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Welcome to our Junior School

From the nurturing environment of the Foundation Phase through to the innovative Upper Junior School, the Roedean journey to excellence starts here.

Message from the Head of Junior School

Welcome...

Roedean School is not just a place of learning. It is a place where young girls are taken seriously. Where intellect is met with curiosity, creativity with rigour, and individuality with a deep sense of belonging. You can feel the school values in the way our girls carry themselves, the way they ask bold questions, and the way they step forward with purpose and compassion. 

We do not prepare girls to fit into the world. We prepare them to shape it. A Roedean girl grows up with agency because she is trusted, challenged, and supported from the very start. The journey from learner to leader begins the moment she walks through our doors.

Our beautiful campus reflects the Roedean story, steeped in tradition yet alive with possibility. Our heritage gardens bloom with history and symbolism, offering quiet corners for reflection and imaginative play. The Peace Garden is a much-loved space for stillness and community, while the bell tower at St Margaret’s holds deep meaning for our youngest girls. To ring the bell is a rite of passage, marking growth, courage, and the joy of belonging. These experiences become part of who our girls are, grounding them in values while inviting them to dream widely.

With exceptional academic, cultural, sporting and leadership offerings, Roedean provides more than just opportunity. It provides intention. Every space, every interaction, every tradition is carefully shaped to nurture the development of remarkable young women. The earlier your daughter begins her journey with us, the more deeply she is rooted in the ethos that sets a Roedean girl apart. 

I warmly invite you to visit and discover what makes this school not just the right choice, but the best one for your daughter.

Mrs Keshma Patel
Head of Junior School

Be kind curious and love life active creative and think equal

Junior School Overview

An amazing educational journey

The journey at Roedean begins in Grade 0 in the magical environment of St Margaret’s, home to the Foundation Phase. Here, the Grade 0 Squirrels and Hedgehogs are gently introduced to school life, before transitioning into Grade 1 to Form 1 (Grade 3) and the formality of ‘big’ school. During this phase, the class teachers and classroom assistants focus on the overall well-being of each pupil, ensuring happy and stimulating learning experiences.

As the pupils grow and become more independent, they graduate up the hill to the Upper Junior School. Here, the focus is on developing each student’s unique strengths, creating a love of learning, and encouraging curiosity, tenacity, friendship, physical activity, problem solving, and social justice.

The talents and passions of our teachers, the personal qualities of each pupil in their care, and our stimulating educational approach underpin success at Roedean. 

Our founding values of Truth, Honour, Freedom, and Courtesy are the cornerstones for encouraging resilient, life-long, self-directed learners, who are able to work collaboratively in striving to live an authentic life of significance.

Nurturing Environment

Our Pastoral Care Offering:
Ensuring a Nurturing Environment

Overview

Focused on the well-being of our pupils.

Our Junior School Pastoral Care Team is made up of the Deputy Head with a team of psychologists who are committed to the emotional and social well-being of our community: our students, teachers, and parents.

Because of ever-increasing social, co-curricular and academic pressures, healthy emotional intelligence is important as it develops resilience, motivation, empathy, reasoning, and good stress management, which all equip the students to navigate their way when facing challenges in their lives.

Authentic connections with the pupils and with you, the parents, make all feel safe, heard and supported.

Academics

Our Curriculum

We offer a progressive and inclusive curriculum that ensures that each of our pupils is given the tools and support to develop key skills in a caring and nurturing environment. Our vision is to develop our students’ cognitive ability, creativity and emotional well-being so that they become ethical global citizens and equal thinkers.

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Curriculum Focus Areas

Our aim is to provide a world-class education that is centred around the holistic development of each student and which offers equality of opportunity, ensuring that every pupil is included and supported, and that no pupil gets left behind. The curriculum in the Junior School has moved away from a traditional approach, providing many challenges, and engaging our students in solving problems, applying themselves creatively, and expressing their understanding effectively.

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Cognitive Education

The Cognitive Education Programme underpins the entire curriculum at Roedean, from Grade 0 to Matric. It plays a large part in building an effective learning community, with the goal of producing independent, creative, critical, reflective, and ethical thinkers who will be equipped to thrive in the rapidly changing world in which they will work and live. The programme aims to develop and enhance the students’ ability to exercise metacognition, reason logically, think strategically, solve problems, innovate, create, imagine, and to communicate effectively.

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Foundation Phase

We instil a love for reading from the very start of Grade 0, so that by the time our pupils leave St Margaret’s (our Foundation Phase) they are confident, fluent readers. Using Jolly Phonics, a multi-sensory programme that teaches children to read and write using synthetic phonics, our students are soon decoding words and expressing themselves in writing.

The programme continues throughout the Junior School years by extending the earlier phonics teaching with further spelling, grammar, and punctuation concepts in the Jolly Grammar Programme.

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Upper Junior School

After their grounding in St Margaret’s, the pupils migrate up the hill to the Upper Junior School. Teaching and learning in the separate subjects is complemented by our commitment to current National and Global initiatives and programmes that enhance learning.

