About Us

Our teachers are enthusiastic about finding and developing best practices in education. The administration and support staff are continually growing their skills. The combined efforts of the whole staff ensure that Rustenburg enjoys success.

Message from our Principal
Belinda Petersen

Rustenburg Girls’ Junior is a beautiful school in the heart of Rondebosch in Cape Town, South Africa. Throughout its 130-year history, the school has always existed to provide quality education and serve the needs of its community and society at large. The school has been through many changes since 1894 and continues to transform to be relevant for the girls of the present and the future. We cherish the traditions of our long history, balanced with providing an excellent 21st-century academic, sporting, and cultural program.

Vision
Stimulating, neat, tidy, and well-maintained caring environment that is safe for learning and playing

Rustenburg Girls’ Junior is a school leading the way in preparing girls to embrace the challenges of the present confidently and courageously and to excel in a continuously changing world.

Mission
Resources and facilities of the highest calibre to support the educational programme of the school

To provide opportunities for learning the values of independence, critical thinking, innovation, self-belief, honesty, integrity, commitment, respect, pride, and loyalty. ensure that each girl is exposed to a wide variety of inspirational opportunities so that she may explore her unique, individual, and special talents.

ABOUT US

The school is a happy, vibrant and caring place that strives toward being a community of belonging for all. RGJS is continually evolving in its relevance in the 21st century and in present-day South Africa by focusing intentionally on interconnectedness through integration, holistic education, and skills development.

History & Houses

A Proud Tradition

The school was founded in 1894 in the historic Rustenburg House, which dates from the early years of the Dutch settlement at the Cape. The terms of surrender of the Dutch to the English after the Battle of Muizenberg were signed in it on 16 September 1795. Rustenburg House was declared a National Monument in 1941. Rustenburg was specifically founded to provide education for girls equal to that given to boys. It is our belief, supported by research, that girls develop their potential more fully when educated in a single-sex environment.

The School Houses

The house system was introduced in 1930 and names were given to honour those who had played an important role in the history of the school. Originally the houses were:

Bleby, after Miss Alicia Bleby, the founding headmistress.

Wiener, after Mrs Jean Wiener (nee Donaldson-Wright), the second headmistress.

Van der Stel, after Simon van der Stel, one of the early governors of the Cape, who developed the Rustenburg estate significantly.

Marchand, after Rev BP Marchand, chairman of the School Committee from its founding in 1894 to 1917.

Michiel Vos, who was chairman of the School Committee from 1925 to 1939.

Innes, after Sir James Rose-Innes, Chief Justice of South Africa from 1914-1927, a distinguished member of the School Committee.

Cambridge, after Lady May Cambridge, for her generosity to and interest in the school.

Muir, after Sir Thomas Muir, who was the Superintendant-General of Education at the Cape when the school was founded.

Take a look at available posts at our school

Find out a little more about our year plans

Click here to download our school song

School Times

The allocated gate exits mentioned below are preferential to ease with traffic congestion around our school. Girls may enter through any gate in the morning.

  • Rustenburg House Gate and Burg Road Top Gates will be open from 06:30. Learners may enter through either of these gates. From 06:50 learners may enter through the middle gate in Burg Road. Learners may enter the school through any of the 3 entrances. Once inside the school grounds, learners may enter the buildings to drop off their bags after which they need to go to their respective playgrounds until the bell rings at 07:50. In the event of rain, the learners can proceed straight to their respective classrooms.
  • At the end of the day all learners should please be collected within 15 minutes of the ending time for their grade.
  • The Grade Rs will be escorted to the Top Gate in Burg Road, Grade 1s to Top Gate, Grade 2s to the Middle Gate, Burg Road, and Grade 3s to the Main Road Gate.
  • Grade 4 – 7s may exit through any gate. The exits below are “suggested” exit areas, but girls can be collected from any gate.
  • Please discuss with your daughter prior to collection, at which gate she will be collected.

Grade R: Monday – Friday 07:50 – 12:45 Top Gate, Burg Road

Grade 1: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday: 07:50 – 12:55 and Tuesday Games day: 07:50 – 14:25 and Friday: 07:50 – 12:55 Top Gate, Burg Road

Grade 2: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday: 07:50 -12:55 and Wednesday Games day 07:50-14:25 and Friday: 07:50 -12:55 Middle Gate, Burg Road

Grade 3: Monday: 07:50  -12:55; Tuesday – Thursday: 07:50 – 14:25 and Friday: 07:50 – 12:55 Main Road Gate

Grade 4-7: Monday – Thursday: 07:50 – 14:25, Friday: 07:50 – 12:55 Any of the 3 exit gates

School day starts promptly at 07:50 for all learners