Rekindled in 1985 as a result of Springvale Boys closing down in 1979, Springvale House opened with 93 children, in what was originally the Junior Block.  The founder Headmaster was Mr Jon Calderwood, now Rector of Peterhouse Boys.  Mr G A Peebles is the present Headmaster and has been at the school since 1986.

ACADEMIC

Each grade at Springvale House has a class teacher, though as a child moves up the school, more specialised teaching is done.  Grades 1 to 5 are single stream with approximately 26 children in each class.  Double-streaming begins in Grade 6, with a new intake of children.  A full range of academic subjects is taught; including Music, Art and Crafts, Religious Education, Physical Education, Conservation and Computers. We have a well stocked library and other reading schemes such as Letterland, Kaleidoscope and Reading Laboratories.

In our Computer Department there are 30 Dell computers.  Children are prepared for the entrance examinations to the Independent Schools.  It is assumed that children at Springvale House will move on to Peterhouse, but they must be registered there and will be required to write an entrance examination.

STAFFING

The academic staff consists of nine experienced class teachers and several well qualified specialist teachers.  Equal numbers of male and female teachers create a balanced staff who share sports coaching in the afternoons and dorm duties in the early mornings and evenings.

Springvale House caters for approximately 220 children, from Grade 1 – 7, of which approximately 75% are Weekly Boarders and the rest Day Scholars.

TERMS AND TIMETABLES

The terms at Springvale House follow those laid down by the Government.  School begins at 0800 and ends at 1645.  Grades 1 and 2 finish at 1500 on a Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and 1230 on other days.  School lunches are available for day scholars.  All children depart at 1500 on Fridays after a session of clubs in the afternoon.  The school provides a bus service for Harare based boarders.

GAMES & ACTIVITIES

The pupils are introduced to a wide variety of games.  The school shares tennis courts, two heated swimming pools, a squash court and playing fields with Peterhouse Girls’ School.  All children are taught to swim. 
Every effort is made to introduce pupils to hobbies and activities. 

Ballet, taekwando, piano tuition, gymnastic, swimming, tennis, table tennis, triathalon and various other activities are done as 'Extra OPtions'

CONSERVATION

A strong conservation theme runs througout the school, resulting in each of the classes having an opportunity to spend a night to a week away from school during the course of the year.  The Grade 1’s start taking advantage of the Peterhouse Group’s Nature Reserve “Gosho Park” and end up in their Grade 7 year at Rifa.

This is a bush camp on the mighty Zambezi,  where the children experience the likes of game, tree and bird walks, canoeing, target shooting, initiative tasks, game drives, visit to a crocodile farm, boiling an egg in a sulphur pool, fishing and much more.  At the end of each school trip, displays and projects are housed in our Natural History Museum, the heart of the School Conservation Theme.

WEEKLY BOARDING

There is limited boarding accommodation and only for children whose parents are able to take them home each weekend.  There is no boarding facility at the weekends.  Boarders are looked after by resident staff.  They have their own sanatorium and trained nurse.  Laundry is contracted out.  Parents must collect their children at 1500 on Fridays and return them by 0730 on Monday mornings.

FEES

Peterhouse Accounts Department administer matters concerning payment of fees and accounts.