The boys school in South Africa’s richest city that produced billionaires, Springboks, and Protea captains

King Edward VII High School in Houghton Estate, Johannesburg, has produced top sportsmen and businesspeople, including Gary Player, Graeme Smith, and Sir Donald Gordon.

Of the Financial Mail’s eight greatest achievers of the past century, three were educated at King Edward VII School. This achievement is unmatched by any other South African school.

The school’s history dates back to 1902, when the South African War came to an end, and there was an urgent need for schools in the Transvaal.

The Milner Administration looked for suitable buildings to establish temporary classrooms, and found a vacant cigar factory on the corner of Gold and Kerk Streets in Johannesburg.

It used this factory to establish “The Government High School for Boys”, also known as the “Johannesburg High School for Boys”.

It grew so rapidly that in 1904, it was relocated to Barnato Park, where it was established in the mansion that had initially been designed for mining magnate Barney Barnato.

These premises also proved inadequate, and in 1911, the school was moved into magnificent, specially designed buildings on the Houghton Ridge, which became its final home.

All this came about shortly after the founding of the Union of South Africa and the death of King Edward VII, Queen Victoria’s eldest son.

To honour the king’s memory, the school was granted the right to change its name to King Edward VII School, commonly known as KES.

Over a century old, the school buildings of King Edward School retained their appearance and are considered national monuments.

These include the school hall, the lecture theatre and library wing, the memorial wing, and the cenotaph in the main quad

Throughout its history and to this day, it has remained a government secondary school, with an enrolment of over 1000 boys in grades 8 to 12.

King Edward VII Preparatory School, situated adjacent to the High School and sharing its grounds, caters to boys from Grades 1 to 7.

“Over the past century, thousands of youngsters have come to us as boys and left as men,” the school said on its website.

“Men with the education, confidence, morals, discipline, passion and courage to shape our nation’s progress.”

“Many are internationally renowned as leaders and captains of industry, sports icons, human rights activists, academics, artists or authors.”

King Edward VII High School’s exceptional achievements

KES states that it remains at the cutting edge of holistic education, ever mindful of its ethos, values and heritage.

“The rounded and balanced environment for which our School is famed combines legacy with leadership, high moral standards with high-tech facilities,” it said.

It said these principles guide it in its goal for the boys who attend the school to achieve academic, cultural, and sporting excellence.

King Edward VII High School has produced many of South Africa’s finest sportsmen, businesspeople, and cultural leaders.

Its alumni include golfing legend Gary Player, billionaire business mogul Sir Donald Gordon, and former Proteas captain Graeme Smith.

Others include 2010 Kyoto Prize winner William Kentridge, Justice Johann Kriegler, Justice Richard Goldstone, and Sir Sydney Kentridge.

KES has produced numerous Springboks and other top rugby players, including Bryan Habana, Malcolm Marx, and Scarra Ntubeni.

It has a particularly impressive list of cricket players as former pupils, including Ali Bacher, Adam Bacher, Quinton de Kock, and Nic Pothas.

Today, King Edward VII High School in Johannesburg remains a centre of excellence in academic, sports, and cultural activities.

It is on par with top private schools in South Africa and goes toe-to-toe with the best the country has to offer.

Inside King Edward VII High School