Pretoria Boys High School’s legacy began in the Staatsmodelskool, initially serving local pupils but repurposed as a prisoner of war facility during the Second Anglo-Boer War, notably housing Winston Churchill before his famed escape.

In 1901, the building was reopened as a school under headmaster Charles Hope, marking the start of Pretoria Boys High School. By 1909, the School had moved to its current site on Waterkloof Ridge, with a new classical revival campus designed by Piercy Eagle and made possible through General Jan Smuts’ vision to establish a premier educational institution for boys. Over the years, PBHS’s enrolment and reputation grew, and its curriculum expanded to include rigorous academics, sports, and arts.

The PBHS provides a scenic environment in which boys can thrive academically and socially. Set on 85 acres of prime real estate, the imposing sandstone buildings at the foot of Waterkloof Kop form a focal point with pristine sports fields and natural vegetation creating a tranquil learning environment. Three boarding houses surrounding the main buildings, offer accommodation to over 300 boys.

Academic infrastructure comprises 30 classrooms, computer labs, a library, music centre, and sporting facilities that includes a cricket oval with a pavilion, rugby fields, a hockey astro, basketball courts, athletics field, tennis courts, squash courts, swimming pool, water polo pool, soccer fields and a shooting range. The main school hall was recently extended and modernised and is the hub of school activities.

Other amenities include a tuck shop, sanatorium and wellness centre and the school clothing shop.

At PBHS we believe in the power of selfless acts and the importance of giving back to our community. Rooted in our core values and principles, our charity initiatives encourage pupils, families, and staff to come together to support those in need. Through various fundraising activities and service projects, we aim to foster a culture of compassion and generosity, because every act of kindness makes a difference.

Community engagement initiatives at PBHS at present include:

• Supporting Daybreak House for Babies
• Fundraising for Lemon Tree Kids that assists children battling osteosarcoma
• Blood donations through four blood drives a year
• Social Outreach Society that plays an integral part in the Boys High’s community involvement initiatives
• Representative Council of Learners (RCL) raises funds for many local organisations.

PBHS is home to a fully equipped Sanatorium and Counselling Centre. The centre is located centrally on campus and offers medical care and support to all our boys. The sanatorium is staffed by two registered nurses who are available to attend to minor illnesses and injuries on a daily basis. Should a boy require further assistance, the nurses will arrange for the appropriate care givers.

In collaboration with the support offered within a boy’s house through their housemaster, tutors and teachers, the school offers the services of three on-site psychologists. PBHS is committed to taking a holistic view of the pupil in his educational journey. Everyone’s journey is different and this may include the need for services of a psychological nature during his time at the Boys High.

We aim to assist pupils with their emotional, psychological, social and behavioural well-being. This is done adhering to the HPCSA’s code of ethics through prioritising the confidentiality and dignity of the pupils as our clients.

PBHS is divided into ten houses, three of which are boarding houses and seven of which are day houses. When a pupil arrives at Boys High, he is allocated to a day house (unless an immediate relative is a current or past pupil, in which case he is allocated to the relative’s house). Each house has five tutors and a housemaster. The tutor’s function is to monitor the academic progress, extramural involvement and social development of the boys in his or her group. As each boy remains in one house throughout his school career, both the tutors and the housemasters come to know the boys very well. This continuity allows problems to be picked up early and also facilitates the transfer of information about the boys from one year to the next.

PBHS places a very high premium on the boys developing all facets of their personalities. The house system encourages boys who may not be selected for school teams, the opportunity to participate at an inter-house level. Disciplinary problems are also dealt within the house context. If a teacher has a concern with a pupil, he refers the pupil to his housemaster who will take corrective action where necessary. This will usually entail contacting the parents of the boy. The support of parents in this regard is invaluable.