“Mitchell’s Plain-based Spine Road High School has had a phenomenal academic year both in and outside the classroom including a highly successful matric pass rate, record attendance figures and several competition victories.

The school has been pushing well above expectations in recent years and in January announced a 100% matric pass rate for its class of 2014. That marked the first ever full pass rate at any school within the Mitchell’s Plain district.

“That was a very significant milestone, and the quality of passes was also very good. In accounting our school attained the highest average mark and most passes in the whole province,” noted principal, Riyaad Najaar.

To build on the success Spin Road High also shared first place with a prestigious private school at the Celtics Quiz Competition, an inter-school general knowledge quiz held at Bishops College.

Other achievements include the school’s highest attendance record of learners and teachers in its history, this despite the school being situated in an area known for high levels of crime and gang activity.

Najaar attributed the school’s successes to the hard work and dedication put in by its educators.

“Our task as principals and governing bodies is to appoint the right teachers at the school, who are passionate and want to buy into our vision. There is quite a stiff competition amongst teachers to do well and we encourage this.

“One needs to create an environment conducive for teachers to work, to showcase their passion and their standard,” he stated, adding that teachers who performed above standard were appropriately rewarded by the school.

As with the learners, Najaar said Spine Roads objective was to be better than a home away from home. This meant creating an environment where children felt free to highlight their talent and potential, both academically and in extracurricular activities.

“If you are part of the ethos of this school than you can certainly flourish,” he concluded.

Seven of the school’s current crop of matriculants have received acceptance to study medicine in 2016, all of whom have also been awarded full bursaries. Five of these students hail from Tafelsig. VOC (Mubeen Banderker)