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Southdowns College
Combined · Private · Centurion
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1 month
ZAR 29
First month. Then ZAR 69 / month
1 year
ZAR 299
Best valueFirst year. Then ZAR 499 / year.
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SDC is a horrible school
The money that you pay is way too much for what the school offer. The educational level is very low and poor. the school environment is too contaminated and the school doesn’t put an effort to deal with it. Kids sell drugs, have sex In toilets and disrespect teachers. The school does nothing to punish those kids since their more focusing on making money than to deliver future leaders….my daughter is doing matric there, unfortunately I don’t have an alternative, since there are no other school around. I’m gatvol with SDC!!!
Rude staff not interested in welfare of children
High school is awful. Teachers are rude and not interested in building and educating the children. Only in it for money!
Kids who were found with drugs and other illegal substances on school premises earlier this year by SAPS, are promoted to prefects?! Is this the kind of behaviour we want to reward? Shameful
Kids who were found with drugs and other illegal substances on school premises earlier this year by SAPS, are promoted to prefects?! Is this the kind of behaviour we want to reward? Shameful
High school is terrible
I use to be a student hear and, i really did not like this place at all the teachers dont care, the students are extremely racist and you just have to "deal with it", the sports is some of the worst i've seen in a long time at any school. For the amount of money you will be paying it would be a better idea to send your children else where.
A wonderful place to work
I have been teaching there for years in the Prep School. I have always felt content and comfortable in my teaching at the school. The children are well cared for. Forward thinking strategies in education.
Happy
My kids are incredibly happy in the Pre-Prep. I hear how the Prep also makes wonderful strides in education. We are very happy.
IBL is fantastic
The Pre prep and Prep do Inquiry Based Learning and have flexible seating- forward thinking education
IBL is fantastic
Inquiry based learning and flexible seating - forward thinking education
Amazing teachers
The teachers are amazing!
Student
Before considering sdc, remember this.
As a student finishing at southdowns college, the past 8 years have been the absolute worst. The school is extremely toxic towards us students who pay extreme amounts for teachers who 1. Cannot teach properly, 2. Teach subjects (more than one due to understaffing) they aren't qualified for, and 3. the good teachers leave as soon as they build a relationship with the students, leaving student teachers to fully take on classes while they’re unprepared.
There is also STILL a lot of racism at the high school as well from teachers that does get reported but nothing gets done about it.
Throughout the year, a day hasn’t gone by where our teachers haven’t reminded us about how important finals are, and even this week while writing these extremely important finals, the principle and heads of culture decided to have a concert on the lawn opposite the classes we wrote in which was extremely distracting for everyone and overall disappointing as there isn’t a sense of seriousness or professionalism for our grade.
Even though it looks like a beautiful school from the outside and there have been good moments, I urge you not to let your kids attend this school, there are far better options.
There is also STILL a lot of racism at the high school as well from teachers that does get reported but nothing gets done about it.
Throughout the year, a day hasn’t gone by where our teachers haven’t reminded us about how important finals are, and even this week while writing these extremely important finals, the principle and heads of culture decided to have a concert on the lawn opposite the classes we wrote in which was extremely distracting for everyone and overall disappointing as there isn’t a sense of seriousness or professionalism for our grade.
Even though it looks like a beautiful school from the outside and there have been good moments, I urge you not to let your kids attend this school, there are far better options.
do not send your kids here
I matriculated from here and i nothing nice to say about this school, for the amount of school fees that we have to pay the level of teaching, sports and professionalism is very poor. for the amount of money that is paid you can definitely go to a better privately school or even a public school because anything would be better than what alot of children experience here
High School
Poor educational institute
Poor communication from admin, management, head of academics. The school culture is not one that cultivates forward thinking and respect in the children.
High School
Poorly managed Southdowns College - a poor educational institution
The communication and school culture is sorely lacking.
Its just a pretty school!
The primary and high schools were both attended by my kids. My opinion is that the school lacks management and proper evaluation of the teachers.
The teachers are extremely young and ambitious and often don't stay a full year let alone 2 semesters so be in for a constant change of teaching staff.
The facilities are lovely and vast however if you are looking at education your child literally has to be competing all the time with peers, this school has a very competitive and demanding afterschool syllabus and discrimination is very prominent if you opt to do any activity OUTSIDE the school...be warned no accreditation is given even if you are an OLYMPIAD and train with outside the school source.
