History Since 1954, Bryanston Primary has been a cornerstone of excellence, nurturing young minds amidst timeless traditions.

With the hostilities of the Second World War development slowed down but proclamation was achieved in 1940 and by the time peace was declared, seventy houses had been built and were occupied in Bryanston.

Rivonia Primary was built in l904, with a Private School, St. Peter’s, also being established in the area, but the most convenient at this time was Rosebank Primary which was on the bus route to Johannesburg.

Thousands of soldiers returned to their homes, many to their young families most of whom had never seen their father. Despite the comments often heard that Bryanston was just too far from the big city, further homes were built when the Government lifted controls and in the 1950s a building boom occurred with homes having properties ranging in size from one to five acres.

A Country Club, Post Office, Library and shops sprang up but no school.In the neighbourhood was Mrs Margaret Joubert, who had started up a school in the double garage of her home in Eccleston Crescent and catered for close to sixty pupils.

The nearest shopping centre was Cramerview where Dr. Findlay-Davidson, the only medical practitioner in the area, attended to his patients. His oldest daughter “Peggy” started school with Margaret and firm friendships were established amongst these early families.

Mr. W.R. Hedding became convinced that a school was required for the growing numbers but failed to convince the Provincial Administration of this necessity. Being a man of vision and determination however, he continued with his plan and persuaded S.A. Townships to erect a building on a site which he chose to be operational by 1954. Towards the end of l953 a roof wetting ceremony took place with guests sitting on planks and odd building props placed in the entrance of our present foyer.

Sipping drinks, they chatted and speculated about the numbers of pupils who might attend the opening in January 1954.

During 1953 the Hedding family would stroll across to the site and watch the four classrooms and adrninistrative block being erected. They would sit under a Black Wattle (site in our present quadrangle) and contemplate the future and he would say to his daughters: “One day, you will attend school here.”

Margaret Joubert closed her school and moved to Bryanston Primary as one of the first teachers with at least twenty or thirty of her pupils who were ready for big school. Mrs. Tresize tookover her pre-school pupils. In 1954 the school opened under Mr. Davies a retired Principal appointed in a temporary capacity for one year in accordance with Departmental Policy, and he faced an unexpected enrolment of 106 pupils.

S.A. Townships made generous unsecured interest-free loans which enabled the school to take advantage of the pound (rand)-for-pound loans offered by the Transvaal Education Department. When it was realised that the number of pupils in the second year would far exceed expectations, the Administrator of the Transvaal, Dr. Nicol, arranged for the site to be transferred back to the Province.