Dear Parents and Guardians

It has felt somewhat strange having a full five-day week after so many shortened ones, but it is good to get back into the routines that keep our boys grounded and comforted. Routine is one of those things we can actively teach our children and, while it may take some effort for a routine to become a habit, the developing teenage brain needs routine. Not all the time, but most of the time.

As the term becomes busier with us approaching the mid-year examinations, routine becomes critical as boys prepare. Please ensure your son has a quiet place to work, free from all distractions and with cell phones far away. Even if a phone is on silent, the knowledge of it being in a pocket or face down on a desk is a distraction in itself. Rather have it removed completely, checked every few hours when on a break from studying. Much has been said about music while studying and all my research pointed towards lyric-free music as a stimulus for the brain. Music with lyrics can be distracting and certainly music on a screen with images is very distracting.

Adding to the quietness, boys need healthy food and exercise. The importance of the latter cannot be over-emphasised. The most successful boys I have worked with have been busy boys with routines carefully worked out and daily exercise being one of those routines.

Please also make your son aware of the dangers of energy drinks, studying all-nighters and any other chemical influence that may give the appearance of boosted energy and confidence, but which are harmful to our developing boys. Finally, sleep is such a vital part of good health, and I urge parents to ensure that appropriate bedtimes are set and kept and that boys rest without any distractions in their rooms such as cell phones and laptops.

I wish you all the best for parenting during the exams, particularly the Grade 8 parents for whom this is the first experience. Set the standard now and stick to it – the short-term challenges are well worth the long-term gains.

Grievance matter

We wrote to you some time ago regarding a grievance that was laid by a member of our staff against the Chaplain. In that communique, we made it clear that proper process was to be followed. This is not a dispute between the school and the Chaplain. This is a dispute between two employees of the school that the school has investigated through an independent expert and will make a decision on the way forward following proper representations being made by both parties. At the Chaplain’s request, an extension for submission of a response to the investigation was granted. He continues with his duties at the College. The contents of the grievance are not in the public domain, and we would urge you to reserve judgement or comment until the facts become apparent. I remind you that decisions in this matter will only be made once due process has been followed.   

Traffic on the school grounds and at the Main Gate

We continue to make regular pleas for those driving on the Avenue to do so responsibly – no speeding and certainly no overtaking. We are also aware of the challenges at the Main Gate, with cars exiting Bishops to turn right, facing the challenges of cars trying to turn right into Bishops coming from Sandown Road. There have been many “near misses” and a number of actual accidents, the last being this Monday when a delivery motorbike was struck by a car. Fortunately, there was no apparent injury to the rider. Of grave concern though, was that the driver of the vehicle drove away without enquiring about the wellbeing of the motorcyclist.

We have been aware of this problem for some time now. Options explored with the City of Cape Town have included a traffic light or a traffic circle. Both have issues. The City would not put a traffic light so close to the one at Sandown Road and the construction of a circle would be too difficult in Campground Road. This was the feedback we received from the CoCT when we asked some seven years ago.

During Covid, Bishops was a one-way system with no exit permitted from the Main Gate. This is also a possible solution going forward. Another suggestion is to block up the gap on Campground Road so that it is not possible to exit Bishops and turn right nor enter Bishops travelling along Campground from Sandown. These options will have a knock-on effect and will be a significant change but we are desperately looking for a solution to the problem we all face. Of gravest concern would be the serious injury or death of a person as a result of this situation. If there are any parents who have any further practical suggestions in this regard, we would love to hear them.

In the meantime, we have written to the CoCT again, requesting their urgent intervention.

We are delighted to inform all parents that the Pre Prep gates are now open on a “drop and go” basis. We thank you for your lengthy patience!

Hilton weekend

By all accounts, the Hilton weekend of rugby was a great success. It is not often that teams other than A teams get to tour and it was a special experience for our rugby boys. Our hosts were both gracious and generous, and we are deeply grateful to all those who made this possible – from the airline companies to the staff and parents at both schools. Next year, we will host Hilton in a return fixture, along similar lines, and we will thereafter decide whether this is to become a new “traditional” fixture for us.

Debating and Public Speaking

Last newsletter I congratulated Samuel Clarke on his outstanding achievement coming first in the world in persuasive speaking. I read a lovely article this week in which a number of our boys are mentioned, and I bring it to your attention to read as well. https://www.news24.com/southafrica/schools-hub/sa-pupils-crowned-world-champs-at-international-debating-and-public-speaking-championships-20260504-0380

Final Thoughts

We had originally scheduled our first Robert Gray medal assembly this Friday but due to illness, the recipient could not make it. We will postpone to a later date.

