boarding

A Full Boarding
Experience for Boys

There are ten Houses at Michaelhouse. These include Founders, East, West, Tatham, Farfield, Pascoe, Baines, Mackenzie, Ralfe and McCormick. Each House is under the care of a Housemaster who acts in “Loco Parentis.” The Housemaster is supported by a management team consisting of an assistant Housemaster, a Senior Tutor, House Tutors, Home Room Teacher and a prefect body.

Central to the Michaelhouse experience is the House system with each House being home to approximately 60 boys.

The Houses are the focal point of group identity, friendship and relaxation, and have a healthy rivalry in sporting, cultural and academic arenas. All Houses have comfortable common-rooms that have networked television facilities and table tennis or pool tables for relaxation.

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Michaelhouse operates on a four-term calendar. A generous leave system is offered each term which includes a four-day mid-term break, two weekend leaves, and Sunday and supper leaves as appropriate.

Senior boys enjoy accommodation in dual or single bed-sits equipped with wireless internet facilities. Junior boys (E and D Block) are housed in rooms of between 4 and 8 boys to facilitate their greater need for socialisation. All bed-sits and single rooms have built-in work areas for study and homework, supporting the academic side of boarding life.

The school has a full complement of resident staff that facilitates a high level of pastoral care and individual attention for every boy. The well-equipped medical centre is staffed by three qualified full-time Sisters who are complemented by a medical doctor who consults daily at the school.

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boarding

Pastoral Care

We pride ourselves on a world-class pastoral care offering. Our academic staff are fully resident, and this unique feature ensures a happy and safe boarding environment. The column of care in each of our ten Houses is at the core of our offering. A dedicated Housemaster who lives in close proximity to the House is constantly available and concerned with our boys’ social, spiritual, academic, mental and personal wellbeing. Our Housemasters are supported by a team of assistant Housemasters, House Mothers, homeroom tutors and interns who are invested and familiar with the hopes, ambitions and obstacles to success in the lives of every boy in their care.

The day-to-day running of each House is overseen by a team of prefects who are also given the privilege of mentoring young Grade 8 boys in their House. Known as the Cop/Cack relationship, this almost century-old institution allows direct access to older, more responsible boys who have earned their stripes in an all-boys, all-boarding environment and who quickly become trusted advisers and confidantes.

Outside of the Houses, our school provides a dedicated counselling department which in 2024 was at the forefront of Michaelhouse being acknowledged as the World Steer School of the Year. Steer is an internationally recognised tool for managing mental wellbeing, strengthening the bond between student and school by equipping every teacher with insights to give every child timely, targeted support. Our medical centre is accessible to boys 24 hours a day and is staffed by a compassionate, experienced, and well-equipped nursing team. As an Anglican Foundation school, our resident chaplain is a constant source of support and guidance.

Michaelhouse is proactively and energetically committed to providing the appropriate academic, physical, emotional, spiritual, and personal support to ensure our boys’ all-round wellbeing—all day, every day.

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boarding houses

Introducing the
10 Boarding Houses

The house system was put in place by Rector Warin Bushell in 1928. Initially, four boarding houses were established but as the school grew the number of houses increased.

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FOUNDERS

Founded1928
First Housemaster

Rector WF Bushell

(1928 – 1929)

Current HousemasterHerman Visagie
First Head of HouseJ Robinson
ColourRed
Rector’s was one of the first Houses to be established when most of its dormitories were situated in the northeast side of the Main Quad, in the home of the Rector. For the first and last time, a Rector was also a Housemaster. Rector Bushell resigned in 1929 and was succeeded by the Rev DE Birks in 1930.
In 1956, the whole House was substantially rebuilt, but this makeover did not include the installation of heating for water. There was still no hot water in 1971, a situation only remedied during the 1977 renovation! In 1953, the deputy Head of House was Chris Burger, a world-class cricketer who was worshipped by the boys and particularly the Cacks of that year. He captained the school cricket team and played for Natal and South African Schools.
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east

Founded1928
First Housemaster

TA Strickland

(1928 – 1942)

