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Barnato Park High School
Barnato Park High School is a co-educational school located in Berea, Johannesburg, South Africa. It was built on the mansion that had been designed for Barney Barnato, the mining millionaire.

History
The large 1897 stone mansion originally built for the Randlord Barney Barnato,would not be used as he died before the completion of the mansion due to mysterious circumstances. The stone mansion had been located in Berea, Johannesburg and was finished under the supervision of Solly Joel, Barney Barnato's nephew and was known as the Joel house. The premises had been used for a time during the Second Boer War from (1899-1902) as a British Officers' convalescent home and later as temporary premises for the sister school King Edward VII school while its present-day buildings were being erected in Houghton. At a later period the property had been donated to the Transvaal Department of Education to be used as an educational institution which had been founded by Miss Fanny Buckland in Jeppe Street just fourteen months after Johannesburg's birth.They moved with 30 children to a church building in Kirk Street and in 1895 became Cleveland School ( after a benefactress), and eventually. Johannesburg Girls' School in Barnato Park in 1912.The grounds and Joel House were given to the Government of the Union of South Africa for a girls' school by Mr Solly Joel,nephew and heir of Barney Barnato. Fanny Buckland was principal and taught for 35years. She retired in 1922. With the growth of the school, it had to be re-located about three times before ending up in 1910 on its present site in Berea.The Johannesburg girls preparatory school which was known as the younger sister school was separated from the high school in 1905 and moved opposite the school in 1921.

Joel house
After the first hectic scramble for Johannesburg's gold-bearing land, the Randlords sought less spectacular profits through turning their surplus landholdings to real estate. The Johannesburg Consolidated investment Company headed by the colourful Barney Barnato, laid out the township of Berea in the 1890s as a better-class suburb that they hope would rival Rand Mines' Parktown. Among its attractions was a public recreation ground, Barnato Park. . In the middle of it Barnato had in 1897 decreed himself a very stately home indeed. The large stone mansion, built in classical English country-house style, served from 1912 till its demolition in 1962 as the boarders' residence of the Johannesburg High School for Girls.

The original five-hectare park was elaborately laid out with lawns, statuary, shrubberies, a 'Ladies Mile' for riding a lake big enough for boating. Barney Barnato neither saw his home completed nor lived in it; in 1897 he threw himself into the Atlantic from a London-bound liner and drowned. After his death it took the name of his nephew and heir Solly Joel, who later presented the mansion and park to the Government to commemorate the 1910 Union of South Africa.

Before the school moved in in 1912 Joel House had been used for a time during the Second Boer War as a British Officers' convalescent home and later as temporary premises for King Edward VII boys' school while its present-day buildings were being erected in Houghton.

The centre of the school was Joel House Mansion, Which pupils had lived in, but sadly in 1960 the Joel House was condemned as a health hazard and demolished shortly afterwards. The school which was installed there remains familiarly known to this day as 'Barnato Park'. It is the oldest girls' school in the city, founded by Miss Fanny Buckland in Jeppe Street just fourteen months after Johannesburg's birth."

The Gates
There remain three magnificent pairs of wrought-iron gates (a fourth was quietly spirited away during the rebuilding operations), facing onto Barnato Street, Park Lane and Beatrice Lane. These along with a gatekeeper's cottage at the Barnato Street entrance are the only relics of Barney Barnato"s 'country mansion.“Sadly, Joel House, Barnato’s mansion, was demolished, and all that remains of the original Barnato Park are the beautiful wrought iron gates which were made in Bristol, England,” said Popplewell.'" The gates at Barnato Park High School are all that is left of Randlord Barney Barnato's mansion.'"  The gates were manufactured by Gardiner Sons & Co.Ltd. Bristol.

Barnato Park and Vincemus
The name Barnato park can be traced back all the way to the school song which was composed by Mr. John Connell and words by Miss G. Johnson. The word Vincemus means "We shall Conquer". The diamond on the crest represents the Barnato diamond mining company which he owned during his time in South Africa.

Our younger sister school Johannesburg Girls preparatory School continues to use the original badge as well as the motto which we both Barnato Park high school and Johannesburg Girls Preparatory School maintain. The original school uniform is still being worn by the younger sister school.

The Buckland Bath
Swimming began in 1923 when girls used the public pool in Doornfontein. The school started collecting funds for the building of their own pool which was completed in 1924. The Buckland Bath was officially opened on the 4th March 1925 by Mrs Carruthers, wife of the school Governing Body (SGB) Chairman.

Centenary of Barnato Park High School
November 2nd 1987, marked the 100th Anniversary of Johannesburg Girls High School : Barnato Park High School. The centenary celebrations at the school, were held on the 19th of September with a special formal assembly, graced by Dr. K.R Paine (The Deputy Director Of Education) who addressed the young learners, parents, staff and dignitaries. The Johannesburg High School for Girls matric class of 1963 is gearing up to celebrate its 50th reunion next month.

This year also marks the 100th anniversary of the school on the historic site of Randlord Barney Barnato’s estate.

Former pupil Helen Popplewell said the school was only one year younger than the city.

“As the city has changed, so has the school. In 1887, Fanny Buckland opened her school in the mining village of Johannesburg, and in 1913, the school moved to its present site, Barnato Park, Berea,” she said.

After Barnato’s death, his nephew Solly Joel presented the estate to the new Union government for use as a school.

Today, the school is known as Barnato Park High School, a dynamic, co-educational institution that attracts pupils from Hillbrow, Beara, Yeoville and other su burbs and the inner cit as well as students from Alexandra and Soweto.

“This year marks both Barnato Park High School’s 100th anniversary on the site, and it marks the 50th year celebration for the approximately 100 matric pupils of the class of 1963,” she said.

Popplewell invited her former classmates to celebrate their 50th reunion on 25 October at the school.

