Message from the Principal
At Tyger Valley College, we understand the importance of producing well-rounded global citizens who are equipped with everything they need to make an everlasting and positive impact on the world. As a school we have four major focal points (our Pillars of Excellence), which form the foundation upon which we build the next generation of global leaders.
Our academic programme is the first of these Pillars of Excellence. We are very proud of our track record of 100% matric pass rate since our first group wrote in 2011. Our 2018 matric group achieved a Bachelor Degree pass rate higher than the IEB national average! We also understand the importance of Mathematics and Physical Science as “enablers” in the world of tertiary education. We are very proud that our Grade 12’s over the past few years have performed above the national IEB average in both Mathematics and Physical Sciences. In addition, our academic programme focusses on Global Competencies to prepare our pupils for the all-important lateral thought and out-of-the-box type thinking that is not only important in obtaining excellent IEB matric results but also in preparing our pupils to thrive in a world that is rapidly changing. Our Grade 9 group writes an annual benchmarking assessment on these Global Competencies and our school has consistently achieved above the national average. We have installed a GO-Lab high tech STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) space in the high school. The facility is fitted with 3D printers, a laser cutter and related science and technology equipment. The role of the GO-Lab is to equip our pupils with the skills and knowledge necessary to navigate the unknown world of the 4th Industrial Revolution.
Our second Pillar of Excellence is our sporting programme. At Tyger Valley College, we understand the important role that sport plays in a balanced education. We have a comprehensive sporting programme, with sports such as netball, tennis, cross country, rugby, hockey, swimming and water polo on offer. Our heated swimming pool enables our swimmers to train throughout the year and our newly installed state of the art, water-based, flood-lit astro turf also allows us to continue training in the off-season. Our sports men and women enjoy both local and overseas sports tours as well as local festivals and tournaments.
Our third Pillar of Excellence is Art and Culture. With the dawn of the 4th Industrial Revolution, we see the resurgence of the importance and relevance of the arts in the field of science. In conversation with a Doctor of Civil Engineering a while ago, it was mentioned that Art and Science were once closely linked. One needs to look no further than the artistic and scientific genius of Leonardo da Vinci for an example of this. With the dawn of the industrial revolution, art and science largely drifted apart. The world we find ourselves in at the moment is all about science and creativity. The mantra of “If you can dream it, you can do it” has never been truer today than before. At Tyger Valley College we have a very forward thinking Art department. We understand the importance of the Arts in the new world of technology and we are actively looking for opportunities to incorporate science into the artistic realm. Our school embarks on regular cultural tours abroad. We feel that exposure to other cultures allows our pupils to become true global citizens, who do not merely tolerate difference, but rather celebrate the beauty of difference and diversity.
Our fourth Pillar of Excellence is the Environment. Tyger Valley College is an Eco school, with a strong focus on the environment and environmental matters. Environmental themes are woven into many of our subject syllabi, so as to impress on our youth the importance of being kind to the planet. We introduced the TiCi recycling project a few years ago, which allows our pupils and other members of our community to recycle through the school. What is unique about this project is that the recycled material is tracked and recorded per pupil, and our pupils are able to view (through an app) precisely how much they have saved the planet in paper, water, electricity, etc on a weekly basis. An added bonus is the incentive scheme which links the recycling app to our tuckshop, translating recycling points into tuckshop credit.
While Tyger Valley College ticks all the boxes of providing a top academic offering, providing a sporting programme with world class facilities, having a forward thinking approach to the arts and the 4th Industrial revolution, what truly sets us apart from other schools is that our staff and pupils fondly refer to Tyger Valley College as their “home from home”, somewhere they feel safe and loved, a place where they feel valued and recognised for who they are. At Tyger Valley College we truly live according to our motto “Through Enjoyment to Excellence”.
Clyde Mac Donald
High School Principal
