Our story – Pecanwood College
Alyson Engelbrecht • April 21, 2020
“Can you imagine our children going to school here with this beautiful view of the dam and mountains?” Petro Geerts
This story starts long before you and I could even imagine, when stones, rocks, mountains and streams were young and fresh; when wild animals, leopards and lions roamed freely.
The land we stand on this day has a memory of stories that are rich in texture and colour, beauty and devastation. This land is rich and fertile, so farmers grew abundant crops of mielies and tomatoes, with cows and sheep aplenty. The farmers built a high dam wall across the strong flowing rivers – Hartbeespoort dam was “born”.
Quite a distance from this beautiful and quiet place, were two towns which grew and grew into bustling cities, ever creeping closer and closer to the dam.
One afternoon, at about the time of the turn of the century, there was a visionary businesswoman, with a love for her children and a passion for their education, Petro Geerts. As her name suggests, she was a strong, resourceful fighter who made it her mission to find other allies to partner with her to build a school overlooking the picturesque dam under the ancient Magaliesberg Mountains. She struggled long and hard to gather others to support her cause.
Along with her close friend, Joan Coetzee, they were introduced to the Van der Byl brothers of Irene. These industrious men purchased the farm adjacent to Oberon Drive and began the renovation and alterations of the old farmhouse into a delightful country school.
In January 2005, the school opened its doors to 54 children from Grade 0 to Grade 7, six teachers, one secretary and a director of the school, Mr Chris Lee. You may have noticed that the Preparatory Administration block stands “skew” to the rest of the current school buildings and so will always remind us of where this school started as the farmhouse with cows, sheep and chickens as part of the everyday landscape.
The school was without a headmaster for the whole first term until Mr Jacques Braithwaite was appointed, from Heronbridge. He was such a talented man: Physical Science was his passion,
an accomplished musician and bass player - he loved the school dearly. His memory will live on in the words and the music of our school song that he lovingly composed.
There was no time to slumber or rest: new building plans were drawn; bulldozers and excavators dug and moved earth; bit by bit farmland was transformed into gorgeous school buildings and classrooms. All energy and focus was in preparation for the growth to the high school Grade 8 and 9, and Grade 00 the following year.
It was only in September 2006, that Mr Mike Farrer was appointed as headmaster of the High School. The continual groaning of the earthworks could be heard all across the campus for the first few years as the school expanded from the Pre-prep, to the senior primary quad followed by the high school Mandela quad and administration block.
The attractive architecture caught the attention of families far and wide, and the need for a hostel was evident. Founders House was built, with a magnificent view, and thanks to her maternal instincts and fearless determination, Mrs Carla de Brito became the first Hostel Head.
The building construction continued to gain momentum with the High School Physical Science, Life Science and IT laboratories being added. Pretty soon the hostel was bursting at the seams – the rowdy and boisterous boys needed to move to a “home” for themselves. Founders Boys began its story. Furthermore, sports fields and a sparkling swimming pool was included in the offering. Finally, the last of the big builds included the new Pre-prep relocation and custom-designed classrooms.
But, with the taste of success, one often grows hungry for more. Mr Farrer was not satisfied and felt that there was something lacking. He fought long and hard and finally his dream to unite the school was realized in the building of the versatile, large school Hall. His efforts were rewarded as it now stands proudly as the Farrer Hall.
Over the years, the focus has shifted from an obsession of acquiring and developing the landscape to an appreciation and respect of the natural world around us – a desire to create a nurturing environment for children, plants and animals to thrive. There was a strong drive to become an Eco-friendly and Eco-wise school to instil a love for conservation and a deep social responsibility in the learners.
Ours is a tale of old. A tale of victories won and lost. A reminder of special legends who have graced this place. Memorable teachers, significant families and heroes both young and old.
In the beauty of this place, we find treasures to remind us of the triumphs attained. We are grateful to those who have gone before and paved the way.
