PBHS offers a diverse range of cultural activities, ensuring that every boy has the opportunity to discover and pursue their interests.
The emphasis at the school is on producing boys who are educated in the widest sense of the word; where the nurturing of creativity and personal growth will assist them in reaching their full potential. The cultural sphere is divided into three categories: Clubs and Societies, Music and Productions.
Pretoria Boys High School dedicates every Friday afternoon to cultural activities, with additional cultural events and programs taking place throughout the week. These include world class guest speakers, exhibitions and seminars, tournaments and festivals competing against other schools as well as exciting excursions.
Clubs & Societies
At the heart of the Clubs and Societies lies the ability to engage and participate in unique and often different activities. With fun at its core, like-minded individuals meet regularly with friendships forming as well as potential career paths opening up. Our Aeronautical Society, for example, has produced over 50 professional pilots since its inception.
- Aeronautical Society
- Archery
- Art Club
- Ballroom Dance Club
- Boys’ Highlights
- Business Club
- Card Games Club
- Chess Club
- Choir
- Creative Writer’s Club
- Debating Society
- Fantasy Wargames
- First Aid Society
- French Conversation Club
- Gumboot Dancing
- Library
- Lights and Sound Crew
- Music (view separate page)
- Photographic Society
- Pipe Band
- Public Speaking
- Sailing Club
- Science Club
- Student Christian Association
- Society for National and International Affairs
- Social Outreach Society
- Wildlife Society
- Wrestling Club
“Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.”-Anonymous
The Aeronautical Society is a landing strip for boys who love aviation in its various shapes and forms. The society is very active and is catered for with outings to major airports, gliding at the Magalies Gliding Club, flying in light aircraft and helicopters, attending air shows, talks by aviation experts, as well as visits to aircraft museums.
The boys are also involved in several community-based projects whereby they volunteer their time to clean and restore aircraft at museums and other locations. If a boy is considering a career in aviation, this is the society for them.
Master-In-Charge: Mr M. Maartens – mmaartens@boyshigh.com
Pupils have the exciting opportunity of immersing themselves in the precision and focus required by the sport of Archery. Set against the stunning backdrop of our school’s grounds, our dedicated archery range provides a scenic and inspiring environment for boys to practice and compete. Guided by an experienced coach, our archers work on honing their technique, accuracy, and concentration in a program that fosters both personal growth and teamwork.
Our teams proudly represent PBHS in Provincial and National NASP (National Archery in the Schools Program) tournaments, competing against schools across South Africa. These events allow boys to demonstrate their skill, school pride, and dedication while forming connections within the wider archery community. At PBHS, boys can choose to compete at a high level or engage in archery as a recreational pursuit, enjoying the structured training alongside friends and mentors.
Archery at PBHS instils patience, discipline, and a strong sense of achievement. Whether aiming for personal bests or team success, boys find that the balance between individual improvement and shared goals makes this sport a unique and rewarding experience—one that leaves a lasting impact.
Master-In-Charge: B. Penrose – bpenrose@boyshigh.com
The Art Club is for anyone and everyone who is driven to explore their own personal brand of creativity. Whether a boy has already developed creative art making skills or simply has an interest in learning how to draw and how to get your ideas onto paper, the Art Club has room for everyone.
The club will assist in developing talents and skills as well as explore the world of art appreciation in its different forms. Various projects and workshops will run throughout the year and individual tasks as well as collaborative projects will give boys the opportunity to expand their minds in a vibrant and fun environment.
Master-In-Charge: D. Cloete – dcloete@boyshigh.com
Our Ballroom Dancing Club assists in building our boys’ self-confidence, developing their social skills as well as showing off some talent! This club is open to Form 3 – 5 boys, and we collaborate closely with Pretoria High School for Girls and Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool.
The club primarily features the art of Ballroom and Latin American dancing. Previous dance experience is not required as all dancers start on a beginner level and can work themselves up to an advanced class taught by a professional outside coach and old boy, Ryan Kichenbrand.
