Clifton School

Clifton School is an independent day school for boys in the leafy suburb of Morningside, Durban – the city’s only independent boys’ school. It was founded on 5 February 1924 by Harry Stubbs, the retired first headmaster of Durban Preparatory High School, in his own home on Lambert Road; originally called “Stubbs School,” it was soon renamed “Clifton” by his daughter in memory of a cousin killed in the First World War. For most of its history Clifton was a renowned preparatory school, but in 2002 it opened a high school, Clifton College, and by 2006 had produced its first matriculants – achieving the milestone of a full thirteen years of education from Grade 00 to Grade 12 on one site.

A “boys’ school by conviction,” Clifton knows, loves and understands boys, and is dedicated to developing responsible, confident and capable young men who value family, thrive on healthy competition and act with compassion. Its educational philosophy rests on the pillars of scholarship, leadership, sportsmanship, culture and community, and its motto Prodesse Quam Conspici (“to accomplish, rather than to be conspicuous”) captures its understated ethos.

Learning runs from a play-based Foundation Phase through the Preparatory School to Clifton College, where boys write the internationally benchmarked IEB National Senior Certificate. Small classes, specialist teachers and modern facilities – including the Clifton Aquatics Centre with its Olympic-size pool – support strong academic results alongside a vibrant programme of sport, the arts and the unique Clubs@Clifton. Full fee and admissions details are available directly from the school.