My children had to have tutors for almost all the subjects this is also a very common and pushed idea from the teachers.
Not only the school is very pressing with the pupils for their attendance there is a sense of competing with the Jones very established at the school in both primary and secondary level...so as a parent be warned that you will be measured so will your children on status levels.
Leadership at the school is also chosen in a very strange manner...we have been told of horror stories of students arriving and after 2 months being given Prefect positions...be warned it's all about barter for this school.
We have been subjected to vast degrees of bullying as well by parents and students. The teachers and headmasters have very little control if non as this is so common in this school it is one of the things you know exist and you simply leave or accept.
The famous phrase of the school if you lodge a complaint is
"you are the only one who has complained about this" and "your child needs to take part of the blame" are the most common replies we have had in the past years.
The teachers are extremely young and ambitious and often don't stay a full year let alone 2 semesters so be in for a constant change of teaching staff.
The facilities are lovely and vast however if you are looking at education your child literally has to be competing all the time with peers, this school has a very competitive and demanding afterschool syllabus and discrimination is very prominent if you opt to do any activity OUTSIDE the school...be warned no accreditation is given even if you are an OLYMPIAD and train with outside the school source.
My children had to have tutors for almost all the subjects this is also a very common and pushed idea from the teachers.
Not only the school is very pressing with the pupils for their attendance there is a sense of competing with the Jones very established at the school in both primary and secondary level...so as a parent be warned that you will be measured so will your children on status levels.
Leadership at the school is also chosen in a very strange manner...we have been told of horror stories of students arriving and after 2 months being given Prefect positions...be warned it's all about barter for this school.
We have been subjected to vast degrees of bullying as well by parents and students. The teachers and headmasters have very little control if non as this is so common in this school it is one of the things you know exist and you simply leave or accept.
The famous phrase of the school if you lodge a complaint is
"you are the only one who has complained about this" and "your child needs to take part of the blame" are the most common replies we have had in the past years.
horrible school
this school is horrible, its racist, sexist and homophobic. im speaking from experience. the principal of the highschool is absolutely horrible. NEVER SEND YOUR CHILD TO THIS SCHOOL.
One of the best
I love the way the school engages with the students. They really are raising world-class citizens.
the honest truth
i used to go to this school and im here to share what the reality of sending your child to this school is, this school doesnt not care for the protection of young girls and women. multiple girls were sexually harassed and assaulted in the school and yet the school did nothing all they did was speak to the boys who harassed and assaulted the girls, nothing more and when the female students went to social media to share their stories the school contacted them and asked them to remove it, just because they want to save their reputation. over the past years ive heard things about how the school only cares for their reputation and nothing else. the students here are miserable. the principal of the highschool, represents the total opposite of what southdowns should be. HE IS EXTREMELY BAISED and to him once you do a bad thing, you will always be a bad student, at least this is what ive experienced. i just thought i should come here and write an honest review.
We dont recommend
We would not recommend this school after attending with children in it for the past 5 years we decided not to continue.
The school primary section was awful with so much pressure on the students to compete and perform.
Parents are competitive and the kids follow on the same stride
The high school had a serious issue with racism and discrimination.
The traffic to the school should be a sincere warning as you drive past cars and cars of parents disgruntled with 40 min traffic
The school also lost the MATRIC DANCE support and funding...after students spend a year canvassing and selling items at the break to see a dance this again has disappeared and all the funds for this too....well leaving is going to be a sincere pleasure on our side.
The school primary section was awful with so much pressure on the students to compete and perform.
Parents are competitive and the kids follow on the same stride
The high school had a serious issue with racism and discrimination.
The traffic to the school should be a sincere warning as you drive past cars and cars of parents disgruntled with 40 min traffic
The school also lost the MATRIC DANCE support and funding...after students spend a year canvassing and selling items at the break to see a dance this again has disappeared and all the funds for this too....well leaving is going to be a sincere pleasure on our side.
Overall an Excellent school
Southdowns College is a really good school. There are excellent traditions, staff and facilities at this school. I have schooled at Southdowns for my entire life and highly recommend it.
Unfortunately there are some shortcomings, because Southdowns is a relatively new institution it has not had time to perfect every aspect of itself.
Unfortunately there are some shortcomings, because Southdowns is a relatively new institution it has not had time to perfect every aspect of itself.