The club has two very special annual events: a Mother and Son/Father and Daughter evening and an annual Ballroom Showcase, held in the fourth term, where parents, teachers and friends are afforded the opportunity to be amazed by the dancers’ skills.
Master-In-Charge: S. Botha – sbotha@boyshigh.com
The Boys’ Highlights is the school’s official termly newspaper, written and created by the boys, for the boys.
Under the guidance of experienced editors and journalists, the newspaper allows the boys to slip into the role of journalist, news photographer or cartoonist, providing them with sound first-hand experience of what the world of journalism entails.
The club visits a different publishing house every year for a workshop on the production of print media. They also visit local newspapers for an on-site, in-depth experience.
MIC: S. Hayward / shayward@boyshigh.com
If a boy likens himself to the next Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos, the Business Club is for them. Prospective entrepreneurs receive weekly lectures on topics such as investing, commerce and the economy, while exploring the exciting and fast-paced developments of the business world. They will receive input on how to start and maintain profitable business ventures, and they will go on several excursions where they will be exposed to the ins and outs of the business environment.
The members also participate in two national competitions annually: The Johannesburg Securities Exchange Investment Challenge which is a simulated JSE investment competition as well as the Allan Gray Entrepreneurship Challenge, a web and app-based game. This game exposes boys to weekly micro-challenges in order to develop their entrepreneurial mind-set and develop their skills. Both challenges offer substantial cash prizes.
The Card Games Club is predominantly a social club where boys are taught a wide variety of games which can be played for fun at a party or at home, or in a more competitive capacity. We start with the basics of several card games then go on to arm our boys with the skills to become more competitive as they progress. The games that are taught assist boys in developing their logical and strategic thinking as a skill.
Whether a boy is interested in the kind of games played in tournaments or casinos such as poker, blackjack or bridge; or more leisurely games such as rummy, go fish, cheats, kings and peasants, canasta, or whist, the club offers a place for any level of interest.
Master-In-Charge: C. Davies – cdavies@boyshigh.com
Chess is an incredible way to improve your mathematical skills, develop your ability for strategic and lateral thinking as well as improving your concentration. Apart from all the intellectual advantages, there is a myriad of social advantages that our club offers, like playing social chess with the “girls next door”, meeting like-minded individuals and sharing strategies and tips.
The year kicks off with the Form 1 Chess Championships early in the first term. Once the hierarchy has been established amongst the newcomers, the Internal PBHS Chess Championship is held and teams are chosen to represent the School in the various chess competitions, including the Etienne Lewis Chess Tournament. We also take part in inter-school exchanges which include the Maritzburg Exchange and the Hilton Exchange.
Master-In-Charge: L. Kriel – lkriel@boyshigh.com
In recent years, the school choir has become one of the more popular cultural activities at PBHS. With just under 100 members, we are one of the largest boys’ choirs in Gauteng. What makes the choir particularly unique is the diverse groups of boys who all find commonality in making beautiful music. From First Team rugby players, top academic pupils, to school prefects, the choir is truly a place for all boys.
The boys have several opportunities to expand their talents by performing vocal solos and dancing all while incorporating various musical instruments if they choose to specialise. Many of our boys are also members of the University of Pretoria Youth Choir (UPYC) which is a regional choir made up of the top choral singers from schools in and around Pretoria.
The school choir is one of the show pieces of the school, and are regularly invited to perform at school functions, charity events, national competitions and showcases.
Master in Charge: J Olivier – jolivier@boyshigh.com
Writers are continually in the process of negotiating creative spaces for their voices. Those with a passion for writing cannot do without the activity and feel deprived when they are unable to engage in their passion crafting words, phrases, sentences and paragraphs. Through writing, we each take responsibility for our own story.
The Creative Writing Club strives to challenge its members to think far and wide and evaluate what they see, hear and are exposed to in a critical way. A writer has to have something meaningful to say about a specific topic and therefore, the club attempts to expose members to a variety of stimuli and topical discussions that do not often feature in everyday life.
