Thomas More College (South Africa)


Thomas More College is an independent, co-educational day school located in Kloof, near Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

History

Thomas More College can trace its origins to modest beginnings when on 1 February 1962 it opened its doors to only 55 pupils, all boys. Co-education was not to come for another 14 years. The founder and headmaster was Robin Savory, who had long had a dream of starting a Catholic School run by Catholic laity. In this he had the support of Archbishop Denis Hurley. So, from the start the school had a strong religious element, strengthened in later years with a broader Christian base. The school was named after Saint Thomas More at the request of Chris Hurley, co-founder, second headmaster and brother of Archbishop Denis Hurley.
The choice of Kloof as the site for the Thomas More School was due to the availability of the Great House, and the presence of a small core of likely pupils. However, at the time Kloof was indeed a village with a scattering of shops within easy reach of what was then a functioning railway station. What today are flourishing residential areas were then largely open grasslands, and Kloof High School was in fact Kloof Secondary, as in 1962 it only went as far as Standard 7. Between 1962 and 1992 the school was served by three headmasters: Robin Savory, Chris Hurley and Bill Pickering. Much was achieved in that time, notably the acquisition of considerable tracts of land, some of which carried buildings which have remained part of the central core of the school.
However, attendance numbers never rose above 197 and, in fact, in 1990 the school was facing closure. A vigorous campaign was launched, not only to revive it, but to promote its expansion.
A major step in this direction was the establishment of a Primary School based in the Farmhouse. In 1992 Peter Habberton was appointed as principal, and in 1993 the Junior Primary School opened, based in the Farmhouse and led by Jacquie Habberton. Hilton Stander joined as Primary School Headmaster the following year, followed by Greg Brooks in 1999, Nigel Sloane in 2005, and Barbara Taljard in 2009. Much expansion in terms of buildings and other facilities took place and, thanks to the generosity of Peter Savory, the Robin Savory Pavilion was erected above the Savory Field. The boarding facility closed at the end of 2002 due to a significant drop in demand, and the rooms which became available as a result were converted to offices and specialist classrooms.
In 2002 Shane Cuthbertson followed Peter Habberton as principal. In 2009, due to re-structuring in the high school, Shane retained his position as principal of the whole school, and Allan Chandler, Senior Master at the time, was appointed as headmaster of the high school. Expansion continued; attention was focused on improving the sporting facilities, notably a new hockey field, an all-purpose field and netball courts. At the end of 2006 a 25 m x 35 m swimming pool was completed. The Ken Mackenzie Centre appeared on the other side of the Savory Field. Pupil numbers have risen to 1180, from Grade 000 to Grade 12, making Thomas More College the largest independent school in KwaZulu-Natal. In 2012 Thomas More College celebrated a jubilee year for its 50th birthday.

Today

Today Thomas More is a co-educational, interdenominational Christian school accepting pupils from the pre-primary level to grade 12. Its boarding establishment closed in 2002.
The school is situated on a conservancy estate of 19 hectares and has 1 224 pupils, making it the largest independent school in KwaZulu-Natal.
All pupils are put into houses that compete against each other in events such as the interhouse gala and sports day.

The Long Walk

The Long Walk is a tradition of Thomas More College. The first "fifty mile walk" was in March 1963 and was instigated and organised by Michael Leffler who was a staff member when the school opened in 1962. Michael Leffler's inspiration for the walk came from John F. Kennedy in 1962, when he challenged his fellow Americans to walk a event annually. In March every year, approximately 1 300 students, parents, past pupils, teachers and other visitors set off in the hope of completing the 80 km.
The earliest walks were from Pietermaritzburg to Greytown, away from Kloof. In the early 1960s there were no more than 30 participants on the Long Walk. Later walks still started in Pietermaritzburg, but students would then walk 80 km toward the coast, finishing at the school. It was easier than the walk to Greytown because there were fewer steep hills to walk up.
The current route starts from the school grounds in Kloof, and winds its way through the suburbs of Kloof, Hillcrest and Botha's Hill, before finishing back at the school Kloof.
From 2004, the finish was moved to Summerveld. In 2016 the route finish returned to TMC due to various safety concerns in the Summerveld area.
The Long Walk is becoming extremely popular with more and more people taking part therein, and attracts participants from all over KwaZulu-Natal as well as the rest of South Africa.

Sports

Thomas More is known for its competitiveness in terms of sports. Although neither the high school nor senior primary have the same number of pupils as the other single-sex schools in the greater Durban area, the school's teams are able to be provide tough competition. The 1st cricket, rugby and waterpolo sides are regarded as some of the best in the area, while some players of individual sports have gained provincial colours.
The 1st Team Waterpolo sides embarked on a successful tour to Serbia in 2010, whilst the 1st Team Cricket and Rugby sides regularly go on tours. The 1st hockey teams also compete annually in Stellenbosch and have travelled internationally for various training campus.

Academics

TMC pupils write the Independent Examinations Board exams.
Compulsory subjects include:
The students are also required to take at least three other subjects of their choice:
Thomas More College has its own dedicated school of music.
The School of Music at Thomas More College offers tuition for beginners to advanced pupils, and is open to all pupils in the Highway community as well as adults.
Exams are offered through Trinity College as well as Royal Schools in all practical and theoretical aspects of music.
The following instruments are offered:
The Music School Director is Mrs Dee Clarkson.

Past Pupils’ Association

The origins of the Past Pupils' Association can be traced back to 1973. Since co-education was not to come until 1975, it was the Thomas More Old Boys' Association that was formed with the dual aim of fostering relations between the Old Boys and the School, and amongst the Old Boys themselves. After 1976, when the first girls matriculated, the scope of the association was broadened. Glen Bruton was the first chairman.
In later years, the chairman was co-opted onto the School Board. Rob Brislin and Dunstan Farrell, both lawyers, served in this capacity. Among achievements of those days were the forming of Cricket and Hockey Clubs, two teams in each case, and the establishment of a clubhouse in an old building, more or less on the site of the present clubhouse.
In the 1980s and early 1990s, the association was struggling, but things changed circa 1998, when the Robin Savory Pavilion was built. Thanks to the initiatives of John Kearey and Roy Alderdice, this facility came under the control of the Thomas More Past Pupils' Association and was administered by that body in close co-operation with the school.
Apart from the Pavilion, the association is active in several spheres, and under the energetic leadership of the present Chair, Melanie Küster, it is flourishing. The Men's hockey teams continue to operate and a Ladies' team has been added. The Moorcock Chronicle, sent to everyone on the database, serves both as a mouthpiece for the Past Pupils and as a link with the school. The association co-hosts the annual Past Pupils' Association Day.