We have also implemented the Steerglobal AS Tracking tool, which allows us to monitor the mental well-being of our students, to identify those who are at emotional risk, and to intervene and provide the necessary support as early as possible.

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IT Integration

Our IT staff create a variety of interactive learning opportunities with the aid of computers, iPads, drones, virtual reality goggles, Sphero Robots, Lego Robotics and Bee-Bots, to list but a few. Our IT curriculum is constantly evolving and our students are introduced to relevant and up-to-date technology to create real-world learning experiences. With exposure to a plethora of online platforms, it has become imperative to ensure that our pupils are taught to be smart digital citizens who are safe and ethical online.

To assist in this endeavour, our students follow the CyberSharp Digital Citizenship Curriculum.

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Co-Curricular Activities

We help our pupils discover their passions

A vibrant co-curricular programme offers pupils additional opportunities to hone their skills in areas that they enjoy. Sporting, cultural and service activities, alongside the experiences provided by Round Square, camps and outings, all extend and enhance our core offering to give each student a truly holistic experience. 

Explore Activities

About our Sports Programme

Ensuring physical, cognitive and emotional growth

Sport exercises each student’s faculties in the physical, cognitive and emotional realms. Our aim is to do more than just feed a pupil’s capacity for growth and development; ultimately, it is to direct that growth and development in accordance with what are believed to be the best long-term interests of the child.

Explore Sports

Social Responsibility

See what we’re up to

At the heart of Roedean School is a strong sense of community.

Guided by our principles, we strive to make a difference in the community and world around us through various Social Responsibility projects that focus on sustainable social development and social justice.

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Junior School Events

Junior School Events

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Thabiso Madiba

Thabiso Madiba qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2006 after completing his articles at Ernst & Young in the Mining and Manufacturing division. In 2007, he spent three months on secondment at Ernst & Young LLP in New York, where he focused primarily on auditing hedge funds.

In April 2008, he joined the University of Johannesburg as a lecturer, teaching the Finance 3 module to undergraduate students in the Chartered Accounting stream. During this time, he also supervised Master’s students in Taxation. He went on to complete his M.Com in International and South African Taxation at North-West University in 2010.

In addition to his academic and professional work, Thabiso provides financial and tax consulting services to small and medium enterprises. He also serves in various board and committee roles, including:

  • Sasol Khanyisa – Chairman
  • UJ Provident Fund – Chairman
  • Trevor Noah Foundation – Board Member
  • Peermont Global East Free State – Board Member
  • King Edward VII School Governing Body – Deputy Chairman and Chair of the Finance Committee
  • Old Edwardian Society – Executive Committee Treasurer
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Gontse Zuma

Gontse Zuma is a very proud old Roedeanian, a Roedean mother and a member of the SAORA Committee. Gontse holds a BSc in Property Studies and has a corporate background in retail developments leasing, corporate real estate, and lease agreement negotiation. Her background also includes experience in social media content curation marketing and brand communication.

Currently, Gontse freelances to various global organisations that deliver online education at scale, in the areas of transformational education and property development and investment.

Gontse is an avid writer and scholar on the topic of the mind, body and spirit as it relates to energy, nature, life and transformation.

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Monde Nkosi

Monde is an Investment Director of Value Capital Partners (VCP). He is also an experienced director who has served on the boards of five public companies listed on the JSE and Nasdaq in sectors including financial services, education, staffing, hospitality, and quick-service restaurants. Prior to joining VCP in 2017, Monde was a Senior Associate on the investment team of FFL Partners, a San Francisco-based private equity firm, and a management consultant at Bain & Company, where he focused on financial services and telecommunications clients across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Monde serves on the advisory board of the Centre for Development and Enterprise and is an Archbishop Tutu Leadership Associate. He holds a Bachelor of Business Science with Honours in Finance from the University of Cape Town, a Master of Arts in Education from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Education, and an MBA from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business, where he was an Arjay Miller Scholar.

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Yusuf Noorbhai

Yusuf Noorbhai is a Senior Executive at Standard Bank, heading up the Corporate Finance Division. He also serves on the Executive Committee for Investment Banking.

He has over 18 years of global corporate experience, with a strong track record in building businesses, managing teams, client relationships, and operating effectively at a senior stakeholder level across a variety of cultures and markets throughout the world.

He has represented Standard Bank in various capacities, and has served on external boards of companies and investment funds in which the bank has strategic shareholdings. He has been integral to the development and execution of the Diversity and Inclusion Strategy for Standard Bank, which has afforded him insight and knowledge into the subject matter, coupled with an important appreciation for the challenges faced by any institution in navigating this complex yet crucial initiative.

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Sipho Maseko

Sipho Nkosinathi Maseko is Group Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director at Telkom SA and Principal at Kleoss Capital. He also serves on the boards of Afrox Healthcare, the Centre for Development and Enterprise, and the Gyro Group.