The Club also host two events annually where boys share their work with an audience. Other clubs and societies may join them for the second event to interpret their work through photography, film or drama.
Master-In-Charge: J Nell– jnell@boyshigh.com
The Debating Club offers a tangible and significant benefit to a boys’ education. The club teaches them not only how to construct a compelling argument, but other essential skills such as critical thinking, improving their verbal skills, all while enhancing their confidence. These skills are essential in offering the boys a holistic education.
There are several benefits of joining the Debating Club. These include increasing your general knowledge and understanding of current affairs; training from top university debaters; acquiring the ability to express yourself confidently and persuasively to an audience; and taking part in several debating festivals, amongst others.
Masters-In-Charge: A. van den Berg and E. Bisschoff – avandenberg@boyshigh.com / ebisschoff@boyshigh.com
Fantasy Wargames offers our boys a unique opportunity to express and explore new hobbies within the nerd-culture universe. Primarily orientated around Trading Card Games, Magic the Gathering (MTG) Warhammer and Dungeons and Dragons (D&D), our club brings individuals with like-minded interests together to share in the fantastical worlds brought to life through collective imagination.
The club caters to all levels of experience. Newbies are welcome to join and are invited to training workshops which will improve the skills of our players. Fantasy Wargames is a melting pot for anyone who wishes to have fun while playing games in a social environment.
Master-In-Charge: N. Kowlaser – nkowlaser@boyshigh.com
The First Aid Society is an absolutely integral part of the school and boys who successfully complete the First Aid course become full members. They assist during inter-school sports’ events and weekday afternoon practices under the supervision of the school sisters.
The aim of training the boys to be First Aiders is to add to the corps of First Aiders in the school, and secondly, to equip these boys with a valuable life skill, piquing their curiosity for all things medical related. A number of our First Aiders have gone on to study medicine
The society draws boys from across the spectrum from sports such as rugby, hockey, water polo, tennis to Arts and Culture boys who participate in drama, photography, orchestra and choir. We therefore have a cosmopolitan array of boys from each Form. If a boy has a servant-heart and can commit to a project without fainting at the sight of blood, then this is the perfect society to join.
Masters-In-Charge: Srs C.M Stephens and L. Mansell: san@boyshigh.com / sansister@boyshigh.com
What better way to learn a language than to speak it? The members are encouraged to practice their newly acquired vocabulary and sentence structures by engaging in one-on-one chats as well as group chats should they feel confident enough.
The group is very casual and making mistakes is not frowned upon. Rather, the boys support and learn from each other, providing an optimal atmosphere to learn and improve on their French skills. French culture is introduced in an informal way through playing games in French and listening to French songs. As a group, the club attends the Francophonie Day every year – an international festival to celebrate the French language spoken in 30 countries globally.
Boys who would like to write the DELF International Certificate Examination are assisted with their exam preparation during the conversation classes and extra classes can be introduced as well.
Master-In-Charge: H. Coetzee – hcoetzee@boyshigh.com
It is, if you speak to our dancers, an excellent form of exercise, and if you see them perform, a wonderful way of expressing themselves. Our members enjoy every moment of practice and this result in a very high standard of performance. The dancers are consistently invited to perform at other schools, school functions, Tuks Rag, openings of art exhibitions, for charities, the South African State Theatre and many more. The dancers are extremely popular and are always praised for their performances.
This is more than a club: it is a family. Our members are totally committed, passionate and enthusiastic about the art form. The Gumboot Dancers welcome boys from ALL cultural backgrounds. Boots and overalls are provided by the club.
Master-In-Charge: Y. van Vollenhoven – yvanvollenhoven@boyshigh.com
The boys who join the Library Prefect Body take on several responsibilities in order to be of service to our boys and staff. They assist boys who are not altogether computer literate; facilitate printing, photocopying, ring binding, and laminating; help with assignments, research projects, and assist with general library enquiries. They also undertake several outreach projects such as donating books to juveniles in prison as well as spending afternoons reading to primary school children.
