Academics
"Globally Aligned, Locally Grounded: Our Thinking Schools Approach"
Durban Girls’ College is recognised as a leading South African Independent School with a well-established reputation for educational excellence. At DGC, we aim to instill a lifelong love of learning through a holistic approach to education that looks beyond the achievement of academic excellence to the development of character, courage, curiosity and compassion.
Durban Girls’ College is proud to be an internationally accredited Thinking School, recognised by the University of Exeter, UK. Our Thinking Schools journey began in 2017 in the Junior Primary, and the success of the approach—seen in our girls’ confidence, deeper understanding, and academic growth—has led to its rollout across the Senior Primary and now into the High School (Grade 8 and 9). As an international framework, Thinking Schools overlays and enriches our South African IEB curriculum by nurturing essential learning behaviours that encourage pupils to think about their thinking. This metacognitive approach fosters independence, curiosity, and a deeper awareness of how they learn best. With a shared toolkit for reflective learning and problem-solving, and with our entire staff undergoing rigorous training, thinking is intentionally embedded into every aspect of College life.
IEB Participation
All Grade 12 girls write the IEB examinations, which incorporate the application and analysis of knowledge acquired both in the classroom and by individual research. Many of our High School staff members are regularly appointed to mark the IEB examinations, with some of them being senior markers or subject moderators.
Senior Primary and High School
In the Senior Primary and High School, girls successively build their abilities to solve, understand and reason intellectually. Our teachers use CAPS documents and IEB guidelines. We are proud to have achieved a 100% pass rate in the IEB National Senior Certificate Examinations for the past 20 years.
Junior Primary
In the Junior Primary, girls experience a rich, real and relevant academic programme. Small classes create a nurturing environment that fosters academic growth and confidence. The girls of this phase are stimulated through the teaching of skills and the imaginative stretch of playtime.
Thinking School Accreditation
At Durban Girls’ College, we don’t just dream of the future — we lead it.
Recognising that our rapidly changing world demands adaptable, independent thinkers, DGC introduced the Thinking Schools Programme which enhances our IEB Curriculum.
In January 2022, our Junior Primary proudly received international accreditation as a Thinking School from Exeter University. We continue on our Thinking Schools journey across the school as we work towards accreditation up to Grade 9.
