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West Bank High School
Justorum Semita Quasi Lux Splendens

From its humble beginnings in 1861, to the present with some 823 pupils and 35 teaching staff, West Bank High School is an institution with a proud history, old traditions and strong community-oriented emphasis.

The ethos of the school, are inspired by the simple teaching of the words Justorum Semita Quasi Lux Splendens (The Path of the Just is as a Shining Light) accounts for unique warmth and friendliness which pervades both classroom and staffroom alike.

As a school, we at West Bank measure our success by:
 * The involvement of family, community and professional teaching staff in a caring partnership of educators;
 * Insisting on the highest standards of professional expertise and dedication from our teachers;
 * Striving for self-motivated excellence in every activity that faces each of our pupils;
 * Developing the virtues of self-discipline, self-examination, humility and determination in each child;
 * Fostering self-esteem, integrity and loyalty in each individual;
 * Encouraging at all times a respect for others, a concern for their needs, and an enlightened understanding of the dignity and warmth of each human being, regardless of race, sex or belief.

We can boast of fine facilities, dedicated and highly qualified staff, disciplined and happy pupils. In the tradition of West Bank High School, it can truly be said that we all belong to and care about one another. The fact that West Bank High School is not only a dual medium (i.e. offering tuition through the medium of English and Afrikaans) but also offers education from Grade 1 to Grade 12 bears witness to this fact.

The fact that pupils may begin and end their schooling in the same school without the trauma of changing schools, must be an advantage to the pupils. In the primary section there are separate classes for the English and Afrikaans pupils, while in the high school section separate classes exist for the two first languages, while the pupils attend classes together for the choice subjects. Tuition takes place in both languages, and the big advantage here is that the West Bank High matric pupils are probably one of the most bilingual in the city by the time they write their matric examinations.

The Wesleyan Church was the first to become involved with education at East London. It is not clear when its school was started but it was probably in the mid-1850s when the first Wesleyan Chapel was built.

In April 1859, a visiting Anglican priest reported that there were "about half a score children, taught by a female, a Wesleyan professedly, a middle aged married woman, who was gossiping with one of her neighbours . . . "

By 1864, however, the Wesleyan Chapel was in ruins and the school no longer operational.

The first civilian Anglican priest to be stationed at East London was the Reverend Joseph Willson who arrived in October 1857 but was murdered near Fort Pato in February 1858. His untimely death undoubtedly delayed the creation of an Anglican school at the port.

The first school was therefore the one created by Reverend Rodolph von Hube at Panmure, but it would close in April 1862 when the priest left Panmure. There is absolutely no truth to the assumption that Selborne College is in any way linked to this institution.

The first school at East London was initiated in September 1860 by the Reverend Edward Lees. His inability to acquire a suitable schoolmaster, however, delayed its opening until January 1861.

The school thereupon had a hesitant beginning, beset with problems in maintaining schoolmasters, and suffering from inadequate facilities. Only after November 1862, when St Peter's Chapel was built and used as a schoolroom, was some stability established.

After 1863 the Reverend William Wallis himself acted as schoolmaster. Even by 1869, however, the school was still struggling because of a lack of local interest and involvement.

The number of pupils on the register remained small but constant throughout the period up till 1873. Nevertheless, the school maintained its annual grant of £75 from the Government.

The quality of the school appeared to improve between 1869 and 1873. Indeed, the inspector's report in March 1873 praised the school and commented particularly on its excellent discipline and healthy tone of work.

This was the beginning of what is known today as the West Bank High School. Although not the first school to be established at East London, it is nevertheless the oldest surviving educational institution. Indeed, all four attempts at founding schools at Panmure between 1859 and 1873 came to nothing.

In August 2011 the school celebrated its 150th Founders Day, drawing ex-pupils from as far as Europe and Australlia to join in the Celebrations. . Long serving former teacher George Mountjoy was honoured with a plague during this event.

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