DSG matriculant Mary Gouws is Grahamstown's top achiever in the 2014 IEB exams.
DSG matriculant Mary Gouws is Grahamstown's top achiever in the 2014 IEB exams.
The Diocesan School for Girls pupil was listed on the Independent Examination Board’s prestigious list of Outstanding Achievement. She is one of 69 among the 9 976 IEB candidates countrywide who were placed in the top 5% in six or more subjects.
Mary achieved eight distinctions. She is the daughter of Grahamstown residents Anne and John Gouws.
Kingswood College's top matriculants this year are from the Eastern Cape.
Leading the pack is 2014 Kingswood Headboy, Fanie van der Westhuyzen with seven distinctions.
In three of his subjects, he scored over 90%: Afrikaans First Additional Language 95%, Accounting 93% and Mathematics 91%. Fanie is the son of Ben and Ilze van der Westhuyzen who farm in the Adelaide district.
He plans to study Engineering at Stellenbosch University in 2015.
Also in the top spot with Fanie is Grahamstonian, Ella Wilby, who achieved seven distinctions, with top results for Mathematics 93%, Information Technology 92% and Visual Arts 92%.
Ella also achieved 85% in the challenging Advance Programme Mathematics paper. She did all this while carrying an extra subject to extend the range of her studies.
Ella plans to study a BSc at Rhodes University with Computer Science and Maths – but she will also tackle a course in Art History. Ella is the daughter of Noelle Obers and Mark Wilby from Grahamstown.
Also from Grahamstown is Marco Lombard, who achieved seven distinctions.
Marco was Deputy Headboy at Kingswood in 2014, and along with his academic success, he is known for his prowess on the cricket field, playing most recently for the EP U19 side at the Coca-cola Khaya Majola Cricket Week.
He is the son of Skippy and Elsabe Lombard, of Grahamstown.
St Andrew’s College Matric pupils achieved a 100% Bachelor Degree (BD) University pass.
This makes them all eligible to study for degrees at university.
The IEB average for Bachelor Degree passes is 85%.
James Lake, from Stellenbosch, achieved seven distinctions (Accounting, Afrikaans FAL, Life Orientation, Life Sciences, Mathematics, Physical Science, Advanced Programme Mathematics).
Two DSG girls obtained six distinctions: Samantha Hops (Plettenberg Bay) and Kelly Long (Adelaide).
DSG Girls who achieved five distinctions are Georgina Bennett, Emma Dreyer, Ashley Farrington, Samantha Jelley, Jessica MacRobert, Ashlee Rosslee, Phillipa Stanley, Leila Strelitz, Emma Urquhart, Anke van der Sijde, Katrina van Hasselt and Anika Vohora.
The 68 DSG matriculants achieved Bachelor Degree passes and one Diploma pass.
The girls achieved 187 subject distinctions and 158 Subject B symbols. This means that 70% of symbols obtained were a B or higher.
Pleased with what she considered "outstanding results", headmistress Shelly Frayne said, "They are a fitting finale to a superb Matric year."
Grahamstonian, and Kingswood Headgirl in 2014, Celeste du Toit, achieved six distinctions. Celeste was recognised at Kingswood as the consummate all-rounder, with accolades for sport, public speaking, leadership as well as her academic prowess.
Celeste will be heading to the University of Pretoria in 2015 to study for a BSc in Computer Science and Applied Maths. Kingswood College Head, Jon Trafford was thrilled with 100% pass rate and the achievements of the 2014 matriculants, saying, "This year's results are a very good reflection of the efforts of our pupils and I am delighted with their overall achievements.
"We applaud our top candidates – Fanie van den Westhuizen, Ella Wilby and Marco Lombard on their fine results.
"However the real strength of this year's results rests in the work done by both the teaching staff and the pupils in preparing for these examinations. It has been a marvellous team effort by all involved."
Kingswood's two top music students, David Jones and Tessa Campbell achieved 96% and 94% respectively for Music.
Tessa achieved four distinctions and David three. Both are from Grahamstown and have delighted audiences with their performances in the Kingswood Concert Band and other ensembles.
David plays the violin, bass guitar, piano and drums and composes music.
Tessa, who plays the piano and the violin, has most recently played first violin for the South African National Youth Orchestra. Last year she toured with the Zurich Chamber Orchestra.
Among the four St Andrew's boys who achieved six distinctions, Jonathan Jayes and Matthew Kroon are from Grahamstown, while Robert Ball and James Holmes are from Johannesburg.
St Andrew's boys who achieved five distinctions were Benjamin Stijkel (Zimbabwe), Andrew Mills (Johannesburg) and Darryl Higgins (Zambia).
Those achieving four distinctions were Nicholas Wilkinson (Port Elizabeth) and Zinzan Angus-Leppan (Cape Town) and Julian Smith (Cape Town).
St Andrew’s College Headmaster Paul Edey said he was especially proud of the 100% Bachelor Degree pass rate and the results achieved by the top boys – all of whom were fully involved in the school's extra-curricular programme. Among the top achievers in the 2014 Matric group are provincial and national sportsmen, world class debaters and superb musicians and actors.
