Waterkloof House Preparatory School (WHPS)

Waterkloof House Preparatory School (WHPS) Waterkloof House Preparatory School (WHPS) Waterkloof House Preparatory School is situated in Pretoria, South Africa.

WHPS is an independent School, offering education to boys and girls in Grades 000 and 00; and boys only from Grades 0 to Grade 7, through the medium of English. Boarding is offered to boys from Grade 3 to Grade 7. Founded in 1923 by the Ruddell brothers, the vision of the School is to realise the holistic development of its boys using a broad-base to promote high moral values; independent thinking; self-discipline and a positive self-image, enabling each boy to realise his full potential in academics, sporting and cultural fields within a Christian environment. Affectionately known as WHPS, a certain element sets Waterkloof House Preparatory School apart from any other school - its ethos is legendary. Embodied in its motto, โ€˜Work Hard Play Straightโ€™, this ethos is embedded in a deep spirit of community. Every member of the School's community contributes his or her own special gifts to create a unique environment. Individual teachers, boys, parents and support staff are all touched by the atmosphere that pervades at our School.

30/09/2026

๐†๐ซ๐จ๐ฐ๐ข๐ง๐  ๐‘๐ž๐š๐๐ž๐ซ๐ฌ. ๐†๐ซ๐จ๐ฐ๐ข๐ง๐  ๐๐จ๐ฒ๐ฌ.

At Waterkloof House Preparatory School, reading is about so much more than books.

Every Wednesday, our Reading Drive creates a special opportunity for boys across the school to slow down, share stories and connect with one another. Older boys sit alongside younger boys, offering encouragement, building confidence and helping to nurture a genuine love of reading.

These moments matter. Regular reading expands vocabulary, strengthens comprehension and sparks curiosity, while also opening the door to imagination, conversation and meaningful relationships. Watching boys laugh over a story, discover a new favourite character or proudly read aloud to a younger friend reminds us that some of the most valuable learning happens through connection.

By intentionally creating these opportunities, we encourage our boys to see reading not simply as a task, but as a lifelong source of enjoyment, discovery and growth.

It is just one of the many ways we build a culture where boys feel known, supported and inspired to grow into confident, curious and compassionate young men.

30/09/2026

๐€๐๐ฏ๐ž๐ง๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ž, ๐‚๐ก๐š๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ž๐ง๐ ๐ž & ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐ž๐ซ๐ก๐จ๐จ๐ ๐€๐ญ ๐‚๐š๐ฆ๐ฉ ๐Š๐จ๐ง๐ค๐š!

Our Grade 4 boys recently traded their usual school routines for an unforgettable few days at Camp Konka, embracing new challenges, enjoying the outdoors and making memories with their friends.

From Egg Drop challenges, LEGO builds and obstacle courses to water slides, the boys were kept busy from the moment they arrived! Day two brought even more adventure with wall climbing, kayaking, zip-lining and a very muddy obstacle course. Each challenge encouraged the boys to persevere, push through discomfort and support one another.

One of the highlights was seeing the boys celebrate each otherโ€™s successes, offer encouragement and work together to overcome obstacles.

The final morning included a visit to the lion enclosure, followed by plenty of creativity and school spirit as the boys created and performed their own Konka war cries before heading home.

More than just an adventure, camp provides opportunities for boys to develop confidence, independence, resilience, teamwork and meaningful friendships - qualities that extend far beyond the classroom. The boys returned tired but happy, with plenty of stories to share and memories to treasure.

Adventure builds character. Brotherhood builds memories.

๐‚๐ž๐ฅ๐ž๐›๐ซ๐š๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐  ๐‡๐ž๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐š๐ ๐ž ๐ƒ๐š๐ฒ ๐š๐ญ ๐–๐‡๐๐’ Today, our boys, the girls in the Whippets, and staff proudly celebrated the rich cultu...
28/09/2026

๐‚๐ž๐ฅ๐ž๐›๐ซ๐š๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐  ๐‡๐ž๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐š๐ ๐ž ๐ƒ๐š๐ฒ ๐š๐ญ ๐–๐‡๐๐’
Today, our boys, the girls in the Whippets, and staff proudly celebrated the rich cultures, traditions and stories that make up the WHPS family.

