Jeppe High School for Boys

History

St. Michael's College was the predecessor of all the Jeppe Schools. This was an Anglican private school on the corner of Commissioner and Crowns Street in Fairview. There were 25 students when the school first opened. The headmaster of the school was Rev. H B Sidwell. His successor was Rev. George Perry, in 1891.

The buildings of the college and the site on which its grounds lay were bought by the Witwatersrand Council for education, in 1896, as the school was struggling to function. The school was re-opened, in April 1897, by the council as Jeppestown Grammar School. 15 boys enrolled into the school and the first headmaster of the school was Mr. H Hardwick. However, financial issues of the school forced the council to reduce its disbursement. As a result, Mr. Hardwick and the rest of the schools staff were given notice. On the 1st of October, 1898, a group of Jeppestown parents bought th school from the council for £2 500. the staff had been replaced, but Mr. Hardwick remained the headmaster of the school.

In 1899, the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer War forced the school to close down. the amount of students slowly decreased. Mr. Harwick left in 1899, in September.

The school re-opened, after the war, as Jeppestown High School for Girls and Boys. The land was donated by Sir Julius Jeppe. It was opened in the same building of the Grammar School, and was one of the first co-educational schools, opened by the Transvaal Education Department (T.E.D). The precise date of the re-opening is unknown. it is believed to be during the first quarter of the year 1902, as a letter sent to the Department of education by the school about the teachers being unwilling to teach under the conditions of the unfinished building as well as there not being enough space for the number of children, was sent on April 9 of that year.

The Parents' Committee experienced financial hardships at the same time of the school's construction. In September 1902, the Education Department was presented with an ultimatum, which stated that either they purchase the premises or vacate it, by October that year. The Public Works Department advised for. Purchase to be made, until a new school building could be constructed.

The new headmaster of the school, in 1902, was Mr. C D Hope He remained headmaster until he left in 1904 to found a fellow " Milner School" Potchefstroom High School for Boys. He was succeeded by Mr. J H Payne, who became a staff member in 1902 and remained headmaster until his death, in 1917, during his service in the First World War. (170 boys and staff members lost their lives to the border conflicts and two World Wars) Mr. Payne acquired the building that the Jeppe Boys students currently occupy.

By 1912 the new school's grounds were not sufficient enough for the accumulating number of pupils at the school. Due to the boys out-numbering the girls, and pressure from the Governing Body of the school, who were against the co-educational system of the school, it was decided that the girls would be moved to another premises. The split would occur in 1919.

When Johannesburg celebrated its centenary, in 1986, the main building of Jeppe High School for Boys, as well as the First World War Memorial, were declared national monuments.

Current administration

Headmaster | Principal

War Memorial

A dome built near the main entrance of the school is one of the prominent facades of the school building. One side of the dome is used for "recruiting" and the other as the school museum. Alongside the dome, names of boys who died during the war while still attending the school can be found. The dome also features a plinth with the names of staff and pupils who lost their lives in The Great War. Mr. James Humphrey Allen Payne, who was a headmaster at the school, died of a fever in 1917 while serving in the war. The second hall in the school is named after him.

When the school celebrated its centenary in 1986, the First World War Memorial, which was opened by field Marshall Jan Smuts, was declared a national monument.

Hostel

In 1912, Oribi House, the oldest hostel, was built. In 1916, Tsessebe House occupied Friedenheim, Sir Julius Jeppe's home. During the Anglo-Boer War, Friedenheim was used as British Headquarters and was owned by Sir Abe Bailey. In the early 1960s, Friedenheim was declared unsafe to occupy and was demolished. Roan House and Sable House are the oldest buildings on the property.

Main Gates

The main gates to the school are dedicated to FWB von Linsingen and AS Dashwood who were both killed in action Bardia on 31 December 1941.

World War II Rolls of Honour

Two World War II plaques are situated in the foyer of the school's main hall. These contain the names of Jeppe pupils who died in action while still attending the school.

Jeppe High School for Boys Association

Created in 2009, the JBA is an Old Boys association which aims to link past pupils of the school as well as those in the community who have supported the school. The association assists with reunions and fundraising in the school, as well as providing scholarships to underprivileged scholars.

Academics

Jeppe Boys write the Gauteng Department of Education preliminarily examinations and the Department of Education, South Africa final examination via the FET (Further Education Training) board. They are also offered the opportunity to partake in Advanced Programme mathematics, which is written separately under the IEB

Scholarships

Jake White Scholarship Fund

The Jake White Scholarship, named after Jake White who was a pupil at the school from Grade 8 to Grade 12, aims to brand all sports scholarships at the school under this fund.

White, who is a former Springbok and IRB World Cup Winning Coach, and Jeppe old boy, was a prominent figure in the Springboks' victory in 2007 during the Rugby World Cup.

Theo Jackson Scholarship Fund

The Theo Jackson Scholarship Fund, established by Dale and Craig Jackson in 2006 in honour of their late father, Theo Jackson, is a separate scholarship within the JBA association. The scholarship aims to grant scholarships to boys of all races and from disadvantaged backgrounds. Recipients of the scholarship are not chosen based on academic or sporting excellence but rather on strength of character and the will to succeed despite a disadvantaged background.

100 Club

The 100 Club, formed in 2004, aims to improve sports, academics, facilities and infrastructure at Jeppe Boys through donations from Jeppe old Boys.

Extramural activities

Listed alphabetically according to season

Academics

Jeppe Boys write the Gauteng Department of Education preliminarily examinations and the Department of Education, South Africa final examination via the FET (Further Education Training) board.

Subjects

In line with the requirements of the Education Department, Jeppe High School for Boys offers the following subjects in the Junior and Senior Phase:

School buildings

Jeppe Boys has stone buildings with a prominent facade. The Payne Hall, a stone building with a largely wooden interior, has been declared a national monument. Within the school is another national monument; a war memorial dedicated to those who died in the First World War.

Prominent Old Boys