It was hard work and determination that enabled Spine Road High School pupils to achieve the excellent results they did in the annual systemic tests.
They are the first school in Mitchell’s Plain to obtain above 80 percent for mathematics and English in the test for 2015.
The school also received the director’s award.
At a ceremony, held at Muizenberg High School on Saturday June 4, it was announced that Spine Road High had achieved 84 percent for mathematics and 96 percent for English in the 2015 Grade 9 systemic test.
Spine Road principal Riyaadh Najaar said the great achievement was the result of hard work, dedication and teamwork by the teachers.
“Our educators are committed to motivating pupils to achieve excellent results.
“We need to provide our children with the opportunity to access the professions that have been reserved for more affluent communities.
“In the entire Metropole South district, our school was one of only five schools to achieve this distinction,” he said.
The other schools were Wynberg Boys’ High, Wynberg Girls’ High, Bergvliet High and Norman Henshilwood High.
“It shows that quality education can be attained in our own community and that parents do not need to send their children outside of Mitchell’s Plain and pay exorbitant school and travelling fees to ensure quality education,” he said.
The curriculum head and deputy principal, Mark Fairbairn, said he was elated with the achievement and had already put plans in place to sustain the improvement.
He is convinced that committed teachers will always bring good results.
Teacher Rehana Harnekar, who was at the awards ceremony, said: “I was so proud of our school. I am convinced that one can use a your adverse environment as a motivation to do well.
“As I always say, you must never blame our circumstances for not achieving.”
In 2014, Spine Road became the first Mitchell’s Plain school to obtain a 100 percent pass rate in the National Senior Certificate exams.