Rector’s eNews 04: 4 February 2026

Today I thought I would write briefly about the fact that we are, by choice, a full boarding school. Full time boarding is an increasingly rare construct globally and nationally with just two such schools in South Africa. However, it is one which we deeply believe in and one to which we are fully committed. Full time boarding offers many advantages over day-schooling or weekly-boarding but today we will dwell on just three of them.

In the first instance, full time boarding develops independence in young men and sets them up for a life beyond school. Secondly, full time boarding creates additional time in each boy’s day with no time being wasted waiting for transport to and from school or sitting in traffic each day. We put this time to excellent use in our pursuit of a holistic education and we are very proud of the breadth of opportunities we are able to create for our boys. Thirdly, when boys live together full time for extended periods they learn to live in a community and they form friendships which last a lifetime.

Of course, we do not need to sell full time boarding to you as you have already chosen this option for your son. However, we do want to take this opportunity to do two things:

Firstly, while we have been offering full boarding since inception, we are continually refining our model in order that it remains both optimal and relevant for the present day. We are proud of the fact that, as a school, we are a thought leader in this space with many of our staff making valuable contributions at national and international conferences around boarding. Please refer to the article further down in my message about the research being done and shared by Herman Visagie, Founders Housemaster.

Secondly, this is a good time to reflect briefly on what it means for each of you to be a parent of a boarder. By sending your son to Michaelhouse you are making great sacrifices (emotional and financial to mention just two). While you are no longer responsible for ensuring his bed is made or his homework is done, you are by no means abdicating your responsibilities as a parent. Your role-modelling and your support for your son remain all important. As a school we know that we are most effective when we work in partnership with you, the parent. We count on your support but we also appreciate the trust you place in our staff and our processes. Your confidence in us will inspire confidence in your son and make him more receptive.

For your son to develop the independence mentioned above you will, at times, need to give him the space and time to try and solve his own problems with the support of his Housemaster, tutor, teachers and friends amongst others. This can take some getting used to and may require you to manage your natural instinct to dive in. We are certainly not arguing for a hands-off approach but rather a considered one. It goes without saying that you should always communicate any concerns you may have. We are proud of the relationships between Michaelhouse and the parent community and we want to take this opportunity to thank you for your support for our staff, our systems and, most importantly, your sons.

Mr Herman Visagie, who completed his Master’s degree in Residential Education through the University of Buckingham in 2024, has been awarded the UK-based Boarding Schools’ Association (BSA) Research Fellowship for 2025/2026, as well as the ISASA Staff Development Fund Award for 2026. These awards enabled him to present his ongoing research at the annual BSA Conference in Nottingham, England, held on 27 and 28 January.

Herman’s current research builds on his Master’s work, which explored boarding culture, with a particular focus on the situational influences that drive conformity and their impact on adolescent wellbeing. His work also examines the development of situational awareness training for boarding staff as a proactive approach to strengthening boarding environments.

He has presented on adolescent wellbeing and boarding practice at schools and conferences across South Africa, and the BSA Conference provided a valuable opportunity to share this work on an international stage.

As a school, we are proud of Herman’s contribution to residential education research. Herman’s work speaks directly to the heart of our boarding tradition: the intentional care of boys within a strong, values-based residential community. His research enriches our understanding of boarding culture and supports the ongoing development of staff who seek to create Houses in which boys can flourish, feel secure, and grow in character.

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