Kingsway High School 4.28

Kingsway High School is a South African English-medium, co-educational high school situated 2 km north of the Amanzimtoti business centre and less than a kilometre from the shores of the Indian Ocean.It has buildings, particularly extensive playing fields, and is designed to cater for up to a thousand learners. In keeping with the modern trend the school now has State Status, enabling all parents, through involvement in the Governing Body and its committees, to play an active role in ensuring the best for their children.HistoryThe school was named in honour of Dick King and his epic ride along the coast. Mention is made of this in the school song.The original Kingsway High School buildings were in Dartnell Crescent, south of the Amanzimtoti River. Built on a hill, the school commanded a fine view along the coast towards Durban, and was regarded as a showpiece. Building was completed in early 1953. The first learners, formerly at Warner Beach High School, which was then closed down, commenced their studies in the brand new school at the beginning of the second term of 1953. Mr D G Truscott was the first Headmaster.In 1971 a new school was built north of the river, on drained swampland alongside the Pahla railway halt. The building was designed by Miss Lola Shepherd, the first woman in South Africa to qualify as an Architect. She previously designed the new building for her own old school (Mitchell High School, Durban, opened 1902 - transferred to the Shepherd buildings 10 September 1954, but then closed in 1990).The Pahla site was originally meant to house boys, while the original Kingsway was to be a girls' high school. However, before this could be implemented, a decision was taken to make the original school a Junior High School and the new school Kingsway Senior High School, and both remaining co-educational. The institution thus split at the beginning of 1972, with Mr A. E. Larkin intended as the Principal of Kingsway Junior High, standards 6 and 7, and Mr P Bazley (who died before he could take up the post and was replaced by Mr Larkin) as first principal of Kingsway Senior High School, standards 8,9 and 10. The building has since expanded with the additions of a fourth wing, and a swimming pool.