It is not all hard work though. The Library Prefect Body has a team-building workshop once a year as well as partaking in the annual Readerslink competition held against local high schools which also serves as the annual ‘social’.
Master-In-Charge: K. Botha – kbotha@boyshigh.com
Although they are essentially ‘invisible workers’, the Technical Support Team are absolutely integral to the running of the school’s various social functions. These functions include inter-house plays, the annual and fringe production, special assemblies, new parents’ braai, sports’ events, market days, Old Boys’ lunches and dinners, academic meetings and presentations as well as several showcases throughout the year.
The boys are responsible for setting up the equipment, monitoring the audio-visual output, then packing up the equipment at the venue. The boys are trained on the job and acquire several skills pertaining to the use of equipment, troubleshooting, teamwork and time management.
Master-In-Charge: D McCoy – dmccoy@boyshigh.com
The Photographic Society is essential in portraying the image of the school through its contribution of photographs for sporting and cultural events. It is also a haven for boys who love creating thought-provoking images and capturing a moment in time through their lenses. Aspiring photographers are encouraged and provided guidance on how to build up a strong photographic portfolio.
The society runs monthly master classes with various professional photographers, with skills ranging from the ‘how to use your camera’, to studio portraiture, fine art photography and wildlife photography. All this hard work culminates in the annual photographic exhibition where the members’ images are showcased and sold.
The society enters national and international competitions each year such as the PSA Youth Showcase and the ATKV Skole Kunste kompetisie. We also embark on several day and overnight excursions to places such as National Parks, Memorials, shelters, and other locations of interest.
Master-In-Charge: J. Jooste – jjooste@boyshigh.com
The Pretoria Boys High School Pipe Band embodies the life and heart of the school. The values, traditions and ethos of the school are evident when you hear our boys play. Formed in 1971, the Pipe Band has grown from strength to strength as a result of our proud traditions and heritage. The band competes at an average of seven highland gatherings around Gauteng, with one competition taking us as far as Amanzimtoti.
Boys do not need to own drums or bagpipes to join, nor do they need any experience as a musician or formal musical training. Boys receive all the training they need here at the school in order to turn them into capable musicians. The Pipe Band has always been one of South Africa’s BEST school bands and YOU could blow the pipes or beat a drum with the best of them.
Master-In-Charge: Mr J. Orr – jorr@boyshigh.com
The Public Speaking Club offers the boys a platform to voice their opinions on various subjects and often heated topics in an orderly and constructive way. On some days, the speeches are impromptu, and speech topics are drawn from a hat. The competition is fierce and an outstanding speech is applauded enthusiastically and appreciated by the boys.
This not only improves their public speaking skills, but challenges their way of thinking making them more tolerant of other boys’ opinions, a vital skill needed to move our country forward. The boys are often amazed at the power they hold when they deliver a message which includes a cleverly worded metaphor or a precise analogy. The ability to express a point of view clearly and in an entertaining manner is a very powerful skill.
All the skills learned during the year are then used to write speeches for the two public speaking competitions in which Boys High takes part every year. These two competitions include: the Pretoria Public Speaking Competition in May, hosted by PBHS, and the Four Schools Competition held in September.
Masters-In-Charge: B. Boerstra – bboerstra@boyshigh.com
The boys can expect training sessions at Rietvlei Dam and the Vaal Dam with Old Boys of PBHS as coaches, as well as registered SAS coaches. Boys will also participate in the official South African Sailing Regattas, including the Pretoria Sailing Club Youth Regatta and the South African Youth National Championships.
Master-In-Charge: C. Maartens – cmaartens@boyshigh.com
If a boy is a lover of all things science or he spends his weekends watching channels like Mark Rober, ElectroBOOM, NileRed or Periodic Videos, then the Science Club is for him.
