Greenside High’s diversity extends to the curriculum and the subjects on offer in the FET phase (Grades 10, 11, 12). The language of teaching and learning is English. First Additional Languages are Afrikaans or isiZulu. We have teachers experienced in Mathematics and Mathematical Literacy. Our Life Orientation programme embraces topical issues such as drug abuse, teenage pregnancy, environmental issues, social media, and gender equality. We also call upon past learners who have been successful in their chosen fields to address the learners at some of the assemblies.
Greenside High has the following optional subjects on offer: Accounting, Business Studies, Consumer Studies, Computer Applications Technology, Dramatic Arts, Engineering Graphics and Design, Electrical Technology, Geography, History, Information Technology, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Visual Arts.
The standard of teaching at Greenside High is extremely high. Many of our Subject Heads are leaders in their field and occupy high-profile portfolios such as National Senior Certificate Examiners, Chief Markers and Moderators. This has obvious advantages for our learners. I have found that apathetic and indifferent teachers do not last long at Greenside High: there is just too much of a work ethic for such people to feel comfortable.
Greenside High is perhaps best known for its excellent academic results. However, I am at pains to point out that, although academic results are a measure of a school’s success, they shouldn’t be over emphasised. A more important question is how a school succeeds with the less capable learners. Teachers who raise a struggling learner’s performance in a subject from twenty-five percent to forty percent have worked miracles. In this school, the teachers work incredibly hard at intervention strategies to assist the majority of learners who do not fall into that gifted category.
A particularly significant measure of Greenside High’s success in the academic sphere is the fact that our learners excel at university. Greenside High is one of the top feeder schools to Wits University, University of Johannesburg and other quality tertiary institutions.
Greenside High has a successful intervention programme for learners struggling with Mathematics and English. We run a Mathematics Workshop and Expert English tuition per grade, every weekday afternoon. We also have a Remedial English teacher to give additional help to learners who have fallen behind the rest of the class in any topic or subject.
South Africa’s comparative scores for Mathematical Numeracy and Literacy are amongst the worst in the world. Many of our learners struggle with Mathematics, but Greenside High is pro-active and creative in providing support.
In October 2007 – on the strength of the motivations we submitted in a public school Maths challenge – Greenside High was awarded a grant of R420,000 towards improving Mathematics performance. This grant was awarded by the Epoch and Optima Trusts, funded by the Anglo American Group. We have received further funding consistently from 2008 through to the present.
One of the major crises facing education is the shortage of qualified teachers – in Mathematics and Science in particular. Greenside High has a full complement of experienced and qualified Mathematics and Science teachers. Greenside High facilitates tuition in Further Studies Mathematics, previously known as Advanced Programme Mathematics, as an extra accredited subject for learners who wish to challenge themselves in Mathematics and to gain additional points for entrance into particular degree courses. Greenside High also offers Further Studies English, previously known as Advanced Programme English.