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Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School was originally housed in a Victorian-style family mansion, Morningside, which was the home of Peter and Mary Davis. Education for women during this period was not common and the founders of the school were uncertain of its viability. However, as the number of girls continued to grow, a bigger and better school building was needed. Designed in the style of Sir Herbert Baker, the new school building was opened in 1925 and remains the heart of the school despite the many additions that have taken place over the years. The original red-brick building, which faces Alexandra Road, has been declared a National Monument. Today, GHS is a leading high school providing education to over 1 100 girls. The day scholar complement makes up the larger section of the school community and boarding facilities are available. Academic pursuits receive priority at GHS. We maintain outstanding achievements in the NSC examinations annually with a Bachelor Pass rate of over 95% and a number of our learners continually featured in the NSC top achievers list. Our high academic standards ensure the success of our girls in tertiary education and their chosen careers. At GHS, the high caliber of teaching staff ensures the best educational opportunities for our learners. We believe that the four Cs Critical thinking, Communication, Collaboration, and Creativity, are the most important skills of 21st-century teaching and our digitally advanced facilities enable our learners to explore and master these skills. The study of Drama can help develop many qualities and life skills: enthusiasm, confidence, self-esteem, conversational competence, and social skills. Furthermore, drama lessons stimulate learners to be motivated and involved. Visual Arts is an enormously rewarding and enjoyable subject that develops learners’ ability to manage their time and to manage processes from the start through to the final product. To do Music in Grade 10, learners should have demonstrated consistent work and progress in Grades 8 and 9, in both the theoretical and practical components of Music. Learners have to practice their instruments daily. Trained educators have been appointed in each of the subjects with specialist musicians in the Music Department. While these subjects are offered in the school curriculum, aspects of them can be pursued on a more social level: learners can join the Drama, Dance or Art Societies, and the musical learners can be members of the School Choir, Chamber Choir, Gospel Choir or the Wind Band. After a rigorous selection process by the Department of Sport and Recreation, Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School has been nominated as a Sport Focus School, namely in the disciplines of Hockey, Basketball, and Netball. This initiative aims to partner with selected schools to provide top school-going sportsmen and women with a strong foundation to one day compete at the National level and ultimately at the 2022 Durban Commonwealth Games. Eight KwaZulu-Natal schools were awarded this prestigious title, with GHS as the only all-girls school selected. View full school