CORDWALLES' HISTORY

Cordwalles Preparatory School was founded by Bishop Samuel Baines in 1912 as a direct result of Michaelhouse moving from Pietermaritzburg to Balgowan and needing a preparatory school of its own to ensure its future enrolment.

Initially Cordwalles consisted of five acres of land, a house and twelve boys. By 1917 the school encompassed nineteen acres of land, classrooms and dormitories. In the 1930's the Chapel, Gymnasium, Swimming Pool as well as additional classrooms, dormitories and land were added. During the Second World War numbers rose to one hundred and forty seven boys. From the 1950's further dormitories together with a Kitchen block, Sanatorium, and enlarged Dining Hall, Science Laboratory, Library and Staff Houses were constructed. The 1960's saw the development of the double storey block, the five sports fields and the four tennis courts.

Today, the school consists of fifteen hectares of ground comprising of the newly built Andrew Rattray Pre Primary, the Hamilton Media Centre, the Ronald Brooks Administration Block, the Besant Theatre, Science Laboratory, Design & Technology Centre and Computer Centres.

The School enrolment has grown to more than three hundred and thirty boys with over fifty Academic and Support Staff who prepare boys for admission to top High Schools in the country.