About Us

Our Mission

What We Stand For

Trafalgar High School is committed to:

  • Building a caring, progressive and involved community of learners,educators and parents/guardians
  • Promoting positive progressive values and attitudes that embrace understanding , tolerance and appreciation of the diverse cultures in South Afica
  • Give full expression to our motto “ Per Angusta, Ad Angusta “ , that we have the ability to overcome, succeed and emerge triumphantly
  • To cultivate and nurture ethics of educational excellence , amongst learners, educators and the parent community
  • Ensuring that accountability and transparency are the bed-rock of all activities

 

Our School Song

The History of trafalgar

It was the year 1939, by my final year at my beloved school. I remember that, as I sat at my desk, waiting for the next subject teacher, I was poring over some lines I had written in appreciation of the school I would be leaving.

A classmate, Percy Karee asked to see what I had written. I gave him the copy which, he told me, he had shown to Miss Lipsitz, the English teacher and I think to Mr Meltzer, the Latin teacher. These teachers had, in turn, shown the composition to the Principal who, so I was told, accepted it as a shool song. Reggie Lesch a fellow student, set it to music.

And so, what originates as a creative means of spending some moments of leisure may now hopefully stir young Trafalgarians as they strive, often “Per Angusta” to reach “Ad Augusta”

Alexander Busch

Trafalgar High School

Trafalgar High enjoys a rich and proud heritage as the first high school for people of colour in South Africa. Established in 1912, the school enjoys the grand splendour of being nestled in the heart of historic District Six, situated just minutes away from Cape Town’s CBD.

The school’s physical location, a mere few metres away from the foot of the majestic of Table Mountain, is but one of its many attributes as it also boasts of an impressive alumni which includes the likes of Dullah Omar, Judge Siraj Desai, Dr. Rhodia Gool to name but a few.

It is precisely this culture of excellence and achievement which continues to pervade the corridors of this institution whose values are so aptly encapsulated in the school’s motto Per Angusta Ad Augusta – From darkness to light/From difficulty to success.

The awe–inspiring management  and staff strive passionately to live these ideals on a daily basis as they engage with learners, encouraging them to endeavour to always reach for their dreams.

School Song

The School Song

Verse 1

Trafalgar, glorious name

Enshrined in many hearts

And thou shalt spread thy fame

In near and distant parts.

Thy name we do adore

This day and evermore

The name, the very soul

That spurs us to our goal

Verse 2

Thou art our hope, our light

To thee our all of praise

Thou giv’st us strength to fight

Enkindled by thy rays

Though oft’ the hope seem vain

There’s nought us shall restrain

From battling with a will

Undaunted, hopeful still

CHORUS

O Trafalgarians, be ye proud

Extol that thrice blessed name

And raise your adoration loud

Thus shall ye spread its fame

Trafalgar School song

Our History

By 1911, education for Coloured was limited to the mission schools, which catered for primary education only.  The Cape School Board, with a large Coloured population in its area supported only three significant primary schools, viz, Chapel Street, second class; Albertus Street, third class; Sea Point Tramway, third class.

The need for a high school was actively propagated by Dr Abdurahman, President of the African Political Organisation and Harold Cressy, the first Coloured person to obtain a B.A. degree at the University of Cape Town. After a great deal of feet-dragging by the Cape School Board, the following advertisement appeared in the December 1911 issue of the APO:

CAPE SCHOOL BOARD

Trafalgar A2 Public School

 

(Late Chapel Street A2 Public School)

At this school, which is intended for coloured children whose parents desire to afford them a higher education in addition to the usual elementary school subjects.  Pupils will have an opportunity of learning the following High School subjects:

DUTCH, LATIN and ELEMENTRY (sic) SCIENCE

A Speciality of the School is the University Junior Certificate Class and a Matriculation Class will be formed if pupils present themselves.

Fees vary from ¾ upwards per quarter.  Arrangements may be made for board and lodging of country pupils at £2 per month in good coloured homes.

The first quarter of 1912 opens on January 22nd

For further particulars write to the Principal

H Cressy B.A.

15 Tennant Street, Cape Town.

The Trafalgar A2 Public School then duly opened in January 1912, with Harold Cressy as its first principal.  The Trafalgar Public School (late Chapel Street) was an A2 school and started off with a roll of 60 students (28 boys and 32 girls) and a staff of five teachers.

The school gained the unique distinction in 1913 by having the first coloured girl pass the University Junior Certificate Examination (the old School Higher).  Miss Rosie Waradea Abdurahman, the eldest daughter of the distinguished president of the APO, Dr Abdurahman, had been successful in passing the Junior Certificate Examination of the University of Cape Town.

She had gained the distinction of being the first Coloured girl from a Coloured school to pass the examination. While congratulating Miss Abduraghman, her parents and the Principal of the Trafalgar Public School, the APO in no uncertain terms condemned the equipment of the school as being “unsatisfactory, and its building as a disgrace to the School Board – a monument at the selfish and neglect of the authorities …”

Since its inception, Trafalgar has had the following people as heads and acting heads:

  1. H Cressy
  1. Maurice
  2. Storey
  3. Muller
  4. Heneke
  5. Roux
  6. Steenveld
  7. Ravens
  8. Meltzer
  9. Emeran
  10.  Taliep
  11. Hendricks
  12. Southgate

Throughout its existence, the school, though lacking certain basic facilities, has been able to produce many eminent and distinguished scholars, doctors, lawyers, teachers, engineers, businesspeople and sportsmen.  The basic premise of the school is that education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to strengthening respect for human rights and fundamental freedom.  It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all people, irrespective of race, colour, or creed.  The glorious name of Trafalgar has spread far and wide.

Students

After School programs

Faculty

Years Established

Get In Touch

Location: 35 Kuiper Street, Zonnebloem, Cape Town

Telephone: 021 465 2969

Email: admin@trafalgarhighschool.co.za

School Hours: M-F: 8am – 3pm

Contact Us
Our Mission & Vision

Trafalgar High School is committed to:

  • Building a caring, progressive and involved community of learners, educators and parents/guardians.
  • Promoting positive progressive values and attitudes that embrace understanding, tolerance and appreciation of the diverse cultures in South Africa.
  • Giving full expression to our motto “Per Angusta, Ad Augusta”, that we have the ability to overcome difficulties so that we succeed and emerge triumphantly.
  • Cultivating and nurturing ethics of educational excellence, amongst learners, educators and the parent community.
  • Ensuring that accountability and transparency are the bedrock of all our activities.