Current HousemasterLinda Shezi
First Head of HouseC Wiley
ColourMaroon
East was one of the four founding Houses established by Rector Warren Bushell in 1928. It was at first called Foundation East, and the boys were accommodated in dormitories in the South East corner of the Main Quad, but the House soon became known simply as East.
The House developed a Spartan and conservative character based on the personality of its first Housemaster whose influence took firm root in the House’s first 14 years in existence. East has enjoyed a long tradition of success on the sports field and in 1967 they won nine inter-House sporting events. Both the junior and senior inter-House squash events were wone by East for much of the 60s and 70s, a feat mirrored in the pool since East won the first inter-House gala in 1933.
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West

Founded1928
First Housemaster

KM Pennington

(1928 – 1942)

Current HousemasterIan Crawford
First Head of HouseR Rawlinson
ColourDark Blue
One of the four founding Houses West was initially called Foundation West. The boys were housed in dormitories on the West side of the Main Quad. Their first Housemaster KM Pennington was said to be responsible for the “Roman urbanity” of the House’s personality.
By Easter 1935 the West wing of the Main Quad was completed for a final cost of £7 355 and the House moved from their scattered dormitories into their new permanent home.
In the early years West developed a reputation for producing leaders. In 1956 it contributed a third Head Prefect in a row to the school’s leadership, and the House produced two more in a row in 1963 and 64. When Baines was established it was West which provided its first Head of House in Rex Pennington.
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FARFIELD

Founded1928
First Housemaster

CW Hannah
(1928 – 1930)

Current HousemasterDoug Roger
First Head of HouseA Melville
ColourYellow
In May 1928, Michaelhouse purchased a house north of what is now the Bog Stream, later named Farfield. Bok Hannah and 16 boys used his old Ford Eliza to move their belongings across the flooded vlei to their new quarters. While some Farfield boys initially remained in dormitories overlooking the Main Quad, the House fully settled on the west side of the quad in 1929. Early academic performance lagged, possibly due to geographical challenges, but by 1970, Farfield led the school in matric and A-Level results. Alan Melville, the first Head of House, was one of the most distinguished cricketers ever to have left Balgowan. He scored over 1000 runs and took 90 wickets for Michaelhouse in the 1927/28 season. He was also a gifted hockey player!'
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tatham

Founded1935
First Housemaster

F van Heijst

(1935 – 1940)

Current HousemasterRighardt Kotze
First Head of HouseKM Collins
ColourDark Green
Named after the Honourable Justice Frederic Spence Tatham, governor of Michaelhouse from its inception until 1931, Tatham was the fifth House to be inaugurated at the school. Tatham boys were billeted in the old West House dormitories, from where they moved to the accommodation which was to be their home in the southwest corner of the Main Quad until the end of 2023. The doors to the impressively modern and spacious new Tatham in its current location on the east side of the Penington Quad were opened at the beginning of 2024.
As with all Houses, sports achievements have waxed and waned. Tatham won the inter-house gala six times in the first half of the 70s, and the House can proudly claim world-class sprinter Paul Nash as one of their own.
In the early years Tatham developed a reputation for toughness but as the years passed the atmosphere in the House became more friendly and by 1970 Old Boys were amazed to hear that the Cacks were on first name terms with the prefects!
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pascoe

Founded1940
First Housemaster

NR Lyon

(1940 – 1945)

Current HousemasterNkanyiso Ngcobo
First Head of HouseFBK Tucker
ColourBrown
Pascoe was named after Eldred Pascoe who had been the Rector of Michaelhouse for ten years until his death at the school in 1926. The early years were marked by the deprivations and difficulties of World War Two. Things were made more difficult by the boys being scattered in accommodation from the old Farfield Cottage to dormitories above Screens, perhaps the reason behind the House’s reputation for boys developing a strong sense of individuality.
The ghost of the first Housemaster, NR Mango Lyon has been ‘seen’ many times since his sudden tragic death in 1945. The House moved to its permanent location in 1950 following which a distinctive sense of community has evolved. The House underwent significant renovations during the course of 2024 but echoes of the original buildings are evident in the sensitive preservation of much of the original stonework and the striking incorporation of what used to be external arched colonnades in the day room.
Rex Pennington who went on to become the tenth Rector of Michaelhouse was the second Head of House in 1941.
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baines