As you walk through the Mandela quad, you may notice a sturdy, wooden, railway sleeper in honour of Mr Chris Lee. You may also pause a while alongside the tranquil garden outside the old Farmhouse in honour of Mr Nigel Sloane. Keep a watchful eye as there are more to be discovered.
But of them all, there is one that should be mentioned as without this her tenacity, we would not be here today. In the junior prep quad, there is a wrought iron bench that bears the name of Petro Geerts. Her bench looks over the magnificent view of the dam and ancient crags as a reminder that someone some years back had the perfect vision to create THIS, our blessed school.
Twenty years of trusted education meets expanded opportunities, greater accessibility and future-ready learning from January 2027. Families across Hartbeespoort can look forward to an even stronger independent school offering as Pecanwood College becomes Pinnacle College Pecanwood from January 2027. The transition brings together two decades of local educational excellence with the academic strength, innovation and opportunities offered by the expanding Pinnacle Colleges network. Current and prospective families stand to benefit from a school that retains everything the community values while opening the door to even greater opportunities. Pinnacle College Pecanwood will preserve the school's caring culture, close relationships, boarding facilities, IEB curriculum, sporting tradition and vibrant co-curricular programme, while providing students access to a broader network recognised for academic excellence, future-focused learning and preparation for life beyond school. Pecanwood College has proudly served the Hartbeespoort community for 20 years, offering education from the early years through to Grade 12, including boarding. Dedicated teachers, a nurturing environment, strong IEB academic results and diverse sporting and cultural opportunities have established the school as a respected educational institution in the region. That solid foundation will now be enhanced through the wider Pinnacle Colleges network. Students and teachers will benefit from shared academic expertise, established operational excellence and opportunities to participate in broader academic, cultural and sporting initiatives across multiple campuses. Pinnacle Colleges equips students for tertiary education and successful careers through a balanced approach that combines academic excellence with innovation, career guidance, coding and robotics, technology-enabled learning and holistic personal development. Respect, responsibility and a strong sense of community remain central to every campus experience. Academic success already defines Pecanwood College. The Class of 2025 achieved an impressive 98.59% matric pass rate, a 94.36% Bachelor's Degree pass rate and an average of 1.9 distinctions per student. Pinnacle College Pecanwood will build on these achievements through strengthened academic systems, shared expertise and continued commitment to outstanding IEB education. The name Pinnacle College Pecanwood honours both the school's proud heritage and its exciting future. Twenty years of commitment by students, teachers, families and the wider community remain firmly embedded in the school's identity, while its new name reflects membership of one of South Africa's fastest-growing independent school groups dedicated to innovation, accessibility and student success. Hartbeespoort families can now enjoy the best of both worlds: a close-knit community lifestyle paired with access to a high-quality independent education close to home. Pinnacle College Pecanwood is well positioned to become the school of choice for families seeking exceptional academic opportunities, future-ready skills and an environment where every student can thrive.
A huge thank you to our community for supporting Slipper Day 2025! See how your contribution makes a difference for children in need. Read more here!
As part of our WESSA Eco-Schools commitment, Pecanwood College has adopted a black leopard cub. Learn about our conservation efforts. Read the full story!
Pecanwood College partners with Pure Care to launch a new water treatment project, promoting sustainability on our campus. Learn more about this initiative!
What are weekends like at Pecanwood College? Get a glimpse into a weekend well spent with our boarders and day scholars. Discover more on our blog now!
Love was in the air at our Pre-Prep! See how our little learners celebrated Valentine's Day with creative and fun activities. Explore the cute moments now!
Kicking off the year with a commitment to our environment! See our students in action during the first campus clean-up of 2025. Read about their efforts!
Discover the groundbreaking SA-developed digital learning platform now at ADvTECH schools. See how we're shaping the future of education. Learn more today!
Year-end fatigue hitting hard? Get expert tips on how to beat exhaustion and help your child finish their final exams with confidence. Finish the year strong!
Make your High School Open Day count! Our essential checklist helps parents ask the right questions and get the info they need. Download your free checklist!
