St. Andrew’s School for Girls

In 1902, a seed of education was planted in Johannesburg. This seed blossomed into St. Andrew’s School for Girls. Two pioneering women, Jean Fletcher and Jessie Johnston, founded St. Andrew’s on January 22nd, 1902. Their first classrooms were two semi-detached buildings on Esselen Street in Hospital Hill. Initially, they catered to a mixed group of 19 boys and girls aged six to fourteen, plus one matriculant. St. Andrew’s quickly outgrew its initial location. In 1904, it moved to a new purpose-built facility on Girton Road in Parktown. The school continued to flourish. By 1920, further expansion was necessary. Jean Fletcher, displaying remarkable initiative for a woman of her time, secured funding to purchase a portion of Bedford Farm. This land was acquired from Lady Ella Farrar, widow of Sir George Farrar. The farm included a grand homestead designed by renowned architect Sir Herbert Baker. This historic building became the heart of St. Andrew’s. It remains a prominent feature on the school grounds today. In March 1921, St. Andrew’s relocated to Bedford Farm, its current home. The main house served multiple purposes. It housed staff and students, provided teaching rooms and office space, and included dining and recreation areas. Thatched outdoor structures supplemented the indoor classrooms. The school’s distance from the city center led to the introduction of boarding facilities. This option quickly became popular among students. Today, a modern boarding house accommodates 80 students from Grades 8 to 12. Following Jean Fletcher’s passing in 1922, a group of parents formed St. Andrew’s School Limited to manage the school. Miss Cheetham was appointed headmistress. Initially leasing the premises, the company eventually purchased most of the property from the Fletcher Trust. St. Andrew’s School for Girls has a rich history. It evolved from humble beginnings to become a leading institution dedicated to developing grounded, accomplished, and confident young women. St. Andrew’s continues its tradition of empowering girls to be “Skilled for Life” and ready to lead.