Phone
+27 33 386 8304Address
77 New England Road,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.
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.
We have no doubt that you will want to see our school with “BIG heart” in action, to get a real sense of what makes St John’s D.S.G. so special. If you would like to arrange a tour, please email marketing@stjohnsdsg.com.
Applications for Grade 8, 2025 are closed and the grade is full. Please contact Mrs Jenny Westwood on admissions@stjohnsdsg.com if you wish for your daughter’s name to be placed on the waiting list. Applications for Grade 8, 2026 and beyond are OPEN. Please read below for more information on application deadlines.*
Once your application form has been received, Mrs Jenny Westwood will make contact via email to confirm receipt. You may be invited to attend an interview with our Principal, Mr Moore. These interviews will be during February – May (in your daughter’s Grade 7 year).
All Grade 8 applicants will be informed via email in mid-May (in their Grade 7 year) 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 before the advertised deadline.
*St John’s D.S.G. receives more applications, particularly for boarding positions, than we are able to accommodate. We therefore encourage parents applying for Grade 8, 2026 to submit their applications before 10h00 on 26 March, 2025. These applications will be classed as “Batch A”. Once cleared in terms of credit and other checks, these families will be invited to set up an interview with the Principal and will be considered for places in Grade 8, 2026.
*Applications received after 10h00 on 26 March until 10h00 on 23 April, 2025, will be considered “Batch B”. Depending on the number of applications we have received in Batch A, not all Batch B applicants will be invited for an interview or considered for a place. Batch B applicants may be placed directly on the waiting list. Please note that if you are in Batch B, your application fee remains non-refundable, even if your daughter’s name is placed directly on the waiting list.
Senior School FAQs – Grade 8
As St John’s D.S.G. is a through school, we usually have around 24 girls coming up from the Junior School. This will leave around 25 places to offer for day scholars applying from other Junior Schools and 36 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.
Please carefully check the deadlines advertised. 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 February in the applicant’s Grade 7 year. Applicants and their parents may be invited to attend an interview with our Principal, Mr Moore and will need to complete a set of interview questions before the interview takes place. These interviews can take place anywhere between Feb and April.
All applicants will be informed via email in mid-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.
St John's D.S.G. does not offer scholarships. There is, however, limited financial assistance for those who wish to apply for consideration. Decisions regarding financial assistance are made by our Finance Committee, who meet to discuss all applications before deciding on who will receive assistance. On average, the amount of assistance granted is usually not more than 40% of tuition or boarding fees. Preference of places will be given to full fee-paying pupils.
If you have indicated on your application form that you require financial assistance, please email admissions@stjohnsdsg.com to request the Financial Assistance Application Forms in Term 1 of your daughter’s Grade 7 year.
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. On average, the amount of assistance granted is usually not more than 40% of tuition or boarding fees.
If you have indicated on your application form that you require financial assistance, you will need to email admissions@stjohnsdsg.com to request the Financial Assistance Application Form in Term 1 of your daughter’s Grade 7 year.
Financial Assistance can be applied for during the interview process in your daughter's Grade 7 year. The deadline for Financial Assistance Applications Forms to be returned to the school is mid-April of your daughter's Grade 7 year.
No. We have replaced entrance tests with the Grade 6 (end of year) and Grade 7 (Term 1) reports.
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 600 girls from Grade RR – Matric. In the Senior School there are currently 402 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 between 80 - 85 girls per grade. The Senior School offers four classes per grade, so class sizes can be anywhere between 20 – 23. 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.
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.
Yes. All girls from Grade 9 at St John’s D.S.G. will be required to purchase a device to use within the classroom as we have adapted our teaching styles and learning capabilities. There are a number of reasons we have opted for this, namely;
Each girl will be required to purchase a touchscreen device and stylus. The cost of the device is approximately R13 000, (payable over and above school fees) which includes a 5 year on-site warranty and accidental cover.
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 and EGD (Engineering Graphic Design). Advanced Programmes are also offered in English and Mathematics. Grade 8 – 9 will also do Computers, Technology and EMS (Economic Management Sciences).
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, provided that the family do not receive any other form of fee discount or financial assistance.
Yes, there is an early settlement discount available. This is set each year and will be published in the annual fees letter.
All fees (with the exception of Matric pupils) are payable 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.
Senior School Boarding FAQs – Grade 8
St John’s D.S.G currently has 190 boarders 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 2-3 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.
Grade 8 boarders are not allowed phones at school for the first term. After which, 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.
St John’s D.S.G. offers a weekly bus service to and from Nottingham Road, Winston Park, Mount Edgecombe and Ballito.
77 New England Road, Scottsville,
Pietermaritzburg, KZN,
South Africa
Senior School:
info@stjohnsdsg.com
+27 33 386 8304
Junior School:
juniorschool@stjohnsdsg.com
+27 33 386 1500
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