Five schools in the Despatch and Kariega regions have been identified by the Department of Education to be fully transformed primary schools by 2027, offering Grade R to Grade 7 classes.
For some of these schools it is a gradual process and for others it will be an immediate transformation at the start of 2024.
Despatch Preparatory will be one of the schools affected and principal Madeléne Sachse said they will as from the start of next year, gradually start to implement Grade 4. Each year thereafter, until 2027, a following Grade will be implemented.
“The transformation will have a massive impact on our infrastructure, but we knew this was coming and started with our realigning processes a few years ago. We will be able to accommodate three Grade 4 classes next year,” said Sachse.
“We have 608 learners at Despatch Preparatory. To accommodate Grade 4s next year, our intake of learners will be less than in previous years.”
According to her, plans were approved by the municipality last year, for an additional six classrooms, two ablution blocks, and a small kitchen, which will gradually be built next to the netball fields.
“The school’s name and clothing will not change.
“We want this transition to have the minimum impact on our learners and parents. We will also continue to be a double medium school with one Afrikaans class per Grade,” said Sachse.
An exciting challenge
Asja Strydom, deputy principal at Despatch Preparatory said the transformation will not change the school’s character.
“The environment of our school is very family orientated. The atmosphere of ‘we all work together and are all part of this greater family’ will be pulled right through until 13-year-olds will be here in four years’ time,”said Strydom.
“We will expand with already established children in whom our ethos is grounded. This is a lovely opportunity to see them develop.
“There is nothing to worry about. The proof is in what we’ve already done, in our families that are satisfied with what we have. We have evidence of our quality.
“It will be a change for us to eventually have teenagers. But the adaptation will grow over time with the children and we will be able to handle it.
“The curriculum is not as daunting as what we originally imagined. Something new will be packing a time table. It is different, but an exciting challenge.
“What is also exciting is that we will be having robotics and coding as well as computer classes as from next year,” said Strydom.
New educators will be employed at Despatch Preparatory. With regard to sports, new items will be added to athletics and more teams for rugby, cricket, and netball.