My assembly to the boys this week came from watching the Louis Theroux documentary, Inside the Manosphere and reading an article in Ed Week.

It is printed below for your reading.

Kind regards

Antony Reeler
Principal

Interrupting cruelty before it becomes culture

“Schools are one of the few places where adults and even student peers can interrupt cruelty before it hardens into culture and teach a different definition of strength - one grounded in self-control, compassion, accountability and respect”

I am aware that our Head of School spoke to you at leaders’ assembly last week about how we treat women and female teachers in particular. I want to build on what Michael said and I reference two sources, Marc Brackett’s article on the EdWeek website and a documentary I watched, filmed by the legendary Louis Theroux, Inside the Manosphere.

The “manosphere” as a defined concept did not exist when I was at school. While the concept didn’t have a label, the behaviour was certainly there. Today, it is more in your face - a collection of blogs, posts, videos and content from influencers that focus on what they believe masculinity is. It is the world of Andrew Tate and others like him. It is a world you may or may not have experienced through your social media. It is a world, that once you click or spend time on something remotely connected to this kind of message, get clever algorithms to send you more and more, telling you what being a man should look like – how you dress, how you speak about and to women, how your body should be.

Watching Inside the Manosphere as a man, for me was hard. I struggled to believe that men acted the way these characters did and were so threatened by women that they thought the only way to raise themselves up was to demean and belittle others, women in particular. I struggled to believe that the message they were sharing with the world was one where men need to “reclaim” their “rightful place” at the expense of women, their dignity and right to exist as equals. And so, I delved into the topic more and more.

As men, in this environment of a boys school, we have a real need to belong. We want to identify with or be part of something more than just ourselves. But belonging to one group should not be at the expense of another. Many of these influencers speak of the need as a man to dominate, never show weakness or vulnerability, don’t apologise for being who you are. They use the phrases “that’s so gay” or “stop being such a girl” as if sexuality or gender is an insult.

I need to tell you this is not an exercise in boy-shaming. I have seen the most remarkable evidence of kindness, thoughtfulness and compassion from you. It is one where I have said often that we need to define for ourselves as a school, what masculinity really is. That you can feel emotion without fear of ridicule, that you can be powerful without being abusive and that the greatest power is often shown through the gentlest of touches. That we can disagree without ridicule or scorn and that we can belong together without the need to exclude others. That your emotional intelligence is paramount, you respect boundaries, challenge misogyny and build healthy relationships based on mutual respect. 

Brackett encourages schools to do four things to shift a culture, to interrupt cruelty:

1. Treat this issue as a school culture issue, not as a disciplinary one. This is not something to just punish for, it is something to speak to hearts, souls and minds.
2. Teach pupils digital literacy so they can spot when they are being influenced by others and manipulated.
3. Teach pupils about emotional intelligence, the ability to perceive, understand, manage, and use emotions effectively in oneself and others. It involves recognizing emotional states to guide thinking, behaviour, and social interactions, ultimately helping to build relationships, regulate responses, and achieve success.
4. Creating places where boys can belong without having to be dominant but also where they can feel seen, challenged and connected without being humiliated for caring.

This often requires role modelling – adult men such as your teachers, coaches, parents who display reflection, show restraint, exude warmth not just toughness. Who can show that belonging is possible without humiliating others. That feelings are more than ok – they are good to have and to show.

Our school culture needs to be aligned with a definition of masculinity that comes from us, not one that is forced upon us by a world that may be threatened by others or by deeply insecure misogynists. Where we accept and embrace difference, and show our toughness through our compassion. Be different, be men who matter, be proudly masculine, Good Men.

It gives me great pleasure to announce that some of our Cambridge boys have been presented with Cambridge Outstanding Learner Awards for their performance in the November 2025 examination series. These prestigious accolades recognise the highest level of academic excellence within the Cambridge curriculum, and I am proud to report that three of our students have placed first in the country in their respective subjects.

Jeremy Liddle for AS Level Chemistry.
Zac Rosenberg for AS Level Economics.
Billy Oriander for AS Level Music.

These achievements reflect not only the boys’ dedication, perseverance and intellectual curiosity, but also the strength of the Cambridge programme at Bishops and the commitment of our teaching staff. We extend our warmest congratulations to these outstanding learners for representing our school with such distinction.

