Online Reporter
St James High School continues to set the benchmark for academic and extracurricular excellence, achieving exceptional results and producing well-rounded students who embody the school’s ethos of discipline, resilience, and leadership.
At its annual Speech and Prize-Giving Day, held on October 11 under the theme, “Adapting and Thriving in an Evolving Environment”, the school proudly celebrated its consistent success in both academic performance and personal development.
St James has maintained its strong academic tradition with impressive examination results. In 2023, the school recorded a 96,8 percent pass rate at Advanced Level and 91 percent at Ordinary Level. The previous year’s results were equally outstanding, with 95.8 percent at A-level and 95.5 percent at O-level.
Headmistress Ms Siminyeni Bafana attributed this success to dedicated teachers and hardworking students.
“At St James, we believe that excellence is not an act but a habit. Our students are encouraged to set goals, work hard, and always strive for improvement,” she said.
Beyond academics, St James is a model of holistic education. The school provides a nurturing environment where students discover and develop their talents through sports, technology, and the arts. This year, one student represented the school at the national level in basketball. At the same time, teams in beach volleyball, robotics, graphic design, and drama reached national stages, showcasing the school’s diverse talent.
The school’s investment in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has also yielded impressive results. With two modern computer laboratories, one for seniors and another for juniors, St James is preparing its learners for the digital future, ensuring they remain competitive in an increasingly technology-driven world.
Guest of Honour Mrs Milidzani Faith Masiye-Moyo, managing partner at Masiye-Moyo and Associates and a proud St James alumna, praised the school for its transformative impact. She described it as “a special place bursting with optimism and culture, youthful and dynamic, filled with ambition and a desire to make a difference”.
She commended the school’s leadership for continuing to empower young women, saying: “I’m happy to see that the school is still led by women. This is tremendously influential on all of you as future women leaders.”
She also applauded St James’ sporting traditions, noting that swimming and other disciplines teach “the value of hard work, accountability, resilience, patience, discipline, leadership, and mental toughness.”
St James continues to upgrade its facilities to meet international standards. Recent renovations have enhanced the school’s learning environment, ensuring that students study in safe, modern, and inspiring surroundings.
Over the decades, St James High School has produced generations of professionals who continue to make a mark across various sectors, including education, health, law, business, science, and engineering. Alumni include teachers, doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs, engineers, and community leaders, all of whom embody the school’s motto of service, excellence, and integrity.
