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Ashton International College – Ballito

August 8, 2024

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Ashton College “Uniquely Different”

Ashton International College Ballito is an amalgamation of subject specialists, state-of-the-art facilities and an experienced and efficient administration. At Ashton we encourage all students to participate in the extra-curricular activities we offer on the Cultural, Academic and Sports forum, Community responsibility and specialised Clubs. The College Ethos and Philosophy is to be value-driven where emphasis and encouragement is placed on each individual and develop their unique talents as we strive to unlock the potential that lies within every student.

‘Two Worlds in One’ – Academic

On entering the Senior College at Ashton International College, Form 1 (Grade 8) students are introduced to our ‘Two Worlds in One’ academic programme, the IEB (Independent Examination Board) and the CIE (Cambridge International Education) Curricula

Our Senior College programme – at Ashton our students select both their curriculum and subject choices at the end of their Form 1 (Grade 8) year. The students who have achieved the required average, may select the CIE curricula and write their international matric at IGCSE level at the end of their Form 3 year (Grade 10), while offering the IEB to all other students opting to write the South African IEB National Senior Certificate at the end of the Grade 12 year.

The beauty is in the detail as this means that our Form 1 students, on selection of their subject choice and curricula, reduce their current 14 subject load to 7 in their Form 2 (Grade 9) year. This has proven to be greatly beneficial as we provide further guidance in various careers and their decisions on the various options for tertiary study. This also allows students the time and energy to embrace all the facets of school life by participating in the sports, culture and a variety of clubs all on the school campus.

For a young school, we have celebrated a 100% pass rate on the IEB and Cambridge Curricula for the past fifteen years. In addition we have had students placed top in the world and top in South Africa in the Cambridge External examinations.

Sport

Sporting Codes at Ashton include both Primary and Secondary Sport, and once again being uniquely different, Ashton recognises our students for representation in a sport of their choice and can be awarded School Colours, provided they participate in one Primary Sport or Cultural activity at Ashton.

We have continuously expanded our sporting code offerings, with sports available throughout the school year. Our students are engaged in a dynamic and vibrant sporting environment. It’s not uncommon for different sporting codes to overlap, especially during pre-season training, showcasing the diverse and comprehensive sporting program we have on offer.

Besides developing skills for competitive sport, we instil in our students the values of sportsmanship, discipline, perseverance, teamwork and time management. We promote healthy relationships with all that schools we engage with on the sports fields, fostering an environment of respect and camaraderie.

We offer a multitude of sporting codes that are both diverse and comprehensive:

Athletics
Cricket
Cross Country
Golf
Indoor Hockey
Outdoor Hockey
Action Netball
Netball
Basketball
Rugby Union
Rugby 7’s

Boys’ & Girls’ Soccer
Boys’ & Girls’ Touch Rugby
Swimming
Open Water Swimming
Learn to Swim
Surfing
Waterpolo
Scuba Diving
Tennis
Squash
Horse Riding
Mountain Biking
Chess

At Ashton Ballito, we are equipped with cutting-edge facilities, including an international standard FIH indoor hockey arena and Astroturf which has hosted numerous international matches. Our campus boasts multiple rugby fields, state-of-the-art heated swimming pool, cricket nets, ovals, tennis, and netball courts and our new multiple purpose field which is currently being built, including an athletics track all which are under floodlights, ensuring optimal conditions for play. Our High-Performance program, is designed to empower each student with the tools and fitness required to reach their full potential. This program encompasses not only physical training but also focuses on mental health stamina and nutritional planning, ensuring holistic development and performance enhancement.

CULTURE

Ashton offers world class music, dance and theatre facilities for all students and the greater community. There are two theatres on the campus namely the Galaxy Theatre in the Ashlings Phase and the Ashby Theatre in the Intersen Phase. Ashton also boasts another two stages. One in the Grace Hall and one in the Legacy Hall.

Dance and music are both subjects offered on the IEB Curriculum and Music on the Cambridge Curriculum, so there is never a shortage of entertainment. The annual Ashton’s Got Talent is to showcase the best of the best. Dramatic Arts is celebrated at Ashton with annual short plays, and a full musical production every alternate year. Ashton also hosts an annual Arts Festival in August each year.

The popular Multimedia Team is where students gain experience in sound engineering, stage lighting and audiovisual technology. In addition, students can be involved with school musical productions, music concerts and drama performances to enable to them to apply what they learn.