Reddam House Cape Town, Reddam House School in Cape Town

• Year founded: 2000.
• Location: Cape Town, Western Cape province, South Africa.
• Number of students: 1148.
• Type of education: mixed.
• Type of institution: private independent day school.
• Language of instruction: English.

Reddam House Constantia — a private independent school in the southern part of Cape Town, in the Constantia Valley, for children from 1 year old to Grade 12, covering all stages — from kindergarten to the final year.

The school opened in 2000 and was the first in the Reddam House educational network in South Africa. The network's founder Graham Crawford developed Reddam House together with Sheena Crawford-Kempster, with the core ideas being student independence, strong academic preparation, sports, arts, and social responsibility.

Today, Reddam House is part of the Inspired group — an influential network of private schools operating on all five continents.  The school's motto — We Shall Give Back, «We Must Give Back», — is connected to the theme of contributing to the community.

RHC follows the curriculum of the Independent Examinations Board of South Africa. Graduates take the National Senior Certificate through IEB. In 2025, 116 graduates of Reddam House Constantia completed their final exams with a 100% pass rate, earned 303 subject distinctions, 31 students finished the year with an A-level average, 50 — with a B, and 35 received four or more A's in subjects.

Senior school teachers work not only as educators, but also as examiners, moderators, markers, and academic consultants. In addition to preparing for final exams, the school helps students map out their further educational path and navigate their future career choices.

A key element of this preparation is the university and career counseling system in the senior grades: students receive guidance on subject selection, academic direction, and university application preparation. Through the Inspired network, the school also provides access to international counseling in partnership with Arete Education and The Classroom Door.

RHC actively develops career-related skills: leadership, public speaking, project work, entrepreneurship, and social responsibility. Through the Seed Capital, Interact, and Future Sparks programs, students take part in community initiatives, volunteering, and team projects.

• The name Reddam is connected to a Latin word meaning «to give back». Hence the motto We Shall Give Back, which the school associates with responsibility to the community.
• The Reddam House coat of arms was created in 1999 by Sheena Crawford-Kempster together with the state herald of the Bureau of Heraldry in Pretoria; the composition features a deer and a heraldic lily.
• The Early Learning School is equipped with five gardens designed for different child development goals.
• The Seed Capital programme: this is a student initiative through which pupils launch their own social and entrepreneurial projects. Students use this project for initiatives related to entrepreneurship, leadership, teamwork, beach clean-ups, waste recycling, and resource collection for schools with fewer opportunities.

Reddam House Constantia is located in the southern part of Cape Town, in the prestigious green Constantia Valley — one of the calmest and most affluent areas of the city, at the very foot of Table Mountain. Directly opposite the school is Steenberg Estate — a well-known winery and golf complex with historic vineyards, restaurants, and green spaces. Nearby are the neighborhoods of Tokai, Bergvliet, and Lakeside, and slightly to the south the road begins toward the False Bay coast and the Muizenberg beaches. From the campus grounds, there are impressive views of the mountain slopes and the green valley. The city center can be reached in approximately 25–35 minutes depending on traffic, and Cape Town International Airport is approximately 30–40 minutes away by car.

Catering is provided through the school cafeteria on campus: students can purchase hot meals, snacks, and drinks, while parents can place orders and specify dietary requirements through an online system. For the Early Learning School, a separate plan is available through the Red Deli service.

The school offers the Adventure Zone after-school program with additional snacks and supervision after classes.

Extracurricular life is built around sports, arts, clubs, public speaking, and community projects. Students participate in competitions, creative productions, debates, music ensembles, and social initiatives. The sports program includes water polo, swimming, rugby, hockey, athletics, tennis, netball, cross-country, golf, and cricket; senior students have access to mountain biking, football, squash, rugby sevens, and pre-season training in team sports.

The cultural program encompasses art, drama, dance, design, and music (in the senior school, these subjects can be studied as full academic subjects from Grade 8 to Grade 12). Beyond lessons, students take part in theatrical productions, school musicals, music evenings, art exhibitions, debates, chess tournaments, and language festivals. Musical life is particularly vibrant: the school has a choir, orchestra, vocal and instrumental ensembles, jazz and rock bands, a marimba ensemble, a ukulele group, and a string ensemble for junior students.

Community life is built around the motto We Shall Give Back. Students of all ages, from Stage 1 to Grade 12, participate in charitable and social initiatives both voluntarily and as part of the school program. The school supports the Reddam House Foundation, Future Sparks, and Seed Capital projects.

