Spark Cresta is not your average private school.
Its curriculum and learning programmes are based on an American model formed to specifically serve pupils of disadvantaged backgrounds.
Stacey Brewer and Ryan Harrison founded the Spark Schools group in January last year, when they brought the school model from the United States of America to South Africa and established Spark Ferndale, which currently includes classes from grades R to 3.
Spark Cresta opened its doors on 20 January this year. “We have two Grade 1 classes of 32 each and 1 Grade R class of 25,” said principal Amanda Venter. “We plan to take it up to higher education one day.”
She said the school fees of R14 000 per year helped people afford good quality schooling.
Instruction at the school is “rigorous” and designed for pupils to achieve high individual goals.
Classes run from 7.30am to 3.20pm for Grade R pupils and until 4pm for Grade 1s so that physical education and second language instruction (isiZulu) are daily occurrences.
Extramural activities such as yoga can extend the day to 5.30pm.
Venter believes her pupils learn in one year what pupils at other schools would take one and a half years to learn.
Pupils are tested five times per year in all subjects. A learning lab is used daily, where pupils work out for themselves how to solve problems using online programs.
Parents of children are also expected to volunteer for the school for 30 hours each year.
“We are definitely helping children of disadvantaged backgrounds,” said Grade 1 literacy teacher Cheney Garrett. “We don’t know why private schools are charging such high fees when we are able to provide high quality education for low fees.”
Department of Basic Education spokesperson Phumla Sekhonyane could not say how Spark Cresta’s school fees compared to fee-paying government primary schools in Gauteng. “The amount paid in fee-paying schools is determined by the school governing body of each school,” she said.
Spark Schools plans to have 10 schools established in South Africa in three years time, and 64 schools in eight years time.
Details: Spark Cresta 010 125 0180, sparkcresta@sparkschools.co.za, Spark Ferndale 010 125 0160.
