He says that the combined governing body embarked on a turnaround strategy with the goal being to cement Sunward Park High School as the best school in the region.
“By 2010 we produced seven distinctions from the top student Wandile Dhlamini. In 2011 Tarryn Skeepers achieved nine distinctions,” says Somera.
“In 2012 Shreya Somera achieved the best results in the history of the school, which was the pinnacle of five years of strategy with 10 distinctions, an average of 95 per cent and third in Gauteng.”
This year, the school replicated this achievement with Nikisha Baijan achieving 10 distinctions, and with Jennifer Eloff and Gugulethu Mabuza obtaining eight distinctions each.
“We also had host of pupils receiving five distinctions – Pryaska Somera, Daniel Pabu, Caleb Rajah and Anthea Naicker,” he says.
Somera adds that in essence the systems they have put in place provide the means whereby students with potential can be transformed into some of the best performers in the country consistently.
“Transforming a poor performing institution into one of the best academic schools was based largely on innovation and a systemic approach to school management. It starts with having a top teaching resource.
“We have strengthened the teaching corporation by attracting and retaining a diverse range of skill sets,” Somera says.
He adds that a top school is only as good as its top management.
“In Ansie Peens we have a strong visionary principal who is well supported by hard-working deputies, such as Enoch Tango and Derek Schaefer.
“The governing body augments these skills by sending senior management to international conferences to assimilate best international practice into the school system keeping the institution on the cutting edge of innovation.
“Last year we were the first public school to go fully digital, with all learners equipped with tablets and smart boards in each class with the entire school covered by wifi.
“We also partnered with ex French football players like Viera and Henry to create the Diambars/SPHS partnership where football meets education.
“Our football teams are among the best in the region, and we think we have conclusively proven that a school with 95 per cent of its learners from the townships, can compete with the best in the country once you get the correct systems in place.”
