Transformation Statement

As a South African Anglican School in our new democracy, St Peter’s commits to embracing diversity. By this, the St Peter’s community means that it seeks to accept and to teach respect for all differences in humanity, including race, gender, age, language and religion, but that given the history of South Africa, race should enjoy a special focus. Although the school was opened to all races in 1977 and has increasingly sought to become more demographically representative, it recognises that despite the progress it has made, an even more concerted effort is required. Consequently, the school has identified Transformation as a primary strategic objective. St Peter’s eschews all forms of racism and seeks to create an environment that is affirming and values diversity which focuses on the commonalities of humanity, rather than the differences.

St Peter’s cannot claim to be an educational institution in the fullest sense unless it endeavours to expose all its pupils to the type of society in which they will live and work. As such, Transformation initiatives will not only be confined to the demographics of the school enrolment, but will continue to include involvement in Community Partnership projects with communities where inequality and socio-economic or physical/biological inequality exists. 

As with each major undertaking at St Peter’s, all decisions, enterprises and programmes regarding Transformation will be guided by the following principles:

• St Peter’s’ identity as an Anglican, Christian school within the Diocese of Johannesburg
• The School’s Vision and Mission Statement
• The long-term sustainability of the school

Although this constitutes a new emphasis, several different initiatives have been in place over a number of years. During the ‘90’s St Peter’s expanded its Outreach Programme and introduced a Teacher Intern Programme, as well as bursaries for children from disadvantaged communities. It also began actively to seek pupils of colour and to recruit and develop staff from previously disadvantaged communities. 

In building on its Transformation efforts, the Council and Executive Committee of the school decided, at the end of 2009, to improve the enrolment of pupils of colour at that time by 10 percentage points. The goal, therefore, is to take the 16% enrolment of pupils of colour at 2009 to 26% by the end of 2012. The school further aims to employ a teacher of colour each year during this period, as well as staff with disabilities, in line with Employment Equity targets. 

In order to achieve these objectives, the school has engaged the parent body to offer advice, support and assistance through task teams in the following areas:

1. Policy Review
2. Marketing and pupil recruitment
3. Staff recruitment
4. Integration of new families and bursary pupils
5. Bursary funding

These Task Teams are advisory rather than decision-making bodies, which will assist the school in reaching its Transformation objectives. 

If you wish to know more about Transformation at St Peter’s or how you can become more involved, please do not hesitate to contact myself, rector@stpeters.co.za, nsloane@stpeters.co.za, tattlee@stpeters.co.zaor vanessal@mweb.co.za.

G.W. ROYCE
RECTOR

July 2010