Culture at Stirling is taken very seriously and aside from the hundreds of students who participate in the various activities on offer, many do extremely well. A sample of some of the achievements:

At the 2009 East London Eisteddfod, Stirling won the trophies for Best Choir, Best Chamber Choir, Best High School Band, Best Jazz Band, Best Senior Pianist, Most Promising Brass Player, Best Vocalist and Best Woodwind Ensemble.

Stirling is considered the best school jazz band in the country and 49 students have been selected for the National Band since 1995, many of whom have become professional musicians. In 2009 8 of the 18 members of the National Schools Jazz Band came from Stirling and 54% of the national band has been drawn from Stirling in the last eight years. The Big Band has toured Zimbabwe, Namibia and all around South Africa and performs about 30 times a year at dances and varied venues. The Jazz Band has toured Europe and Britain and has played in most of the professional jazz venues in South Africa. They have appeared on national television twice and are arguably the best school jazz band in South Africa, having received the Premier’s Award for Excellence (best junior ensemble in the Eastern Cape) twice. In 2002 the band performed in the Wigan International Jazz Festival – the first band from Africa, and the first school band to have been invited. The band has recorded 8 CDs and played around the country and toured 5 countries.

Oratory is an essential social and business skill and the Stirling Debating Team won the 2009 Eastern Cape Debating Championships and the team boasts three students who have represented South Africa or been placed in the top 10 at National Debating Championships. Since 2003, 9 students have represented South Africa at Debating or achieved Top-Ten placings at the National Championships.

15 Stirling dancers have received Honours cum Laude (the top award in the school) for passing their RAD or Cecchetti Advanced exams or being selected to represent South Africa in Hip-Hop Dancing.

Four students have been recognised with Honours cum Laude for dramatic performance considered equivalent of a national standard. Stirling students won numerous Gold awards at the East London and Grahamstown Eisteddfodau, as well as Double Golds, Triple Golds and trophies.