Westville Gilrs' High School

It is with extreme frustration I repeatedly express the trauma my dogs and family have been enduring over the past year due to the lack of accountability and neglect of community values from Westville Girls High School (WGHS) and schools that form part of the Westville Trustees of the Astro Hockey field (WGHS, Westville Boys High School and Westville Senior Primary School).
The lack of dispute resolution and disciplinary measures by the above-mentioned schools are violating my conditional rights to an environment that does not harm my well-being. This extends to my pets- our home, because of your lack of leadership, has now become a living hell for us all. I have written to the schools and spoke to representatives from all schools and none of them have had the decency to acknowledge me.
The schools pride themselves on “high academic standards” and “high discipline” and claim to embody the phrase dignity in diversity. As a neighbour bordering the WGHS I can attest that these statements are false. Your schools as educational institutes and government role players are supposed to encourage respect, but you all have outrightly neglected your duty to the community. Your schools should be developing well rounded students and inspiring them through actions to respect our environment and all creatures great and small. By your silence you have shown me and our community that you in fact do not care for the environment and animals.
My dogs and myself have been victims to traumatic experiences including provocations, infuriation, torture, and a general failure to uphold the law in terms of the Animal Protection Act, number 71 of 1962. The constant teasing and provocation (including throwing of bottles and other items) has naturally caused my dogs to become vicious and ill-tempered. Despite my repeated plea and my patience to finding a solution with your schools I have been met with humiliation and contempt.
The disrespect that has been shown to me by not dealing with my complaint (which serves not only to protect my dogs – but all those individuals who step afoot in your premises) is morally disturbing. You as a body are responsible for controlling the behaviour of your students and visitors who are allowed on your premises – their safety and well-being have been entrusted to you and you have failed. As a moral citizen and resident of Westville I believe that the community and parents should be aware of the inadequate protective measures any other reasonable school/s would have implemented regarding this issue. The behaviour exhibited by your schools and the way you have conducted yourselves is offensive. You have failed our community. You have failed holistic education. Parents and our community should be made aware of the malconduct approach in which you treat people and animals surrounding your property.
Your schools and their leaders have not cooperated with me amicably – it has been many months of torture that my dogs and my family have had to endure. As a frustrated neighbour of WGHS who has constantly remained dignified and respectful in my approach it is deeply saddening to have been met only by inhumanity, unkindness and disrespect.

I am a WGHS old girl in my second year of university. Reflecting back on my high school experience I can honestly say that WGHS was a home away from home (considering I didn't really go out much). Academically, it pushed me to my limits and at times it was daunting but when I sat down to write my final matric exams I was prepared beyond what I'd realised. This school offers so many opportunities to its learners and most teachers are eager to help wherever they can so the girls can achieve their full potential. Cultural and sporting activities are a full part of the experience, and every learner has the prerogative to partake in what interests them. The school makes it their priority to ensure all the learners feel welcomed and included, thus creating avenues for greater understanding of races, cultures and religions. WGHS has excellent IT and library facilities providing learners with all the resources they could ever need. Furthermore they try to foster a sisterhood amongst each individual within the school. Each generation of WGHS girls will differ in temperament but for the most part they are likely to find commonground through the years. WGHS ensures this through various activities that exist for the purposes of comradery-building. If you have any qualms with the school it is often easy to access admin and they will try to find a solution to ease the issue. Your daughter is even able to access the principal and deputy-principal if a situation calls for it, but on a whole WGHS is efficient about discipline and taking care of their girls. The members of the school (staff and students alike) take great pride in it and priority is placed on ensuring that the school maintains its prestige. I am very proud to have been a pupil there and I would recommend this high school to all parents who want to send their daughters to a place where they are prioritised and are going to succeed. This school will give them all the tools they need to get into a good university or to handle the challenges of reality. The onus then falls on them to make good use of those tools. I wish you the best of luck in school-searching!

I’m a matriculant of 2019. In terms of the academics, this school helped me achieve my potential. However, some of the teachers are extremely unhelpful and I found that I only actually liked three of my teachers in my entire five years at the school. The academic standard I reached was thus fueled by my own ambition, instead of the school pushing me to do my best. I found that the basis of the school is entirely reputation, and they will easily push aside learners own mental health in order to save the name of the school. All the girls were horrible, everyone was two faced and fake, and I couldn’t live in that sort of environment, which led me to only having 4 close friends.

I'm a grade 9 learner at the school and I feel like I'm part of a sisterhood. Their resources and environment are absolutely excellent. The morals and values they teach me help equip me for my future. The teachers put their students first and make sure our health safety and mind is okay