From traditional dress to meaningful conversations about heritage, identity and belonging, the day was a wonderful reminder that our differences are something to be celebrated and respected.

At WHPS, we believe that education extends far beyond the classroom. By encouraging our boys to embrace their own heritage while appreciating the traditions of others, we help nurture young gentlemen of character, compassion and respect who are prepared to make a positive contribution to the world around them.

As part of our Heritage Day celebrations, our school family collected coins and notes in support of the Initiative, founded by former Miss South Africa, Mia Le Roux. The initiative helps fund cochlear implant surgeries for those in need, giving the gift of hearing and opening doors to opportunity.

Thank you to every family who participated and contributed. Today we celebrated not only where we come from, but also the values that unite us: appreciation, courage, integrity, passion, respect and responsibility.

Heritage Day is a celebration of who we are as South Africans our cultures, our languages, and our traditions. At WHPS, ...
24/09/2026

Heritage Day is a celebration of who we are as South Africans our cultures, our languages, and our traditions. At WHPS, we honour the rich diversity that makes our school family unique and strong. Today we stand proud of our shared heritage and the unity it brings.

23/09/2026

๐€ ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐ž๐œ๐ข๐š๐ฅ ๐†๐ซ๐š๐๐ž ๐Ÿ• ๐Œ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฌโ€™ ๐š๐ง๐ ๐’๐จ๐ง๐ฌโ€™ ๐๐ข๐œ๐ง๐ข๐œ

To the architects of our hearts and the guardians of our beginnings - our mums.
From our first breath, you were our whole world. You were the warm embrace that made us feel safe, the lullaby that quieted our worries, and the steady hand that held ours as we took our very first steps into the unknown. You are our first home.

You are our first and most important teacher. You showed us that true strength is found in kindness, that courage is paired with compassion, and that respect is earned through our own actions. You taught us to be curious, to be brave, and to always try again. You showed us the meaning of unconditional love simply by loving us.

You are our most passionate cheerleader and our safest harbour. In our moments of triumph, your smile is our greatest victory. In our moments of doubt, your belief in us is the anchor that steadies us. You listen, you guide, and you empower us to stand tall, always reminding us that we are capable of amazing things.

As we grow and step further into the world, we carry your lessons within us. The values you instilled - integrity, empathy, and resilience - are the compass we use to navigate our own paths. The men we are becoming are shaped by your love, your patience, and your unwavering faith in us.

So today, we celebrate you. We honour your endless giving, your boundless love, and the incredible women you are. Thank you for everything you, are and everything you do.

To our mums, we are so proud to be your sons.

๐€ ๐Œ๐จ๐ซ๐ง๐ข๐ง๐  ๐จ๐Ÿ ๐ƒ๐š๐ค๐š๐ซ ๐ˆ๐ง๐ฌ๐ฉ๐ข๐ซ๐š๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐งOur Grade 1 boys had a special visit from Grade 1 dad, Brett Cummings, who took them behin...
22/09/2026

๐€ ๐Œ๐จ๐ซ๐ง๐ข๐ง๐  ๐จ๐Ÿ ๐ƒ๐š๐ค๐š๐ซ ๐ˆ๐ง๐ฌ๐ฉ๐ข๐ซ๐š๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง

Our Grade 1 boys had a special visit from Grade 1 dad, Brett Cummings, who took them behind the scenes of his Dakar Rally experience.

With stories, photos, videos, and racing gear, Brett gave the boys a glimpse into what it takes to tackle one of the worldโ€™s most challenging races, from facing tough conditions to pushing through challenges along the way.

It was a morning filled with adventure, excitement, and valuable lessons about grit, resilience, determination, and never giving up.

