We are thrilled that you are interested in St John’s D.S.G. Senior School. Choosing the right school for your daughter as she embarks on the next exciting step in her educational journey is such an important decision – and may be a challenging one too!
To ensure that the admission process is as simple and convenient as possible, we have developed a step-by-step guide to assist you in your first step to become part of the St John’s D.S.G. family.
STEP 1: CONTACT US AND SAY HI!
If you are considering St John’s D.S.G. as your school of choice, we would love to hear from you! Please contact our lovely Admissions Secretary, Mrs Jenny Westwood on 033 386 8304 or email admissions@stjohnsdsg.com and we can answer any questions you have.
STEP 2: BOOK A TOUR OF THE SCHOOL
We have no doubt that you will want to see our “small school with big heart” in action, to get a real sense of what makes St John’s D.S.G. so special. You are welcome to book a school tour with our Head of Marketing, Mrs Sarah Cole-Edwardes (at a time convenient for you) by clicking on the link below. Alternatively, you can register your interest for our annual Senior School Open Day, which takes place in March. You also have the option of attending one of our Information Evenings held in KZN.
STEP 3: COMPLETE AN APPLICATION FORM
Please click on the tab below to complete the online application form. The application closing date for Grade 8, 2022 is 13h00 on 23 April 2021. Please note that all applications received after this time will be placed on our waiting list.
STEP 4: INTERVIEW AND ASSESSMENT
Once your application form has been received, Mrs Jenny Westwood will email you to confirm receipt. You will be invited to attend an interview with our Principal, Mr Moore, and all applicants will sit an entrance test in the first week of May (the year before entry). Please note: the admission process will only take place between February – April of your daughter’s Grade 7 year.
STEP 5: PLACEMENTS
All applicants will be informed via email in May the year before entry if they have been successful in securing a place at the school. The place will only be secured once the Agreement of Enrolment has been completed and returned, together with the non-refundable acceptance fee.
PLEASE NOTE: WE ARE CURRENTLY RE-STRUCTURING THE AWARDING OF SCHOLARSHIPS AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND WILL UPDATE THE WEBSITE SHORTLY.
2021 DAY SCHOLAR FEES PER PUPIL
| Grade | Fee | Sundry Levy* | Development Levy | Total Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 – 12 | R111 855 | R8 255 | R4 160 | R124 270 |
2021 BOARDER FEES PER PUPIL
| Grade | Tuition Fee | Boarding Fee | Sundry Levy* | Development Levy | Total Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 – 12 | R111 855 | R101 353 | R8 255 | R4 160 | R225 623 |
*Sundry Levy includes the use of textbooks, photocopied notes given by teachers, a R600 printing levy, compulsory school and sport transport, laboratory costs, library usage, awards, compulsory scholar accident insurance, the school magazine and 50% of academic tour costs.
Click here for more information on School Fees.
As St John’s D.S.G. is a through school, we usually have 23 – 25 day scholars coming up from the Junior School. This will leave around 15 – 18 places to offer for day scholars applying from other Junior Schools and 30 – 32 places for boarders.
St John’s D.S.G. does not work on a first-come-first-served basis. We accept applications throughout the year and prospective families are welcome to apply several years in advance for Grade 8 – however, please note that this will not guarantee a space at the school.
The deadline for applications for Grade 8 is always in April the year before entry. The deadline for Grade 8, 2022 is 13h00 on 23 April 2021. All application forms received after this time will be placed on our waiting list.
For Grade 8 entry: the application process will only commence in January/February in the applicant’s Grade 7 year. All applicants and their parents are asked to complete a questionnaire and are invited to attend an interview with our Principal, which could be anytime between February and May. Applicants will also sit an entrance test in May (together with all other applicants) the year before entry.
For all Grade 8 applications, a date in May (the year before entry) will be communicated with applicants during the application process.
We are currently re-structuring the awarding of Scholarships and Financial Assistance and will update this section of the website shortly. Please note that as we are an Independent school, with no government funding, we are limited in the assistance that we are able to provide.
