Riverwood College
Where Big Dreams Start Little & Shoes Are for the Birds
by The Midlands Writer · August 28, 2026 · 3 min read
Riverwood College is rich in diversity, rooted in faith, and quietly purposeful right on the border of town, and yet in all the ways that count, right in the heart of Pietermaritzburg. As adults, we see something every day that our learners might not yet fully grasp: that this is a place offering everything a child will need. Not just academics or facilities, but community, belonging, character, and room to grow. And that journey starts right from the beginning. Our beautiful and expansive campus is the home of our Little Riverwood College Sprouts. We offer Grade RRR to Grade R. Here, big dreams start small. Further up the campus sits our Primary School.
A busy, happy, and wondrous place. Our Grade 1–3 learners are encouraged to leave their school shoes under their bed and hop over to school barefoot. Shoes are for the birds; I am sure you agree. With dedicated staff and educators, learning is fun, happens in various spaces, and creativity is key. We offer robotics to spark young innovators, and our dedicated music department is filled with amazingly talented staff who bring out the best in every child. We have two English classes and one Afrikaans class from Grade 1 to Grade 7.
A stone's throw from our Primary School lies our High School. Here, our core values – Respect, Integrity, Resilience, Love, and Responsibility – guide everything we do. But what does that look like? It looks like educators who truly see your child. It looks like a place where faith and diversity aren't just words on a wall, but the air we breathe. For families needing a home away from home, we offer boarding facilities for Grades 8 –12. It’s a safe, nurturing space where learners are supported and belong.
Across our entire campus, from Sprouts to Grade 12, we offer a high standard of academics, a rich programme in art and culture, and a wide variety of sports, including hockey, netball, target shooting, rugby, swimming, soccer, pickleball, chess, and e-sports because every child deserves a chance to shine, whether on the field, on the stage, behind a screen, or in the classroom. As Professor Michael Le Cordeur of Stellenbosch University reminds us of these words from Nelson Mandela: “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, you speak to his mind. But if you talk to him in his own language, you speak to his heart.” At Riverwood, we live them every day, from our Grade RRR Sprouts right through to our Grade 12 learners.
We offer Afrikaans and English classes; in fact, we are the only parallel medium school in Pietermaritzburg and the Midlands. We don't just offer Afrikaans, we live it. We play in it. We laugh in it. We compete in it. We grow in it.
Pannekoek, ATKV-Redenaars, speel, lag, leer en nog soveel meer … ons doen dit alles hier by Riverwood College. Where Futures Begin, that's our promise. From Pre-Primary to our matrics, this school offers everything your child will need. One day, our learners will look back and see it too. But for now, we see it for them.
We would love for you to come see for yourself.
Visit our website or email us directly at admissions@riverwoodcollege.co.za. Come explore our beautiful campus; barefoot, if you like.
We'd love to meet you.