Herzlia High School is situated on the slopes of Table Mountain and commands magnificent views of the mountain on the one side and Cape Town harbour on the other.
Herzlia High School, as part of the group of United Herzlia Schools, is a Jewish community school for all the Jewish children of the Cape Town Jewish community.
The mission of the school is to provide an educational ‘home’ for Jewish children, irrespective of Jewish religious affiliation, irrespective of any special needs these children might have and irrespective of their parents’ financial status.
Furthermore, the school is happy to welcome non-Jewish children from any religious denomination, colour or creed. Nevertheless, these children will be required to study Hebrew and Jewish Studies until the end of Grade 9 and Jewish Studies until the end of Grade 12.
The overriding aim of the school is to provide an excellent standard of academic education to all learners in such a way that every learner has the opportunity to achieve his/her full potential. This includes the development of the individualized learning programmes (IEP) where required. To this end, the size of classes is, by and large, limited to 25 learners per class.
The school is, however, dedicated to the development of the whole child and therefore offers a plethora of opportunities beyond the classroom:
- all the regular sporting codes (cricket, netball, rugby, chess, soccer, basketball, squash, golf, tennis, swimming, waterpolo)
- less usual sporting disciplines (surfing, cycling)
- cultural activities (debating, school plays)
- a wide variety of outreach programmes which focus on the school community, the Jewish community as well as the wider community (Interact, United Africa Society, Drug Awareness Group, Steer Clear, TOP, Feedback, Friends of Glendale, a branch of the Treatment Action Campaign, The Environmental Association)
- spiritual opportunities: the Judaica Society organizes talks and activities; we celebrate and commemorate all Jewish holy days; the JIPSY department is dedicated to organizing informal Jewish education.
- The school is underpinned by a recognition of the centrality of Israel as the natural home of the Jewish people.
The principal is Mrs Marianne Marks.