Information
Information
About Us
Protea Heights Academy High School opened its doors to Grade 8 and 9 learners on 21 January 2015, and has, ever since, made history every day.
Situated in Protea Heights, Brackenfell, on the eastern edges of the Cape Town Metropole adjoining the Winelands, this dual- medium Afrikaans and English school has a very specific Maths and Science focus on Mathematics and the sciences. The Western Cape Education Department, as well as the Protea Heights community, is very proud of a school that had been a dream of the community for many years.
Construction began in 2013, and was extended in 2020. After only one year of operation, the school had built a formidable reputation of excellence, which continues to this day.
Our slogan, from the ancient Greek, “Protos Akademeia” (Academics first) serves to direct all that we do at the school. We embrace the use of technology in the delivery of the curriculum, and use inquiry- based learning in order to prepare our learners for careers we have not yet imagined.
Mathematics and Science
Protea Heights Academy is designated as a fee-paying (Quintile 5) Western Cape
Department of Education school. The school is academically-focused with the core subjects
being Mathematics and the Sciences. Every learner in the school must take Mathematics up
to grade 12 as Mathematical Literacy is not offered at the school. This Mathematics and
Science focus creates critical thinkers, increases science literacy, and enables the next
generation of innovators.
We do not ask our learners what they will become or do after completing their studies, but
rather what problems they are going to solve.
Our mission
To provide excellent education to high school learners from the greater Protea Heights area, in a dual-medium school with a focus on Maths and Science.
Our vision
To provide globally-superior education, focusing on Maths and Science, supported by advanced technology and world-class facilities – creating well-balanced learners who positively impact the community.
Our name
The school lies in the suburb of Protea Heights, and it was fitting to use this as part of our name, to acknowledge the wait, of more than 20 years, by residents of the area for a school to be built on the vacant land in their midst.
The word “Academy” in our name embodies our ethos of learning, and is derived from the Akademeia in ancient Greece, itself named for the Athenian hero, Akademos. Outside the city walls of Athens, Plato established what is today known as the Old Academy in 387 BCE, a famous centre of learning and teaching philosophy.
By extension, “Academia” has come to stand for the cultural accumulation of knowledge, its development and transmission across generations, and its practitioners and transmitters.
In the 17th century, British, Italian, and French scholars used the term to describe types of institutions of higher learning.
(Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academia)
Our badge
The suburb of Brackenfell was established in 1913 (the name “Bracken” refers to an indigenous fern) and thus the fern was placed at the centre of our badge indicating our heritage.
The open book
The open book inside the world indicates our thirst for learning and knowledge that will have
a positive impact on our global community.
The Yellow Lines
The yellow lines in the badge form a triangle, the most stable shape, indicating that successful learning is a partnership between the learner, parent and the school.
Our logo
The first (2015) representative council of learners involved the learner body and developed the logo. The logo identifies us as a Mathematics and Science School.
The Atom
The atom and the symbol pi underline our focus on Mathematics and the Sciences.
Our houses
Each learner is allocated to a house. The name of the houses are based on the Greek alphabet and are symbols often used in Mathematics and Science.
The purpose of the house system is to build a sense of belonging amongst the learners, build spirit and loyalty and encourage healthy competition.
