We are grateful to our founders Dr George and Mrs Cora Haydock who, in an environment ravaged by the spectre of the second world war, left Scotland in 1946 with the hope of a brighter future in South Africa. Before leaving Helensburgh in Scotland Dr and Mrs Haydock had conceptualised the idea of founding a school, and much of the leg work of founding the school was done at this time. In those days the journey from Scotland to the Cape would have been by boat, and taken between 3 and 4 weeks. It is understood that Mrs Haydock rounded up children on the voyage and her schoolroom began on the ship. In 1948, having arrived in Somerset West, they took a premises in Station Road, and Somerset House School was founded. From what I can make out from early photographs the school started with around 15 children, both boys and girls. In 1950 Somerset House moved to its present site, at the Cloetenburg homestead. The school prospectus of that time tells us that curriculum included “all the usual subjects”, and that “the teachers are well qualified and a high standard is maintained. Special interest is taken in the cultivation of correct speech, good manners and deportment”. Somerset House had its own vegetable and fruit garden, large and well ventilated classrooms with “modern metal window frames”, and a hall which is recorded as being 90 foot long, with a stage and dressing room, and ample room for Physical Training, Eurhythmics, Ballet, Concerts and the showing of Educational Films. Cricket, Rugby, Netball and Tennis matches against other schools were played on the weekends.
Barbara, daughter of Dr and Mrs Haydock, was a State Registered Nurse and she and her husband Les Webb joined the school soon after it started. In the late 1960s Mrs Haydock was becoming increasingly frail, and Les took over as Headmaster. Wanting to retire to England, Mr and Mrs Webb encouraged the development of a Board of Governors. However, Les died of a sudden heart attack in 1973. During their years the school grew as a family and its name started to spread.
Peter and Jinny were both experienced teachers, Peter coming from the Diocesan College Prep School (now known as Bishops Prep). Within months of their arrival in January 1974, the Board of Governors was able to buy the school property. Mr and Mrs Rickards build up both the academic vision of the school and, with a series of fund-raising events, made steady improvements to the buildings and grounds. Peter retired at the end of ten years in 1984. During their years the school established an academic target and expanded its family friendliness.
Mike Taylor, Headmaster of Somerset House from 1984 to 2006, left a remarkable legacy. He was an exceptional schoolmaster renown for progressive leadership. Mike will be remembered for his love for children and passion for teaching, and in particular for Maths, Chess and Rugby. He was an energetic man who ran numerous Comrades and Two Oceans marathons. Mike had a significant influence on a considerable number of young lives during his career. He resisted the call to expand the school and its infrastructure too greatly or too fast. During these years the school became financially secure and strongly admired.
A Memorial Bursary Fund has been established in his honour so that children with an equal passion for life, academics, sport and culture, who may not have been afforded the opportunity to be enriched by a school like Somerset House may fulfill their passion for excellence.
Chris Storey was instrumental in establishing a clear vision for the future of Somerset House, and accepted the challenge to lead, driving the necessary changes while simultaneously improving infrastructure. The restructuring and developing of the school's staff component; the drive for inclusiveness, diversity and relevance in South Africa; the ambitious building projects to upgrade the physical campus of the school between 2012 and 2019; the introduction of a relevant and appropriate ICT vision as a strategic differentiating factor; the drive for academic excellence and the meeting of compliance goals set through continuous benchmarking and measurement of the academic curriculum; and finally the successful navigating of teaching, learning and organisational survival during the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown, will form part of Chris's legacy at Somerset House. Chris achieved all this while jealously, sometimes fiercely, protecting and maintaining the values of the school and the ethos central to Somerset House. During his thirteen years at Somerset House, Chris was not only a successful Head but used his passion as an educator to inspire where it mattered most - within the classroom. His impact on the pupils is immeasurable.
We aim to provide an environment and ethos within which children can thrive. We do this by providing the following:
Who we are
Somerset House is an established, independent, and co-educational pre-primary and preparatory school (grades 000 to 7) situated in the heart of Somerset West.
Our extensive campus offers children a unique natural setting rich with trees and open spaces. Historical buildings house modern classrooms, specialised learning centres, technology hubs and a shared dining room, the heart of the school. Children find themselves in a safe and nurturing space in which self-belief, independent thought, and joy flourish.
Our motto, “Non nobis solum”, not for ourselves alone, is at the core of our ethos. It is lived, cherished, and celebrated by staff, pupils and their families, alumni, and friends of the school.