The club spends Friday afternoons doing fun experiments, listening to talks given by experts in various fields of science, and watching fascinating documentaries and videos together. Occasionally the club visits places like Camera Obscura, Sci-Bono and Sci-Enza, as well as taking part in several science competitions. This is the perfect club to bring out the inner ‘Science Nerd’ while mingling with like-minded people.
Master-In-Charge: W. Truter – wtruter@boyshigh.com
The SCA offers a home to the Christian boys at Boys High where they can share their faith with those around them and grow in their relationship with God.
Here the boys have the opportunity to discuss scripture, have prayer requests attended to and to offer praise and worship to God. Boys are encouraged to share testimonies and offer short teachings to their fellow boys in Christ. The group also has a practical purpose whereby advice is given to boys from a biblical perspective on how to deal with everyday issues in a largely secular world. The group meets on Wednesdays at second break in the Gym
Master-In-Charge: V. Pieterse – vpieterse@boyshigh.com
The SNIA aims to broaden the experiences and involvement of our boys in all aspects of society in order for them to become well-rounded and informed individuals. The SNIA invites guest speakers in prominent positions in society to share their views and knowledge on certain topics. These include speakers who lecture internationally on topics such as world terrorism, global warming, hate speech, whether religion is still relevant, poaching, politics, and crime syndicates, to name a mere few.
We also visit places of interest such as Constitutional Hill, the South African Mint, Pretoria Central Prison, Freedom Park, the Hector Pieterson Museum, as well as the Apartheid Museum.
Master-In-Charge: C. Stephens – cstephens@boyshigh.com
The Social Outreach Society is a group that enables the boys to become involved in the community. Outings are arranged on Wednesday and Friday afternoons where the boys play Scrabble and Rummicub with folks at Old Age Homes. We also visit the Mohau Centre at Kalafong hospital, an AIDS orphanage, and the Sunnyside Shelter where the boys help refugee children with homework.
The boys also help with sorting of the various outreach collections that the school organises each term. The Outreach Initiatives are collections of stationery, blankets, clothing, food and Christmas boxes. Items that are collected are then distributed to several organisations which include Bramley Children’s Home, The Mohau Center, Kingdom Life Children’s Home, Dynamic Women and Children (which supports a squatter camp in Kameelfontein), Sunnyside Shelter and a soup kitchen in Sunnyside (which supports men and women who are homeless).
The aim of the Social Outreach Society is to make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate than ourselves by GIVING – not necessarily money – but of our TIME, our ATTENTION, our LOVE and RESPECT. These gifts are far more valuable than money because we give of OURSELVES and we take of our precious TIME to do so.
Master-In-Charge: J. Nell – jnell@boyshigh.com
The Wildlife Society strives to educate its members in the natural sciences, botany, geography, biology and wildlife management. The boys are taken on several trips to local as well outer provincial locations. These include the Kruger National Park and Marakele National Park, rehabilitation centres, shelters, and reserves such as Nylsvley. The boys are also responsible for maintaining certain areas of the Boys High estate, such as the ponds and Loch area, clearing them of invasive plant and animal species.
Speakers address the boys regularly on topics such as conservation, careers in wildlife management and the different species of animals including leopards, spiders, elephants, snakes, etc. Another primary objective of the society is to create awareness and promote respect for our natural environment and its resources.
Master-In-Charge: P. Loots – ploots@boyshigh.com
Except for athletics, wrestling is recognised at the world’s oldest competitive sport. The Wrestling Club was introduced to the school in 2023. It is not for the faint hearted, however, anyone is able to take part, whether a boy is a novice or a seasoned grappler.
Unlike other team sports, wrestling focuses on the boys’ individual abilities for success and thus requires a fair amount of confidence and courage. The boys learn the skill of grappling in order to bring their opponent down onto the mat whereby strength and skill are essential qualities. The boys are trained to hone these skills, are taught several techniques to succeed and are provided with the knowledge to compete outside of the school mats should they wish to.
Master-In-Charge: S. Mathie – smathie@boyshigh.com
