Star of the Sea School is uniquely situated along a beautiful stretch of False Bay coastline in St. James, Cape Town, South Africa. It is a school with a long history, its buildings having been completed in 1908. As a Catholic Dominican School, Star of the Sea has a distinctive religious character. The school aims to incorporates the latest educational methods while maintaining the school’s traditions and Christian and moral values. The vision of the school includes educating and forming well balanced children with high self-esteem who have the ability to adapt to the changing world. Among other things, it also aims to ensure a high standard of education, discipline and Christian values, by maintaining quality teachers and small classes. Learning at Star of the Sea is done in a firm, yet relaxed atmosphere and the children make use of the seaside facilities across the road for environmental lessons, as well as using the swimming pool for physical education lessons.

Primary School

St. Augustine's was started at Springfield Convent in 1871 with an initial purpose of serving the local community. In 1936 the current site alongside the suburban railway was acquired as it was much more accessible to the community. By the early sixties the school was a dual-medium one, with one stream catering especially for the Afrikens speaking Catholic pupils who travelled from Hout Bay. Our school has remained popular both because of its tradition and because of its outstanding and consistent academic record. By the early 1990's the roll had stabilised at 860 learners, which was far more than the building could accommodate. Despite the tremendous transition in the education arena, and the attempt at levelling the playing fields at Government level, our pupils are still constantly reminded of the privileges which they enjoy with parallel reference to less fortunate children as far as education is concerned. Although the majority of our learners come from struggling financ

St Agnes Primary School caters for learners from across the socio-economic spectrum. We have learners from the surrounding areas, the townships, Nazareth House – a home for HIV / AIDS children, Ons Plek – a shelter for street children and a large number of refugees from different African countries. The majority of these parents are unable to contribute financially towards school fees, but no-one is refused admission to the school. Unemployment, drug abuse, gangsterism and a decline in moral values are an enormous challenge, but we are devoted to Catholic education and are supported in our mission by a well-qualified and dedicated group of educators. St. Agnes Primary is committed to develop the potential of every learner in a Catholic environment so that they can make a meaningful contribution to this community in the spirit of ‘ubuntu’. The school strives towards total commitment in excellence through our teaching practice and empathizing with our school community through...

St. Mary’s (RC) Primary was founded by the Holy Cross Sisters on 8 April 1934. The sisters come to do missionary work in Retreat, but soon realised that the community needed a school. For the next 37 years, the principals were Holy Cross Sisters. The first lay person appointed in 1971 was Mr Darling, who retired in 1990. Ms Muller succeeded him in 1991 and is still the principal. At first the Medium of instruction at St Mary’s was Afrikens but the school became dual medium in 1975. Today the LOLT is English. In 2010, we opened our computer lab, which was funded by Irish donors. It is still going well and lessons are offered to the parents.

The Holy Cross Sisters saw the need to provide education opportunities for the children of the mostly fishermen who lived in the area, and in 1916, St Anthony’s R. C. Primary was established. The school which offered catholic education to the less-fortunate families in the area was aptly named after St Anthony, who is the patron saint of the poor. Saint Anthony, also known as the saint of the people, is known to be called upon through pray to intercede with God when items have been lost. (Picture of Saint Anthony holding the Christ child) Due to the Group Areas Act, the Sisters were forced to seek land elsewhere to build a new school and in 1963 the last group of children relocated to the new building in Gordon Road, Heathfield where it is currently situated. St Anthony’s prides itself on being an all-inclusive school where a diverse group of learners happily interact with each other and display a respect for all people irrespective of race, culture or religion.