[2] In 1901, in ill health, Cecil Rhodes was persuaded to establish a scholarship system at the school, where successful graduates could progress to Oxford or Cambridge.

The college is on Campground Road at the main campus, and a small portion of this land is used for the pre-preparatory school.

The preparatory school has four houses: Van der Bijl (for boarders and day-boys), Bramley, Brooke and Charlton.

[9] In 2018, a new trans-disciplinary curriculum was introduced for Grade 9 students called Big Ideas, focusing on sustainability and promoting critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity.

Senior boys write the National Science Olympiads, and have achieved top 10 results in the country.

This includes daily chapel services and an annual Eisteddfod, which are designed to stimulate a musical interest in everyone.

[16][17] One report in the media stated "similar allegations had been made against Kaplan 19 years earlier but he had been allowed to stay on at the school".

[18] In 2019, history teacher and water polo coach Fiona Viotti immediately resigned after her alleged sexual relationship with a matric pupil was exposed.