Gene Louw Primary School

As a parent with firsthand experience, I feel compelled to share some observations about the school that may be important for prospective parents and students .The school places a significant emphasis on sports, particularly rugby, often at the expense of academics. While this might appeal to those looking for a strong sports program, it can be concerning for parents who prioritize academic excellence. The school appears to cater more to students who excel in sports rather than fostering a balanced environment where academic achievements are equally celebrated. There’s a noticeable "big boys club" mentality when it comes to rugby. This can create an environment where favoritism is apparent, particularly in the way resources and attention are allocated. This exclusivity can alienate students who are not part of the rugby scene, leading to a less inclusive environment overall. The treatment of Afrikaans-speaking students versus English-speaking students is starkly different. The study materials and support available to Afrikaans students are far superior, leaving English learners at a disadvantage. The lack of resources for English learners is shocking and needs urgent attention. The school has no teachers of color, which is indicative of a broader issue of inclusivity. The environment feels stuck in a past era, with little effort to embrace diversity or foster an inclusive atmosphere. This is further highlighted by the hosting of concerts featuring divisive Afrikaans singers with strong political leanings, which can be alienating for those who do not share these views. There is an overwhelming focus on marketing and fundraising, often to the detriment of more important educational needs. The school's priorities seem skewed, with more effort put into maintaining a certain image rather than addressing the real needs of its students. Recently, parents were asked to donate cash for the principal's birthday, even though he is the highest-paid staff member at the school. This crosses various ethical and moral lines, creating discomfort among many parents. The request raises questions about the school's priorities and the appropriateness of such demands. It’s important to note that there are several brilliant educators at the school whom I can highly recommend. These teachers are dedicated and do their best to support students within the constraints they face. However, their efforts are often overshadowed by the broader issues affecting the school. Recent developments and improvements at the school appear to disproportionately benefit the teachers' social facilities rather than addressing the needs of the students. There's a noticeable focus on enhancing areas that cater to staff socializing, with an emphasis on partying and after-rugby braais. This further highlights the school's skewed priorities, where the social lives of teachers and the rugby culture take precedence over creating a supportive and enriching environment for all students. The principal’s leadership style is noticeably egocentric, likely influenced by his background in club rugby. This is evident in the way the school is run, with a strong emphasis on maintaining a white male-dominated environment that reflects the insular and exclusive culture often associated with certain rugby circles. It’s disappointing that a school in this day and age can be so closed off mentally, showing little willingness to embrace diversity, inclusivity, or broader perspectives. The leadership seems more focused on preserving an outdated ethos than on fostering a forward-thinking, inclusive educational environment.

Gene Louw Primary caters to all parents and all children. This double medium primary school in Durbanville practises Christian principles.

I think it's lovely that the school was named after Durbanville's first coloured mayor.

Please don't let this school fool you. It's been seven years since I've been out of this school, I'm turning twenty this year and still, after all these years, I think back to my time here with a terrifying shudder that snakes up my spine. The teachers appear to come off as wonderfully supportive and positive yet that was never carried over in the classroom. My Grade 3 teacher would bully me to no end, constantly screaming my ear off for being a creative soul and who couldn't do math. My Grade 5 teachers, both register and math, would also bully me in class by making fun of me for (once again) not being able to do math. That same year I was diagnosed with the learning disability dyscalculia, which overtook my life like you wouldn't believe. Even with that knowledge publicly declared to both the vice principal and my educators I was still made fun of, recieving detention after detention. I eventually had to learn how to lie which ended up turning me into the bad guy. Because of these teachers bullying me the students went along with it, turning into physical, mental and emotional abuse. The amount of times I'd come forward telling my teacher about the boys who'd beat me up which ended up being turned away with a simple "they'd never do that" was totally staggering to me, both as a child and now as an adult. My Grade 7 teacher would rip my drawings out from underneath my desk and shred them up, throwing them into the bin or forcing me to shamefully throw them away myself while I sobbed. I'd get thrown out the class, made fun of by her behind my back to my classmates (which I had to learn through my best friend who was also in the class). There was a bullying situation that happened in Grade 7 with me and two other girls in my class which ended up with us getting falsely accused for something someone else did. The teachers refused to believe us when we said it wasn't us and had a vote amongst the classes on who they thought it would more than likely be. As well as this, my Grade 7 teacher withheld my end of year report. We were away at the time, sent our address and even still she never sent it. Eventually we had to fetch it ourselves. It was a wonder how I got into high school. Please reconsider sending your child here. Also, they favor their Afrikaans students over the English ones and it's very obvious.

TL;DR: This school sucks and the teachers are abusive.