Our History

Houghton School was established in 1946. Initially the enrolment was about 100 boys and girls from the area. The learners were predominantly Jewish and from well to do families. The school is situated in a wealthy area but today the majority of our learners are from outside our area.

The past principals of our school are as follows:

  1. Miss Florence Pollock was the first principal of the school from 1946 to 1952 after which she became ill and passed away.
  2. Mr M. Gordon was the 2nd principal and was at the helm from 1953 to 1968, after which he went into the private sector.
  3. Mr P.L. Steenkamp was the third principal from 1969 to 1986 after which he was medically boarded with severe back problems.
  4. The fourth principal of our school was Mr J.J. Dormehl from 1988 to 1997. He left after taking a severance package and moved down to the Western Cape.
Houghton school has many traditions and high standards which we strive to maintain. Many of our learners are accepted to the excellent private and public secondary schools in our area. There they distinguish themselves and become valuable members of our society. Last year two of our ex learners received top academic honours with the most distinctions at St Johns College and at Parktown boys High School. We are proud of the fact that Houghton school learners numbers have grown from an initial 100 learners to the 572 learners we have enrolled today. Due to the demand we are now expanding to three classes per grade and we introduced a Grade R class in 2000.
The school has all the facilities needed ranging from a fully equipped computer room, media centre, after-care centre, tuck shop, sports fields, netball and tennis courts and swimming pool.

We are also very proud of our tradition of community involvement. We are involved with the following organisations at present:

  1. The Houghton Hospice Association for whom we collect charity and they use our facilities regularly.
  2. We are the home of the Southern Gauteng chess Association.
  3. Our classrooms are used by the Madressa Muslim school every afternoon.
  4. I have been on the management committee of the Talisman Foundation, a Psychiatric Rehabilitation centre since 1998 and I am presently chairman of that organization.
  5. Our school is used every Sunday by a Christian church for their services.
  6. We also support various charities ego Guide dog association, SPCA, Child Welfare etc.
Our school is presently as strong as it ever was in the past with motivated staff who are aware of the importance of educating our learners for the future.

Vision Statement

Houghton Primary School strives to nurture our pupils and equip them with all the skills necessary to become worthwhile, well adjusted members of society.

At Houghton Primary, we teach our children to assume responsibility for their talents and rights.

Our aim is to ensure that all learners are developed to their full potential as human beings by high caliber educators and parents who play an integral roll as part of the education team.

MISSION OF THE SCHOOL

The mission of the school is to provide a dynamic, non-racial, English medium primary education to children who attend our school and to achieve the highest educational standards and norms in the pursuance of excellence in education.

HIGH ACADEMIC STANDARDS ARE MAINTAINED

  • Continually evaluating the demands of the time and making adjustments to curriculum contents where necessary
  • Regular learning area meetings and invited speakers
  • Execution of book control
  • Advancement of critical thoughts and problem solving abilities
  • Participation in Olympiads, competitions and Science Expo's
  • Implementation of diagnostic tests
  • Academic excursions and merit awards

STAFF ARE COMPETENT AND WELL QUALIFIED

  • Appointment of the best-qualified staff available
  • Regular course attendance
  • Present courses aimed at didactic and personality development
  • Regular learning area meetings
  • Subscribe to learning area magazines
  • Organise regular social events for staff
  • Reward creativity and good performance

LEARNERS DEVELOP PHYSICALLY

  • Encourage participation in physical training
  • Encourage participation in sport

LEARNERS DEVELOP AS CREATURES OF CULTURE

  • Establishment of a Junior and Senior School Choir.
  • Participation in Eisteddfods, concerts, song festivals, choir competitions, dancing, ballet, public speaking, drama and music evenings as examples.
The Culture Committee takes responsibility for all cultural events.

LEARNERS ARE MOTIVATED TO ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL

  • Encourage participation in the entire school program
  • Leadership development and the acceptance of duty
  • Application of positive discipline according to the school's Code of Conduct
  • Stimulating teamwork by promoting pride in the school and encouraging the sense of belonging by promoting the wearing of correct school uniforms
  • Respect for each other's differences, viewpoints and to be tolerant to one another
  • Create opportunities for social gatherings under controlled conditions
  • To encourage effective communication
  • Merit evenings to reward achievements

LEARNERS ARE ASSISTED DURING SCHOOL HOURS WITH:

  • Speech Therapists - Private Medical Aid Rates
  • Occupational Therapists- Private Medical Aid Rates
  • Social Workers - Offered for free to the learners

CREATE A HARMONIOUS AND STIMULATING EDUCATIONAL CLIMATE

  • Care and maintenance of the buildings and terrain
  • Create new facilities and the upgrading of the existing
  • Uphold good relationships (The Maintenance team accepts responsibility for the upkeep of the building and terrain).

THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF EFFECTIVE SCHOOL MANAGEMENT IS APPLIED

  • Parents are encouraged to elect expert and competent persons to the Governing Body.
  • The Governing Body compiles a constitution by which it manages and controls the school.
  • Sub committees like the Executive committee, Financial-, Parent Affairs-, Liaison-, Sports-, Culture-, Terrain- and Refreshments committees ensure that the Governing Body executes its duty effectively.
  • Sub committees operate according to the Governing Body's by-laws.
  • Parents and teachers have sitting on all these committees.
  • The School Management ensures good and effective communication between the teaching staff and the Governing Body.
  • Good communication between the Principal and Governing Body.

COMPUTER AND MEDIA CENTRE

  • Access to Internet
  • A large media centre provides a variety of stock to support learning area teaching and the recreational interests of the learners.
  • Staff members make continual use of media and the media centre in their learning area teaching.
  • Provide an effective service to learners and staff.
  • Promotes the personal and intellectual development of learners by guiding them in the use of media.
  • Prepares and motivates learners for lifelong use of multimedia and of libraries and other information centres and services.
  • Lend support to the curriculum in the various school phases and to enrich it with a variety of media.
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