New Philippi High School has been completed | Western Cape Government

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New Philippi High School has been completed

15 February 2020

The Department of Transport and Public Works designed and built the new Philippi High School for the Western Cape Education Department. The design features a high level of security for learners and teachers, provision for community engagement, and rainwater harvesting facilities. The construction project commenced in March 2018 and was completed end November 2019.

The hall is situated on the periphery of the site to facilitate community use. However, it has been done in a way that does not compromise the security of learners and teachers. There is access from the outside to the hall, but no direct access from the hall to the private, secure, inner part of the school.

The administration block provides passive surveillance of the site through having views of access points. Access is through a secure entrance with tall galvanised gates and is controlled at the gatekeeper’s house. The foyer of the administration block is an assembly point and communication hub, and it provides access to the private inners of the facility, safe at its core.

The learning cores are situated around three courtyards, one for junior learners, one for senior learners, and the third for specialist classrooms. The six specialist classrooms are: the information technology (IT) centre, multi-media centre, biology laboratory, chemistry laboratory, natural science centre, and consumer studies room. Other facilities include 28 IT-ready classrooms, bookstores, caretakers’ rooms, decentralised head of department offices, and a sports store.

The green design boasts groundwater harvesting facilities to supply water to ablution facilities and the school’s gardens from a sustainable source. Large outside covered areas provide learners with protection from the elements, and there is also outside seating.

All the contract participation goals for local community businesses were met in the construction of Philippi High School. A total of around R16.42m was spent on goods and services sourced from local community businesses.

Media Enquiries: 

Jandré Bakker
Head of Communication
Department of Transport and Public Works
Email: Jandre.Bakker@westerncape.gov.za