St Andrew’s College is an all-boys Anglican boarding school in Makhanda (Grahamstown) in South Africa’s Eastern Cape. Founded in 1855 by Bishop John Armstrong, the school is one of the country’s oldest independent institutions and remains closely tied to the Anglican Church. The campus is shared historically with its brother school, St Andrew’s Preparatory School, and its sister school, the Diocesan School for Girls.
The school educates around 450 boys from ages 13 to 18, with a capacity of 500. Boarding is the core of the school’s culture and identity, supported by six houses—Armstrong, Espin, Graham, Merriman, Mullins and Upper—many of which date back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The campus is open and expansive, spread across several city blocks, anchored by signature buildings such as the Clock Tower and the Herbert Baker–designed chapel, which remains the spiritual centre of the college.
St Andrew’s follows the Independent Examinations Board (IEB) curriculum, with Cambridge A-Levels introduced as an optional academic pathway. The school maintains a strong academic record, frequently ranking among the top performing schools in South Africa.
Culturally and extracurricularly, the college has a long-standing tradition of music, debating, cadets, outdoor pursuits and specialist societies such as the Alchemists, Astronomers and Cornish poetry group. A full pipe band and a historic cadet corps—one of the few still active in South Africa—are distinctive features of campus life.
Sport is a central part of St Andrew’s identity. The college has produced multiple Springbok rugby players, professional cricketers, national rowers and an Olympic gold medallist (James Thompson, 2012). Rugby and cricket have historically been the flagship sports, with significant fixtures against long-standing rivals including Grey High School, Selborne College, Dale College, Graeme College and Queens College. The school also competes in rowing, hockey, athletics, swimming and a range of other codes.
St Andrew’s has a distinguished alumni community known as Old Andreans. Former pupils include prominent business leaders, politicians, academics, judges, Springbok athletes, Olympians, military figures and recipients of the Victoria Cross. The college maintains close ties with Rhodes University and remains a central institution in the educational and cultural landscape of the Eastern Cape.
Today St Andrew’s College stands as one of South Africa’s most historic and prestigious boys’ schools, blending heritage and tradition with modern facilities, international academic pathways and a strong all-round programme centred on boarding, character and leadership.