Founded in 1909 by the Dominican Sisters, St Columba’s is one of the oldest schools on the reef, with several of the school buildings classified as historical buildings. 

The nuns who established St Columba’s came at the bidding of Reverend Mother M Rose Niland, an extraordinary woman whose passion for Christian education continues through her legacy at St Columba’s. 

At St Columba’s, your child is invited to participate in several sport disciplines including tennis, cricket, netball, cross country and swimming to name a few.

The St Columba’s sport training ethos is one of inclusion and fairness as we strive to give each child the opportunity to develop into a sportsman/woman by offering each a fair chance to participate in sports of their choice regardless of skill level. We believe in giving children access to a range of different sports and while having fun, children will learn to love sport, giving them a powerful mental, physical and social grounding for their future

Providing your child with a holistic education is so much more than just academics. St Columba’s offers your child the opportunity to participate in Chess, Choir and Drama activities among others. This provides your child with the opportunity to join teams of like-minded children during practices and participate in exciting performances with their peers.

Providing your child with a supportive community encourages them to develop perspectives outside of their immediate surroundings. Having a broader world view and participating in service to others brings a healthy balance of self and community awareness. St Columba’s provides children with the opportunity to participate in onsite community projects encouraging connection, empathy and understanding.

Developing well rounded, socially adept students, proficient at navigating the intricacies of complex personal relationships, requires a progressive approach to student social integration. 

The St Columba’s social program is designed and overseen by our educational psychologist and includes a variety of exciting forward-thinking encounters designed to foster long-lasting social relationships with other students.

St Columba’s, in line with the Catholic Schools Office, Signs of God’s Presence, implement The Child Safeguarding Policy which is a process-driven approach in which all potential dangers to children are documented and prepared for.

Part of this process is to recognise potential situations where the correction for dangerous or harmful behaviour of a child is needed. All discipline at St Columba’s is restorative, ensuring the dignity of every party is carefully considered and upheld in any situation.

Through this process children have the opportunity to learn the consequences of actions in a safe, caring and uplifting environment. These critical life skills help develop young people who are responsible, confident and consequence aware, helping them to safely explore their budding independence.

In addition to the official registration and recognition of St Columba’s curriculum with the South African Department of Education, our school is also registered with the Independent Quality Assurance Association (IQAA) which is affiliated to the Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa (ISASA). IQAA regularly assesses the quality of teaching, learning, governance and finance of the school. Additionally, St Columba’s is registered with and accredited by Umalusi (the Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training). The Catholic Schools Office, Signs of God’s Presence, is a monitoring tool to ensure St Columba’s works within the ethos of a Catholic school.

The regular submission of audits and analysis of all programs offered at St Columba’s ensures that your child receives the highest quality education, safeguarded by independent and national regulatory bodies.

St Columba’s fosters a healthy partnership with parents in which the child's development is at the forefront of everything we do. The teaching, answering of questions and assessment of your child is managed by our highly qualified and passionate teachers who make up the St Columba’s education team. This leaves you free to remain in a parenting role, supporting your child and cheering them on in their education journey.