WITH this year marking the 100th anniversary of Weston Agricultural College, prospective Zululand pupils are encouraged to attend an open day at the school next month.
Based a few kilometres outside Mooi River in the beautiful KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, Weston College is among the best agricultural secondary schools in South Africa.
Established in 1914, the school’s 1200ha property forms a self-sufficient working farm with 8km of Mooi River frontage.
Weston, both boarding and day-boy admittance, offers the unique opportunity to combine an impressive academic standard with practical hands-on farming experience.
This includes working with animals, forestry, crops and pastures and learning skills such as fencing, welding, and vehicle maintenance.
The working farm produces much of the school’s dietary requirements and sells the excess.
Each boy works in rotation on the farm and by the time pupils reach Grade 12, they will have personal experience in dairy, beef, sheep, crops and pastures, pigs and poultry farming as well as forestry.
The subject packages are laid down by the Department of Education and differ only slightly from those of other schools. Pupils are required to have a satisfactory academic record to be accepted. Grade 12 pupils sit for the National Senior Certificate examination, allowing them to apply at any South African university.
Pupils
With a total of 230 boys, classes are small and discipline is well maintained under a firm Christian ethos.
With a diverse range of sports such as horse riding, fishing and rugby, all pupils are required to participate in at least one sport or activity every term.
Fees are periodically revised and bursaries and scholarships are offered to pupils with outstanding academic excellence and sporting skills.
Weston College pupils are offered a rich and fulfilling introduction to life as young men.
A sense of adventure with exciting sporting and leisure activities permeates each day under the nurturing guidance of dedicated teachers.
This ensures youngsters pursuing an agricultural career, gain experience, confidence, and a sense of direction, life skills and responsibility in a changing society.
Centenary
With August 2014 marking the 100th anniversary of Weston Agricultural College, much has been planned to make it a special occasion for all staff and pupils, past and present.
The culmination of the celebrations will be the unveiling of the new Pavilion by the Old Boys and school on Old Boys’ Day, Saturday, 7 June.
A cocktail party will be held at the school on Friday, 6 June for the unofficial unveiling of the Pavilion.
