The Roedean Academy was launched in 2009 in response to the compelling need for school environments to share resources with their community partner schools.
The vision for the academy is to provide opportunities for support and enrichment in various school subjects.
The academy’s fundraising manager, Kate Lowings said, “Our academy has grown significantly since the early days. We started with 20 pupils and we now offer 100 girls from Barnato Park High School the benefits of additional tuition in mathematics, English, science, and accounting.”
She added that before Covid-19, the academy operated daily for Grade 8 to 12 girls. The girls came to Roedean School on various afternoons and were given extra tuition by qualified teachers. Lowings said, “In addition to academic tuition, our academy girls were given a hot lunch at Roedean, had full use of the Roedean library, had time scheduled for them in the computer labs and were exposed to many other opportunities and experiences.”
Lowings said for many organisations, the Covid lockdown was a highly disruptive and difficult period. However, the lockdown and subsequent Covid-19 regulations also provided an important opportunity to explore alternative modes of teaching and learning. In particular, during the lockdown, the academy teachers redirected their attention to the use of WhatsApp for lessons and to the extensive use of excellent online learning platforms.
Fortunately, Grade 11 and 12 academy girls were welcomed back to Roedean and have been able to continue with face-to-face lessons.
Due to lockdown restrictions, the academy was unable to host their traditional prize-giving. Instead, they had a socially distanced matric lunch and matric prize-giving. With only a few guests allowed, the girls delighted their teachers with their beautiful messages of thanks.
“Prior to a delicious lunch, we awarded a new award for 2020. Named after the founding director of the Roedean Academy, the Sandra McCallum Good Fellowship award is given to the matric academy learner who displays qualities of all-round excellence, service and fellowship. This year the award went to learner Butshi Kibambe. Our girls had a lovely day and we were delighted to be able to treat them after such a difficult year.”
Academy director, Dr Margot Berger said, “We are so proud of our girls. They are dedicated and hard-working and we hope that the knowledge and opportunities that we are able to impart to them, sows the seeds of learning and is a springboard for further success.”
The Roedean Academy expressed their privilege in being able to be part of the programme and their gratitude to the Roedean staff who taught the girls, to the support staff who assisted in many ways and most importantly to the donors who made it all possible.
Details: Roedean Academy 011 647 3200.
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