“We’re looking forward to a wonderful trip down memory lane. Vincemus, vincemus, we will win yet again,” said Popplewell.

Johannesburg High School For Girls - Barnato Park High School
In June 1989 Johannesburg High School For Girls,had been condemned to death after 102 years it finally closed on 31 December 1989. Barnato Park High School as a co-educational non-racial secondary school opened its doors in January 1990 as a result of the weakening of the apartheid state under Prime Minister P.W. Botha, who used his policy of Total Strategy to bring about reform and greater repression in the 1980's. The 1990's ushered in the winds of charge in South Africa and the cosmopolitan area of Berea and Hillbrow where it coped well with varied influx of immigrants and the new era school would also now serve fellow South African's if all races, the obvious dwindling enrollment numbers of white female pupils and those moving out of the area to areas like Sandton made it possible for many others who had moved away from the townships which meant that the school was going to lose pupils so they decided to change the school's admission policies and name. Barnato Park High School successfully opened its doors in the year 1990 to all races in an attempt to rid South Africa's education system of the apartheid-driven legislation and also in an attempt to fostering interaction between races which had been kept apart. In 1990 the school started with 250 learners and a staff of 10. Tuition was offered from standard 6 to standard 8. Under the leadership of the principal Mrs. Laura Marcis, the first matriculants in 1992 obtained a pass rate of 88% and in 1993 97%. Also from 1998-2000 a 100% pass rate. They wrote their exams under IEB (The Independent Examination Board)

DR HJ.S Stone,the Superintendent General of the department of education and culture in September 1993 an address to Barnato Park affirmed the concept of the Model C Schools had come about as a result of the success of Barnato Park. Previously Johannesburg High School For Girls was run by the Transvaal Education Department which restricted entry to whites but an exception was made for children of diplomatic officials. A exception was made where a black student was admitted into Johannesburg Girls Preparatory School who's parent was a diplomat (Our younger sister school)

Since the new era 'post apartheid' period of Barnato Park High School, there have been three principals thus far at the helm and they are notable Mrs Laura Marcis, Mrs Agnes Nugent and Mr Mervin Frank (Who is the first male principal since the inception of both the Johannesburg Girls High School : Barnato Park High School and the Johannesburg Girls Preparatory School, our younger sister school).

School Song
Oh, the world is wide and its schools are many,

And Africa's schools are as fine as any;

But Barnato Park is beloved of all

Who have watched her growth from a nursling small

To the school that we honour and love to-day,

So we'll cheer our Founders with this refrain:

" Vincemus! Vincemus! We'll win yet again! "

We've a Bath for swimming and a Hall for " gym,"

For we must be supple and fleet of limb

In a land where such sports are conducted in style

By the Springbok, ostrich and crocodile;

And at seasons proper we stake our fate

On a contest grim, but devoid of hate,

And we cheer the victors with this refrain:

" Vincemus! Vincemus! We'll win yet again! "

Oh, years of freedom, how fast you flee!

We shall yearn for you in the years to be.

For the joy of striving with all out might

To play as a team, with the goal in sight;

For the love of a friend who will see us through

Whatever the hazardous things we do;

Yet we'll greet the future with this refrain:

" Vincemus! Vincemus! We'll win yet again! " 

Previous Matric Results
2012-78%

2013-83,3%

2014-87%

Barnato Park High School presently writes under the GDE Gauteng Department Of Education.

Alumni
Gill Marcus - The ninth Governor of the South African Reserve Bank, the first woman to hold the position.

Maggie Kaniki - Procurement Professional and JA South Africa Alumnus 2005

Brighton Ngoma - South African Actor

Itumeleng Khune - South African professional footballer

Tshepo Wa Mamatu - South African Actor

Sipho Mngomezulu - South African football defender

Thato Makgaka - Professional DJ

Dikgang Mabalane - South African football right-winger

Andile Gaelesiwe - Khumbul'ekhaya presenter and anti-rape activist

Tsholofelo Matseke- South African Actress

Wencesslous Azania Maseko - Transgender Rights Activist and Media Accountant

Notable Achievements
-In 1993 on the third of September then Miss South Africa Jacqui Mofokeng,the Junior Mayor and the Mayoress visited Barnato Park High School.

-Out reach program linking St. John's College and Rodean Academy that takes pupils with potential from grade 10-12 for the boys and grade 9-12 for the girls. In each grade a maximum of 21 learners are selected to attend the out reach program. The top student by the end if grade 12 is guaranteed A level at St John's College

-In the past years Barnato Park High School has been participating hand and hand in the community by availing the buildings for community meetings,church gatherings and ABET (Adult Basic Education Training) in the evenings, trying to fight social-economic issues in the community of Hillbrow and Berea.The school has achieved this by encouraging pupils to engage in sport, debate, chess, media, poetry, drama, Olympiads : English, Mathematics, Physical science and World Knowledge. -Umuzi Photo Club, The dialogues created awareness, around the issues of teenage pregnancy with the Grade 9 learners in a creative way. Part of the dialogues focused on the consequences of being a teen parent, while dispelling some of the misconceptions about having unprotected sex.

-The Barnato Park High School debate team (Akani Khumalo, Kholwani Dube and Ngoyi Kazadi) managed to qualify for the World Scholar's Cup Global Rounds in Kuala.They have been in the Gauteng Schools Debating Board Provincials Championships frequently and many members of the debate team have been selected as members of the Gauteng delegation to the to the SASDB National Championships.

-A Notable debater who was previous a learner of the Barnato Park High School debate team is Bontle Bopape.

-Recently two Barnato learners Malaika Elliot Motsoai and Professor Godlo were amongst one of the boys who won a CERN Beamline for schools to travel to Switzerland for a science experiment.