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Grey College, Bloemfontein

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Coordinates: 29°6′34″S 26°11′48″E / 29.10944°S 26.19667°E / -29.10944; 26.19667
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Not to be confused with Grey High School in Gqeberha.

Grey College
Grey College school crest
Address
Map
Jock Meiring St,

Bloemfontein
,
Free State

South Africa
Information
School typeAll-boys semi-private school
MottoNIHIL STABILE QUOD INFIDUM
(Nothing is steadfast if it is not true)
Established13 October 1855; 168 years ago (1855-10-13)
FounderSir George Grey
Sister schoolEunice High School for Girls
School districtDistrict 9
PrincipalBraam van Wyk
HeadmasterJurie Geldenhuis (Primary School)
Grades00–12
GenderMale
Number of students1,200 boys
Language
Schedule07:30 – 13:45
CampusUrban Campus
HousesBrill House
Leith House
Murray House
Colour(s)  Gold
  Navy
  White
Nickname
  • GCB
  • The College
  • Grey
Rivals
AccreditationFree State Department of Education
School feesR39 840 (boarding)
R35 060 (tuiton)
WebsiteGrey College

Grey College (Afrikaans: Grey Kollege) is a semi-private English & Afrikaans medium school for boys situated in the suburb of Universitas in Bloemfontein in the Free State province of South Africa, it is one of the 23 Milner Schools. The sister school is Eunice High School (Bloemfontein).

Grey College was ranked 1st among high schools in Africa by Africa Almanac in 2003 and 2013, based upon quality of education, student engagement, strength and activities of alumni, school profile, internet and news visibility.[1]

History

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The school was officially opened on 13 October 1855 and the first headmaster was the Reverend Andrew Murray. Believed by scholars and alumni to be the third-oldest school in South Africa, there are in fact several other schools that were established at earlier dates as far back as 1738.[2] With formal education being established later in the northern regions of the country, it is the oldest school north of the Orange River.[1]

During his presidential inauguration speech in 1896, while addressing learners from Grey College, Marthinus Theunis Steyn mentioned that he envisioned a university for Bloemfontein where youth from all over the country could come and study. He supported the idea that Grey College should provide higher education to the people of the Orange Free State. As a result, the University of the Free State essentially came into existence in 1904 when a tertiary portion of Grey College was allocated for such purpose.[3]

Grey College today

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The school grounds consist of a number of historic buildings, of which five are Free State provincial heritage sites: the Main building and Hamilton Hall,[4] the Andrew Murray House,[5] the Brill House[6] and the Tuck shop.[7]

The school offers a number of scholarships such as the Badawi Legacy scholarship given in partnership with Montpellier Rugby Club to promote rugby, education and French culture.[8] Old Greys donate funds to the Jock Meiring Trust and Bram Fisher Trust, funds used for the administration of school grounds and granting of scholarships.[9]

Grey College is known nationally as being particularly strong at the sport of rugby, the "secret" handshake,[10] and old boys speaking passionately about their school.[11][12]

[edit]
  • Main Building
    Main Building
  • The Tuck Shop
    The Tuck Shop
  • Reunion Hall
    Reunion Hall

Notable alumni

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Athletes

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South Africa national cricket team players
Springbok rugby players
Bafana Bafana football players

References

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  1. ^ a b "top20highschools". Africa Almanac. Africa Almanac. 1 October 2003. Archived from the original on 14 January 2007. Retrieved 19 June 2016. The research leading up to the publication of the 100 Best High Schools in Africa began with the launching of the website in December 2000.
  2. ^ Johannes, Lesley-Anne. "This list with 200 of South Africa's oldest schools may surprise you". Parent24. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  3. ^ Marthinus Theunis Steyn, regsman staatsman en volksman, M.C.E. van Schoor, Protea Boekhuis Pretoria 2009, p. 87
  4. ^ "9/2/302/0056 – Main building and Hamilton Hall, Grey College, Bloemfontein". South African Heritage Resources Agency. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013.
  5. ^ "9/2/302/0057 – Andrew Murray House, Grey College, Jock Meiring Street, Bloemfontein". South African Heritage Resources Agency.
  6. ^ "9/2/302/0058 – Brill House, Grey College, Jock Meiring Street, Bloemfontein". South African Heritage Resources Agency.
  7. ^ "9/2/302/0059 – Tuck shop, Grey College, Jock Meiring Street, Bloemfontein". South African Heritage Resources Agency.
  8. ^ "French Top14 club invest in Grey College". Sport. 19 September 2017. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  9. ^ "Bullied Grey College pupil sent to school with bodyguard". News24. 22 October 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  10. ^ "Grey Handshake". Grey College 1st XV Rugby Stats & School Information. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  11. ^ "Home". Grey College 1st XV Rugby Stats & School Information. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  12. ^ Dr David Paul Kast (Old Grey1957), retrieved 10 August 2023
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