Recently there have been discouraging reports on the deteriorating standards of the South African school system. In a number of International studies, South African pupils have performed extremely poorly on various tests of literacy and numeracy.

There are however a number of government schools that consistently produce excellent results. The Department of Education would do well to pay close attention to this example.

Dr Gillian Godsell is an associate research fellow at the School of Public and Development Management at the University of the WItwatersrand. She also chairs the governing body at Parktown Girls High School.

Ms Anthea Cereseto has been headmistress at Parktown Girls High School for ten years and was previously at Waverley Girls High School.