๐–๐‡๐๐’ ๐Ž๐ฅ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฒ โ€“ ๐‰๐š๐ฆ๐ž๐ฌ ๐Œ๐œ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐žCongratulations to James McBride (Class of 1976) on receiving the SevenRooms Icon Award 2026...
21/09/2026

๐–๐‡๐๐’ ๐Ž๐ฅ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฒ โ€“ ๐‰๐š๐ฆ๐ž๐ฌ ๐Œ๐œ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ž

Congratulations to James McBride (Class of 1976) on receiving the SevenRooms Icon Award 2026 from The Worldโ€™s 50 Best Hotels.

With a hospitality career spanning more than four decades, James has led some of the worldโ€™s most celebrated hotels and is the Co-Founder and CEO of NIHI Sumba, one of Indonesiaโ€™s most renowned luxury destinations.

From humble beginnings to international recognition, Jamesโ€™s journey reflects hard work, innovation and leading by example.

Congratulations, James!



Photo credits: LinkedIn; NIHI Hotels

21/09/2026

๐๐ข๐ซ๐ ๐€๐๐ฏ๐ž๐ง๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ž๐ฌ ๐‚๐š๐ฆ๐ž ๐“๐จ ๐‹๐ข๐Ÿ๐ž!

Our Bird Adventures theme took flight when Animals in Wonderland brought an incredible collection of animal friends to WHPS!

From holding snakes and meeting a blue-tongued skink to getting up close with a leopard gecko, our boys had the opportunity to see, touch and learn about some fascinating creatures.

Stewie the Orange-Winged Parrot entertained us with his whistles and squawks, while Willow the Spotted Eagle Owl captivated everyone with her graceful movements. The boys also learned an important lesson about protecting wildlife and the dangers rat poison can pose to owls and other animals.

And then came the stars of the show, Storm the Peregrine Falcon and Nova the Harris Hawk! Their beauty, strength and incredible presence left everyone in awe.

Learning comes alive when curiosity leads the way. Experiences like these help our boys build knowledge, confidence and a deeper appreciation for the world around them.

Thank you to Animals in Wonderland for an unforgettable educational adventure!

18/09/2026

๐†๐ซ๐จ๐ฐ๐ข๐ง๐  ๐“๐จ๐ ๐ž๐ญ๐ก๐ž๐ซ ๐“๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐’๐ฉ๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ !

Our Whippets enjoyed a beautiful Spring morning with their moms and dads, getting their hands into the soil and potting their very own plants together.

It was a morning filled with sunshine, smiles and special moments, celebrating new beginnings and the joy of watching something grow.

A lovely way to welcome Spring at WHPS!

๐†๐ซ๐š๐๐ž ๐Ÿ“ ๐€๐๐ฏ๐ž๐ง๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ž ๐š๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ž ๐๐ซ๐ž๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐š ๐๐š๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐š๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐ญ๐š๐ง๐ข๐œ๐š๐ฅ ๐†๐š๐ซ๐๐ž๐ง!Our Grade 5 boys had an exciting day of exploration at the P...
17/09/2026

๐†๐ซ๐š๐๐ž ๐Ÿ“ ๐€๐๐ฏ๐ž๐ง๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ž ๐š๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ž ๐๐ซ๐ž๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐š ๐๐š๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐š๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐ญ๐š๐ง๐ข๐œ๐š๐ฅ ๐†๐š๐ซ๐๐ž๐ง!

Our Grade 5 boys had an exciting day of exploration at the Pretoria National Botanical Garden.

The boys put their teamwork and problem-solving skills to the test as they raced through the gardens, following clues and discovering more about the fascinating world of healing plants.

From learning about natural remedies to searching for a plant that could cure homework and Monday mornings, it was a morning full of discovery, laughter and hands-on learning.

Address

535 Ruddell Street, Brooklyn
Pretoria
0181

Opening Hours

Monday 07:00 - 16:00
Tuesday 07:00 - 16:00
Wednesday 07:00 - 16:00
Thursday 07:00 - 16:00
Friday 07:00 - 15:30

Telephone

+27124605221

Website

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