“Umhlali Prep laid foundation for top matric results”

Three of the Independent Education Board’s (IEB) top achieving matrics gave credit for their outstanding achievements to their Alma Mater, Umhlali Preparatory where they said the foundation for their combined 21 distinctions was set under deep-rooted leadership of principal Astra Russell.

Christine Brokensha and Alwyn Small who matriculated from Ashton International College and Amy Schaap who matriculated from Durban Girls’ College each achieved seven A’s and credited the quality education they received at Umhlali Preparatory as laying the foundation for their matric success. Brokensha achieved a 92.4 percent aggregate and Small 90.1 percent, both placing in the top five percent of IEB pupils.

Russell said she appreciated their tribute and said the secret to Umhlali Preparatory’s success was a combination of talented pupils and excellent value systems.

“Our pupils understand that hard work leads to success and the fact that these pupils credited their primary school education for their success is an indication of a deep value system,” said Russell.

She said they also had dedicated and caring teachers who emphasized the importance of academics, backed by very supportive parents who did not only show up for exams but who supported their children all the time.

“It starts in Grade R and we subscribe to an ethos of never compromising on academics, being disciplined and choosing respect and faith,” said Russell.

Ashton International College’s class of 2015 achieved a 100 percent IEB pass rate, with a 98.5 percent university exemption – an increase of 5.8 percent on 2014.

Executive head Joe Erasmus said the group’s 104 distinctions averaged 1.6 distinctions per pupil and 90 percent of the class achieved an aggregate of 60 percent or higher.

“Ashton matrics also out-performed the IEB average in accounting and physical sciences and six pupils improved their aggregates by two symbols,” said Erasmus.

Vincent Cornelli, Benjamin Da Silva, Nikeel Nundcoomar, Tharendra Reddy and Slade Rose all jumped from an E to a C aggregate and Matt Grobler leaped from a D to a B and achieved two distinctions.

Not to be outdone, the Deutsche Schule Hermannsburg matrics also achieved a 100 percent IEB pass rate with an average of 2.6 A symbols per pupil.

Tobias von Seydlitz, 2015 Dux of the school, achieved nine distinctions, placing him in the top one percent of IEB achievers along with Laura Zick with seven distinctions behind her name.

“All those who took the advanced programme English course, set at UK A-levels standard, comfortably passed,” said Lothar Witthöft, deputy principal.

He thanked parents for their support and teachers for guiding, pushing and counseling pupils from kindergarten to Grade 12.

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