Headmaster's Report

2009 has been an important year in terms of defining Merrifield’s future and establishing common goals and direction.  There has been a need for clarity over the next educational developments and construction projects.  There has been a need for more overtly promoting our brand of IEB education.  And there has been a need for a more self-conscious approach towards enhancing our teaching, technology usage and improving our students’ performance.  The school has made strategic inroads in these respects.

 

So far as educational developments are concerned, the school has identified the areas of performing arts, IT and media as strategic imperatives for advancement.  In this regard, the school would ideally construct a custom-built library and media centre with state-of-the-art IT facilities.  This is no small project and requires some careful financial planning and architectural design.  Similarly, the development of a modern performance arts centre with music practice rooms, a dance studio, a recording studio, auditorium and projection room – which is envisaged - is no simple task.  These are major initiatives which will not emerge overnight, but there is a clear need for upgrading our present arts and media facilities over time.  Further projects have been identified such as the classroom development project whereby we aim to equip our classes with projectors, laptops and interactive whiteboards with access to the mainframe and internet.  There is also a dam development project and a project to develop sportsfields, even an Astroturf, on the northern campus.  Next year, the intention is to mobilize the Merrifield community and establish project teams to do the groundwork for these specific developments.  We will invite parents with a particular passion for certain projects to participate in teams towards setting business and architectural plans that can be taken to funding sources such as the Lotto and the Development Bank.  In the future we will produce a Development Campaign document outlining the process and projects which have been identified.  Our work is cut out for us next year.

 

In terms of capital infrastructure, the developments currently happening around us – most particularly the Motorcity and Nahoon Valley Ridge projects - meant some distinctive infrastructural benefits for Merrifield.  We have benefitted from a sewer line through our property which will allow for the upgrading of our changeroom and toilet facilities.  A water pipeline through our campus will also mean a better water supply, which will allow us to improve our existing field and ultimately irrigate our new sportsfield which is presently taking shape across from the dam.  An improved electricity supply will provide the capacity for niceties like air-conditioning and the laying of fibre-optics by Telkom will improve our broadband internet speed.  Certainly, as a campus, we are becoming better equipped and more self-sufficient.  In terms of sport facilities, the completion of the swimming pool complex has meant less reliance on the Joan Harrison.  It was a milestone to see our students already competing in interschools watersports on our very own campus with the opening of the pool in the fourth term.  It was also announced that Merrifield will be offering boarding opportunities in association with a partner from January next year.  The boarding is open to existing and prospective students from grades 6-12.  In time, this is also certain to enhance the growth and development of the school.

 

Academics at Merrifield remain healthy.  The provision of a quality education and individual attention continues to be identified as our key distinguishing feature.  A special focus of our planning this year has been to raise the quality of our academic teaching and learner performances still further.  This strategic imperative is already showing fruit. Having completed their preliminary exams, the matrics are on track to gain, not only a 100% pass rate, but also a 90-100% university exemption rate, for which we have been striving.  Our academic achievements at a national level are another significant indicator of our improved performances.  This year Merrifield has stepped up on the national stage and made a name for itself countrywide.  For the first time ever, we won a national competition by emerging victorious in the National SAICE (Civil Engineers) competition.  This was followed up with a third position in the National Technology competition.  Furthermore, at the National Eskom Science Expo finals in Pretoria, two of our students were selected to represent South Africa in fully expenses paid trips to global exhibitions in Taiwan and the USA.  Furthermore, our students excelled in the National Mathlethics and World Maths Day Competitions with two emerging in the top 5 nationally.  Not to be outdone by the Maths and Sciences, our debaters have performed far beyond expectations.  At the National Public Speaking and Debating competition in Durban, a grade 9 student was chosen to represent the South African debating team to compete in Lithuania next year.  Then, at the National finals of the UN debating competition, a grade 10 student was selected to represent South Africa in a conference in New York.  Furthermore, having received the results of the International Benchmarking Tests of our grade 9 class of 2008, it was pleasing to note that our averages were higher than the cohort of IEB schools in South Africa.  Our grade 9s outperformed many developed countries and were in line with top-achieving countries in the world such as Chinese Taipei and Singapore.  These are remarkable achievements by our students at a national level and I believe that this confirms that we are providing a world-class education at Merrifield.

 

In general, I believe that 2009 will prove to be a defining year with goals being set for implementation in the near future.  Merrifield is slowly but surely growing into its campus and its acquired status as the leading independent provider of quality IEB education in East London.  The path has been established for some exciting developments in the next three years, which is sure to raise the profile of a school.  Clearly we are no longer just a local player, but a growing presence on the national stage as well.  Keep it up, Merrifield.  Astra Petentes – Let’s reach for the stars!

 

Dr Guy Hartley