bible that were carried from St Stithians College to Penryn, to pass the baton, arrived at Penryn. 19 August Roger Cameron became the first head of Penryn
1993
April 3, 1993
28 February Move to the new school. 1 March First official school day in the new school. 26 June Penryn was officially opened by Enos Mabuza.
1994
April 3, 1994
Penryn and Penreach officially run as two separate organisations
1995
April 3, 1995
Heather ‘Mamkhulu’ Stephens was appointed as the first full-time director of Penreach.
1997
April 3, 1997
John Lees appointed as the first Prep Head
1998
April 3, 1998
Penryn had its first Grade 12 class. The Anglo American and De Beers Media Centre was officially opened.
1999
April 3, 1999
Greg Theron became the second Head of the College. 19 June The Cameron Chapel was officially opened
2000
April 3, 2000
Paul Harris became Chair of Trust.
2001
April 3, 2001
Phutumile Dumisa became the second director of Penreach. 4 August The Enos Mabuza Centre was officially opened
2006
April 3, 2006
Tim De Wet became Chair of Council. 24 June The Paul Harris Community Hall was officially opened.
2012
April 3, 2012
April 19 John Lees Foundation Phase was officially opened. 29 September The Penreach Shalamuka Centre was opened
2013
April 3, 2013
Chris Erasmus became the third Head of the College. James Aling became the Chair of Council.
2014
April 3, 2014
Grant Williams became the third Head of the Prep. Andile Ncontsa became the third CEO of Penreach
2016
April 3, 2016
Penryn’s multipurpose turf was opened.
2017
April 3, 2017
Jacques Celliers, CEO of FNB, becomes Chair of Trust. Grant Williams becomes the inaugural Executive Head of Penryn
2018
April 3, 2018
Albert Pienaar becomes the fourth head of the College. Graham Roberts becomes the fourth head of the Prep. Penryn College officially becomes know as Penryn
2019
April 3, 2019
Susanna Oosthuizen officially appointed COO of Penreach
OUR CAMPUS
- Penryn is distinctly Lowveld – a place of beauty and hope, with magnificent views as far as the eye can see.
- The campus is situated among bushveld trees, inhabited by indigenous birdlife, on Boschrand ridge overlooking Mbombela (Nelspruit) and the Crocodile River Valley in Mpumalanga, South Africa. It is ideally located between Mbombela and White River.
- While scholars meet their academic needs in a tranquil and nurturing environment, the campus itself was built to offer more to the greater community through Penreach, which also utilises the facilities to plough back into education.
- Six boarding facilities
- Scholar dining facilities
- Scholar transport
- Biometrics access and 24-hour security
- Free WiFi across campus
- A heated swimming pool and a learn to swim pool
- A multipurpose sports turf
- Various other sports and cultural facilities, including: rugby, soccer, cricket, tennis, rock climbing, mountain biking falconry, art, music and drama.
Our Community
Penryn’s scholars are part of the Penryn family for life. It does not matter who you are or where you came from, at Penryn we have a sense of belonging that enables our scholars to find themselves.
Our scholars realise the privilege of a private school education and are taught the responsibility to give back and set an example for others. They are able to assimilate with others with ease and thus break through stigmas and prejudice, believing whole heartedly in encouraging inclusivity. This not only brings our scholars together, but our parents and employees too.
We are one team, working together for the greater good of our school, community and our scholars who, from the first day that they arrive at Penryn, are provided with the age-appropriate skillsets and knowledge that they need to thrive and become the game-changers of tomorrow.
OUR TEAM
Meet the men and women who put their hearts and souls into Penryn.
Individually, they are highly trained and compassionate professionals, who are focused on one goal –
to bring out the very best in each and every Penryn scholar.
Penryn Trust

Chair: Jacques Celliers
CEO OF FIRST NATIONAL BANK
Penryn Council

Chair: James Aling
FORMER MD OF HL HALLS & SONS
Executive Leadership Team

Grant Williams
EXECUTIVE HEAD & HEAD OF PREP

Albert Pienaar
HEAD OF COLLEGE
College Deputy Head

Piers Cruickshanks
HEAD OF ACADEMICS
Prep Deputy Heads

Matt Reed
SENIOR PREP

Sally Wakefield
JUNIOR PREP
Head of Sport

Xolani Grootboom
COLLEGE

Shoain Shelton
PREP