FAQs

The girls who are happiest at Rustenburg are perhaps those who are hard-working, diligent, focused and committed – both academically and to the school's extra-mural programme.

Rustenburg is often described by parents and learners as an "academic school". There is a strong focus on learning and serious study. Girls are given daily homework, which must be completed by the following day, as well as an array of project tasks and other assignments. Educators provide a variety of enrichment learning opportunities and girls are expected to work hard.

Rustenburg regularly excels when the National Senior Certificate (Grade 12) results are made public. This is testimony to the seriousness with which both its educators and learners address the curriculum.

Girls who become involved in the school's extra-mural programme often are those who develop leadership skills, strong friendships and feel that they have made the most of their high school years.

As mentioned above, there is a very strong emphasis on academic success at Rustenburg High School for Girls. Each Learning Area is supervised by a Head of Subject who is responsible for meetings within their department, moderation, standard setting and ensuring that the Revised National Curriculum is implemented. In addition, members of the School Management Team serve as Curriculum Managers who offer guidance and support to various Learning Areas, as well as ensuring that all policies are being followed.

Each grade is equipped with a Grade Head whose responsibility it is to oversee the general academic progress of those learners within the grade, corresponding directly with parents and, when necessary, facilitating interventions.

At the end of each term the entire staff meets to discuss the learner's academic progress in the preceding three months. This is an opportunity for educators to reflect on the girl's overall development beyond just their particular Learning Area.

There is an annual Celebration of Excellence during which the various academic awards are announced and the successes of individuals given appropriate public acknowledgement.

Most of Rustenburg's learners go on to tertiary study, and most of these earn places at some of South Africa's top universities. The school does not see the National Senior Certificate examinations as necessarily the end of the education process, rather learners are taught to cope with learning and teaching styles which they will encounter at universities and colleges. Again, there is a strong emphasis on learning and serious study and learners are encouraged to analyse, question and explore beyond the boundaries of the prescribed high school curriculum. Girls are expected to be hard-working, diligent, focused and committed. It is our intention to assist them to develop an excellent work ethic, time management skills and the ability to cope with the rigorous demands of tertiary education.

Rustenburg High School for Girls is very proud of what it calls an 'open curriculum'. This term is used to describe the process by which learners are not restricted when it comes to their choice of subjects. The school endeavours to accommodate the individual subject requests of learners and has, for the most part, achieved this successfully.

To view the GET and FET curriculums, please click the Academic link in the menu bar above.

The school strives to offer world-class facilities across all learning areas and has fully-equipped Life and Physical Science Laboratories, two Computer rooms with 70+ workstations for pupil lessons and research, a computer in every classroom, some with interactive whiteboards or data projectors, a spacious and well-stocked Media Centre, a suite of Music rooms including the latest electronic composition tools, two modern Consumer Studies rooms, a Geography laboratory, a state-of-the-art Drama rehearsal room, four Art classrooms, swimming pool, seven tennis/netball courts, cricket practice nets, two sports fields used for cricket, touch rugby and hockey, daily tuckshop and Erinville boarding house.

Class sizes vary considerably, depending on the Learning Area. The Home Language group (English), always the largest, averages 30, but will never be more than 34 learners. What are regarded as the Enrichment Learning Areas (foreign languages, Art, Music and Dramatic Arts), benefit from having fairly small class sizes so that the girls receive much individual educator support and supervision.

Currently there are just over 770 girls enrolled at Rustenburg High School for Girls.

Rustenburg boasts a staff of over 50 experienced, qualified and hard-working educators. The school is led by a principal and deputy principal, in conjunction with a group of teachers who make up the School Management Team. A number of specialist teachers are also privately employed, particularly in the Music department.

To view a list of Sports and Cultural societies offered at Rustenburg High School for Girls, please click the Extra-Curricular link in the menu bar above.

Monday to Thursday, the school day consists of three lessons, a short break, a further three lessons, lunch break and the final two lessons, ending at 3pm. On Friday, the school closes at 2pm and the learners attend four lessons, have a break and then their final three lessons.

