Durban Prep is a school steeped in tradition. For nearly 100 years DPHS has been ‘Preparing our Boys for Life.’

The history of our school dates back to the year 1910, when the school was established in the old St Thomas’ church hall. Harry Stubbs, the first headmaster, taught the older boys. Three years later, in 1913, the school was relocated to its present site in Gordon Road. There were 150 boys at school on the first day. The school consisted of a hall and ten classrooms. Today the original hall is our Media Centre and the classrooms are used for the Junior Primary section of the school.

The standard ones and standard sixes were phased out shortly before the new school hall and present senior primary classrooms were built in 1967. Today the hall is known as the Maurice Wilkinson Hall in memory of Maurice Wilkinson, who taught Woodwork at Prep for 57 years. Another noteworthy milestone was the building of the Jubilee Pool to celebrate our 60th anniversary. This pool was built on the Gordon Road Girls School property as a joint venture between the two schools and is a shared facility.

Two of the most significant events in the history of the school were the introduction of the Junior Primary classes in 1988 and the establishment of our Reception Unit in Claribel Road in 1994. This means that a boy’s full career at Prep will last eight years.

Fresh Ideas and Traditional Values are some of the key cornerstones to Durban Prep’s approach. The well-mannered boys learn leadership and develop high levels of integrity, in an environment which provides a down to earth yet highly professional approach to education. In perfect balance are: sport and sportsmanship; academics; culture, and a cross-cultural understanding and acceptance, where anyone is welcome.

Improvements to the facilities of the school include the building of the Functions Room, the Music and Drama Room, the School Shop and the Refreshment Centre. This wing, officially opened as part of the Friends’ and Founders’ celebrations in 1998, marked the completion of Phase 1 of the Prep Beyond 2000 project initiated jointly by the School and the DPHS Educational Trust. Phase 2 of the project was completed in 2002. At the Friends’ and Founders’ celebrations of that year, the Science and Design Technology Centres, as well as four new classrooms were officially opened.

The School and Educational Trust have launched a new initiative to take Prep towards 2010, our Centenary Year and Plans for Phase 3 of the project have been launched.

Our school motto, which appears on our badge, “Debile principium melior fortuna sequetur,” means “From small beginnings better fortune follows.” On reflection, our history shows that we are aspiring to fulfil this vision in every way as we continue to prepare our boys for life.