Cordwalles Preparatory School

Cordwalles Preparatory School is a private, Anglican, independent preparatory school for boys in Pietermaritzburg, the capital of KwaZulu-Natal, offering both day and boarding places. It was founded in 1912 by the Right Reverend Samuel Baines, Bishop of Natal, as a preparatory school for Michaelhouse – which had moved to Balgowan and needed a feeder school of its own – beginning with just twelve boys on a small plot of land. Over more than a century it has grown into a well-loved school of around 350 boys set on a spacious 15-hectare campus, and has been guided by only seven headmasters in its history.

Cordwalles educates boys from Grade RR through to Grade 7, with boarding available from Grade 4 – making it a gentle, well-supported introduction to the high-school boarding that awaits many of its pupils. Proudly “boys only” and rooted in its Anglican foundation, the school focuses on personal excellence, Christian values and long-standing tradition, striving to build boys of courage and character in a nurturing, innovative learning environment.

As a respected feeder to the country’s leading high schools, Cordwalles offers a balanced, relevant education that combines strong academics with competitive sport, enriching cultural pursuits and social and environmental responsibility. Excellent facilities – including a theatre, science laboratory, design-and-technology centre, sports fields and a swimming pool – ensure there is an activity for every boy to enjoy. Full fee and admissions details are available directly from the school.