Assembly Message – Start of year 2026
Headmaster of Maritzburg College, Mr Alan Redfern
Good morning, boys.
It is wonderful to see you all back at College as we begin a new school year together. A warm welcome to every one of you. A particular welcome to our new Second Formers and to all new pupils joining us from Third Form through to Sixth Form. Starting at a new school is never easy. My advice to you is simple and sincere: get involved, learn our culture, and embrace everything that is good about Maritzburg College. As a school community, we will do all we can to help you settle, but your willingness to engage fully will make all the difference.
I would also like to extend a warm welcome to our new members of staff. We are delighted to have you with us, and I am especially pleased to welcome several Old Boys back into the fold. Mr De Villiers joins us as Head of Co-Curricular Activities from St John’s College; Mrs Prinsloo joins the Afrikaans Department from Boys’ High; Mr Pillay, a College Old Boy, joins the Science Department from Girls’ High; Mr Lang, also an Old Boy, joins the History Department from Michaelhouse; and Mr Stevens joins the Afrikaans Department from Grey High. We wish each of you every success as part of the College community.
Over the holiday period, many of our boys were involved in a wide range of academic, sporting, and cultural activities. Congratulations to all who represented the school and achieved so well. These achievements will be acknowledged at Monday’s assembly. I would also like to thank the staff who gave up significant portions of their holidays marking examinations, coaching, managing tours, and supporting boys at provincial and national level. Your commitment does not go unnoticed. I also acknowledge and thank all staff who marked the NSC examinations, this is an essential part of our academic programme and further development.
I trust that you were able to rest well over what has been a long break and that you return refreshed and ready to make the most of 2026. There is always a tangible energy when the school comes back together. That sense of excitement is part of what makes Maritzburg College such a special place. Our proud traditions, our history, the brotherhood and camaraderie, and the shared pursuit of common goals define us. While our beautiful grounds and excellent facilities are important, they are not what truly make this school. It is the people, how we interact, the attitudes we bring, and the way we commit to one another that give College its character.
Maritzburg College is a highly functional school with strong systems and structures, but systems alone do not create greatness. People do. A commitment to excellence must always be matched by compassion and empathy. As we start a new year filled with ambition and opportunity, I want to challenge you positively. Good schools do what is required. Great schools stretch what is possible. I believe that Maritzburg College has greater capacity than we currently tap into, and much of that potential sits with you. Growth happens when you are stretched: intellectually in the classrooms and cultural spaces, physically on the sports field, emotionally in how you deal with challenge, and personally in how you take responsibility for yourselves and for others.
We set high expectations because we believe in your ability. Our reputation as a leading public school has been earned over time; it is not simply handed to us. Academic and co-curricular excellence require hard work, discipline, and a refusal to settle for mediocrity. Education at College is about developing the whole person. Character development is central. We want you to grow in integrity, resilience, leadership, confidence, and self-knowledge, so that every boy leaves this school stronger, wiser, and clearer about what he stands for.
Relationships matter deeply. Brotherhood is not just a word; it is something that must be lived every day. How you treat one another matters. As Maya Angelou so powerfully reminded us, “People will never forget how you made them feel.” Compassion, respect, and integrity in our daily interactions are essential to strong leadership and a healthy school culture.
I want to encourage a collective raising of expectations – of yourselves and of one another. High expectations, when matched with care and support, are a gift. They say: we see your potential, and we believe you can reach it. Three pillars will continue to guide everything we do: academic excellence; pastoral care and character development; and a strong, purposeful co-curricular programme. Underpinning all of this must be compassion and integrity. Leadership, particularly among our senior boys, matters greatly. Leadership at College means listening, setting the right example, and remaining true to the values that define this school.
We also want you to think deeply and to enjoy learning. Curiosity, effort, and intellectual confidence are the marks of a true College boy. This is not about doing the minimum or ticking boxes. If you accept second best, it quickly becomes a habit, and that is not who we are. Hard work and commitment matter in every area of school life – in the classroom, on the sports field, on stage, and in service. Being a College boy means being prepared to go the extra mile.
Finally, standards and discipline matter. The basics count: punctuality, dress, grooming, manners, attitude, and pride in your school. Being a College boy is a privilege, and that privilege should be visible in how you conduct yourselves every day. When everyone takes responsibility for the small things, the big things tend to take care of themselves.
In closing, Maritzburg College is a strong school with a proud tradition and an exciting future. This year offers real opportunity – for growth, achievement, and contribution. I am confident that if you commit fully, challenge yourselves, and support one another, this will be a year of which you can be genuinely proud.
Welcome back. I wish each of you a purposeful, successful, and fulfilling year at Maritzburg College.