Through the Inspired Education network, students can participate in international exchanges and themed camps in Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and Latin America. Short-term academic and cultural exchanges, sports and creative camps, and term exchange programs are available. Participants have accommodation options in host families or on the campuses of network schools that have boarding.

• Continuous education within one school: children can study here from an early age — starting with Early Learning School — and stay until the end of Grade 12.
• Thanks to membership in the Inspired Education network, students gain access to international exchanges, summer programs, and specialized university admissions counseling.

The campus covers 13 hectares, divided between the Early Learning School, Preparatory School, and College.

• In the junior school, the Junior Preparatory Block is organized by age zones: it features open inner courtyards for collaborative work, spaces for additional student support, and flexible learning workshops.
• The Senior Preparatory Block is located next to the sports area of the campus and has direct access to the pavilion, football and rugby fields. Nearby are an outdoor chess court, Crawford-Kempster Square, two STEAM classrooms, art rooms, and the Woolley Library.
• The senior school is equipped with modern classrooms, science and IT laboratories, a library, a multi-purpose hall, a dance studio, performing arts spaces, a school shop, and two cafés.

WiFi is available throughout the entire campus.

Sports infrastructure includes an indoor aquatic centre, an outdoor swimming pool, a water astroturf, three cricket and three football fields, four netball courts, and four tennis courts. Studios for music, dance, drama, and visual arts are provided for artistic and cultural disciplines.

The academic year at Reddam House Constantia is divided into four terms: holidays are provided between terms, and additional short mid-term breaks are scheduled during semesters.

Additional expenses may include:

• registration fee upon application,
• deposit to confirm a place after receiving the acceptance letter,
• school uniform,
• meals at the campus café,
• extended day Adventure Zone,
• Holiday Adventure Zone,
• learning materials,
• iPad for Grade 6 and Grade 7,
• sports equipment,
• participation in trips and exchange programs,
• medical insurance for international students,
• personal expenses.

The family fills out a request form, after which RHC contacts the parents and explains the next steps. Parents may schedule an individual campus tour and a meeting with the head of the relevant school level.

Parents submit a package of documents: the child's birth certificate, vaccination record, most recent school report, and the identity document of the parent or legal guardian. A registration fee for submitting the application must be paid.

The level head reviews the child's documents, after which the school arranges an interview with the student and parents. If the admission decision is positive, the family is sent an official offer letter. To confirm the place, a reservation fee must be paid and a contract signed within 14 days.

Before the start of studies, the student is assigned to a class with a tutor and a buddy student for orientation.

Graduates receive the National Senior Certificate through IEB and go on to universities in South Africa and abroad. The senior school has a well-developed university and career counseling system. Through the Inspired network, students have access to Arete Education and The Classroom Door services: assistance with choosing universities, applications, essays, and preparation for admission to universities in the USA and the UK. About a third of graduates continue their studies at elite Russell Group or Ivy League universities.

To apply to Reddam House Constantia, the family must provide a basic package of documents and undergo the school's internal assessment.

Main requirements:

• completed application form,
• child's birth certificate,
• vaccination card,
• most recent school report or academic transcript,
• identity document or passport of the parent/guardian.

For international families, the following may additionally be required:

• child's passport,
• valid visa or confirmation of immigration status,
• medical insurance,
• translated academic documents (if the child previously studied in a language other than English).

Academic requirements depend on the student's age:

• for the Early Learning School, the school assesses the child's readiness for the age group and holds a meeting with the family,
• for Preparatory School Grade 1–7, a trial day is recommended, during which teachers will assess the child's level of English, mathematics, and classroom adaptation,
• for College Grade 8–12, the school may request additional academic data and conduct an interview with the student.

For applicants at all levels, an interview with the head of the school or the relevant division is provided. The final admission decision is made after reviewing the documents and the results of the internal assessment.

RHC offers scholarships to students who demonstrate high achievement and actively participate in school life. The main areas of support are academic excellence, arts, sports, and community activities. Applicants are expected to participate in school initiatives and uphold the values of Reddam House Foundation.

Scholarship applications usually open in January, documents must be submitted by early March, and the school publishes selection results in May so that successful candidates can begin studying in January of the following academic year. The main focus is on students entering Grade 8 after completing Grade 7.

The Reddam House Foundation operates to assist families with limited financial means, and the Nsouli Scholars Programme within Inspired Education is a global full-scholarship program for 50 students across the network.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision