The History of John Wesley School

John Wesley School has been part of the Pinetown community for almost five decades.

Although the school was officially registered with the Department of Education in 1989, its story began much earlier, with a small group of children, a strong sense of community and a vision for accessible Christian education.

Humble Beginnings

In 1977, Lynn Jolliffe, wife of the then minister of Pinetown Methodist Church, Reverend Derek Jolliffe, started a pre-primary programme for just 10 children in their garage.

By 1979, the little school, known as Happy Days, had moved to the Pinetown Methodist Church premises and had grown to 75 children.

A School Open to All

In 1987, during the apartheid era, the late Reverend Ray Light welcomed increasing numbers of black children into the school.

As numbers grew, volunteers converted the church basement into a classroom for 25 Grade 1 learners.

Permission was later granted to establish a primary school, and John Wesley School was officially registered with the Natal Education Department on 2 November 1989.

This commitment to welcoming children from different backgrounds has remained an important part of the character of John Wesley School.

Growth and Development

With generous support from the Anglo American and De Beers Chairman’s Fund, together with other donors, the school facilities were expanded, furnished and equipped.

By January 1991, enrolment had grown to approximately 100 Junior Primary learners.

At the end of 1990, permission was obtained to use the partially fire-damaged buildings on the Pineholme property in Bamboo Lane, Pinetown.

Church volunteers, supported by parents, began restoring the buildings as funds became available.

In 1992, the Pineholme property was donated to Pinetown Methodist Church for its educational ministries.

Building the John Wesley School Campus

Further funding from the Anglo American and De Beers Chairman’s Fund in 1995 enabled the development of the school on the Pineholme campus.

The new facilities included:

• 12 classrooms
• A School Hall
• A Media Centre

As the school continued to grow, accommodation was also developed for learners who lived further away. A hostel was completed by the end of 1999.

In 2000, the Pre-Primary and Junior Primary sections moved from the church premises to the Pineholme campus, joining the Senior Primary and creating one unified school.

Investing in Sport and Development

John Wesley School has always recognised the important role that sport and physical activity play in a child’s development.

A 25-metre swimming pool was completed in 2011, followed by a combi-court and cricket practice nets in 2012.

These facilities supported the continued growth of the school’s sporting and extracurricular programmes.

Continuing to Grow

As enrolment increased, additional classes were introduced:

• Grade 1 – 2013
• Grade 2 – 2014
• Grade 3 – 2015
• Grade 4 – 2016
• Grade 5 – 2017
• Grade 6 – 2018
• Grade 7 – 2019

This steady expansion marked an important chapter in the development of John Wesley School and reflected the continued growth of our school community.

Over the years, John Wesley School has continued to develop while remaining true to the Christian values on which it was founded.

Today, John Wesley School is a Christian independent, co-educational Pre-Primary and Primary School, serving a diverse community of learners from Pinetown and surrounding areas.

From a small pre-primary class of 10 children in a garage to an established school campus, our story is one of faith, courage, service, community and growth.