Invitation to schools to apply for blue heritage plaques
1 April 2021
The Blue Plaque Schools Project was initiated by the Centre for Conservation Education and the Simon van der Stel Foundation in 2015. Since then, 36 schools in the Western Cape have received blue heritage plaques.
Through being awarded a blue plaque, a school receives recognition for the
contribution it has made to the education of its community and education in
general.
In 2020 an unusually high number of schools received blue plaques as it was felt that
schools needed affirmation during the Covid-19 pandemic:
- Bloemhof Hoër Meisieskool, Stellenbosch (for the age of the school: est. 1875)
- De la Bat Skool vir Dowes, Worcester (for the age of the school: est. 1881)
- Die Bron Primêre Skool, Stanford (for the age of the school: est. 1865)
- Laerskool Hendrik Louw, Strand (for the age of the school: est. 1880)
- Nederburg Primêre Skool, Drakenstein (for a famous past pupil: Chester Williams)
- Paarl Boys’ High (for the age of the school: est. 1868)
- Paarl Girls’ High (for the age of the school: est. 1876)
- Pieter Langeveld Primêre Skool, Cloetesville (for the age of the school: est. 1830)
- Rhenish Girls’ High School, Stellenbosch (for the age of the school: est. 1860)
- Rustenburg Girls’ Junior School, Rondebosch (for an architecturally significant building: Rustenburg House)
- Simond Private School, Drakenstein (for the age of the school: est. 1852)
- Somerset-Wes Metodiste Primêre Skool (for the age of the school: est. 1834)
Until recently, blue plaques could not be awarded to schools outside the metropolitan areas of Cape Town. This has, however, changed since the Heritage Association of South Africa (HASA) has given its support to the project. The support of local heritage foundations has also been solicited and some of these have pledged to sponsor blue plaques for deserving schools that are unable to pay for it themselves.
This project is thus open to all schools in the Western Cape. Every application will be considered on merit by a panel of adjudicators representing the HASA, the various heritage foundations and the Centre.
The closing date for submissions is 21 May 2021.
For information about the criteria and application process, visit https://wcedonline.westerncape.gov.za/circulars/minutes21/IDCminutes/IDC/eidc0002-2021.pdf