Previously, he held the positions of Chairman of Shell and BP South African Petroleum Refineries; Chief Executive Officer of BP Southern Africa; Chairman of the Business Connexion Group; Managing Director and Group Chief Operating Officer of Vodacom SA; Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director of the Vodacom Group; and Managing Director of Vodacom (Pty) Ltd.

He holds a graduate degree from the University of KwaZulu Natal and an undergraduate degree from the University of the Witwatersrand

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Dominique Laroque

Dominique Laroque is a third generation Roedeanian. She matriculated with distinction and was awarded the prestigious white honours blazer for colours across four sport disciplines. In tertiary she graduated at the top of her class with a BSc QS and a BCom (Law).

Dominique enjoyed a very successful career path in construction and mining before moving into investment banking. As an analyst at JP Morgan she achieved ratings in various sectors locally and abroad and gained extensive corporate finance experience as a member of JP Morgan’s global aerospace advisory team. She then spent years in research management at Credit Suisse and Nedbank before starting her own stockbroking company in 2017 as an empowerment initiative.

It has been an upward trajectory for Dominique and her team who have developed a mathematical model which evaluates an organisation’s ability to generate long-term value for investors. They are currently ranked no. 3 in South Africa in this field.

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Thembi Mbengashe-Mazibuko

Thembi Mbengashe-Mazibuko serves as the Chief People Officer at Pick n Pay, where she leads the overall People function across PnP retail stores, serving a workforce of over 33,000 employees. A career spanning close to two decades in the retail and communication sectors, Thembi possesses qualifications in finance and information systems.

Throughout her career, Thembi has held various leadership positions, at PnP, Unilever and Woolworths. She has held diverse roles across Marketing, Strategy, Commercial/Buying, ESG, and currently, People/HR. In her current role, she assumes responsibility for directing the strategy and implementation of the complete employee value proposition, which spans recruitment, training, reward, change management, and industrial relations. Thembi’s commitment lies in cultivating a customer-focused, values-led, diverse, and inclusive team within the organisation.

Beyond her professional pursuits, Thembi finds great fulfilment in her role as a family-oriented individual. She has two young children, who attend Roedean and St Johns College. Furthermore, she embodies optimism regarding the future of her country and wholeheartedly believes in actively engaging as a social citizen.

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Dale Quaker

Dale Quaker is currently the Chief Financial Officer for Cupric Africa, a private equity owned mining company which through its Botswana sister company Khoemacau Copper recently completed the building of its copper silver project.

He was previously the CFO of the Khoemacau Group leading the finance function as the Group transitioned from an exploration company, through the fundraising of a $650m debt, streaming and equity funding package through to completion of construction..

Prior to joining Cupric, he was an independent consultant to the mining and construction industries. In his last corporate role, he headed up the marketing and logistics function for Xstrata Coal South Africa, after having fulfilled a senior finance role in the company previously..

Dale held roles at BHPBillition subsidiary, Samancor Chrome, both at the operations and corporate office in Johannesburg. Dale is a qualified Chartered Accountant and Chartered Management Accountant.

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Claudia Bickford-Smith

Claudia Bickford-Smith is an old Roedeanian who began her career as a teacher in South Africa. She has extensive P&L and Board-level experience in education: learning design, edtech, qualification and assessment development and school management, working with senior executives, Heads of schools and their leadership teams, investors, Ministries of Education, Regulators and Awarding Bodies. Over the last 15 years Claudia has worked as a Global Director for both Cambridge University Press & Assessment, and Oxford University Press (OUP), based in the UK.

As CEO of Aldates Global Education, headquartered in Oxford, UK, Claudia is leading on the diversification of Aldates Global Education’s portfolio, focusing on global expansion of best educational practices, while developing a sustainable growth strategy for schools, working with partners to deliver this: technology platforms, school operational services, research partners and sales and distribution.

Claudia holds a degree in History from the University of Cape Town, a Master of Arts from the University of Cambridge, as well as Master’s Modules in Education & Technology from University College London’s Institute of Education. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (F.R.S.A.), and a member of the Harvard Graduate School of Education Professional Community.

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Lindi Dlamini

Mrs. Lindi Dlamini has been at the helm of Roedean as Executive Director of Roedean since January 2023 and is the first black woman to be in this role in the 120 years history of Roedean. She has a wealth of leadership experience with 20 years executive leadership experience. She serves as an Independent Non-Executive for a bank and wealth management firm.

Prior to her tenure at Roedean School (SA), Lindi was the CEO of the President’s GBVF Response Fund1 which was set up in 2020 to resource the fight against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide as part of South Africa’s commitment to SDG5 (Gender Equality) and the country’s National Strategic Plan (NSP) on GBVF. She was previously a CEO of Safrican Insurance Company, Group Executive of PPS Human Capital, MD of Alexander Forbes Retail and Group Executive for Emerging Consumer Markets and Retail Operations in South Africa at Liberty Holdings. She has over twenty-five years of financial services experience. She is a fellow of the sixth class of the Africa Leadership Initiative (ALISA) and the Aspen Global Leadership Network (AGLN).

She holds BA (LAW); LLB and LLM degrees.