No, the school does not offer 100% Financial Assistance. As we are an Independent school, with no government funding, we are limited in the assistance that we are able to provide. Please note: Financial Assistance will never cover more than 40% – 60% of the total tuition or boarding fees.
Once we have re-structured the awarding of Scholarships and Financial Assistance for Grade 8, 2022 we will upload more information on this section.
Once we have re-structured the awarding of Scholarships and Financial Assistance for Grade 8, 2022 we will upload more information on this section.
All prospective applicants will write an hour long English and Mathematics test.
By attending an Open Day, you will have the benefit of experiencing the whole school in action. You will be able to look in on lessons, meet pupils and staff and watch various events going on during the day. If you are not able to attend an Open Day, the Marketing Department can arrange an individual visit that will suit your requirements.
Currently St John’s D.S.G. has approximately 550 girls from Grade RR – Matric. In the Senior School there are currently 339 girls from Grade 8 – Grade 12.
St John’s D.S.G.’s boarder to day scholar ratio is currently 45% to 55%.
Grade sizes at St John’s D.S.G. are usually between 60 – 75 girls per grade. The Senior School offers 3 classes per grade, so class sizes can be anywhere between 20 – 25. For Grades 10 – 12: these numbers will vary as it depends largely on the numbers of girls taking specific subjects on specific subject lines.
Yes, St John’s D.S.G. offers transport for day scholars. We have a daily bus service to and from the Athlone Circle, Hilton and Howick and is charged to parents’ school account. For more information on routes and costs please click here.
Yes, girls are allowed cellphones at school however, they need to sign a cell phone policy and agree to abide by the school’s cell phone/network rules.
Girls are able to bring their own devices to school, however it is not mandatory that they do, as there are many computers around the school for them to use.
Yes, day scholars may eat the school lunch. Lunch can be ordered on a termly basis through the school app and is charged to parents’ school account.
The kitchen does accommodate special diets within reason. We require a doctor’s letter for a change of diet which includes gluten free, dairy free, lactose intolerant, vegetarian, vegan, various allergies, wheat free. Our kitchen is not Halaal.
English, Afrikaans, isiZulu, French, German, History, Geography, Visual Arts, Dramatic Arts, Consumer Studies, Accounting, Business Studies, Mathematics, Maths Literacy, Life Orientation, Music, Physical Sciences, Life Sciences. Advanced Programmes are also offered in English and Mathematics. Grade 8 – 9 will also do Computers, Technology and EMS (Economic Management Sciences).
For all non-South African citizens, Afrikaans or isiZulu does not need to be taken to Matric if your daughter arrived in South Africa in Grade 7 or a higher grade. The school offers French or German which could be taken as a first additional language.
Music in the Senior School is an “elective” subject, which girls can choose from Grade 8. Girls attend Subject Music lessons as part of the academic day and are also required to learn an instrument. Girls can also sign up to take individual lessons in a variety of instruments if they do not wish to take Music as a subject.
There are many extra-mural musical activities offered at St John’s D.S.G., some of which require no previous musical experience! There is a Senior School choir and a Gospel choir; a variety of marimba bands and an orchestra (although you need to be proficient in an instrument to join this one!)
There is so much for the girls to get involved in including Debating, Interact, Drama, SCA, Lectern Club, Chess, Curious Conversations, Quills Writing Club and The President’s Award.
Swimming, Netball, Hockey, Tennis, Indoor Hockey, Action Netball, Canoeing, Canoe Polo, Waterpolo, Basketball, Cross-Country, Squash, Soccer and St John’s D.S.G. also has an Equestrian Team.
Yes, the school does offer a discount for siblings. Where two or more sisters attend the school at the same time, there is a rebate of 10% of the tuition fee for the second and any subsequent sister, provided that the family do not receive any other form of fee discount or financial assistance.