The present school fee is R24,000 per learner per annum paid by monthly debit order or by arrangement with the school's Financial Manager and treasurer of the School Governing Body. No reductions are offered for siblings attending the school. School fees are reviewed annually by the School Governing Body and all parents are encouraged to attend the budget meeting. An advance fee of R2,000 is payable upon acceptance. Girls must purchase their own uniform, stationery and certain textbooks. Other monies must be paid, depending on the subject choice the learner chooses. For example, Art girls are responsible for their own paints and brushes. Read more about School fees for 2011

Applications for Grade 8 close at the end of the first term, while applications for Grades 9 – 11 are considered in the third term of each year. For more information see the Admissions Section of this site.

The administrative office at Rustenburg High School for Girls is open from 08:00 to 16:00, Monday to Friday. To contact the administrative office, please use the appropriate Contact Us link above.

Rustenburg High School for Girls prefers positive reinforcement and a restorative disciplinary approach to helping the child to understand the consequences of her words and actions. To a large extent, educators lead the learners towards self-discipline whereby the girls are taught to be accountable, responsible and appropriate at all times.

Learners who struggle to self-discipline are met with a private, yet formal intervention; often conducted by the principal or deputy principal.

Where necessary, one of the school's Life Orientation counsellors is asked for additional guidance.

It must be noted that all parents of learners, upon enrolling at Rustenburg, sign and accept the terms and conditions of the school's Code of Conduct. Learners and their parents are expected to support the school in creating a safe and co-operative environment for all.

For more information on our Disciplinary and other policies, please click on the Policies link in the menu bar above.

A wide-ranging supports system exists to help meet the personal needs of each learner at Rustenburg High School for Girls. From peer counsellors to form teachers, the grade head to the Teacher-Counsellors, there is always someone willing to lend a listening ear and a helping hand.

Parent can stand for election to the School Governing Body (SGB) – this statutory body, constituted as stipulated in the SA Schools Act, is elected every three years. It is made up of seven parent representatives, two educator representatives, one non-educator representative, two learner representatives and the Principal. Parents are also encouraged to be part of the various SGB portfolio sub-committees. In addition, parents can be involved to ensure a wide range of support systems for the school to continue to function. These include Catering (for functions and sports matches), Recycling, the School Shop (Bug's Boutique), Tuckshop and Music Fund Raising Committee.

A maximum of 75 boarders can be accommodated at Erinville. Although preference is given to girls who live within the Western Cape, the residents of Erinville come from as far afield as Namibia and Botswana. For more information about Erinville, please click the Erinville link in the menu bar above.

The Boarding fees for Erinville Hostel for 2011 are as follows:

• Local boarders : R31 250 for the 2011 year
• Out of province boarders : R38 100 for the 2011 year

The Rustenburg Bug Boutique is open every Monday and Wednesday from 12.45 to 15.30 and Friday from 12.15 to 14.30, as well as on the FIRST Saturday of the month (excluding January) from 9.00 – 11.00.

We carry lots of good second hand clothing and welcome any Rustenburg uniforms in good condition to sell. These can be sent to the front office, with your name and telephone number if you would like us to sell it for you. You may also donate any clothing and the money made from the second hand uniforms will go to the school. If any of the clothing sent in is not suitable for sale, we then sent it to the Eastern Cape to a school which can use it.

New stock which is available in our shop is as follows:

Swimming costumes Swimming caps Waterpolo costumes Waterpolo caps Towels Goggles Hockey Skirts Hockey Tops Hockey Socks Hockey Bags Netball Skirts Netball Shirts Tennis Tops Tennis Skirts Cricket Tops

Cricket Shorts Tracksuits Rain Jackets School Ties White socks Black School Tights Lanyards Hair Accessories Togbags School Satchel Baseball Caps Sport Shorts Sport Tops Shopping Bags (Navy) Wet draw string bags

If there is anything you would like to see in the shop, please feel free to contact Linda Simmons on 0834667975 or email shop@rghs.org.za