The South African private school that ranks among the best in the world

Michaelhouse has been named one of the best schools in the world. The boarding school for boys is renowned for its sports, academics, and cultural activities.

Michaelhouse’s history dates back to the nineteenth century. It was founded in 1896 by James Cameron Todd, a British Anglican canon.

At the time, very few institutions in South Africa offered education beyond Standard VII (Grade 9). Unlike the current standard, private schools often struggled to produce consistent matriculation results.

During his early years in South Africa, Todd realised the need for a high-calibre boys’ school in the region.

The school was tiny at the start, with Todd welcoming just 15 boys in two modest houses on Loop Street in Pietermaritzburg.

The school would eventually outgrow its original premises and relocate to Balgowan in KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, with the number of students increasing to 77.

Despite now charging R392,000 per year for students, Michaelhouse’s early years were characterised by a lack of access to basic services. The boys helped farm the land to supplement their food supply.

Michaelhouse’s reputation continued to grow throughout the twentieth century. It is now renowned for its excellent grounds and strong academic performance.

The boarding school also recently appeared on Spear’s Magazine’s list of the world’s best private schools.

The ranking evaluated schools on their academic performance, cultural and social factors, and overall standing. It is developed in partnership with the international educational consultancy Thuso.

Unlike other studies that may simply evaluate a school’s reputation based on academic achievements, Spear’s list includes several other factors needed to create an environment that fosters students.

The school was also ranked third in the ‘Rest of the World’ Category, standing alongside other elite schools from India, Pakistan, Chile, Argentina, and Kenya.

Academically, the school achieved a 100% pass rate in the 2024 Independent Examinations Board (IEB) exams.

Boys from Michaelhouse also frequently progress to the top universities worldwide due to the transferrable nature of South African school qualifications.

In addition to the excellent education standards at the school, several other ports, clubs, and activities are on offer within the college’s massive grounds.

This includes 12 playing fields, tennis courts, cricket grounds and a golf driving range. On the cultural side, there are ceramics rooms, art studios and nine musical practice rooms.

Notable features

With its over century-long history, Michaelhouse alumni have represented South Africa and many other countries in various sports.

157 Old Michaelhousians have represented 17 countries in 48 different sporting disciplines.

This includes former South African cricket captain Alan Melville, world-record 100m sprinter holder Paul Nash, Springbok Patrick Lambie and Olympic gold-winning sprint canoeist Jean van der Westhuyzen.

In the arts, alumni include David Scott, known as the Kiffness. Playwright and author John van de Ruit also attended the school.

Van de Ruit is best known for his 2005 novel Spud, which is based on his experiences at Michaelhouse.

Spud and its sequels would be adapted to film and starred British comedy legend John Cleese and South African-born Australian pop star Troye Sivan. The movies were filmed at Michaelhouse.

Michaelhouse is also known for its friendly rivalry with the nearby Hilton College, which is the only school in the country with higher fees, with parents forking out R420,729 for a year.

The two schools are the only two full boarding schools in KZN and are extremely close to one another.

Michaelhouse’s sister school is St Anne’s Diocesan College, which is found in Hilton, KZN. The two schools often collaborate on activities, such as their school theatre productions.

Images of Michaelhouse