Yes, there is an early settlement discount on tuition fees, boarding fees and the sundry levy. This is set each year and will be published in the annual fees letter.
All fees (with the exception of Matric pupils) are payable by debit order monthly in arrears over 10 months from January to October.
Yes, failure to do so will mean that your application will not be processed or considered.
No, the acceptance fee is not deducted off school fees.
St John’s D.S.G. welcomes girls from other faiths, however all girls are expected to attend Chapel and Divinity classes, although they are not forced to participate.
uHambo is an epic three-week excursion to the Drakensberg covering a distance of roughly 200km. The school covers a portion of the costs, however parents are responsible for part payment. For more information on uHambo please click here.
St John’s D.S.G currently has around 154 boarders and 185 day scholars in the Senior School.
The large majority of our boarders are from KZN. Areas include, Winterton, Ixopo, Nottingham Road, Howick, Eston, Richmond, Underberg, Hillcrest, Kloof, Durban, Umhlali, Ballito, Mtunzini, Greytown, New Hanover, Newcastle, Kokstad, Ladysmith, Izotsha.
The school offers both weekly and termly boarding (at the same cost), however the large majority of our girls board on a weekly basis and go home over weekends.
In Grade 8 the boarders sleep in a dormitory style environment with no more than 10 girls per room. From Grade 9 – 11 the boarders sleep 2 per room and in Grade 12 girls get their own room.
At St John’s D.S.G. the boarder and day scholar interaction is healthy as we don’t segregate the two groups. All girls have access to their Grade Common Rooms and the B.E. Dining Room (if day scholars eats the school lunch) during the school day.
The boarding facilities at St John’s D.S.G. are described by all that enter as homely, warm and inviting. At St John’s D.S.G. we try our best to create a home away from home for our girls.
Grade 8 – 10 boarders do their prep in the evenings under supervision in the classrooms. Grade 11 – 12 boarders have the privilege of doing prep in their own rooms. Boarders may also book computer prep on the computers upstairs in the B.E. to do research in evening prep times.
Boarders are allowed cell phones, devices etc. at their own risk, however all devices (laptops and tablets included) are handed to the grade prefects before bedtime and locked away in the tech room at night. This doesn’t include the Grade 12s.
All boarders (except Grade 12s) have a mandatory 15-minute quiet time before “lights-out” where they are encouraged to read or just take reflection of the day. The Grade 8 “lights-out” is 20h45, Grade 9 is 21h00, Grade 10 is 21h15 and Grade 11 is 21h45. Weekends: Friday: Grades 8-9: 21h00; Grades 10-12: 22h00, Saturday: Grades 8-9: 22h00; Grades 10-12 23h00, Sunday: reverts back to week times.
The kitchen does accommodate special diets within reason. We require a doctor’s letter for a change of diet which includes gluten free, dairy free, lactose intolerant, vegan, vegetarian, various allergies, wheat free. Our kitchen is not Halaal.
Yes, St John’s D.S.G. offers transport to boarders. Unlike other independent schools around us (where all private afternoon transport is charged to the parents), we provide for two free trips, per boarder, per week to private appointments within Pietermaritzburg (depending on availability of vehicles). The third, and each successive trip per boarder, per week, will be charged to parent accounts at R50 per trip within Pietermaritzburg (up to 10km from the School).
All private trips to Hilton or to areas outside of Pietermaritzburg, and within 30km of the School will be charged to the parents’ account at R60 per trip. If school transport is not available, the Transport Department can liaise with the parent regarding the hire of a taxi (Metro Taxis), the charge for which will be added to your account.
Private transport at additional charge will not be offered to those who school fee or shop accounts are in arrears.
School sport, academic support activities and emergency medical appointments will be given priority when allocating transport to pupils.
All requests for transport must be submitted to the Transport Department at least 24 hours before the transport is required.
We also have a weekly bus service to and from Nottingham Road, Winston Park, Kloof and Mount Edgecombe – which is offered at extra cost. Click here for more information.