Chess

Congratulations to Oliver Shaw and Kristian Pennell, who were awarded their Western Province Schools Colours for Chess at the recent Western Province Schools Individual Chess Championship held in George.

Music Colours and Ensemble Ties

Congratulations to the following boys on their music awards.

Half Colours:
Jasper Magrath,
Matthew Couves
Tommy Winfield

Ensemble Ties:
Matthew De Jager
Daniel Bursey

Hockey

Over the long weekend in April, the Bishops 14A, 16A and 1st XI hockey teams travelled to Gqeberha to compete in the Hibbert Hockey Tournament against some of the top school sides in the country.
The 14A team faced a challenging opening match against Paul Roos but regrouped strongly to record convincing 2–0 victories over Garsfontein and Selborne in the pool stages, finishing second in their group. Due to the tournament format, there was no quarter-final, and they progressed to the 5–8 bracket. After a tightly contested cross-pool playoff loss to Paarl Gim on penalty shootouts, they played Waterkloof in their final match to finish eighth overall. The boys showed excellent resilience and character throughout the tournament.

The 16A team produced an impressive unbeaten pool performance, drawing 1–1 with Paul Roos and winning against Garsfontein by 2–0 and Selborne by 3–0. Due to the tournament format and goal difference, they did not progress to a quarter-final and instead competed in the 5–8 bracket. After a tough match against Grey High, they played Grey College in the 7th and 8th playoff, finishing eighth overall. The team competed with determination and took valuable lessons from the experience.

The 1st XI team opened the tournament with a strong 3–0 win over Pearson before losing to a strong Jeppe side. They responded well by beating Paarl Gim 1–0 to qualify for the quarter-finals against SACS. After a competitive match they lost 3–1 and moved into the cross-pool playoffs. Further tough matches against Grey High and St Stithians resulted in a seventh-place finish overall.

Well done to all three teams for representing Bishops with pride. Throughout the tournament the boys demonstrated not only their hockey ability but also composure, resilience and a strong commitment to team culture, providing a solid foundation for the season ahead.

In the 18A team, Luc Dicey and Callum Anderson.
In the 18B team, Litha Mbiko.
In the 16A team, James Arkcoll, Cuan Cadiz and Noah Walford.
In the 16B team, Litha Maham and Neo Milne.
In the 14A team, Matthew Arkcoll.
In the 14B team, Josh Carstens.

We wish all of these boys well in their respective competitions during the June and July holidays.

Soccer

Bishops participated in the Wynberg Freedom Cup, one of the most prestigious school soccer tournaments in the country. The U15A team finished sixth overall, while the U17A team reached the quarter-finals. The U19A team enjoyed an outstanding tournament, reaching the final and narrowly losing to a strong Urban Academy side from Gqeberha.

Congratulations to Ethan McMurtrie, who was awarded a hat-trick ball for scoring three goals against Trinity House. Congratulations also to Luca Castelli Weich, who was named Goalkeeper of the Tournament for his exceptional performances throughout the competition.

Wynberg Derby Weekend

We warmly welcome Wynberg for an exciting home derby fixture this weekend. We always encourage live support for the boys and look forward to hosting you on campus.
If you are unable to attend in person or would like to share the action with family and friends who are not local, all matches on the Woodlands Astro on Friday and the Piley games on Saturday will be streamed live on the Bishops YouTube Channel.

8 May, Hockey: https://youtube.com/live/-JEvq_vHU0A?feature=share

9 May, Rugby: https://youtube.com/live/OWNreYFEge0?feature=share

Climbing

Naethan Mol recently competed in the South African Climbing Finals and has been selected to represent South Africa at the IFSC Youth World Championships in Italy, taking place from 18 to 25 July. This prestigious event is one of the largest youth climbing competitions in the world and will bring together approximately 650 of the top young climbers from around 60 countries.

We congratulate Naethan on this outstanding achievement and wish him every success in his preparation and in the competition ahead.

Bishops Epic

VUSA Fundraising Dinner

This is the final week to purchase tickets for VUSA Rugby and Learning Academy’s fundraising dinner, More Than a Game, taking place at Moyo, Kirstenbosch on 21 May. Ticket sales close on Friday, 15 May.

The evening, in proud partnership with Anchor Capital, will feature a fireside discussion exploring access, belonging and opportunity in South Africa, an auction in support of VUSA’s education and sports programmes in Langa, and music late into the evening.Follow @Vusaacademy on Instagram and Facebook for auction previews and event updates in the lead-up to the evening.
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Seats are limited. Please click HERE to book your table.

Click to view EVENT VIDEO