St Mary’s DSG: Over A Century of Empowering Kloof Girls

The long road to a confident tomorrow

In the gentle hills of Kloof, KwaZulu-Natal, lies a school with history and heart, St Mary’s Diocesan School for Girls. Since its 1906 beginnings under the guidance of Anglican nuns, this school has quietly shaped countless young lives with a rare mix of tradition and forward-thinking values.

It may have started in humble wooden and iron buildings, but today St Mary’s is a place where girls flourish. Learning alongside chapel services, Bible clubs, and spiritual reflection, they absorb that powerful motto: Service Before Self and God Before All, a phrase that resonates far beyond Sunday school.

Why girls-only works magic here

From its earliest days, the school’s all-girls focus created a space where young women could lead with confidence, explore every subject without limits, and develop their voices from the very start. Here, leadership is encouraged from the front row, not just the sidelines. Students speak up, lead with empathy, and learn resilience without reservation.

Growing with purpose, not just textbooks

St Mary’s offers every phase of education, from Grade R right through to high school. With day and boarding options, bright classrooms, sports fields, arts studios, and a chapel imbued with history, every girl finds a place to explore her gifts and discover herself.

Behind the scenes: a community at work

Governing as a not-for-profit enterprise, the school leans on a committed board of directors and staff who give freely of their time. Teachers inspire more than lessons; they spark curiosity and courage. Younger learners benefit from a rich spiritual programme, while interns get real classroom experience and even help in boarding houses.

A legacy rooted in vision

The story began when two boys were among the first 30 pupils invited to classes, before the school re-opened in 1919 under Bishop Baines. Returning students brushed shoulders with nuns and learned in barn-style halls, a world away from the vibrant campus today. Yet the thread connecting then and now remains: preparing young women to embrace life with integrity, curiosity, kindness, and leadership.

At St Mary’s DSG, every girl’s journey starts with belonging and blossoms into a lifetime of possibility.

Also read: From Sandton to Nairobi: South Africa’s ADvTECH is Quietly Building a Pan African Education Empire

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Source: stmarysdsg.co.za

Featured Image: Facebook/St Mary’s DSG, Kloof