Redhill commemorates more than 100 YEARS

Redhill’s roots date back to 1907 when St Winifred’s School for Girls was founded, occupying a small, double-storey building in Yeoville, Johannesburg.

 Even during these early stages and during turbulent times, innovation and modernisation were at the core of the school’s ethos.

 At the beginning of 1924, the school was relocated to Parkview where a new, ‘modernised’ building was erected, quickly transforming the school into a very successful and highly regarded educational establishment for girls.

In 1941, Catherine Hill became the headmistress with a bold vision to completely transform and revitalise the school’s image.

St Winifred’s School for Girls became Redhill School, named for the headmistress and the vibrant colour of the new uniforms.

It was here that the ‘Redhill family’ with the new ‘Free to Build’ motto, was born.

Catherine Hill was also the driving force behind the school’s move to more affordable premises in the form of a group of rondavels in Morningside.

In 1968, Dr Isaac Kriel, the principal and majority shareholder of the Damelin Group, took over the ownership and management of the school.

From that point, Redhill underwent fundamental changes, including the introduction of co-education in 1974 and a number of black students in the 1980s, despite laws restricting black children from attending what was considered by the government as a ‘whites only’ school.

After a challenging century, Redhill has weathered many storms and grown to become one of the leading educational institutions in South Africa.

The promise of new growth and development and the willingness of the school’s new leadership to embrace change suggest that the next century of Redhill School will be even better than the first.