Founded1956
First Housemaster

RA Roseveare

(1956 – 1961)

Current HousemasterMatthew Higginson
First Head of HouseGS Young
ColourLight Blue
Baines boys were scattered around the school for the first nine years, and it was not unknown to come across dormitories which were so crowded that boys had to climb over each other to get to their beds. In spite (perhaps because) of this the first Housemasters fostered an exceptionally strong House spirit by encouraging open communication and allowing everyone to participate in House affairs.
Named after the Right Reverend Frederick Samuel Baines, Bishop of Natal and Chairman of the Michaelhouse Board of Governors between 1900 and 1928, Baines began in a blaze of sporting glory. GS Young and RWH Hall, the first two Heads of House, were also captains of the first XV. In 1962 Baines set a new record by winning eight inter House competitions and dominated swimming and gymnastics for many years.
Baines finally moved into its own dedicated buildings in 1965 complete with accommodation for the Housemaster and his wife. Baines became the first House to incorporate ‘Toyes’ - small individual study cubicles decorated with personal touches - for senior boys. The House underwent major renovations in the years immediately preceding the COVID pandemic.
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mackenzie

Founded1995
First Housemaster

KR Shuter

(1995 – 1997)

Current HousemasterEd Jeffrey
First Head of HouseD Wattam
ColourBurnt Orange
After a flurry of new Houses being inaugurated at the school between 1928 and 1956 almost 40 years passed before the eighth House was opened. Mackenzie opened its doors in 1992. Almost immediately the House was occupied by West, followed by Farfield and Baines as part of the Centenary Project which included major renovations to all of the Houses before Mackenzie House was finally inaugurated in 1995. Mackenzie was named after Old Boys Ken Mackenzie who donated the funds to construct what was the first House deliberately designed to accommodate significant numbers of schoolboys.
Ken Shuter, the first Housemaster, was committed to acknowledging the ‘inalienable rights of boys to develop their own individual skills and talents’. He recruited a strong balance of sportsmen, academics, and boys with family connections from the other seven Houses. In their inaugural year Mackenzie won the inter House play competition, five sports competitions and were runners up in the academic trophy.
Ralfe - edit

ralfe

Founded2020
First Housemaster

M Blew

(2020 – 2021)

Current HousemasterPaul Snyman
First Head of HouseM Lubinga
ColourClover Green
Although the foundation stone of the House was laid in 2018 the relationship between the Ralfe family and the school began with arrival of the four sons of Harry Ralfe, the youngest of whom was Eric Douglas (East, 1929 – 1932), in whose honour the House was named.
The standard of the Ralfe family is the raven,  “in the beak a trefoil vert”, meaning a green three-leafed clover, which is recalled in the colour of the House. Douglas Ralfe epitomised the values of kindness, cheerfulness in adversity, dutifulness, manliness, and significance and the first Housemaster, Mark Blew, established these as the character strengths by which Ralfe House boys are expected to live and promptly established the Douglas Ralfe Award bestowed on the boy voted by his peers who best displays these characteristics each year.
Ralfe, which stands at the west end of the sixth quadrangle at Michaelhouse – the Dloti Quad -  made their mark on inter-house competitions by winning the gala in their first week of existence.
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MCCORMICK

Founded2020
First Housemaster

K Moffat

(2020 to the current day)

Current HousemasterKarin Moffatt
First Head of HouseH Mohamed
ColourRoyal Purple
McCormick is unique in being the first House at Michaelhouse to have a female Housemaster and from the outset the culture of McCormick has been one of tolerance and inclusion.
At one time much of the modern-day structure which is McCormick was the post matric building which had been completed and funded by the McCormick family in 1997. With the demise of post matric not long after, the edifice was repurposed and became the Afrikaans Department before the major extensions converting it into McCormick House which opened its doors in 2020. The expansion sees the House forming the southern side of the Dloti Quad which is shared with Baines and Ralfe, known collectively as the Garden Court Houses. At the centre of the Dloti Quad, the fountain is inscribed with the words Sine Timore (Without Fear) which is the McCormick House motto.