Bullying principal
Principal is a bullie
Only threatens your children to get his way
Only threatens your children to get his way
Super School
We love Southdowns! Beautiful school setting. The children are happy and learning. Excellent swimming school. You hardly hear any teachers shouting and they gain the respect from their learners in a no confrontational way. Super!
Very Happy
A happy place to be. Excellent standard of education. The teachers treat the children as their own, especially in the Foundation Phase and Pre Prep.
School
Racism and inequality is a huge issue at the school
There is even a Instagram
Page created by their students that seek to voice out their frustration.
The school also has a issue with bullying in the primary section
Many children who attend the school leave during their Enrollment to grade 8
An incident where a child was hurt haunts camp outings at the school and parents are anxious on allowing kids to attend camps
High school not enough male students...the campus is predominantly female students
No surprise that the headmasters of high school and primary have been replaced in the past few years and teacher on a continuous basis
There is even a Instagram
Page created by their students that seek to voice out their frustration.
The school also has a issue with bullying in the primary section
Many children who attend the school leave during their Enrollment to grade 8
An incident where a child was hurt haunts camp outings at the school and parents are anxious on allowing kids to attend camps
High school not enough male students...the campus is predominantly female students
No surprise that the headmasters of high school and primary have been replaced in the past few years and teacher on a continuous basis
Making a difference and teaching values
A school that puts my children's needs first, academically, culturally and on the sports field. A school that lives by and encourages core values. The dedicated teachers, coaches and admin staff are what make the difference.
Awesome School
My daughter has attended the pre-prep and now is in the prep at SDC. The teaching and management staff are amazing. They make an effort and are involved in everything. The school supports the students through everything - good and bad. They really stepped up during the pandemic. The school environment is one of extended family. I am so glad that my daughter has the opportunity to go there
Great school
SDC prep and Pre-prep is an excellent school. It strifes to create a healthy environment for its learners and the staff are very caring. They go the extra mile. My two kids have had a very warm and loving experience.
Happy Environment
Southdowns Prep is an innovative school, that brings out the best in children. Very caring teachers, who are passionate and really treat the children with love and kindness. Also very impressed with how they dealt with online schooling. Way to go! My child is very happy.
Not what you expect
Not recommended
We are currently with children and looking for alternative school
We have experience bullying and harassment by parents, Lawsuits are created by teachers privilege information. We have encountered this at least 3 times.
The school also has a very stringent form of demerit and judges their student on a continuous basis. Test and assignments are not managed amongst children who experience an enormous amount of homework, learning and merit system. Mental health and life skill is not at all managed at the school although having a guidance counselor.
We are currently with children and looking for alternative school
We have experience bullying and harassment by parents, Lawsuits are created by teachers privilege information. We have encountered this at least 3 times.
The school also has a very stringent form of demerit and judges their student on a continuous basis. Test and assignments are not managed amongst children who experience an enormous amount of homework, learning and merit system. Mental health and life skill is not at all managed at the school although having a guidance counselor.
Over competitive environment
This year we have decided to move schools after enduring lawsuits from parents outside the school who attend extra murals at the school...although a private school some extra murals are offered to outside children
We have twice experienced Teachers of Southdowns divulging parent teacher information to the outside parents. It’s is very upsetting to the child to the parents and once trust is lost it’s is not recovered with a school.
Complaints of bullying and harrasment are not handled correctly often brushed aside and fielded into lawsuits with opposing patents
We have also experience first hand the toxic competitive environment, excessive tests assignments and demerit system the students are at all levels being judged continuously by teachers parents and peers
We have twice experienced Teachers of Southdowns divulging parent teacher information to the outside parents. It’s is very upsetting to the child to the parents and once trust is lost it’s is not recovered with a school.
Complaints of bullying and harrasment are not handled correctly often brushed aside and fielded into lawsuits with opposing patents
We have also experience first hand the toxic competitive environment, excessive tests assignments and demerit system the students are at all levels being judged continuously by teachers parents and peers
If only we knew before enrollment
We attend the high school and the primary school. We do not recommend this school. We have had issues with bullying and biased treatment from teacher and students. Their extra mural activists are not of a good professional standard allowing outside students to attend. The student are also very stressed with high volume of homework and test
Love Southdowns!
We absolutely love SDC. Family atmosphere with excellent teachers! Top notch school!
Showing 30 of total 31 reviews
1297 John Vorster Dr Doringkloof, 0062, Centurion
0126650244
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