For many years the Southern Cape was served by dual-medium schools in George, Mossel Bay, Oudtshoorn and Knysna.

There was a growing feeling that a purely English-medium school should be built and the Department of Education eventually agreed to this.

The school was started with classes from Std VI to VIII and the first Matrics wrote their final examinations in November 1977.

The Governing Body, in co-operation with the Department of Education, renovated the existing buildings in 1994 and built a new wing, comprising 12 new classrooms, change-rooms, Home Economics and Science laboratories and a lecture theatre which seats 200 learners.

The school badge features the York Rose and the motto, "Take Root and Grow", a quote taken from the diary of an ancestor of the founding Headmaster, Mr Ron Dugmore.