Commitment to our community

...more than a school, a way of life.

At Somerset House, we believe that education extends far beyond the classroom. Meaningful involvement in, and engagement with, the community around us is an essential part of developing compassionate, responsible young people who understand their role as contributing citizens of South Africa. Through age-appropriate experiences from Grade 000 to Grade 7, our children learn that even the smallest acts of kindness and service can make a lasting difference.

Community engagement is woven into the fabric of school life. Through a wide range of initiatives, partnerships and service-learning opportunities, pupils are encouraged to recognise both the needs and the strengths of others, fostering empathy, gratitude and respect for the diverse communities around them. Whether collecting essential items for local organisations, supporting environmental projects, participating in outreach programmes or using their own talents to bring joy to others, our pupils experience the value of serving with purpose and humility.

These opportunities not only enrich the lives of those we serve but also shape the character of our children. They develop leadership, collaboration, resilience and a deep sense of social responsibility, while discovering that every individual has the ability to make a positive contribution. By nurturing hearts of service from an early age, Somerset House seeks to inspire a lifelong commitment to caring for others and making a meaningful impact in the world.

Our Mission

Somerset House is an independent preparatory school that strives to provide an excellent all-round education for children preparing them thoroughly for their futures.

Our Philosophy​

Somerset House is a family school and is welcoming to all. Somerset House endeavours to teach us all to live unselfishly, considering others. Non Nobis Solum. 

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Mission

We aim to provide an environment and ethos within which children can thrive. We do this by providing the following:

  • A stimulating and challenging academic programme, emphasising child-centred education, and the development of life-long learning habits and self-discipline
  • A learning orientation in which creative and critical thinking skills are prioritised and curiosity and initiative are encouraged
  • A values-based environment which promotes respect, understanding and empathy, based on the school’s Christian heritage
  • Experiences and initiatives which foster a deep appreciation and celebration of diversity and inclusion
  • A comprehensive sporting, cultural, artistic, and extra-mural curriculum which both supplements and strengthens the academic programme
    an extensive outdoor development programme which teaches self-awareness, leadership, courage, and a profound appreciation of the natural world
  • Highly-committed teachers and staff who demonstrate the highest standards of their craft and who care deeply for the children entrusted to them

Our Purpose

Who we are

Somerset House is an established, independent, and co-educational pre-primary and preparatory school (grades 000 to 7) situated in the heart of Somerset West.

Our extensive campus offers children a unique natural setting rich with trees and open spaces. Historical buildings house modern classrooms, specialised learning centres, technology hubs and a shared dining room, the heart of the school. Children find themselves in a safe and nurturing space in which self-belief, independent thought, and joy flourish.

Our motto, “Non nobis solum”, not for ourselves alone, is at the core of our ethos. It is lived, cherished, and celebrated by staff, pupils and their families, alumni, and friends of the school.