Our students have excelled in ancillary academic research, which is recognised within the school’s Academia Award system. This covers Olympiads (English, Maths, Science, Life Sciences), research projects, Music and Art Eisteddfodau and similar opportunities. Particular successes recently have come from -
- Daniel Brodie – Hennie Joubert National Piano Competition 2016 (top 10 in SA)
- Kai Chen – Honours cum laude for Academics 2016
- Emma Wagenaar – 1st in SA in Grade 11 SACEE Language Challenge 2015
- Michelle de Beer – 3rd in SA in Grade 11 SACEE Language Challenge 2015
- Sara Goldsmid - 4th in South Africa (top female) in the National Life Science Olympiad 2014
- Bianca Brandt - represented SA in Taiwan at the International Science Fair in 2014
- Brandon Davoren - 3rd in the National Science Essay Competition 2011
- Danielle Botha, Michael Harvey & Richard Goosen - national winners of the South African Institute of Civil Engineers Schools’ Water Network Competition 2011
- James Foulkes - represented SA in Reunion Islands at the International Science Fair in 2010
- Harry Frauenstein - top 10 in the National Science Olympiad Life Sciences Examination 2010
- Lucas Anderson - top 10 in the National Science Olympiad Life Sciences Examination in his age-group in 2008, 2009 and 2010
- Martin Kemp - represented South Africa at World Science Fair in Boston 2008
There is a decades-long tradition of excellence in Maths Olympiads, with numerous Stirling students selected to represent Border and even South Africa in Maths Olympiad teams. Stirling has been recognised as one of the top Maths schools in the country and receives regular funding from the Epoch and Optima Trusts (founded by Anglo American) specifically for the enhancement of Maths education.
Life Science and Natural Science students are very active in extra research and activities, including the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists, Olympiads and the Grahamstown Science Festival. Regular academic tours and excursions in subjects like Tourism, English, Business Studies and Music are also on offer. We encourage as much international exposure and experience as possible and foreign tours are also available. There have been regular sight-seeing tours to Europe, and an exchange programme with Lancaster High School in Britain gives staff and students an opportunity to experience a different culture for a couple of weeks at a time.
The 21 Club is a very prestigious society consisting of the top 10 academic pupils from Grades 11 and 12, along with the teacher in charge. Members are chosen based on their academic ranking from the previous year (the November examination results). The Chairperson, a Grade 12 learner, and the secretary, a Grade 11 learner, are elected annually, and regular seminars take place where students present the findings of research they have undertaken.