CULTURAL
Stirling High School has a vibrant cultural scene with a strong emphasis on Music, Drama, Dance, Chess, Debating, and Public Speaking.
Our students regularly achieve at regional and national levels across these disciplines.
FACILITIES
Stirling boasts state-of-the-art cultural facilities, including:
- The Stirling Music Centre and Auditorium, featuring professional-level performance spaces, six individual classrooms, a large teaching venue, practice rooms, and a grand piano.
- A fully-equipped school hall for dramatic and dance performances.
- A dedicated Drama room with a lighting rig.
- A spacious Art Studio, added in 2021, catering to 25 specialist art students.
CHESS
Chess at Stirling accommodates all skill levels, from beginners to competitive players. Many students have been selected for the Border Chess team, with some representing South Africa in international tournaments.
DRAMA
Drama is offered as a subject from Grades 8 to 12, with specialist teachers providing extra lessons and a Drama Club for additional experience. Major productions alternate annually between musicals and dramatic plays, including classics such as Les Misérables, The Sound of Music, Chicago, West Side Story, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Students also produce and direct One-Act Plays and take part in external drama exams and local Eisteddfodau.
DANCE
The Dance Society is highly popular, featuring a variety of dance disciplines. Annual Dance Extravaganzas showcase students’ talents, and Stirling dancers participate in both internal and local performances.
MUSIC
The Music Department boasts nine specialist teachers and offers instruction in piano, vocals, woodwinds, brass, and guitar/bass. With over 140 students taking Music as a subject and many more involved in extra-curricular activities, Stirling supports multiple ensembles, including two bands, two choirs, and various instrumental groups. The school has a strong jazz programme, with over 70 students selected for the National Schools’ Jazz Band since 1995. In 2025, Marimbas were introduced as an extramural activity to encourage students to make music without prior training.
DEBATING & PUBLIC SPEAKING
Stirling’s Debating and Public Speaking teams consistently perform at the highest levels, with numerous students competing at provincial and national levels. The school is recognized as one of the top debating institutions in South Africa.
SOUND & LIGHTING
Students play an integral role in managing sound and lighting for school productions and events, gaining valuable technical experience in live production.
SOCIETIES
The Societies period provides students with opportunities to explore hobbies and develop new skills. Societies include SCA, Interact, Networking, Ubuntu, and a variety of hobby-oriented options such as Business Game, Photography, Arts & Crafts, Current Affairs, and Foreign Languages. Stirling’s Ubuntu society hosts a celebrated cultural evening, regarded as the best in East London.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Stirling takes pride in the achievements of its students, with many excelling at national and international levels. Notable recent successes include:
- National Schools Jazz Band: Tallis Hurly (bass), Bokomosa Kawe (sax), Kuhle Royi (sax), Daniel van Zyl-Smit (bass)
- SA Chess Teams: Keagen Meise, Elsje Jacobs, Ali Lin
- Dance: Distinctions in Tap Dancing Pre-Associate and RAD Advanced 2 Ballet exams
- Eisteddfod Music Awards: Best Chamber Choir, Best High School Band, Best Jazz Band, Most Promising Pianist, and Best Senior Vocalist
- Choir Achievements: Stirling Chamber Choir has excelled in the ATKV competition, ranking among the top choirs in South Africa and competing internationally at the World Choir Games
- Jazz Band: 81 students selected for the National Band since 1995; performances at major jazz festivals nationally and internationally
- Debating: Twelve students have represented South Africa or ranked in the Top Ten at the National Championships since 2003
- Drama: Numerous Gold awards at Eisteddfodau and a Bronze Ovation Award at the 2023 National Arts Festival for Missing by Reza de Wet
- Dance: 37 Stirling dancers have received Honours cum Laude for RAD or Cecchetti Advanced exams or national Hip-Hop selection
- Chess: Multiple students selected for Border Chess teams, with two achieving national selection in 2024
NATIONAL REPRESENTATION
Stirling High School remains committed to fostering cultural excellence and providing students with outstanding opportunities to develop their talents. Between 1985 and 2024, 182 Stirling students have received South African national colours or equivalent recognition in cultural activities, including: